Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-04-05
A BROTHERHOOD COLONY
PECULIAR COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY
IN MUScoGEE COUNTY, GA.

Ga. Commonwealth is as brand new
as the In fact the colonists
founded snwealth. Its origina-
tors were men ofslrong religious con-
victions, who intend to'live out in the
actual life the principles of Christ.
The scheme is Arcadian in its nature.
The law of the colony is the law OF
love. Everybody works in the coll
ony. The results are held in cons
mon. AS consequence the colony
is beginning to attract attention as an
exponent of practical socialism.
The Commonwealth colony was
founded two years ago, relates the
Sun. In these two years the colon
lists, hardy and .plucky pioneers from
the northwest, have transformed what
was once barren piece of land into
a fertile and prosperous farm. The
ground is being titled by scientific
methods. Thousands of fruit trees have
been set out. Diversified industries
are springing up. The colony has its
school, its meeting house, its work
shops and printing Office, and is con-
templatipg the establishment of a nor
mai school, of q large publishing
house and cotton cloth factory.
The colonists are more than ordin.
ary men. The colony has in its ranks
collegs professors, who, leaving the
school-room, are testing their pet
theories by actual experience. The
colonists have 931 acres OF land. The
farm was purchased by com mittee
which came south from Nebraska.
The principal vocations are farming,
fruit raising, nursery work and the
building up of publishing business.
1t is expected that cloth manufacture
ing will begin soon.
The movement to start such q col
ony grew out of agitation made in the
Wealth Makers of Lincoln, Neb., to
which George Howard Gibson, now
editor of tie Social Gospel, contribut-
ed articles; in agitation in the King
dom by John Chapman, and eby the
Rev. Ralph Albertson, who quickly
Joined in the proposed plan. Mr.. AL
bertson, before entering the move
ment, was pastor of a Congregational
church in the city of Springfield, Ohio.
He is an eloquent preacher, an attrac-
tive writer and man of very versa
tile talents.
There are now eighty-nine persons
in the colony. Eighty are members,
the rest being visitors or applicants
for membership, whose applications
have not yet been acted upon. Pro-
fessor Damon, the present president
of the Christian Commonwealth, was
for nineteen years professor of Greek,
Latin and history at the Methodist
college at Nara, Cal.
The colony has magazine entitled
the Social Gospel. 1t is neat and
attractive publication. Considering
the exceedingly cramped facilities,
the typographical neatness of the, jour.
nal alone is remarkable. Published
right out in the woods in a little one
story building, it is magazine that
would do credit in general appearance
to good-sized publishing house. In
the publication are given the latest
news of the colony aud contributions
from persons interested in the social
istic movement.
When the colon.sts went to Georgia
they were poor. They went into the
enterprise very much cramped fnan-
cially and the struggle has been hard
one from the beginning. With very
little money and no financial backing,
strangers in n new country, they have
fought hard for their existence. It
has been matter not of luxuries, but
OF meat and bread, Of the actual neces-
saries of life. The colonists have
been obliged to live with exceeding
frugality. Some of the members, but
only very few, could not endure the
hardships. They left the colony.
Others, who were once weak IN the
faith, have grown robust in the power
of sacrifice.
Sinking is the least of the troubles.
The colonists have been Hospitality
received by the people of the COM
munity, who are interested in the e1-
pertinent. With almost no unfriendly
manifestations, there has been friendli-
ness and courtesy from country neigh
bors and townspeople. In the matter
of work the weak have the lightest
burdens, for the colony, like every
other community, has it's physically
frail. For that matter everybody
works. Even the children have their
tasks. Industry is made honorable.
The children seem very happy. The
older children, without exception, are
warm believers in the brotherhood of
life.
Lack of capital compels the colon
lists to work to considerable disadvan-
.tage. Most of those who go to the
colony carry little or nothing. Open
doors are kept for the poor. The col
onists live for the most part on corn
bread, COW peas, sweet potatoes and
vegetables of their own raising. There
is considerable intellectual work to do
at the colony, work that willreceive an
impetus by the establishment of the
proposed normal institute.
Some of the families live about in
cottages, doing all their own work.
Some cook in q common kitchen aud
eat together, either from choice or be-
eau Sc house room is scarce. Harm
less amusements are believed in and
encouraged. Culture is believed in
most heartily. The view is taken that
culture, like amusement, must be in
cidental and helpful to service.
The following covenant is entered
into by the applicant for a home at
the Christian Commonwealth
'I accept as the law of my life
Christ's law that I shall love my
neighbor as myself. I will use, hold
or dispose OF all my r perty, my la
Dor and my income ac.. riding to the
e