The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-06-06

OTulndnCcb VI lOS JcWIS0 OF O0rlHJlan
ritual, or whether he can Immediately
perform all the good works which may
be conceived as resulting from the
principle of the law when perfectly
developed IN external action, but sim
ply whether he can love. If he does
this one thing, the Word Of God author
IZes his conscience 10 be content, for
Glove is the fulfilling of the law"
Marriage, therefore, which unites
one man to one woman. and devotesI
the love of one individual solely to an
other, is not fulfillment ofthe require
ments of holy law. Love for one sin
gle person is idolatry, and not permis.
sable IN view OF the command TO love
ono another. They believe that love
is not fatality to any one person
There is no romance in their compost
tion, and the fact is borne out by the
matter offact way in which they live.
On the contrary, they believe in the
control, guidance and discipline oftke
affections. No man can love ono wo-
man, or Uice versa, and be q Christian
Perlcctionism requires q universally
of the passions They hold that the.
whole matter of love and its expression
should be subjected TO enlightened self
control and should be managed for the
! greatest good. In the communities
1t Is under the special supervision OF
the fathers and mothers, or, in other
words, of the wiscst and best members.
and it is often under discussion in the
evening meetings, and 1t also subordi-
ate to the institution Of criticism. The
fathers and mothers are guided in
their management by certain general
/ principles, which have been worked
out, and are well understood in the
communities. One is termed 'the
principle OF the ascending fellowship"
1t ID regarded as much better for the
yourg of both sexes to associate in
love with persons older than themselves
and, II possible, with those who are
spiritual and have been some time in
the school Of self control, and who are
thus able TO make love safe and edlfy-
ing This is only another form Of the
popular principle of contrasts. 1t is
well understood by Psychologists that
1t is undesirable for persons of simular
characters and temperaments TO mate
together. Communists have discover.
ed that 1t il not desirable for two unex.
perieneed and unupiriiual persons to
rush into fellowship with each other"
Hence the young are mated. if the
, term may be used, with the old and the
old with the young in the more init
mate relations Of tho free love family.
Not that such matches arc permanent;
they are only not forbidden. The com
munity of persons is rs much part of
communionism as community Of prop
erty
enc peculiar point of their religious
tenets is the belief that their communi.
ties are the earthly portion of the
Kingdom of Heaven, with the gap Of
death only intervening. The saliva
tion from sin, effected by Christ, makes
will bs hereafter. They only have
} worldly BODIES and are dwelling on the
earth, but they still form part of the
community of Heaven.
RULES AS TO MEMBERSHIP.
The free lovers are very stringent
as to their rules of membership.
Quite number have Joined them who
afterwards deserted them and gave
scandle (O Hence they have adopted
a more exclusive plan, and now pro-
fees to tako only those believers who
have gwen satisfactory proof of their
sincerity and determination to espouse
! their principles for life. A candidate
!. for admission is subjected to a lengthy
probation. He is recommended to in
itiate the practice of free love in his
own family and in hIs own private cir
Gle. Enlightment is afforded him 10
= the extent that correspo lpence by let
= ter will give. Then, by n residence
near the community he wishes TO join
+. he must prove himself agreeable TO all
! the members thereof and in return
must be pleased with each member oi
the body.
BY decision Of the community nc
person liz compelled 70 remain who
: after joining becomes dissatisfied ol
: undergoes change Of opinion. Such
!, persons they strive to avoid ever re-
= ceiving. .s..
a THEIR VIEWS ABOUT MARRIAGE.
Their opinions about the marriag,
8 relations are founded on various text
i. of the Bible, which they freely quote
They hold that IN tho Kingdom Of
n Heaven the institution which assignt
0 the exclusive possession of one woman
Q 10 one man does not exist, because il
Q is said in Mathew %, "In the resur-
i rection they neither marry nor are
u given in marriage" Special compan-
r ionship founded in special aflnitie'
d may exist in the world to come. But
|, there is no exclusiveness, The law ol
!, the Jews, The abolishment of :hS
Is marriage system Is involved in Pauls
/. doctrine of the end Of ordinances
/. Tho Sabbath is abolished in tho same