The New Orleans crescent., 1868-06-28


Near the town OF Oneida in the State of New
York live a singular body of people, calling
themselves "PeTfectonists.r They number abouI
two hundred, and have held together for twenty
years, losing few by secession duri1g that time.
but masking up the loss by new converts. They
are known outside as the Oneida community -
and from time TO time articles have appeared in
the Eastern papers describing with more or less
circumstantiality their religious belief, the rules
and regulations by which they are held together.
and their increasing worldly prosperity. Gresi
prominence is given to the latter item. We are
assured that their well made traps for bears and
smaller creatures are Ia demand from -itka to
Florida. and their morocco satchels and canned
fruit are equally above criticism. These accounts
are written with such evident fairness, aud there
il such manifest desire to see the bright side Of
the picture, and to do no Injustice 70 a body o.
fauaiics who are living theory, that the public
can hardly arrive at the truth Ia the casa case
farther removed from nature than either Mormoa,
ism or Sbskerism.
This sect extracts its peculiar doctrines from
the New Testament: 4" The Kingdom of Heaven
is within you.n. 10 Heaven 10 neither marryinl
nor giving in marriage" They are supposed g.
teach an absolute freedom of the Affection, as
also, the right OF the mother TO choose her Own
time for her material work. la the matter OF
properly they are unquestioned cOmmunionsts
The public could not anticipate for moment thag
any being higher than the Australian savage could
so far defy the laws of nature as to teach a com
mum m Of persons. Nevertheless, under the
strict surveillance of spiritual despOtism more alb.
sOlute than that OF the Jesuits, this is a fact.
They declare that 10 desire 10 hold your being
sacred to enc other being is sel6shness-the old
Adam No relations are entered into without ths
consent of the head council. If a young woman
has yielded her affections 10 another, aud then
after a time is approached by third party, aud
shriDks from the new relation, If the heads OF the
departments approve, she Is Taught that this un.
willingness to abandon herself is sigu of an un-
regenerate nature.
| was curious to see the faces Of those who had
lived these theories for twenty years and 10 see
the children born Of such conditions. Nowhere
had seen such collection OF ugly (hOmely) old
women. They must have been gathered from the
most ignorant class of labOreTs. on a level with
the Mormon women, and who. like them, being on
the animal plane, were led BY their men. | OBJ.
served the want of indivduality-of spirit aud
spiritual beauty-in the faces OF the young wo-
men. They had had possibilities it was evident
but the violation Of the most sacred instincts of the
soul had diVested the countenance of every charm.
OF course when people do wrong while acting
fIom what, to them, are religious principles
the injury to character is not great as il they
were consciously violating law. The fanatic re-
tains his self.respect. whatever else he may lose.
SO with these communists. They could respect
themselves as the better class of Mormon women
do, who consider polygsmy a cross the Lord wills
they should bear, and for the bearing Of which
they shall be rewarded in the next world.
Virtually, the first article of their creed is that
the Lord has raised up Mr.. Noyes and inspired
him 10 insugurate the Kingdom of Heaven on
earth. But II the social life Mr.. Noyes has insti.
tuted is any iDlimati0n OF the Millennium, alas
for ell artists and poets, and worshipers Of tue
beautiful, when the Millennium shall be full upon
us Imagine eighty or hundred women, most of
them OF the drudge class, a few rising to the ex-
ternsl intellectua none to the spiritual-every
one. young and old, with the hair shinglsd Tor cat
shoIt at the neck). every one With the uglest OF
bloOmer dresses, viz the straight, mans pan-s
below dinPy-cOlored calico dress to match, with
collars and bIeastpins so similar that they must
have been bought by the gross with faces out of
which every veslige of individuality had been re-
ligiously eradieated, and you see theeminine side
of the Millennium. This, with plenty to eat aud
drink, Cleanliness, and shelter, comprises tie fret
step toward the Millennium. Nothing could be
imagined more dreary. The eye longs for color
for graceful curves for variety of every kind the
heart for winsome ways and hearty mirth as well
as gravity. In the twenty four hours was heard
not the shadow Of laugh. People walked 10 %
their meals 10 a staid mechanical way, and walked
out again. No young girl nodded or smiled at
another or hurried in girlsh earRestness TO relate
some little circumstance or question of sOme girl.
sh interest, as they would have done in their own
fathers house.
Igwas shown the children, and here we're still
more vacant faces, aDd the same monotDnou5
dress. 1t was sad sight indeed. The children
are held to belong TO the community and no more
70 their mothers Than 10 any other woman in it.
With so little brightness in their faces, Gid not
zee how any woman could be particularly moved
to clam one as specially her own. There were
perhaps thirty under sixteen years of age, Only
fifteen Of them born to members Of the conmn-
nifty The rule is. know, TO see women dragged
to the earth bearing children like the animals on.
when looked at these young women, so devoid of
characteristics, l saw that the beaten road was
more desirable, If enlightened reason could not
point ont wiser course.
When the wife of Gen. Connor walked through
the streets of Salt Lake City, with her splendidIy
organized boy, the tone aud air Of TIE child was
SO different from that of the young Mormons that
he attracted universal attention. Mormons and
Communionsts both declare they have found the
true social system. Both make it pay, for both
work. But, as far nObler humanity are found out.
side these institutions than are found within them
we are bound to conclude that we are not yet wise
enough to strike the key note which shall marsha
our social forces into harmony.
To make assurance doubly sure-to eradicate
AZ the very earliest moment the faintest glimpse
of genius, they have initiated a system OF what
they call criticism, which, denying all privacy,
all solitude to the SOUL nsures the spiritual death
Of each. Great thoughts are nursed long in Sc
cret before they are mature enough to present to
the world. Every great deed had long back
ground in the character that was nourished in
quiet, far from crowds. THIS system OF criticism
brings every member of the community together
every evening Of their lives, for the purpose of
discussing and criticising first one and then an
OlntTs rs tne case may De.
IL was singular proof CT how the Ignorant can
be managed by earnest but fana' icsl leaders to
see the two hundred, apparently in a state OF
apathy, file INTO the large meeting hall the evening
was there. They carried in their haods medium
sized lamps, which they placed on the tables 50
signed them, and sitting down the women took
each out Of her pocket a gray wooden sock, and
proceeded TO knit monotonously, and the men
were seated back from the lamps. No one nodded
nor smiled. or looked around with interest on the
gathering tbrong. At once 8 young man arose,
aud moving 10 the end Of the hall, read from o
daily paper the telegrsphic news.news of Carl.
bsloi and matters of equal Importance. They
never moved muscle, or to the least notioe
No eye lifted atnews of the hsros success or be-
came moist from sad6er cause. Then a brother
"HomerS IL was, believe, was up for criticisn;
very good looking young man rose and declared
IN measured phrase that ''he felt 10 love Homer
and he thought, yes, he believed Homer felt more
love toward the brothers and sisters himself His
great fault had been his set ways. He would
work his own way, and could not be made t.
merge his ways in the ways of others. he did
not think, however, that he was coming more into
harmony with the Kingdom of God. Home.
might improve his voice. though. He would saw
That all would be happier If he did. His voice
was oissgreeAble. il might be improved. h
might take some vocal exercises" etc. very