Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-23
THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY.
Eight Couples Married, and
Others Resuming MOnOga-
mans Relations.


The Oneida Community seems to be
fulfilling its recent announcement OF the
abolition OF the mixed marriage system,
and its adoption of the monogamic re-
lation. Eight wedding ceremonies have
already been performed, and those who
married previous to entering the COM
munity are again living exclusively to-
gether. About eighty couples are yet
single. but OF these number are young,
and are required by their parents to
wait for greater maturity. Others may
not mary at all. Girls are not married
without the consent OF their parents, nor
were young women, under the old COM
pick marriage system, married without
their sanction. The number OF young
persons of both sexes in the Community
who have not been married is much
greater than is generally supposed. The
Tendency toward mOnOgamic marriage
has been growing in the community for
years, and the late pressure by the
Methodist clergy against complex mar
riages simply fastened, in the opinion OF
the members, what would ultimately
have occurred.
The functionary who links the couples
is an Episcopal minister who has for fiji
teen wears been a member of the Com
munity. Every wedding is celebrated
with due allowance OF groOms and
bridesmaids and the congratulations OF
all the associates. Evrry couple has had
the advantage of knowing each other
thoroughly by long acquaintance.
Thinking members say that, as one
innovation generally follows another,
wages will probably soon be paid for
labor, and opportunities will thus be al
forded for saving money for purposes OF
travel. Under the communistic system
this pleasure can be enjoyed only by a
few who may be sent abroad to gain in
struction TO be used for the COmmunity's
benefit. To the majority communism is
a despotism.
No one fancies that the Oneida Com
munity will soon be dissolved. The adj
vantages of social enjoyment and free
dom from pecuniary care are not to be
forgotten. Neither would dissolution
now be feasible. The entire property OF
the Community, with that.of its branch
i'm Wallingford, Conn.,, would, II is esti-
mated, sell for at least half million,
and this, if divided among the 800 mem
beers, would give them only Sl,666
apiece.
Furthermore, the Community would
be required to return without interest
a large sum to those who invested mon
ey on entering. The Community owns
no property beyond what is invested in
its lands. The Oneida domain COM
prises 600 acres, and that of Walling-
ford 800. both having valuable water
power. Prominent among their indus
tries is the making of plated ware,
silks, chains, and traps, and the canning
of fruits and vegetables. These have
been more or less prosperous since their
initiation, but are now especially so.
Outside labor is largely employed upon
all. Furnishing luncheons to visitors
is no insignificant branch OF profit. Dur
ing the summer, these sometimes reach
a thousand in day. The only unpro-
fitable industry has been that OF the
printing office, wherein works eXplana-
tory of the Community's theological and
sexual doctrines have been published
for about thirty years.
The Community was formerly under
the control of Mr.. John V. Noyes, its
founder, but is now governed by a COM
mittee of ten men and ten women, who
consider all questions arising, and direct
all business. Any marriages cOntem-
plated, are announced to them, but
their control over these is only advisory.
The wishes of Mr.. Moves, though still
potent, are not often expressed, and he
leaves the Committee, in his advanced
wears. 10 rule without interference.