Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-09
MAKING OYER The MAN.
AN UNIQUE COLONY IN THE HEART
OF THE JERSEY PINES.
Broken Victims of Drink Find a Quiet
Retreat, With Work and Rest to
Bring Back the Bloom
of Youth.

A novel plan for the quarantining OF men
who have been unable to Withstand the
alcoholic and other temptations OF urban
life has been inaugurated in the heart OF
the Jersey pines. and it bids fair to be sue
CesstuI. 1t is known as the keswick
Ccion;. and is located at Giberson's Mills.
about half way between Writings and
Banner. The founder of the colony Is Will
liam Raws, who, with the effective aid of
his wife, conducted for several years the
"Whosoever Mission" in Germantown. Tho
Undertaking is a new one in this country,
and is modelled after a successful colony
in Germany. The whatsoever Mission"
in Germantown attained a reputation OF
having enabled scores of victims of alco-
holism to reform and lead new lives. ard
the keswick Colony proposes to continue
the good work on a much larger scale than
was possible in Germantown.
The tract purchased for the use OF the
colony at Giberson's Mills contains Al
acres. of which % acres is cleared land.
or which corn. potatoes. beans and other
vegetables can be successfully cultivated.
There is also on the tract an orchard;
any number of huckleberry bushes. me
tract is divided up by convenient roads,
Ranked on either side by a magnificent
slowtn OF trees. The beautiful surround
ings, pure air, ETC., are counted on as aids
in upbuilding men, and they exercise Il
quickly p~erceptible influence on those who
come to the place as physical wrecks.
The new settlement was named in honor
cf keswick, England, for many years a re-
sort for religious conventions and mis-
sion work. There are several buildings on
aW eElngs will be built in the spring, the
lumber for which will be cut on the track
and sawed into boards at the old mill.
wihc his run by water power. A good deal
of the timber is now being cut up into
ccrowo God by the colonists, who will thus
be kept employed all winter. The lake is
vel. stocked with pike, and supplies the
RESIDENTS with many a toothsome repast.
One OF the men is an electrician, and he
Is now arranging to set up an electric plant,
to be operated by water power. SO that
all of the dwellings can be lighted by cleo
ITCHY.
All Is Cheerfulness.
There are now four houses, a barn and
other outbuildings on the border of the
lake. Another large dormitory is in the
course of erection, and 1t is proposed to
who acts as director general of the col
oTy. is quartered in a large, roomy house,
on the first floor Of which is a large. old
fashioned fireplace. He devotes all of his
devoted to him; He has but to express a
wish in regard to the manner in which
lie wants anything done in the colony, and
it IS performed cheerfully.
The governing principle of the colony
is Christianity. At the outset 1t was de-
termined not to allow sectarianism to gain
a foothold and the idea has been carried
OFT. All of the men who come are given
the Utmost freedom. They are impressed
in various ways with the idea hat there
IS no man too far gone to be made right,
and the results have shown hat at kes-
wick Een can break away from the drink
haEit and become useful, Self-respecting,
Industrious citizens.
The Bible is the book of rules-the court
Ct last resort. From it there is no appeal.
Religious meetings are held daily, and all
the influences are elevating. The colonists
have all things in ommon. They are given
homes. food and clothing. Whatever they
taining and extending the work. Should
any one desire to leave the colony and seek
employment elsewhere they are aided in
every way. No stumbling blocks are placed
IN the road of possible success.
Can Try, Try Again.
If C. man makes the attempt and falls
by the wayside he is taken back and given
another chance to reform. No matter how
often he succumbs to the temptation to
lead a absolute life he is given to under
stand that he is free to return to Keswick
and try again. The gates are never closed
sire &c reform. But one thing Is demanded
of the applicant. and that Is sincerity. If
he is in earnest he will find everyone ready
to lend him a helping hand.
| Many of the recruits are received from
the missions in New York city and Phil
SdelphIa. Among the colonists eGa wen
who have been in the various professions,
engineers. carpenters. etc, and who have
greatly improved in appearance since they
game fere. They are cheerful and hope
full and perform the duties assigned to
them in an intelligent and painstaking
manner. Experience has proved that by
tuileing men up physically it is much
easier to bring about the work of reform.
In speaking of the progress made by
the colony Mr.. Raws said: ut is no longer
an experiment! We have demonstrated
that it is the most practicable plan yet
devised for the Improvement and regener.
alton of fallen men. Many men are weary
OF the lives they have been living; they
want to do better. and many of them will
Ieform If they are given a helping hand.
That is what we are doing. They want IA
hearty welcome. loving words of encourage
ment. a home and employment. Nearly
all of them are willing to work, and no