The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-06-26

Noyes was highly educated. He gradu-
ated at Dartmouth college and began the
study of law. But in 1891 great religious
revival broke out at Put,ey, Vt. 1t drew
Young Noyes within its influence Hewhom
press and people have bounded as q monster
Of immortality And a destroyer Of Chris
tianity abandoned all his worldly prospects
and began q work for the sake Of religion.
He pondered deeply over religious ques-
tions and finally studied theology at Yale
college. He considered that he had been
converted and was Christian. In 1888 he
became a Congregational preacher. Soon
after this his peculiar ideas began to mani
fest themselves. He pondered more and
more deeply on religious questions, till at last
the Perfectionist doctrines began to be clear
to him. He drew these doctrines from the
New Testament and the teachings Of Paul
Upon these he based the whole social and re-
ligious system, which afterward resulted in
the foelndin2 of the Oneida community. z-~----
He became what he called seeker after
truth. His meditation and study brought
him to tho decision that tho teachings of
Paul have been misunderstood. He seems to
have believed devoutJy In the second
coming of Christ, but not that it was
to be material appearance, with pomp
and flourish Of trumppts, before the
physical eyes Of men. 1t was to DO rather
the quiet stealing into and inpressing of tho
inner spirit Of the individual, without out
ward sign other than the identifying changes
wrought in the character of the indivi idual
Therefore, it was Noyes called himself and
those who believed with him "Perfectionists,
strivers towards perfection in all wnys-men-
tai. moral, physical and spiritual.
Mingled with this were other doctrines of
the equality II al mankind, and particularly
the equality OF men and women. He be-
lieved that those in whom the spirit truly
dwelt should separate themselves from the
world and live as one family, and return to
community Of goods, as in the days OF tho
early Christians
For such as these. also, there should be
Christian liberty. The existing laws in re-
gard to marriage, as other matters should
not be binding Oh them. His doctrines in
regard to marriage were more furiously
criticised than any others. And yet they
seem to have meant directly the opposite OF
what they are commonly supposed to do
Noyes believed that men and women should
live In a state Of ceNbacy ordinarily, and
that children should only be born from So
lected parents 1t is a fact that few children
were born in the Oneida community. Such
as were were turned into a common nursery
and school room.
The women Of the organization looked
very queer to the outside world Many of
them were wholesome and healthful looking.
but they wore dresses made for convenience
rather than for adornment-scant skirts to
their knees, with trousers Of the same goods
below. Their hair was cut Short and they
wore no corsets, but dress in one piece fit
ting the form and buttoned close up to the
throat. Noyes believed that women were
put into the world for something else than
merely to lo.k fascinating and enticing to
men,
Noyes' teachings were so opposed to the
views Of the church that bis license TO preach
was speedily taken from him. Then he COM
menced to found his own sect. He married
Harriet Holton, and with her obtained suffi-
cient land and money on which to found his
colony. She was in perfect sympathy with
his plans. The first colony was started at
putney, Vt But the citizens Of Putney
thought they had something to say about the
Perfectionists They broke up tho settle
lnent
Then Noyes and his band of followers went
TO a retired region in Madison county, N. Y.
and set up housekeeping. That was in l847.
The company bought 600 acres Of land in
course Of time. They began to practice their
doctrines. All worked for the good of the
community, without seeking gain for him
self. In thirty years they had, without at all
to do 80, amassed valuable prop
erty, worth $500, 900. The aOneida trap"
known to fur hunters the country over was
the invention Of an old Canadian trapper
who had joined the community. They pros
pered greatly, and seemed to live in peace
and content
In 1874 there were 23s OF them, with a
branch establishment. Hepworth Dixon de-
clared that in the peculiar costume worn by
the female portion Of the community, plain
women escaped notice and pretty girls looked
winsome."
In 1879 the united preachers of the state of
New York interfered with the Perfectionists.
and set about collecting legal evidence
whereby they could be suppressed. There.
npon, in deferepce to public sentiment, Moves i
advised the organization to give up complex
and pair of like common folk !
This was done After that Noyes did not
i've constantly with tho community. !
He adhered to the last to his doctrines.
but believed the world was not yet rips ior !.