New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-30
ONEIDA COMMUNISM.

r. Foote OF this city received from Mr.. Theodore
l.. Pitt Of Vineland, n. j., formerly leading
member of the Community, letter giving some
account of that remarkable social Institution AZ
viewed from within. The following is an extract
from Mr. Pitts letter, which TIE TRIBUNE is PEP
mtted 10 publish
In ls70 the Community receiel from its plat
form Of social communism, and adopted one which
allowed marriage but preferred cehDacy lho
change was made for two reasons: nrst, OUTSIDE
sectaran persecution OF the Community Ior soclA!
principles winch IN no way violated the laws OK
the State or the good order OF tue nelghDorAood1
but which were scientific divergences from some OF
the habits and prejudices of prevailing socetyt
second the DEVELOPMENT inside OF the Community
of large party holding religious and social views
perverslve of the original purpose and constitution
of the Community The outside persecution ma
been growing IN bitterness ana offensive demon
stration for several years The inside disturbances
had a gradual growth dnriLg ten previous years.
and matured simultaneously with the external
persecution. .
hoped that it would not only allay the oul side
persecution but also result IN harmOnlOns reor-
preserve the other cooperative, social aud religious
features The first OF these results followed;
Persecution entirely ceased. The change OF social
platform being made IN COOL faith by those who
had been most active in the opposition aud
neither IN the respectable press nor IN the secsarian
pupits has there been any further hostility TO the
follow. The internal division into two parties
of which held firmly to the religion and social
other substantially abandoned all three and wished
to return TO private ownership Of property and
conformity to the general fashion OF outside SIDE
it was found IN the latter part OF the year lsSo
impossible to continue the community organization
further. Accordingly a commission was appointed
to devise a plan tremendously TO divide tho
property and dissolve the Community.
The plan agreed upon by the commission was to
reorganUe the Community as Joint stock COM
pany, to capitalize the property OF the community
at $500 900, and issue stock TO that amount, ana
to divide the stock among the &l3 adult members
This plan was uninlmou=ly adopted by the tom-
munity. The division of the property was made -
follows To all members who had brought property
into the Community on joining, stock was glycu TO
the amount OF 0ne-haf OF the property contrib
uted to all members vino bad become sixteen years
of age while in the Community, stock to the
amount of 500 each was given; the remainder OK
the stock was then divided among the 2lo adut
members III proportion to tie time shey had been
in the Community. The stock WAS IN shares OF 10
each-24, 900 shares in al. The company vas
chartered under the laws OF the State OF Aew-fork
under the name Of the Oneida Community,
Limited. The charter runs for fifty years. The
company was organized IN ls~O, ana practically
succeeded the Community organization January l,
ISL lie was fully empowered by It's charter 10
carry on all the businesses of the Community and
others in addition. The company has succeeded
well in business, and has paid dividends on its
paid-up capital of 100000 rs follows In ISL.
per cent; 1852, per cent; 1883. per cent?
1ssi, per cent; 1s-5. ) per cent 1856 thus iaf
at the rate OF q per cent. On January l, 1856.
there was a surplus of undivided profit amounting
TO $40. 900, and q total of inventOried property
amounting to SsO5.OO0. The balance Of current
liabilities was only $4,000. lhe four Leading
businesses of the company are; the Manufacture 81
steel traps for trapping fur-beatIns animals; the
manufacture of sewing.silk and machine twist; tie
canning of fruits. vegetables, jellies meats. soups
etc. and silver plating and the manufacture OF
plated table ware. he three first named are
carried on at the Community. Madison County. y.
Y The silver plating and table ware works arc
When the Community was dissolved there were
in it OF adult members and children nearly 300.
or ltfVrv laff fla
munity Home in lss2 and settled as private
families at Santa Anna, southern california.
Some fifty have settled at Niagara FANS, part IN
Canada and part on the American SIDE all acent To
the company's factories. They form about twelve
families, residing in ten separate homes Two
families reside in NewiOrk, and one family N
Boston, Mass. Several families have settled hear
the Oneida Home and are III the employment OF the
company About 100 persons still reside IN ths
Community Home buildings. Most of those
residing in the Home buildings board ~ CO.
operative dIning-roOm, where meals are furnished at
q little more than cost.
John Humphrey Noyes the founder OF th- Com
munty, has resided at Niagara Falls on the Canada
side since March. 1850. lie assisted VITA counsel
in tbs formation OF the joint stock company. AID
mnch Of the harmony of the transformation was
due to his efforts and the conciliatory spirit he
encouraged. He was one of the largest stock
holders in the company. and has taken a helpful,
watchful interest in the c0mpany's business
success. He has however. during the past six
spiritual eiigiOus and social studies and las been
fertile in much interesting research. conversation
and wrltng Dan5 the pr year as fro mas as
work. Since September, 1850, he has been very
of the forty-fve marriages which have taken
place since the change OF social platform in 1919,
thirty ninC have been between members OF the
Community and six only between members and
outside partners. those who had been MARRIED
previously-all who had living partncrs-haye with
one exception resumed the marital relation 81 tie
ural mating bora in the Community between 1865
and so, only bias died and only one shows any
special congental defect. This one. born of parents
somewha weak in physical development, shows
81 ght nervous defect, which he is slowly GU grow
ing. He is otherwise healthy and bright mentally.
The one who died at the age Of seven was very
that they not below the average of children from
parents of similar physical and hentil culture IA
homogeneous society. The dissolution of the COM
munity has somewhat married the stirpIcnltural
experiment by RELOCATING the children TO less
favorable conditions OF care discipline and cduca-
tiOn,-physlcal. mental and spiritual In the Com
munity both parents and children had all the
advantages of large aggregate wealth AMI econo-
mics and of common interest in all things. Under
the jOInt stock system the parents have only the
advantages or IndIyIdullisln, small private fort
unes ana their earnings under the wa-e system.
Private families and separate interests being IN
there results the decay Of common
sympathy, and the destruction of many large
comforts and educational advantages which have
grown up under communism
Among Il large section of the old members the
Community faith and sympathy still lives. Much
voluntary communism Is active between them.
Their sick and aged are tenderl, and faithfully
cared for. Their faith in Jesus Christ and Ills
slnless communism remains bright. They see the
time steadily approaching when society eycryw here
by Providence and evolution will he forced 20 the
study OF problems which the Oneida Community
honestly studied and sought to solve. The World
wide interest in socialism to-day has hidden con-
nections with the history. ideas and achievements
of that Community during third OF century.
Disco geres were made there during that third OF
century in social science and spiritual philosophy
and relations which when better and more widely
known the civilized and scientific world Will not
willingly let die. and which uay help in tho
progress OF mankind to better future.