The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-22


TAs Ordsr - Rsaasssus ss.ages.
OUR ONEIDA Coa1xseoapD<cx.
ONzzDA CAsfx1. July 40, 1854.
TIE Religious REPRESENTATIVES, Location
in khas Vicinity Their Firth Gsd WorsAip
-Hos~Aony and Copmumion- Masters Of Horti-
e~lturs-FfMts and F1oscsrs-I Their Home Pa.
radise.
There il 0 community Of socialists located some
twelve miles south Of Rome. winch Il neither ultra
Mormons, Fourierites nor Shakers. They number
at present about one hundred and fifty persons-men,
women and children-and have In possession some
two or three hundred acres Of land large portion
Of which Is under horticultural cultivation. Every
person belonging to the establishment, Of sufficient
age, is moderately engaged In some kind Of employ
ment; the males upon the land, in their various
shops, in the Touring milI-the mill is considered
the best in the region thereab,uts, and grinds most
Of the wheat for bread and cosrser grain for fodder
for many miles round about; others are engaged
in taking care of the stock, Of which they have the
largest and best varieties, and will compare with
anyever seen at the annual fair The females are en-
gagged in household matters, several find full en-
ployment in cooking, baking and preparing food for
meals Others are allotted the task Of making cloth
ing for tho use Of their brethren and sisters, while
others again are daily engaged in school teaching,
music, drawing, painting and other arts incl
on the piano, to which we listened, would
have been highly applauded and loudly enc0red had
the performer been before an audience at Niblos or
Castle Garden. Whether from the solitude Of this
comparatively sequestered spot, amid the gorgeou,
and luxurious foliage Of this rural retreat, or from
the quiet listening Of the email audience, or what
1t was matters not but the music extracted from
that instrument seemed more enchanting than any
ever listened to in any crowded concert room in
our large cities, where critics applaud and audiences
consctntionsly reecho. The children are taught
in the various branches of education, up to very
high order the larger youths have their time dvi-
ded, regularly and systematically, between labor
and stuoy, that they can never be considered as
idle, but constantly engaged in some laudable pur-
pore.
The society is composed Of families mostly, the
husband, wife and children occupying their own
separate sleeping apartments Their meals are all
taken at a common table three times day, and the
members are collected by the ringing of a ball, as
was the case at our large public houses before the
for all they share alike at the table as they also do
in regard to clothing &C. There is no uniformity in
dress, as with the Shakers, though many Of the
women appear IN the bloomer costume, which gives
/. them more the air and elasticity Of youth.
Though they profess perfect equality among
themselves, and allege that none have superiority
over Others still visters find that there leaders
and managers among tn02l. Civility and politeness
prevails to great extent but angers are not per.
United TO hold converse with any except those who
seem to have the guidance Of matters. Their con-
versation is quite reserved and they scarcely volun
teer to speak unless generally INTERCEPTED, when
they seem free and wiling to answer questions,
rather evasive in several instances. The reward
obtained for their labor is nearly the same that
among the Shakers, namely, food clothing, attend
ance when sick, and decent burial at death. They
O sort Of religion salvation from sin, and perfec-
tionism None can obtain admission to their circle
or communion who do not believe, without any
manner of doubt, that they are without sin, and
are completely perfect In holiness They quote
passages in Scripture tending to show that the
second coming OF Christ /" occurred centuries
since, viz in A. d. 20, andquote, among other passa
ges, the following from Matthew, &c. % :-"Verily,
/ say unto you, there be some standing here which
shall not taste Of death until they see the Son OF
Man coming in his kingdom" They are strict and
regular in their religious exercises and devotons,
have meetings for worship every evening, and they
say they partake Of the "Lord's Supper" every
meal. So far as outsiders are permitted to see,
these communists appear solemn and sincere
IN the belief which they entertain. There
is gravity and religious sanctity enveloped around
them, much more serious, more solemn, more rever-
entail than Is ever seen displayed among deacons,
mt mbeis and converts belonging to the fashionable
orders Of religion Of our degenerate day. But how
these perfe, tlonists get over many passages Of
Scripture, which emphatically declare that mo man
liveth and sinneth not" were not revealed to US.
They claim, as every other religious sect ever have,
that they find ample authority in the Bible for the
observance Ct the faith or order which they have
embraced, because isolated quotations are made to
fortify them, as they assert.
Wien this association was first located here, some
seven years since, quite an alarm spread through
this Christian region around for many miles. Tea
table and church gossip declared the necessity of an
immediate determination, before they took such
deep root as would secure their permanence vex-
atous legal suits were instituted against individuals
charged with violating the laws. Prosecutions Of
other natures such openly accusing them Of being
2 community Of adnlterers, Joe Smiths, Brigham
fouDgs and Mormonlike .polygamists, were scatter
lshed pulpit. OF various denominations, fulmin-
ated imprecations upon the heads Of the Onei-
da communists. Though prosecuted in this
msnner, they have successfully indicated them
against them, and are now patiently outliving the
unjust SANDERS heaped upon their heads BY the
intermeddlipg eavcsdroppers in the vicinity. These
are likely the reasons why they are 80 guarded and
reserved In their intercourse with outsiders. No
doubt many persons both male and female, visit
them for the purpose of eciting something, out of
which large stories can be manufactured; others
are attracted thither to pry into, and press out of
them, observations or remarks to be construed and
interpreted to their discredit and disadvantage.
Nevertheless strangers are welcomed to their pre-
misses, and to a view of their fields, gardens, flower
and strawberry beds, fruit trees, mills, mechanic
shops, &C., without the least hestancy, reserve or
objection.
Though these people have only been located here
some six years. they have converted large tract Of
desert and swamp lands into perfect garden. A
large number of buildings have been erected for the
accommodation OF the families, mills, mechanic
shops, several barns and other outbuildings which
equal, not excel any others in this region Of the
State in beauty, siren 9Th and convenience.
II would well repay all the fancy fruiterers, horti
Jersey and vicinity to pay this community visit.
The strawberries, grapes, peaches, plums, apples,
and indeed every variety Of fruit, both native
and exotic, are here produced Of a size,
favor and abundance unequalled in any
single locality anywhere. The vegetables, which
they are daily marketing at Rome and the villages
in their vicinity vastly superior to any to be