The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-31
THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY.
Overthrow of the Complex Marriage
System.

Overthrow of the Complex Marriage |
system.
New York SUM
The Oneida Community seems to be full
filling its recent announcement of the
abolition of the mixed marriage system,
and its adoption of the monogamic rela-
ton. 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 required by their parents to wait for
greater maturity. Others may not mar
ry at all. Girls are not married without
the consent of their parents, nor were
young women, under the complex sys-
TEN, 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 to-
ward monogamic marriage has been
growing in the Community for years, and
the late pressure by the Methodist clergy
against complex marriages simply has
tened in the opinion Of the members,
what would ultimately have occurred.
The functionary who links the couples
is an Episcopal minister who has for fif-
teen years been member of the COM
munity. Every wedding is celebrated
with a due allowance of grooms and
bridesmaids and the congratulations of
all the associates. Each couple has had
the advantage of knowing each other
thoroughly by long acquaintance.
Thinking members say that, as one in
novation generally follows another,
wages will probably soon be paid for la
Dor, and opportunities will thus be af-
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 communi-
tvs benefit. To the majority commun-
ism is a despotism.
No one fancies that the Oneida Com
munity will soon be dissolved. The adj
vantages of social enjoyment and freedom
from pecuniary care are not to be forgot
ten. Neither would dissolution now be
feasible. The entire property of the
Community, with that of its branch in
Wallingford, Conn.,. would, it is esti-
mated, sell for at least half million,
and this, if divided among the three hun
dred members, would give them only
81 $3.50 apiece. Furthermore, the Com
munity would be required to return,
without interest, large sum to those
who invested money on entering. The
Community owns no money beyond what
is invested in its lands, stock, residences,
mills and other structures. The Oneida
domain comprises six hundred acres, and
that of Wallingford three hundred, both
having valuable water power.
Prominent 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 by all. Furnishing
luncheons to visitors is no insignificant
branch of profit. During the summer,
these sometimes reach a thousand a day.
The only improbable industry has been
that of the printing office, wherein works
explanatory of the Community's theo-
logical 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 COM
mittee of ten men and ten women, who
consider all questions arising, and
direct all business. And marriages con-
templated are announced to them, but
their control over these is only advisory.
The wishes of Mr.. Noyes, though still
potent, are not often expressed, and he
leaves the committee, in his advanced
years, to rule withoutinterference
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