The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-03-23
z0ARITESL|FE
FAMOUS EXPERIMENT IN CONNUN-
ISTIC LIVING TO BE ABANDONED.
1t Has Been Tried for Eighty Years.
The story of the Queer sect-Early
Days at ZOar-The Rule of King
Joseph-PrOsperity in Wilder
ness.

CANTON, O.. March 19.-After a con-
troversy, lasting more than score Of
years, the Zoar society, the most noted
communist organization in the United
States has agreed to divide the prop
erty. The members have long been at
swords points. and the decision has just
been reached to give every man his share
as soon as the 1000 acres owned by the
society can be surveyed and plated by
engineers. L. Zimmerman. treasurer of the
society. gives out the folowing
Our people have al decided upon a
dissolution of the corporation known as
the Society of Separatists Of Zoar. Ohio.
and upon a division of it's property into
equal shares among the members. Inc
division and the allotment will be mace
by three disinterested men as soon as
survey and plat can be prepared by
component surveyor.
At various times it has been asserted
that the society has become deeply in
volved in debt. Mr.. Zimmerman says on
this point
1.-The society never was in financial
difficulties. 1t was always and Is now
prepared to meet its obligations
promptly. The real property, consisting
of over seven thousand acres of land.
is held in fee simple. Not scrap of
paper or any incumbrance whatever is held
against it by any one
The village Of Zoar lies in one OF the
most fertile regions Of Ohio The 1000.
acre tract is place of beauty and or
value 1t lies twenty miles south OF
this city and has become a popular sum-
mer resort.
The people of Zoar are simple IN tnelr
habits, but the younger generation had
become dissatisfied with their condition
and had long contended that they be given
their portion. The young people have, by
reason of the peculiar customs or the
society," been unable to leave the OrganZa-
ton without losing all that they had gained
by hard toll. The large tract Will now pc
divided into farms that Will pass IN lee
simple to members of the society, and soon
others will move into the region and occu-
Ply some of the farms. Thus will end the
| largest communist society of the New
World.
ORIGIN OF THE SOCIETY.
The Zoar society originated i'll religious
differences in Wurtemberg, Germany, in
the last century In principles the Zoarltes
are not unlike the Quakers. They objected
to all religious and marriage ceremonies;
declined to remove their hats or bend the
knee in the presence of man; addressed
all with the word thus" favored cellbacy;
declined to send their children to the cler-
ical schools of Germany and refused to
serve in the army. They were prosecuted
and in the early part Of this century 22o
of them came to this country.
They were received here by the Quakers
and helped by them to establish the col
ony at Zoar This religion still dense
ly populated with red men. purchase of
6OOO acres of the most fertile land was
made and IL the spring of 1919 the famous
Zoar society was formed. The body was
called the 'Separatst Society of Zoar."
The constitution was signed by 225 people.
THEIR CONSTITUTION.
This constitution that still governs the
town of Zoar is rather interesting one.
1t gives the women the same power as the
men. 1t also provides that everything shall
be in common. No one is permitted to have
any more than another and money among
the ZOarS is unknown quantity. They
know what to do with it when visitor to
the town leaves any, but Zoar is never
seen to spend any there. 1t is not neces-
sary, for he she gets all they desire
from the common Supply-houseS to keep
them.
At the time of the adoption Of the con-
stitution 1t was expressly stipulated that IN
case members should withdraw from the
organization they were to forfeit all their
belongings. They could not take anything
away with them. Under the agreement all
their property was to revert to the society.
1t was also stipulated that there could
not be any division long as three
members objected Three women, it has
been said, in these latter days have held
against the Separatists until now.
KING JOSEPH.
The leader of the colony was Joseph
Bimeler of Baumeer. He was chosen
king and was always known as king
Joseph" From 1919 to 1858 he ruled like
a dcspOt and at one time under his sway
a rebellion nearly broke up the colony.
King Joseph was harsh and even cruel
1t is said that in appearance ne was grotes
que. One of his eyes was unusually large
and bulging and of his legs was
shorter than the other. When he talked
ne always kept his eye turned upon his
auditor. Tradition has it that King
Joseph's bulls eye like a modern
N-ray machine and that he could even
see through the walls of a house. His
walk was almost painful to witness. He
ALWAYS carried a long staff to assist him in
moving about. In dress he was peculiarly