The record-union., 1899-06-07
The SHOLEMITES.
THEIR COLONY NEAR Las CRU
CEs, NEW MEXICO.
They Have an Up-to-Date Bible
Which Came Out Of an Inspired
Type-Writing Machine.

e~sAe1G AAAeeNAA4AA<S
New Mexico has many strange and
interesting sights for visitors, but of all
the oddities presented to the stranger
there is none more interesting than
those seen in the Sholem colony, six
miles north of this place.
DIR. Newbrough, New York dentist,
was the founder of the colony and the
head and front Of the enterprise in
every way. He conceived the idea OF
forming the colony about fifteen years
ago. He was an ardent spiritualist
and a medium Of no small Importance.
He had practiced spiritualism for many
years. and is said to have received
many messages from the spirit world.
He was not satisfied with the ordinary,
commonplace communications which
| he had received from the dead, and
| finally became convinced that if he
could purify himself by fasting and
prayer he could get into oommunica-
ton with higher order of spirits. He
tried this, and after some time he re-
ceiyed orders to get typewriting ma
chine. Every morning he found him
self drawn to the machine by some I'M
seen influence, and for an hour he
would write without knowing what he
wrote. He was told to put away the
writing each day and not to read it I'M
til his work was completed After a
year of this he was instructed to read
the things that he had written and to
have them published. This was the
| origin of the bible of the Sholemites,
as the story is related by them.
THE BIBLE OF THE SHOLEMITES.
| The book is called "Oahspe," and con-
tains more than 800 pages, purporting
to be history of the heavens and the
earth from the creation to the present
time. If this bible is to believed, this
world, which we have been taught is
5000 years old, is more than 10000
years old. "Oahspe" teaches the be-
lief of one supreme God, called Je-
hovih, and multitude of inferior spir-
its, known as gods, lords and lord gods;
and evil spirits, called drajos. The in
ferior gods, lords and lord-gods all
have dominion over certain portions
of the heavens and of the earth
! The use of meat or the killing of
animals for any purpose whatever is
strictly forbidden. All other religions
of the world, such as Christianity,
Judaism, Mahometanism and Buddh-
ism, are founded by evil spirits, or
false gods, who rebelIed against the
rule of Jehovih. 'Oahspe'' tells of an
alleged contenment, which it calls Pou,
| said to have been located where the
Pacific Ocean now is, and which was
submerged at the time of the Deluge.
| THE DOCTRINE OF REINCARNA-
| TION.
| This modern bible is illustrated with
many strange pictures of alleged
scenes in the earth's history. 1t teaches
the doctrine of reincarnation, and the
Sholerr1ites hold that after death the
soul must be born again in higher
or lower state, according to the life
one has led and after becoming suffi-
GENTLY purified the soul passes to the
heavens, which are several in number.
After passing through the several in
ferior heavens every soul eventually
will reach the highest heaven
| The site of this unique colony is in
a beautiful bend Of the Rio Grande
River 1t embraces tract of several
hundred acres of fertile land. we'll
watered, with much Of it in a high
state of cultivation.
DR.. Tanner, the noted faster, was at
one time a member of the colony. A.
| Nj. Rowland of Boston, who was one
of DR.. Newbrough's first followers and
chief assistant in the work of estab-
/! fishing the colony, is the present chief
DR.. Newbrough died in 1854 The pres
ent head of the colony is a pleasant
man about 6O years old. He is said to
be wealthy, and to be a cousin of
Hetty Green. Mr.. Howland's costume
consists of white linen trousers and
jacket, with wide, blue scarf around
| the waist. AT home he never wears a
hat, but goes about with his head
| barred alike to the chilling blasts of
winter or the hot rays of the summer
/ sun. In winter he sometimes wears
shoes and leggings, but in summer he
finds these to be luxury, and goes
about in his bare feet
| ORPHAN CHILDREN CARED FOR.
| At the present time there are few
adults in the colony, excepting Mr.
Rowland and his family, and they ara
devoting themselves, in accordance with
the directions of their Bible to the
raising Of children. They make a bust.
ness of gathering up numbers of home
less children, whom they bring ur
without knowing the taste of meat
and whom they instruct in the teness
of their religion. In this way the COLO
nists expect to raise a race of. better
and purer beings.
| AS the visitor approaches the colony
| from the little station of Dona Ana he
enters a large wooden gateway and
passes up an excellent road to the
buildings There are two of these fol
dwelling purposes One is red brick
and is for the use of children. The
front door opens into large hall that
is used for playroom. Opening from
this hall are a number of doors leading
into the kitchen, iining-room and bed
rooms Mr.. Rowland also has his IL
brary and office in this building. Not
wfthstanding his peculiar religious
views and eccentric dress, he is a very
intelligent and well-read man.
CHILDREN ALL DRESSED ALIKE
| At the present time there are abou,
| fifteen children in the colony. None OF
them know their parents, having been
brought to the colony when quite young
and adopted by Mr.. and Mrs. Rowland.
They are taught to read and write, and
each one is obliged to learn some trade.
A kindergarten is maint aimed for the
young ones and teacher has been en-
ployed for them. The children are all
dressed alike, without regard to sex,
and in the summer they wear only a
single garment, reaching to their knees.
Like their guardian, they do not wear
hats.
| The building is of adobe, built in