The Osceola times., 1880-05-15
THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY.
Eight Couples Married, and Others Re.nm-
ing Homogeneous Relations.
n ~ hnn.
Tho nno;lo Community,

The Oneida Community seems 10 DE
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
munitv are again living exclusively to-
gether. About eighty COUPLES are yet
single, but of these number are young,
and are required by their parents to
wait for greater maturity. Others may
not marry 1T 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
encv toward monogamic marriage has
been growing in the community for
years, The late pressure by the Metho-
dist clergy against complex marriages
simply FASTENED, III 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 a due allowance OF grooms
and bridesmaids. Every couple has had
the advantage Of knowing each other
thoroughly by long acquaintance.
Thinking members say, that ~ 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 purpo es 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 tor the Community
benefit To the majority communism is
a dcspotism.
No one fancies that the Oneida Com
munty will 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
Wallingford, Conn, would, it is estimat-
ed, sell for at least half million, and
this, if divided among the 800 members,
would give them only 81 666 apiece.
Furthermore, the Community would be
re luired to return, without interest, a
large sum to those who invested money
on entering. The Community owns no
property beyond what is invested III It's
lands, stocks. residences, mills and other
structures. The Oneida domain com
prises 600 acres, and that of Wallingford
300; 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 Ia
Dor is largely employed upon all. Fur
nishing luncheon 10 visitors Is no inslg-
niticant branch of profit. During the
summer these sometime reach a thous-
and a day. The only improbable in-
dustry 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 for
merly under the control of John V.
Moves. its founder, but is now governed
by a committee of ten men and ten wo-
men, who co slider I'll questions arising,
and direct al business. Any marriages
contemplate ! are announced TO them,
but their coa,rOl over these is only adj
yisory. The wishes Of Mr.. Noyes,
though still potent, are not often ex-
pressed, and he leaves the commi tee, in
his advanced d years, to rule without in
tprfprpnce