Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-11-12
THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY.
Eight Couples Married and 0 hers Re.
sumiug Homogeneous Relations.
Syrcuse IN. " cor. New York Sun.

~ -.N Has .t.
The Oneida Community seems te
be fulfilling its recent announce.
ment of the abolition of the mixed
marriage system, and its adoption
of the monogamic relation. Eight
wedding ceremonies have already
| beer performed, and those who mar
ried previous to entering the Com
munity are again living exclusively
together. About eight couples are
yet single, but of these a number
are young, and r required by
their parents to wait for greater
maturity. Others may not marry
at all. Girls are not married with
out the consent of their parents,
nor were young women, under the
old complex marriage system, mar
ried without their sanction. The
number of young persons of
both sexes in the Commun-
ity who have not been mar
ried is much greater than is gen
orally supposed. The tendency
toward monogamic marriage has
been growing 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.
TIE functionary who links the
couples is an Episcopal minister who
has for fifteen years been a mem
Der Of the Community. Every
wedding is celebrated with a due
allowance of grooms and BRIDES
maids and the congratulations of
all the associates. Every couple
has had the advantage of knowing
each other thoroughly by long ac-
quaintance.
Thinking members say that, as
one innovation generally follows
another, wages will probably soon
be paid for labor, and opportunities
will thus be afforded for saving
money for purposes of travel. I'm
der the Communistic system this
pleasure a be enjoyed only by a
few who may be sent abroad to gain
instruction to be used for the Com
munity's benefit. To the majority
eommunismis a despotism.
No one fancies~that the Oneida
Community will soon be dissolved.
The advantages of social enjoyment
and freedom from pecuniary care
are not to be forgotten. Neither
would dissolution be feasible. The
entire property of the Community,
with that of its branch in Walling-
ford, Conn, would, it is estimated.
sell for at least half a million, and
this, if divided among the three
hundred members, would give them
only $1,666 apiece. Furthermore,
the Community would be required
to return, without interest, a large
sum to those who invested money
on entering. The community owns
no property beyond what is invested
in its lands, stock, residences, mills,
and other structures. The Oneida
domain comprises 600 acres, and
that of WalIingford 300, both hay
ing valuable water power. Prom
inent among their industries are the
making of plated ware, silk, 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. Fur
nishing luncheons to visitors is no
Insignificant branch of profit.
During the summer these some
times reach a thousand in a day.
The only improbable industry has
been that Of the printing Office,
wherein works explanatory 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 T.
Noyes, its founder, but is now gov
erned by q committee 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 ad-
visory. The wishes of Mr.. Noyes,
though still potent, are not often
expressed and he leaves the com~
mittee, in his advanced years, 30
rule without interference.