The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-02-27
THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY.
Night Couples Married, and Others Eesnm-
ing homogeneous Relations.


The Oneida Community seems 10 be
fulfilling Its recent announcement OF the
abolition ofthe 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 arc 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 are not married
without the consent OF their parents, nor
were young women under the old COM
plex marriage system, married without
their sanction. The number Of young
persons of both sexes in the community
who have not married is much greater
than is generally supposed. The tend
ency toward monogamic marriage has
been growing in the community for
years, The late pressure by the Metho-
dist clergy against complex marriages
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 fifteen years been member OF
the community. Every wedding is cele-
brated with due allowance Of grooms
and bridesmaids. Every 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
labor, and opportunities will thus be af-
| forded for saving money for purposes oil
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 ior the Community's
benefit. To the majority communism is
q despotisn.
No one fancies that the Oneida Com
munity win soon be dissolved. The adj
vantages Of social enjoyment and free.
dom from pecuniary care are not forgot
ten. Neither would dissolution now be
feasible. The entire property Of the
community, with that of its branch in
Wallineford, Conn, would, it is estimat
ed. sell for at least half a million, anc
this, if divided among the 300 members
would give them only $l,666 apiece
Furthermore. the Community would bt
re1rired to return, without interest, {
j larce sum 10 those who invested money
on ent,sring. The Community owns M
nronertv beyond what is invested in III
lands stocks. residences, mills and othel
structures. The Oneida domain com
nrises 400 ac, .es, and that Of Wallingfort
300: both hav, ug valuable water power
Prominent among their industries arr
the making Of plated ware, silk, c1alni
! and trans. and the canning Of fruits ans
vegetables. These have been more o.
less prosperous siisce their initiation
but are now especially 80. Outside Ia
Dor is largely employed upon all. Fnr
nishing luncheon to wish 'Qrs " no lnslR
nifcant branch Of profit During IN
summer these sometime res ach a thous
and day. The only unpa afofitabie ~
dustry has been that of TIVE printin
Office wherein works explanatory OF tn
Community's theological ami sexua
doctrines have been published for apou
thirty years. The Community was fol
merly under the control of John '
INoyes, its founder, but is now goverue'
by a committee OF ten men and ten wo
men, who consider all questions arriving
and direct all business. Any marriage
contemplated are announced to the %
but their control over these is only au
visory. The wishes Of Mr.. koyes
though still potent, are not often ex
pressed, and he leaves the committee, ID
his advanced d years, to rule without in
tsrference.