The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-05

of any denomination were granted the use
of the church building. The inevitable
gatherings in front of the tavern in the
evenings were occupied with religious and
philosophical subjects, rather than the usu-
al degrading talk, and the greatest good
humor prevailed although all shades of
opinion were represented. This is accounted
for partly by the fact that the sale of in
toxicating liquor in the town was forbid
den, and drunkenness was very rare. The
letters of a certain William Pelham a
member, present a roseate picture of the
life in the preliminary society. yet it was
the spirit of the freedom and good fellow
ship, rather than any material benefit, that
pleased him. He himself was quartered in
an unfinished room, with nothing but the
Misunderstanding between him and the outer
air. while many others of the 1850 or LOO
members were obliged to take even worse
quarters in barns and abandoned log houses
The committee were continually re-
fusing applications for membership
because of lack of accommodations.
The supplies of clothing were ir-
regular and uncertain, bed clothing and
household supplies were scarce, while me-
chanics were so few, compared with the
work to be done. that it was very difficult
to get the services of a carpenter. Yet in
spite of all the inconvenience the bulk of
the people seemed during the greater part
of the first year to be hopeful and content
ed. Our letter writer especially was very
happy and used such expressions as the
following: 81 mean to spend the remain
der of my days in this abode of peace and
quietness. I am at length frenzy body
is at my own command and enjoy mental
liberty, after having long been deprived of
it." After having become acquainted with
Robert Owen, he says: His wisdom, his
comprehensive mind, his practical knowl-
edge, but above all. mis- openness, candor
and sincerity have no parallel in ancient or
modern history"
ELEMENTS OF TROUBLE.
Notwithstanding this enthusiasm, there
were discouraging features due, perhaps, to
insufficient control. Not all members were
industrious, and the work was not well or
ganized. Some of the mills left by the Ger
mans were idle for want of skilled workmen
to run them The society began to look for
ward with Impotence to the return of Mr..
Owen, expecting that he would at once in
troduce order, system and energy. He did
return JAM IL, 1926 and at once took the
lead. But, unfortunately, we cannot say
that he set the society upon it's feet. Per-
laps it was already too weak to be resusci-
tated. At any rate, from this time on it is
very difficult to follow the thread of events
during the frequent changes that were made
Declaring that the people, with few ex-
ceptions, had made sufficient progress, Owen
Immediately proposed that instead of wait
ing two years, they should at once form
community of complete equality. A conven-
ton, therefore, on Feb. 5 adopted the con-
stitution of THE New Harmony Community
of Equality" no exceptions being admitted
This constitution, unlike the first one, pro-
vided for a complete democratic govern
ment. The supreme power was to be an as
sembly of all the members. The executive
power was vested in a council. composed of
the secretary treasurer and commissary of
the community, and four superintendent of
departments There were to be six depart
neutrality-suspicious., manufactures and me-
chanics; literature, science and education
domestic economy; general economy and
commerce-each department to be subdivid-
ed into occupations. The departments were
to be governed by the superintendent, and
the occupations by intendents, the latter to
be elected by the members of the occupa-
tons. and the former by the intendents
The secretary, treasurer anc comsnssary of
the community were to be chosen by the as
sembly. Actions of the council were subject
to approval of the assembly. Aside from
the government, this new arrangement gave
apparently little more equality than the
Did one. 1t was provided that there shall
be similar food, clothing and education, as
near as can be, furnished for all, according
to their ages; and, soon as practicable
all shall live in similar houses, and in all
respects be accommodated alike" Yet any
one who brought money into the community
yOtrIl Be-
would be paid to him should he withdraw.
OF course, then, Robert Owen did not give
his large fortune or the New Harmony es-
tate to the community, fact that subjected
him to criticism afterward
The new constitution was not satisfactory
to all, partly because of the liberality in re-
gard to religion proclaimed therein, per-
haps, also, because of fear that the COM
munity would be crushed with the burden
of purchasing the estate. At>any rate two
small companies split off from the main
society and formed independent commune
ties on the New Harmony estate, the one
named Macluria and called community No
2, the other named Feiba-Peveli "a cipher
name signifying the latitude and longitude).
or community No. 3. Within the town off,
GERS were elected and the constitution NOM
inally put into operation. Because how
ever, OF the indscriminate admission of
every one Mr.. Owen seems to have de-
SPARED of ever forming one large commun-
ity from such heterogeneous materials and
to have tried to form a number of small
communities. IIe said later: "All my SUBJ
sequent measures were directed to accom-
plish this object" The people, also, seemed
to be seized at once with the fear that they
had undertaken too much, for on the 18th
of February the assembly practically aban-
doned the constitution and requested the
laid of Mr.. Owen for one year in conduct
ing and experimenting the concerns of the
community This aid turned out to be
sole direction" being acquiesced in as
such, and the fact is that the constitution
of the community of equality never
actually went into effect.
TOWN DIVIDED.
Still hoping to form a community of con-
genial spirits, Mr. Owen chose twenty-five
persons to form a nucleus. they to choose
others, with the expectation of ultimately
having true community. This hope was
soon cast aside. and on May IS the assembly,
counseled by Owen, voted to divide the town
into four societies, each an independent COM
munity, with it's own government and bound
to pay for its own property. For time
then, there was commercial society a pas
toral or agricultural society. and an educa-
ton society. The latter was obligated 10