The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-07-21
Berean Colony.

AN organization mas Deen eHecGed In
Butler county, Pa, for settling a colony
in Kansas. While on our way to Paw
nee few days ago, we met with Rev.
JAMES n. SMITH, and other gentlemen,
who were on a tour of observation, with
a view of selecting a point in the Terri
tory for the location of their colony. The
following are the rules which they have
adopted for their organization -
1.-The undersigned, desirous of NOV
ing West, that they may enjoy some of
the advantages afforded by cheap land
and rich soil and at The same time, de-
string. to enjoy religious privileges, and
good society-and believing that these
may be the better secured by colonial
system, do agree to the following rules
and regulations, for the forming ola col
ohy to emigrate to the Territory of Kan
saS, to be known by the name OF the Be-
rean Colony.
81 This company shall consist of
members of the Associate, Associate Re-
formed, and Reformed Presbyterian
churches, and their families, and such
others as will fall in with, and support
reformation principles.
"2. The first five persons, who will
consent, in the order in which their
names are hereunto attached, shall con-
Stitute committee to proceed to Kansas,
as soon as practicable, to select one town
ship, or tract of land six miles square, as
site on which to settle the colony, and
it shall be the duty of this committee to
cause to be erected building, or build
ings, rs large as they conveniently can !;
this building. or these buildings, to be
used as a place of reception and shelter
for the colony, on their first arrival and
afterwards for meeting house and school
house respectively.
SO. In order to prevent disputes in
the distribution of the lands, each mem
Der shall select from plot prepared for
the purpose, one farm, from any unap-
propriated land in the plot, at the same
time that he signs these rules. which shall
be his, upon the fulflment Of the require
ments laid down in these rules, securing
the same by presumption, till the lands
are IN the market, and then By paying
the amount required by the Government
"A. La order to meet the expenses Of
the committee, mentioned in rule second,
each member shall pay fee of FIVE cents
per acre, on the lot he or she shall select;
this money shall be appropriated in the
following order:-First, to pay the extra
expenses of the selecting committee, IN
Cured for the common benefit; second,
for the purchase of the several 10 acre
lots, cornering in the center; the balance,
If any, to remain as church fund.
5. The whole plot shall be divided
into nine School Districts, each two miles
square, with roads running north and
south and east and west, crossing each
other at right angles, IN the centers.-
These districts to be subdiyided into
farms, OF which the four cornering in the
center shall contain 100 acres, the bal
snce to be divided into eight farms, con-
tanning 240 acres each, SO located that
each farm viii face one of the roads for
half mile.
6. Each member binds himself or
herself to settle on the lot he or she shall
choose. or some one adjoining the plot,
within one year from Oct. !, 1855, or
forfeit his or her right thereto.
81. A village shall be laid out at the
center of the plot, upon the 10 ARE lots
bought as church property. The pro-
ceeds of the lots, when sold, to be applied
to the building of a church. as the con-
gregation may direct. the balance of the
land TO remain in the hands of the con-
gregation as church property
8. Each member binds himself or
herself to support the Gospel, in the Col
feny, and do hereby call JAMES n. SMITH,
f..D. NJ. to accompany the Colony.
and take charge of the congregation as
PASTOR