Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-30
Tbe Separatf.t. of Ohio.

The village of Zoar, Tuscarawar county.
Ohio is the residence of a colony OF Separa-
lists from the Lutheran Church. who emigra-
ted to this country about forty-two years
since. Having adopted the sentiments OF
that pious enthusiast of the seventeenth
century, Jacob Boehme, or Behmen, as be ~
generally called, two hundred persons left
Wirtemberg in 1917, under the leadership OF
one Jacob NJ. Bimeler, and on their arrival IN
this county, purchas d 5000 acres Of wild
land in Tuscerawas county, where they still
reside. They practice Socialism in the
sttictest sense OF the word-labor and proper
ty beisg equally divided among all. Their
officers are Dir, ctOr and three Trustees, up
on whom devOlve the management of the
temporal affairs of the Society. These officers
are elective, males voting as well as males.
The Trustees serve three years, one vacating
his Office annually.
In 1882 n terrible calamity visited the little
community ia the shape OF the cholera. by
which fifty OF its members were swept away.
preventing. in measure. those matrimonial
alliances which would have added much. it
was reasonably hoped, TO the numerical
strength of the society. The increase since
then has scarcely made up for the loss, and
the number Of members remaining is about
two hundred. During the carly years of the
colony all conjngal relations calculated to
lead to an increase of the responsibilities of
the females aud burdens of the society were
for gwen period interdicted, and. strange
10 say, the arbitrary ukase was obeyed. But
if they have not incr, ased in numbers they
have gained in wealth. Their huge farm, to
which additions have been made under their
thrifty and economical management, is in the
most perfect state of cultivation. large
three story brick house, OF an antique build,
with innumcrable gables vas lately the resi-
dence Of the good King Bimeler, but is now
occupied by the Trustees. A large store and
capacious tavern (the latter conducted in
the old fashioned sly of the German inn), a
fine church, fifty good dwellings, and -four
mill are among the improvements.
A reporter from the Office of the Columbus
| Statesman, who recently visited the conmuni-
| ty, says
No fighting, no wife heating, no rioting. no
prostitution, is known to the people there.
Their laws are strict and not disregarded
By their code. the crime of seduction is pun
shed by death. OF course the execution OF
such law would conflict with the State au-
| thorities; but fortunately, with hut one ex-
| ception, there never was crime of this char
| acter committed among them, and then it
stretched the power of the constituted au-
thorities to the utmost tn save the perpetrat or
from being stoned to death. The laws of the
State are also obeyed and carried out. The
community pays taxes the same as other citi-
Zens, but receive little benefit from them.
They build their own roads, and do every
thing in the way of business with the State us
a community, and not as individuals. Their
ritual, like everything else pertaining to
them is perfectly simple, and their maXims
OF morality are at once comprehend by the
most obtusc.
As may be supposed there is no great men
tai development among them, and yet they
are not stupid or churlish. Instruction Is
given the children in wiuter in the German
and Ennlish languages, and all the common
branches of education. They have little
printing office. recently much improved, in
which they print religious books and tracts.
The publisher is also the postmaster and
storekeeper of the town. He employs two
compostOrs, and does his own presswork
upon Washington" press. lately imported.
For number of years his entire Office was
placed in a kind of bureau, type, cases. press
and all, which is now exhibited as q curiOsi-
tv. The press now in use is as bright as a
new pin, and the whole concern carpeted and
clean. looks more like lady's closet than a
printing Office.
All The members of this society are dressed
in blue fabric of their own manufacture, the
peculiarites of the male attire being an alb
breviated coat of questionable cut. The
dresses of the females are of the same mate
rial and color, variegated by white apron
and u spotless. triangular handkerchief about
the neck, the points of which meet the apron
strings before and behind. The primitive
and somewhat picturesque costume is COM
pleted by and immense straw fiat, (bOund by
a ribbon of the never-iailing blue,) and a
plentiful lack of crinolne--an institution of
which the Zoar bellies are entirely ignorant,
or, if known to them, is totally ignored.