The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-31

: worship only zoo. As REGARDS tne ministfyi
J both sexes are represented In II Religious
services held on Sunday consist OF exhorta-
tion. singing. and marching and dancing to
music There is little audible prayer In 1875
tho Shakers had eighteen communities and
2,415 members. In 1890 the number OF com
munities had shrunk to fifteen and the num-
Der Of members to 1.738 We may add that
Ohio and Massachusetts, have each three
Shaker societies; New York. New Hampshire,
Maine and Kentucky two each; and there IL
one in Connecticut
| The seven communistic ORGANIZATIONS which
constitute the Amsna Society term them
selves the True Inspiration Congregation"
The community is confined 10 Iowa county.
Ia where its members exist in seven towns
They came from Germany in 1872 and settled
near Buffalo. N. Y. whence, thirteen years
later. they moved to their present location.
They are q religious rather than an industrial
community, and are devoted believers. hold
ing that all parts Of the book are inspired.
They believe In the Trinity in justification by
faith. and in the resurrection OF the dead. but
not in eternal punishment The wicked are to
be purified In fire. They do not observe the
sacrament OF baptism. but make much OF that
OF the Lords Supper which. however. 10 cele-
brated not oftener than once in two years.
They believe that an era OF inspiration began
at the opening OF the eighteenth century. the
Holy Ghost since then revealing the secret OF
the heart and conscience to messengers or
| new prophets. The elders or ministers arc
| guided by the spirit OF inspiration, and the
| community has at its head some one lat one
time II was woman who is under the direct
| inspiration OF God. There nra three orders OF
members: the highest. the middle and the
| lowest or children's order They hold re-
| ligious services every evening. and also on
| Sunday. Wednesday. and Saturday morning.
| The general meeting takes place on Saturday.
the other gatherings being mostly for prayer
| Better known than the association Just mem
| toned Ia the Harmony Society founded by
| George Ramp. who was born In Germany In
| 1851 and died In Economy, Pa in 1S47. His
| followers are celibates, having adopted this
| rule only in tho present century: they follow
| the example OF patriarchal government set in
the Old Testament, and hold their property
| in common. They Interpret the Scriptures
| literally; they believe that tho millennium 10
near at hand. and that all mankind will ulti-
mately be saved. those who marry, however,
being classified with the mum Der who will have
to undergo probation OF purincaton. They do
not believe in spiritualism. They observe as
holy days Christmas. Good Friday. Easter. and
Pentecost. They celebrate the Lords Supper
annually In October. Conspicuous In Economy
is the sign OF tho Golden Eule Distillery which
has been noted for the quality OF whiskey
produced. They have one organization. ono
church edince. and $50 members.
We come next to the Society OF Separattsts,
which originated in Germany The members
OF this community were called Separatists be-
cause they separated from the State church. In
the belief that they could thus enjoy q more
spiritual faith. They settled at Zoar, O., In
1917. and adopted a communal life in 1919
They reject religious ceremonies. Marriages
are allowed. but not favored, and when they
take place they are entered upon by civil con-
tract there being no religious celebration.
Tho Sunday services do not include public
prayer The Separstists have but one organi-
cation and ono church building. and their
communicates number only 200 Tho New
1caria Society was organized in 1870. Its one
community is settled in Iowa. and comprises
but twenty-one communicates. Ithas no creed
but rationalism. founded on observation"
and opposes all anti scientific revelation" |
Marriage Is approved; the system OF rule is |
democratic. The Altruists. like the Now lea
rians are non-sectarian. The principles Of |
the community are authoritatively expound- |
cd. as follows: 1t holds the property OF all it's
members in common. and all work according |
to their ability and are supplied according to |
their wants: they live together In q common
home for their mutual assistance and support.
and with the aim OF securing the greatest |
wealth, comfort, and enjoyment. 1t allows
equal rights and privileges to all the men,
bers. both men and women. In all its business
affairs. which are conducted in accordance
with majority vote OF its officers. who them
selves are the choice OF the majority; il at
tempts no interference with the marriage
or family affairs OF it's members. or with
their religious. political. or other opinions
1t is in Missouri that the single organization
of Altruists. with its twenty five commandments.
Is to be found. The community known as the
Adonai Shomo was organized and legally
established as a corporation In 1876, in Peter
sham. Mass. At its organization 1t had eleven
communicates. who have since increased to
thirty. 1t grew out OF the Adventist move
ment Its leading principles are faith In
Christ as the Son OF God. and a community OF
goods. All members, male and female. have
an equal voice In matters o: government and
property. There is q common treasury,
whence individual needs are supplied. All
labor for the common maintenance. agricul-
ture being the chief industry. We come
lastly to the Koreshan EcclesSa or the
Church Triumphant. The founder OF this
body Is Cyrus iced. Cyrus In Hebrew is
koresh; hence the term Koreshan Eccle-
sia. or the koreshan Church. Tho foun-
dalton principle OF the movement Is tho
- reestabllshment OF Church and State upon q
basis OF divine fellowship" tho law OF which
Is to love ones neighbour. 1t has three de-
partments: the ecclesia. or church; the coll
leRe OF life. or educational department; and
the Society Arch-TriumphRnt. As tho aims OF
koreshanity cannot be secured where the
spirit OF competition operates. the life Of the
disciples is communal Csllbacy is funda-
mental doctrine. To remain ceibate is held
desirable In order to conserve the forces OF
life. and also necessary to the attainment OF
hat purity OF life whose outcome is immor-
tality. The disciples hope TO pass out of the
world as did Enoch, Elijah. and Christ There
are hve KoreshAnic organizations. two In Il
tnois. and one each In Massachusetts,. CALI
ornia, and Oregon. Thsy have no churches, |
put occupy six private houses.
VI.
Tho views OF the Sweden borGians who form
he Church OF the New Jerusalem. are too well
Inown to nssi outlining here. and We there
ore con1ns ourselves 10 marking the growth |