Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-04
TIE ONEIDA COMMUNITY.
Eight Couples Married, and Others Re-
sumins Homogeneous Relations.
n. ~ eor. New York sun.l

syrcuso a. W cor. New York SUM-
The Oneida Community seems to b,
fulfilling its recent announcement o.
the abolition OF the mixed marriage
system, and its adoption of the mono
gamic relation. Eight wedding cere,
monies have already been performed.
aud those who married previous to
entering the Community are again
living exclusively together. Abou,
eight couples are yet single, but OF
these a number are young, and are
required by their parents to wait for
greater maturity Others, may not
marry at all. Girls arc not married
without the consent of their parents,
nor were young women, under the old
complex marriage system, married
without their sanction. The number
of young persons of both sexes in the
Community who have not been mar
ried is much greater than is generally
supposed. The tendency toward
m%onogamic marriage has been grow
ing in the Community for years, and
the late pressure BY the Methodist
clergy against complex marriages
simply fastened, in the opinion of the
members, what would ultimately have
occurred.
The functionary who links the cou-
pies is an Episcopal minister who has
for fifteen years been a member of the
Community. Every wedding is cele-
brated with a due allowance of grooms
and bridesmaids and the congratula-
tons Of all the associates. Every
couple has had the advantage OF
knowing each other thoroughly by
long acquaintance.
Thinking members say that, as one
innovation general follows another,
wages will probably soon be paid for
labor, and opportunities will thus be
afforded 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 instruction to be used for the
Community's benefit. TO the MAORI
ty communism is a despotism.
N0one 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 he
forgotten. Neither would dissolution
be feasible. The entire property Of
the Community. with that gifts branch
in WaIlingford, Conn, would, it is es.
timated, sell for at least half a million.
and this, if divided among the three
hundred members, would give them
only 81 ,666 apiece. Furthermore, the
Community would be required to re-
turn, without interest, a large sum to
those who invested money on entering.
The Community owns no property be-
yond what is invested in its lands.
stock, residences, mills, and other
structures. The Oneida domain COM
prises 600 acres, and that of Walling.
ford 300, both having valuable water
power. Prominent among their in.
dustries are the making of plated ware.
silk, chains, and traps, and the can
ming 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 insignia
cant branch Of profit. During the
summer these sometimes reach a
thousand in a day. The only unproft.
able industry has been that Of the
printing Office, wherein works explain
atOry of the Community's theological
and sexual doctrines have been pub
for about thirty years.
The Community was formerly under
the control Of Mr.. John +. Noyes, its
founder, but is now governed by a
committee OF ten men and ten women,
who consider all questions arising, and
direct all business. Any marriages
contemplated are announced 70 them,
but their control over these is only
advisory. The wishes Of Mr.. Noyes,
though still potent, are not often ex-
pressed and he leaves the committee,
in his advanced years, to rule without
interference.