davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
ZOAR'S FIR ST CHURCH.

and training would not seem favorable to
the development of marked ability or indi-
viduality. but several young men have dis
tinguished themselves outside of the com.
munity. Albert Beuter. son of the presen,
pastor, was well known as a musician in
Chicago and in Bloomington: ILL.,. where he
mayor of Cleveland. and several other
Zoarites have been prominent in the public
affairs of that city.
Contract to Sign on Quitting.
When a member leaves Zoar he has to
sign this contract:
As l.. the undersigned. OF my own free will. have
concluded to leave for all time the Separatist Society
Of Zoar. o.. in which l was born and raised. / hereby
declare the contract entered into between said society
nulIed through my own free-wiIled conclusion.
Further. / declare myself fully satisfied with what
ding, clothing and furniture. and as fully rewarded
Tor my services rendered said society, and hereby free
they of whStever nature they may.
Done at Zoar this day Of = IS.
Attest: (Signature)
The church in Zoar is a modern brick
structure. Men and women enter by sepa-
rate doors and sit on opposite sides of the
house. After the singing of a hymn the
pastor reads from the book of sermons
compiled by the first leader. Then another
the women file out. the men following after
every woman has left the church.. There
is no offering of prayer or anything that
would SAVIOR of form or ceremony.
Their Greed.
In their creed they state:
All ceremonies are banished from among US and are
considered vain and injurious: and this is the chief
cause OF our separation.
We render to no mortal honors due only to God, as
unrovering the head or bending the knee. We ad-
dress everyone without depression as Thou
We separate ourselves from all ecclesiastical con-
nections. because true Christianity requires no sec
arlanlSm. while Sc fCrma and arempnia rzuga Gao
tartan divisions.
Our marriages are contracted by mutual consent. in
the presence Of witnesses. They are then notified TO
the civil authorities. We reject all priestly interyen-
ton or ceremony.
All intercourse Of the sexes. except what is neces-
sary for the perpetuation Of the species. We hold as
sinful. and contrary to the ordinance OF God. Com
plete virginity or entire cessation OF sexual commerce
is more connendable than marriage.
We cannot send our children to the schools OF Baby
Ion tmeaning the clerical schools of Germany. be-
cause such schools are run contrary to our precepts.
Without morals or religion the village schools form a
gang Of idlers. who instruct their schoolmates in de-
baurhery and crime, because their congregatinr to-
gether gives them an excellent opportunity.
We cannot serve the state as soldiers. because no
Christian can murder his enemy. much less his friend.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
AN AGED ORGANISE.
nous Canterbury Ca
hedra

For a period Of three score years n
ten. the allotted span of mans life. the
veteran organist, DR.. W. H. Longhurst.
has been connected with the musical por-
ton of the services in Canterbury cathe-
dral-a term Of labor which. it is said, is
u~nexampled in ecclesiastical history
When next Easter comes DIR. Longhurst
will retire from the high position he has
occupied for SO long a time. His health
and wonderful vitality, however. are still
consideration of DIR. Longhurst's long and
faithful service to the cathedral. have de-
cided to award him a pension equal to his
present salary, and also to allow him his
present residence In the precincts.
extreme interest. He was born in London
in 1919. and was taken by his family to
Canterbury two years later. His father
doubtless. young Longhurst first derived
his passion for music. As a boy he went
through a strange experience. which. as
he recently informed the writer mot
many organists can boast of having un-
dergone."
This was nothing less than singing a
song from the interior of one OF his own
organ pipes
said DIR. Longhurst. when pedal pipes
fopen sixteen feet) were first added to the
old organ in Canterbury cathedral in ISIS.
They were made by my father in a shop
at the back Of our house. and l was in
duced to crawl in on hands and knees
and sing a little song in one or two of the
longest pipes. lying down. OF course hor-
izontally."
the pipes Of his magnificent organ. in the
interior of which he sang a song seventy
threee years ago.
His long career in connection with Can
terbury cathedral began on January 6,
ISIS. when. as a boy of S. he first entered
the choir.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27

We consider the civil government as Absolutely mac
essary 10 maintain orGgEr 10 protect the good and true
and 10 punish the wro. sdoer. No one can nrny ~
unIai,hiai or untrue to the constituted authorities.
ihese are the principles which. for ten years mas.
nave Drought upon US so many prosecutions W. bavs
uuig called loud for justice. but it got little he,ter
IoE our powerful enemies still possess the psst and
present DEGREES through which they have den-t-aI
many a family. through hatred and envy. OF nrana-.v
and freedom. P4Opeits
Since the death of the former president of
the board of trustees. Mr.. Alderman thare
mas heen an increasing dissatisfaction
ara ao me members; especially the more
progressive and intelligent ones.
Drones Were Numerous.
There have been too many drones. who
were willing to be taken care of without
work, and those who We're active and ener-
getic resented having this burden thrown
upon them. For some time considerable
outside work has been hired which mirht
have been done by the members if all had
done their duty. When dissolution threat
averted by the three persons" clause in
the constitution. which provided that as
long as three members refused to sign tho
agreement to disband 1t could not be done
The three have held out bravely, but al last
nave succumbed TO the pressure brought to
yers are at work arringing the division a
debt of about $4,000 has been incurred in
the building of the hotel. the payment of
taxes and the hiring of labor, but there is
slS,vO worth of blank stock to Offset This
partially: SIX disinterested men are to be
ciety is to choose three who will make an
appraisement and with a civil engineer
lay out farms and effect a lust d%istribution
of the society's belongings.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
YANKEE PRIDE.
Patriotism and the chooI The
Practice of SaIutinE the Flag
I'm the Classroom.

From the Rochester Times.
Now personally, 1 am ready, and ALWAYS
have been, to admit Americas greatness as
one of the settled facts of the world. as an
international axiom about which there
need be no argument. Why can not Ameri-
cans do the same? Why are they SO nerv-
down the throat of a foreigner? Partly. I
suppose. because America is still young,
partly. also. because they are taught to do
SO in the schools. The Londoner who sees,
as have Seen. an American girl walking
Gown Regent street with the stars and
stands blankly amazed. But then he
doesn't understand the American schoor
system. ! remember once coaching through
one OF the prettiest parts of Devonshire.
The company began to praise the scenery
and compare it with parts of Scotland and
Europe: suddenly from the mouth of a
letters in a rasping twang:
America America" None of the
people present had visited the United
States and knew not what to make of this
outburst; 1 leaned over to the Lonely patriot
and said: My dear sir. 1 know just
how 10 you feel: you were educated in one of
shook hands. More recently 1 was alking
to a New York militia officer in the pres.
ence OF "a lady whom l knew slightly, and
go in more for army m%aneuvers. You
h hare a spIe9 Yo6ka lighting i ye eoun ssiS .b between I.s
I'VE found it So" Now that. if may use
an Americanism in the Chap Book, was
'one on me-" I admitted it frankly. and
took the number of the school in which she
was educated. To take two more instances,
mere matters of yesterday. Do you re-
member that capital squabble about the
christening of the Kentucky? If so. you
must also remember that Miss Richardson,
the rejected claimant informed Mr.. Secre-
airy Herbert, in a public letter. that he was
not dealing with a minor official. but with
a free-born American girl. Now. why did
Miss Richardson take SO much trouble to
state that she was not a slave? Even in
this land of perpetual explanations. where
it is unsafe to take anything for granted.
it struck me as a little odd. But when you
consider the minuteness of patriotism
which the government teaches. you find it
Is quite possible for an American girl to feel
a real pride in being "free-born." The
other example of schoolboy jingoiSm af-
fected a man of some position, and is there
fore worth thinking about. An English
actor was tried the other day in New York
for beating his wife. The judge. in passing
sentence. remarked that wife-beating was
not popular in America. whatever it might
be in other countries, You see how youth
full habits cling to US! The good man had
been taught that sort of thing in his school
days. and had simply failed to grow out OF
it. And the papers took it all as a matter
of course. No one thought of criticising the
judges dictum, or of questioning its rather
youthful taste. 1t was apparently accepted
as a proper display of Americanism under
trying circumstances. And unless l am
greatly mistaken the assiduous patriotism
inculcated by the public schools must be
held largely responsible for it.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
village is now Incorporated and has a may
or TO guard its interests.
@adc None. asst.

village is now incorporated and has a may
Or TO guard its interests.
7adc None. asst.
Although the Zoarites came almost empty
banded 10 America. they were frugal and
thrifty and in a short time were able to
pay Off the debt they had incurred in buy
ing their land. Then they began to accu-
nulate wealth. and at one time had over
JG.UU in bank, besides owning almost $500
acres OF land.
Most of this was made in farming. but
the building of the Ohio canal through their
territory brought 4 boom TO The settlement,
furnishing profitable occupation for many
OF the young men. The women, too. We're
not idle. Some of them found employment
in the households Of the neighboring farm
ers. and others sold the surplus of their
knitting and spinning to outsiders.
There was a time when one could always
tell L Zoarite by his dress, the men and
boys wearing blue. of a uniform and pecu-
or chcCkered cloth. also uniform in fash
ion. with Shaker bonnets. But the railroad
and other innovations have changed all
this, and both the men and women follow
the fashions OF the rest of the world in
dress.
Their customs. morals and manner of life
with. a more requent contact with other
people. No one. according to the constitu-
zion, is entitled to have any money of his
own, all that he earns being turned into
the common treasury. to he paid out only
on III" order of the trustees. This was
actually done for many years. but now
those who disregard the rule are more nu-
merouS than those who obey II.
The same is true of the houses. which
were once uniform in the quality and style
of their furnishings. bur now show almost
as much diversity and individuality as the
houses Of any ordinary village.
1t IS only in the distribution of food that
any equality still prevails. Daily bread is
still given out at the bakerS at 4:So o'clock
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
Der westward in search Of a suitable place
for q settlement.
To Tuscarawa. County. O..

~ VI SouHty VI
In the northern part Of Tuscarawas coun.
ty. o.. they cum an ideal spot on the
banks of the Tuscarawas river. The land
was fertile and well watered witt springs
and streams. and the forests were composed
of trees splendid for building purposes. II
was historic ground. too. and the remains
of an old Indian fort. called by the whites
Fort Laurens. were still visible to the
north, while a little to the south We're the
relics of the ancient mound builders. A
tract of $500 acres. a Revolutionary claim,
was bought from an English Quaker, and a
neers dwe gt' and they SH We're 'n Iefne af BY p If.
other members of the party, who had re-
manned in the East with their Quaker
friends. Altogether they numbered about
They adopted Il constitution on April Is.
1873. choosing Joseph NJ Baumeler as their
leader, a position which he occupied until
his death, in 1858. He was an autocrat. but
a wise one, and his firmness and good judg-
ment prevented the dissolution which
threatened the society on account of the
the oppressively strict form of government
which had been established. Concessions
were finally made to them, the management
being placed in the hands of three trustees
and an executive committee of five men,
bers, constituting a court of appeal. One
member Of each of these boards was chosen
annually, men and women of the second
class having the right to vote.
Care of the Children.
The children were under the direct con-
troll of the society. AT first they We're taken
from their parents at an early age and
placed in the community nursery until they
had passed the school age-14 years-when
they could return to their parents. When
they attained their majority they might, If
they desired. become members of the So
ciety by signing the constitution and cove
nant, giving up all that they had or ex-
pected to have; but they remained one year
on probation They then became first de-
gree members. but after a trial of several
years might attain second degree member
ship, with the right to vote and hold Of
flee. All disputes were settled by arbitra-
ton, and no one was permitted to bring
an action against a fellow member In a
civil court. Marriage was at first prohibit
ed but has been allowed since 1880.
There was no form of municipal govern
ment until the incursion of picnic parties
and rowdies within recent years made il
necessary for the peaceful Zoarites to take
measures for their own protection. The
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27

the good people who "loved the lovers as
all the world should would peer from door
and easement at the wedding party. Who
seemed ofttimeS to be perfectly oblivious
to all things around them. Like Tom
Moore they felt, no doubt, hat
There's no eye to watch. no tongue to
wound US,
All earth forgot and all heaven around US.
But presently some boy would shout:
Here's the squire's, mister!," then coming
back to the stern realities of life they
would discover that there had been many
eyes to watch" but, feigning Indifference.
before them the well-kept lawn. the or
chard of gnarled old trees and the quaint,
old-fashioned home of the squire. on whose
walls appeared in golden letters:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27

stituted a sort of signal service, which soon
came to be understood by the whole town.
Were the parties pursued by parents who
had been able to secure boats the Gretna
Green would give six whistle blasts. The
squire would quickly make his way to the
landing and as soon as he was within
earshot would begin the ceremony. starting
when fifty feet away and completing it
when he should have reached them. Many
are the stories. humorous and athetic.
thn world
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
Is A YOUTHFUL ORGANISE.
ROBERT WALTER WILKES. AGED II.
IS COMPOSING A MASS.
He Il the OrEnnist of st. Paurs
Roman Catholic Church in Upper
New York City Plays
Difficult Masses.

Rober, Walter Wilkes. organist of ST.
Paul's Roman Catholic church. in Harlem,
is probably the youngest member o. his
profession in the country. Though only Is
years of age he presides over the great
church organ like an experienced master,
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
MASSIE BEASLEY,
Notary Public.
Marriage Ceremonies Performed
on Short Notice and at
Reasonable Prices.

With beating heart the bell was ,rung
and soon the happy. couple were ushered
into the reception hall. where presently
the squire appeared and greeted them with
all the dignity and stateliness of a knight
of We olden TYNE. 1t depended. though. upon
the apparel of the would-be bride and
groom into which room he took them to
be made one. Were they dressed in plain
homespun and looked as though the con-
tents of their purses were not sufficiently
were invariably taken into the office.
If the runaways were not pursued by
squire always insisted upon having the
bridal party arranged according to his idea,
that being that if the fates were to be
should stand facing the north. but if
there was any danger of having a pistol
laden father, brother or old lover appear
upon the scene the squire dispensed with
his idea
Squire Beasley's Ritual.
Squire Beasley had a ritual differing from
his predecessor. He would stand the couple
before him and then. with assumed SOL
emnity, proclaim: MY young friends. mar
riage is a solemn contract Of plighted faith
in holy wedlock which is to last during
your natural lives. as nothing but death
please .jine' your right hands: Do You
both, by virtue of your marriage vows.
pledge to each other your plighted faith
in holy wedlock, to love. honor and obey
each other as a dutiful husband and wife,
thereby forsaking all others and living for
each other alone until it shall please AL
mighty God in His providence to separate
you by death? To this do you both agree?
InaSmuch as you have plighted your faith
in holy wedlock, the same being witnessed
by an all-wise God and this audience here
present. you may now legally and lawfully
acknowledge yourselves as husband and
wife. Take your seats"
Though the bride and groom were past
middle life the gallant old fellow never
omitted the word young.
Thomas Beasley. a son of the squire. was
pilot of the Gretna Green. as the old ferry
boat was aptly named. for ten or fifteen
years. He received 4 commission from his
father on every bridal couple which he pi-
loted safely to the mecca of harassed low
ers. When a couple in agitation and haste
came hurrying down the river bank Tom
soon set their fears at rest by Immediately
pushing out from the Kentucky shore. The
anxious people were pushed aboard and
proudly the Gretna made her way to Aber-
deem. Were the pursuers near Tom fatty
refused to go lack to the kentucky land
ing until he knew the "~weddingers." as the
villagers called them, were safe in the hands
of his father. But often the angry follow
ers were able to secure row boats, and
many a man has been given SIS or $40 for
rowing the distracted parents to Aberdeen
in time to stop a wedding. Many couples
cabin or on the deck of the Gretna Green,
but under no circumstances would he per
form the ceremony until the boat touched
the Ohio shore.
It is told hat Tom and his father in
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27

States prisoner. having been found guilty
OF u pension fraud. The women prisoners
at the state penitentiary have every APP
pearance of being well cared for and as
comfortable as circumstances can permit.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
Pat. All Right.

From the Detroit Free Press.
"Out of work agaic. Pat? I thought that
Old Skinflint gave You a job?'
He did. sor. but ORR be kilt afore Oi'Il
starve to death for the sake OF kapin'
aloiye, Sor."
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
CromMem,. Headauarters.

One of the places in which tourists in
England revel is uif tavern. 1t looks
to-day just as it did when 1t was erected
in 1872. When repairs were necessary they
were made with the idea of carefully pre-
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
A Parsons Irony.

The new pastor of the Central Methodist
church. where worship the largest flock of
followers of the remote John Wesley. in
his vocabulary a spade is called a spade.
says the News Letter. His name is DR..
Charles E. Locke and he is young. vigorous
and bright.
When DR.. Locke first came to San Fran
cisco from the East by way of Portland,
he was both annoyed and distressed by the
addictedness of his congregation to the I'M
the amen rush." Even more trying to the
divine than this sudden boiling of the wor-
shippers was their irreverent preparation for
escape. as the service was drawing to a
close.
The members of hat church retire in a
more orderly fashion since they were cleo
trified by a recent announcement.
Those of YOU who do not get your coats
on during the closing prayer remarked
the young divine. with quiet irony. can do
SO while I pronounce the benediction."
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
Only an Episode.

Now Cupid's day has come and gone
Ah-iucky thing 1t is
Man stalks his valentines away,
And settles down 10 biz
Detroit Free Press
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
Hotel and Mansion.

Abou five years ago the Zoarites built a
handsome hotel for summer boarders. and
the village has become quite a popular re-
sort. The only private house with any pre-
tensions to beauty is the kings Man
sion" which was built as Il home for the
founder.
The school house is a plain affair, and
until within the last few years the educa-
ton supplied was of the most elementary
kind, and the instruction was entirely in
German. Now the school is under township
control. the course of study has been i'm
proved and the age up to which children
may attend school has been raised to Ii
years for boys and 10 years for girls. At
that age each boy, at the discretion of the
board of trustees. must learn a trade or
labor on the farm. This sort of education
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
DEATH OF A YOUNG ENSIGN.
Brilliant. Erave Joe breckenridge,
the Officer Washed Overheard and
Drowned I'm Havana HarLOr.

Owing to the o~vershadowins pail result
ing from the disaster to befall the Maine
in the harbor of Havana, sight has been
lost of the fact that a few days before.
February II. Ensign Joseph c. Breckenridge.
Jr., of the United States torpedo boat
Gushing as it was entering the harbor