The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-11-07
THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY.
EIGHT COUPLES MARRIED AND OTHER
RRsUMING HOMOGENEOUS RELATIONS.

SYRACUSE, October 19.-The Oneid;
Community seems to be fulfilling its re
cent announcement of the abolition of th,
mixed marriage system and its adoption 0
the monoganic relation. Eight wedding
ceremonies have already been performed
and those who married before entering tn,
community are again living exclusivel!
together. About eighty couples are ye
single, but Of these q number are youns
and are required by their parents to wal
for greater maturity. Other may MOI
marry at all. Girls are not married with
out the consent of their parents, nor wert
young women, under the old complex mar
riage system, married without their sane
ton. The number of young persons oi
both sexes in the Community who have
/ not been married is much greater than if
generally supposed. The tendency toward
monogamic marriage has been growing in
the Community for years, and the laJe
pressure by the Methodist clergy against
complex marriages simply fastened, in the
opinion of the members what would ulti.
mately have occurred. a~'4 ..'
The functionary who links the couples ID
an Episcopal minister, who has for fifteen
years been member OF the Community.
Every wedding is celebrated with a due al
lowance of grooms and bridesmaids, and
the congratulations of all the associates.
Every couple has the advantage of know
ing each other thoroughly by long &C
quaintance. =
Thinking members say that, as one in
novation generally follows another, wages
will probably soon be paid for labor, and
opportunities will thus be afforded fer sa-
wing money for purposes Of travel. Under
the comnunistic system this pleasure can
be enjoyed only by few who may be sent
abroad to gain Instructions: fer the Com
munity's benefit. To the majority commu-
munism is despotism.
No one fancies that the Oneida Commu-
nifty will soon be dissolved. The advan-
tages of social enjoyment and freedom
from pecuniary care are not to be fogotten.
Neither would dissolution now be feasible.
The entire property of the Community,
with that of it's branch at Wallingford,
Conn.,, would, it is estimated, sell for at
leest half a million, and this, if divided
among the 300 members, would give them
only $1666 apiece. Furthermore, the COM
munity would be required to return, with
out interest, large sum to those who in
vested money on entering. The Commu-
nifty owns no property beyond what lie in
vested on its lands, stock, residences, mills
and other structures. The Oneida domain
comprises 600 acres and that of Wal!ing-
ford 200, both having valuable water pow
er. Prominent among their industries arc
the making of plated ware, silks. chains
and traps, and the canning of fruits and
and vegetables. These have been more or
less prosperous since their initiation, but
are now especially 30. Furnishing lunch
con to visitors is no insignificant branch of
profit. During the simmer these some
times reach thousand day. The only
Improbable industry has been that of the
printing Office, wherein works explanatory
Of the Community's theological and sexu-
al doctrines have been published for about
thirty years. ,.s
The Community was formerly under the
control of DR.. John V. Noyes, its found
er, 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 announ-
ced to them, but their control over these is
ouly advisory. The wishes of Mr.. Noyes,
though still potent. are not often express
ed, and he leaves the committee in his ad-
vanced years to act without his interfer-
ence. tlstr