New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-08
"A Remark nblc Gem I'M unity.
corrstpordence OF The y. Y. Tribune.

II,
TO them. The domain Of this Community Is about for
miles south of Oneida Depot beautiful and thriving
village on the NewYork Central Railroad cquidisiant
between Syracuse and Utica. The Community consists
of something 200 persons having about equal
ber Of men md women with some 20 children. Thes
own between 500 and COG Of Emo land and Ire to-
gciher in all respects, great family. and no one
Of them says that aught Of tAe things which hc POS
stsses is his own. but they have oil things common"
| They have group OF large fine dwellings three In
number which accommodate them all nicely and CON.
foTtnoly, end which kept very ncat and orderly
The main dwelling. which they erected some two years
since, Is q really fine brick structure which will CON.
pare fAvoraby In oil respects With the hotel buildings
Of our large cities They have on their domain two
extensive waterpouers capable Of driving an Immense
amount Of machinery, aud largely engaged in the
manufacture Of agricultural implements. AID an i'm.
proved steel trap which has become great iayoritc
among Western trapIers within dozen yelIs past
They have lso ufte most extensive manufactories
Of travelling bags In the country. This department
gives light employment for meny Of the girls ana women
Of the community. The dress Of TIE men Is In no wise
peculiar, hut the women fpsny years since originated
The far famed "B0onr' dress for ther home cost ume
matter Of convenience Mrs. Bloomcr. who Wa at
taat time publishing The LILY at Seneca Falls visited
tie coDmunity and on returning home adopted the
short dress which thencsorih took her name. Women
are however, Freely allowed 10 suit their taste 10
this matter of dIcss and We noticed Que or Two elderly
|
These people work less number Of hours than labor
| inc men generally do. end probably do not average
more than seven or eight honrs per day Fruit grow.
crs will be Interested in knowing that thoir strawberry
crop this year eight hundred bushels. They
have canned i've thousand quarts Of this fruit aud other
berries in proportion. They appear TO be- and shond
think are a sincerely religious people. aud claim that
their views and mode of .fe based on the doctrines
spirit and feHdeaeies OF the New Testament scrip
lures.
1heologically they have been known from their fret
origin somo twenty i've Or thirty years since IS Pe.
fccon.s's. Mr.. John III. Noyes. tho founder OF the
community Is graduate OF Dartmouth College, and
nitcrwgryi studied thcooey ut Now-Hayen
The community have rather singular ideas In relation
TO the selection Of their leaders or chiefs IN tie various
branches Of business iD which they are engaged 1hey
do nothing by natores but believe that God f,s Dea
for different positions and that each win naturally aud
easily lnd and IN his pruper place and tia, too s.tb
tho universal consent Of tie community.
1t is really very renarlsblc that they find this sys-
ten TO work well and have no trouble on this score.
Their numbers are mostly made up from New In |
gland and NewYork people WHO have come principally
from tie Orthodox ChLTches--the PIcsbyielian and
Methodist being largely represented There are lew
from the Bapust and Epscopalisn. bat moro fIou the
frat two dcnonnations. The Rev. Mr.. bcilcs vosy
intelligent Methodist minister IRON Iowa. LnA recently
joined them with his family. anl we learn that minis'
ter 4 the Episcopal Church who resides In the vicinity
of New-YOrk, has Lately become fully converted 20
their yiews and Interpretation Of the ScipuieA In
many points OF their external life sneh n holdins their
property In common working together Tor The conmon
but In many other respects they quite unlike item
ard particularly In not seeking or desiring u aore the
amaive side oil human nature, They have quite peculiar
views among themselves 10 relation 20 marriage, which
however they do not urge or odrss the outside world
to adopt Ia its prc,ent condition
They have 10 idea Of being behind the world In c!u
cational or scientific matters. They have excellent |
teachers among their numbers and old and young are
alike encouraged to avail themselves Of ihet fcaJ su'
pe.or advantage In order ~ keep fully up With the
tines Ia an educational point OF view. they haJc sont
two Of their young men 10 Yale College ~ be educated
at the e1peise Of the community. Another VI tner
Young men, who hns genius for mechanics, Il pursu'
| nj A
brary OF some 700 yolunes and ore constantly making
more oss additions Of such new wor as a.. worth
reading They also receive many daily and weekly |
| newspapers and periodicals. and have u fine reading
room Ia connection with their library.
They pay great deal Of attention to music, having
an orchestra OF ~ members and one Of The fines. brass
bands In The State. The young women have three or
four pianos and any and every one having natural
osr for music is encouraged 10 cultivate II TO IA great
perfection M possible. Their theory on this point Is
that the religious world hns made great mistake tor
centuries in abandoning all tie sweet harmones. we
| . guess" they are ri rht In this resIect.
Ia their large now mansion house they have fine hail.
finished in good style and taste. with gallery and stage
Their hall win accommodate some SIX or eight hundred
people and danng tho Winter season they give free
concerts which are always largely pAtronized By the
people u the surrounding country.
The body OF the hall is used for the meeting. OF The
Community which held every evening for about an
hour These meetings usually open by singing hymn.
but they have set forms or ceremonies In their
worship. Frequently their meetings take business
turn OF other times letter. received by ndiyduns ana
which be Of general interest 10 tho family are renh
by selected Tor The purpose. ana INC tcrtnR
will perhaps close by common confession OF Christ
and their trust In God. Their meetings seen more
ike the Agapir or love feasis Of the first cennry
among the primitive Christians. than anything We have
ever seen among other branches OF the Church. either
Catholic or Protestant
When they frst settled In their present location. some
81 iecu eighteen years since they were gehery
sh unned aud or lees prosecuted but they have
no lived dowl all persecution and have IN iact,
be highly respected by their neghbors and bush
acquaintance. They number among their arm
ffcnds such the Hon. Gerr smith, Who retides
within a few miles Of them. and the late lion. Timothy
jenkins VINO lived and died within milo Of the Com
munity They have large number oi 'isitois almost
daily from all the States Of the Union.
| They publish pamphlet OF about 20 pages entitled
"a Familiar Exposition Of tbs Ideas aud Practical
Life OF the Oneida Community In Conversation with
Visitor" IL IN sent to any address Oh receipt oil 70
| cents.
In connection with branch community which u To-
Gated nj WaiIingiord. Conn.,. they publish weekly
paper with the simple title Of the "Circular which
the organ Of both. 1t IL a very fins specimen of typo
graphical work and would be a credit TO any city ONCE
IL always contains lcss Of their dauy
lie and doctrnes Specimen numbers are sent Tree on
application 10 the Circular" Wallingford Conn. The
two Communities have naturally quite large amount
OF business with New York City, and have therefore cs
tablished an Agency at No. 35 Broadway which acts
Tor either as occasion may require. Ii must be con-
essed that the deductions which they draw from the
| New Testament writings quite novel whom com
pared with the popular interpretations Of the clergy
but Will leave 1t 10 the Elders ID. DIS. and Biblical
students gshefsy 70 argue the points pro or con- and
Of the peculiaftes Of this singular people. IL. p.
|
RAID UPON HACKMRS.-A few evenings ago,
Capt Charles N. Bracket Of the Twenty sixth Police