The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-02
THE HARRIS COmMUNITY Ar
RROCTON. NEW YORK.

a Member of Parliament as n ReII-
KIOnISI-Ouecr Freak of IL Young
ArIsIOcraI.
Correspondence ofths Nc.o York S,m.
BUFFALO, March &c.
Few persons are aware that here
within fifty miles of us, in the little
village of Brocton, Is quiet commu-
nifty who have adopted new creed
and are prOpagating new faith, which,
in its outward observances at least,
will compare fnvOrably with the most
orthodox. This religious sOcialistic
community embraces about 200 per-
sons, who between them own and oc.
cupy sixteen hundred acres of fine
farming and grape grOwing land, lying
between the high road and Lake Erie.
About two years ago, Mr.. L. l.. Har-
ris, formerly resident of Armenia,
Duchess county, New York, and at one
to Japan, came here, and after looking
around for some time, he negotiate
with several farmers around Brocton,
and having purchased their HON esteads
and lands, and put things i'll order, he
gathered together n colony of twenty
five families who believed as he did, and
were agreed that the old apostolic plan
was best, where the multitude who be-
lieVed were of one heart and ofone soul,
and had all things in common. In
property matters none of them consider
"that aught ofthe things which he pos
seSses is his own" but in their dOmes-
tic life they are as distinctly families as
any other community. And herein they
differ from all previous attempts at
communism. Theirs is a communism of
faith and lands based upon the idea of
the spiritual elevation OF each other, and
not upon the liCentiOus qualification OF
the animal passions.
The creed of Mr.. Harris to which they
all subscribe asserts that all aSsOcia-
tions should be formed by men upon
the principle of spiritual affinity, upon
which principle communities exist In
heaven. The holding and cultivation
of land Is held subordinate 10 this idea,
and no man considers that his influence
is measured by the number of acres or
rather by the holy life and gOdly con-
versatiOn which he exhibits day by day.
And the entire neighbOrhOOd for miles
around bear common testimO' y to these
traits OF the Harris community.
Grape growing is the principal branch
of industry carried on among them,
and they are certainly bringing it to
great perfection. About fifty acres are
planted with vines. Floral hOrticul-
lure and vegetable raising also cOm-
inland their attention. The wine pro-
duct of their vineyard finds IL ready
market on the spot. Former social dis
linctiOns are merged into one common
Christian brotherhood, and every man
takes his shovel and his hoe, his sickle
and his pru ming hook, and works with
a will. The result is, a. little paradise
springing up in their midst.
The society has received ono very
important acquisition since its estab-
lishment in tho person OF Mr.. Laurence
Oliphant, until recently Il member of
the British Parliament for Stirling.
His sudden departure and voluntary
exile created great sensation in Eng
land, and little less so here, when it
was known that he had given up all his
former companions, then present hon
ors, and prospective Importance, for
the purpose of uniting with religious
community. In personal appearance
and stature Mr.. Oliphant is tall and
slender, but withal of commanding
figure, large forehead, and expressive
blue eyes. lie is the cashier and bust
ness agent for the community. Mrs.
Oliphant is very charming woman,
full OF grace and pOIiteness, and with
face indicative of intelligence and good
ness of heart. Like her husband, she
dresses plainly but neatly. Close by
the bluff of the lake, on the site of the
old homestead of the MilletL family, an
elegant cottage has been erected for the
residence OF Mr.. Oliphant and his fam
ily. Everything in the interior OF the
cottage is plain, neat and beautiful,
without afTectatiOn, and indicates the
controlling hand of the Christian Eng
fish lady.
During Mr.. Harris's residence in
Japan Mr.. Oliphant, who was Secreta-
ry TO the British Embassy, formed his
acquaintance, received and accepted his
theories and beliefs, and hastened to
cast i'll his lot with him. Being remind.
cd n few months ago By the receipt oil
letters from his former constituents
that he was still looked upon rs their
representative, he quietly wrote out his
resignation AS English legislator, and
forwarded it to London. Mr.. Oliphnnt
and his family express entire sntisfac-
ton with their new life, the religious
en1Oyments more than compromising
for their material, social, or political
sacrifice.