Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-06-25
Christian Commonwealth Economics

Friends of the B G c.:
In my previous letter | proposed to
write you regarding the economic
ideas and features of our society. |
doubt not you have gone farther in
solving the problem of cooperative
industrial self-support than have we,
but neither society is yet old enough
to produce lin its colony as much ex-
changeable value as it consumes.
There are some economic disadvant-
ages in drawing out of the old order
while the new is icing formed. 1t
takes time to get a sufficient variety
of industries started to furnish the
work that the people coming have
training to do we'll. One needs to work
at his trade, or natural calling, at
| the kind of work he has strength,
skill or talent to perform, in order to
be of most value-perhaps in some
cases that he may be of any value to
d colony. We are pioneers, and as
such must do a little of everything.
With insufficient capital, we must get
along without many things, machin-
cry, motive power, etc. which would
be of great economic service.
Here at Commonwealth we have as
individuals done anything and every
thing that needed to be done. The
preacher has been cook and laundry
man and carpenter, as occasion
called for. The college professor has
dropped teaching for the time being,
and devoted himself to horticulture.
The editor has been plowboy, wood
cutter, well digger and all-around
common laborer. And so on, and so
on We consider all useful work
equally honorable, and measure our
love by our labor. To work well is to
love WELL To shirk, is to be selfish
and unloved.
The Christian Commonwealth has
its work organized in departments,
namely, farming, market gardening,
orchard and nursery, building, saw
mill and lum bering, blacksmithing,
dairying, poultry, housekeeping, edu-
cational and extension departments.
Over each is superintendent annu-
ally elected, or oftener if need be.
These heads of departments plan
and direct the work in their several
departments, but over them and hav-
ing general oversight of all the men
and work of the manual labor depart
ments is labor director. The labor
director each morning assigns the |
men their work for the day, making |
whatever changes from department |
to department seem needed.
We have business meeting every
Monday evening at which the work of |
the past week is reported and future
work, suggestions and propositions
concerning the common interests are
discussed. At these weekly meetings
the secretary, treasurer, commissary, |
labor directors and others make re-
ports of all transactions. We have
no labor accounts or wages. We are
governed by the rule, From each
according to his ability. to each &C
cording to his needs"
We have had no trouble with shirk-
ers. The temptation to overwork is
with almost all of us far stronger
temptation. We have had hardships
to pass through which led some to
fall away. We had some trouble with
people who lacked the Christ spirit
of meekness, humility, patience, self
forgetfulness. The disease of self
love takes many forms, and often
when it fills the whole being it is in
its own shadow lost sight of, and, I'M
suspected, absorbs the life of the in
dividual One can preach to such
people till doomsday, and they either
resent the truth, or apply it to any
and everybody else.
We have here 1000 acre planta-
ton. 1t is only about half paid for.
We do not expect to build here city.
| Have not the natural advantages for
! it. Our plan iss to branch out. or
ganizing other associated colonies,
wherever Providence opens places.
There are two or three openings now,
which we expect ere long to enter.
that will give us a foothold in and
near large northern cities.
Perhaps in my next may tell you
something regarding our educa tional
work and ideals.
Very fraternally,
GEORGE HOWARD GIRSON