Washington sentinel., 1898-03-19
Famous Experiment IN Com IN unis-
tic Living to be abandoned.
New York World

1 6AILcI a Controversy IdSllNk AAOIC NiidL
a score oil years, the Zoar Society, the
most noted communist organization in
the United States. has agreed to divide
the property. 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.
The village OF Zoar lies in one OF the
most fertile regions Of Ohio. The 7.ooo
acre tract is a place of beauty and Oi
value. 1t lies twenty miles south Oi
Canton and has become popular sum
mer resort.
The people OF Zoar are simple in their
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 Of the society, been
unable to leave The organization without
losing all that they had gained by hard
toll. The large tract will now De di-
vided into farms that will pass in fee
simple to members of the society, and
soon others will move into the region
and occupy some of the farms. Thus
will end the largest communist society
ofthe New World
The Zoar Society originated in relig.
ious differences IN WurtembeTg, Ger
many, in the last century. In principles
the Zoarites are not unlike the Quakers,
They objected to all religious and mar.
riage ceremonies; declined to remove
their hats or bend the knee in the pres.
ence of man; addressed all with the
word thou" favored celibacy; refused
to send their children to the clerical
schools Of Germany, and refused to serve
in the army. They we're prosecuted,
and in the early part Of this century 22s
of them came to this country.
They we're received here by the Quak-
ers and helped by them to establish the
colony at Zoar This region was still
densely populated with red men. A
purchase of6 900 acres of the most fertile
land was made and in the spring of 1919
the famous Zoar Society was formed,
The body was called the "Separatist
Society of ZoaT." The constitution was
signed by 2zS people,
This constitution that still governs the
town Of Zoar is rather an interesting one.
It gives the women the same power as
the men. II also provides that every
thing shall be In common. No one is
permitted to have any more than another
and money among the ZOars is an un-
I known quantity. They know what to
DO with il when a visitor to the town
leaves any, but a Zoar is never seen to
spend any there 1t is not necessary,
for he or she gets all they desire from
the common supply houses to keep them
AT the time Of the adoption OF the
constitution it was expressly stipulated
that in case members should Withdraw
from the organization they were to for.
feit 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 as long as three
members objected. Three women, il
has been said. in these latter days have
held out against the Separatists until
now.
The leader of the colony was Joseph
Bimeler, or Baumeler. He was chosen
King and was always known as "King
Joseph" From 1919 to 1883 he ruled
like despOt, 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 he was
srotesque. One of his eyes was unusu.
ally large and bulRing and one of his
legs was shorter than the other. When
talFIng he always kept this eye turned
upon his auditor. Tradition has it that
King Ioseph's BULLS eye" was like a
modern X ray machine and that he could
even seen through the walls OF house
His walk was almost painful to witness
He always carried long staff to assist
him in moving about. In dress he was
peculiarly fastidious, and, unlike any o.
his subjects, always wore the most gaudy
and bright colors.
In the early history Of the society
King Joseph prohibited marriage, al
though he took unto himself a wife
After ten years of this prohibition the
law was changed and the ZOars were
permitted to marry, but only among
themselves At that time the children
were placed IN general nursery. Here
they were taught the rudlmentarS
branches OF learning until they were
fourteen years of age. After that they
were put to work and toiled for the com
mon good. The same rule is in force
here to-day. only that the children are
permitted to be with their parents.
The Zoarites prospered on the bank.
of the 1'uscarzwas River, and the com
munity wealth is estimated at from
$1,000, 900 to 81, 100000. There are abou
one hundred and twenty FIVE member,
among whom this wealth will be di
Vided. Many members have left tn,
community dissatisfied with its life, anC
IN so doing abandoned their rights il
1t. A few years ago the society haC
100000 in the bank, and this has beef
lost in bad investments.
The decrease in the population o
Zoar is due to the fact that many o
the young men do not take kindly to
life Of drudgery simply for living onl,
and iOrsake the home OF their ancestr,
as soon as they are able to max nl
for themselves elsewhere. ThA ain
l fhara fe a etvoory oL;acsfo,, 10 -,