The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
| BROTHERHOOD COLONY.
TBE PECULIAR COMMONWEALTH SO
CIETT IN MUSCOGEE COUNTY, Ga.

'~ '''
Ono OF the most peculiar Of the settlement,
which have been established in the United
States has begun life at Commonwealth Musco,
gee county, Ga. Commonwealth Ia ~ brand new
as the colony. In fact. the colonists founded
Commonwealth. Its oriEinators were men oil
strong religious convictions, who intend to live
out, in the actual life. the principles of Christ
Tho scheme Is Arcadian in It's nature. The
law OF the colony is the law Of love. Everybody
works in the colony. The results are held in
common. As a consequence the colony is be-
ginning to attract attention as an exponent OF
practical socialism. Letters OF inquiry are re-
ccived constantly. One came the other day
from the General Secretary OF the Brotherhood
otSt. Andrew.
The Commonwealth colony was founded two
years ago. In these two years the colonists.
hardy and plucky pioneers from tho North
west. have transformed what was once n barren
piece OF land into a fertile aud prosperous
farm. The ground Is being titled by scientific
methods. Thousands OF fruit trees have been
set out. Diversified industries ara %springing
up. The colony has its school. its meeting
house. its workshops and printing office. and is
contemplating the establishment OF a normal
school. of a large publishing house and a cot
ton cloth factory.
The colonists are more than ordinary men.
Some Of them are we'll known in this country.
The colony has in its ranks college professors.
who. leaving the schoolroorl. are testing their
pet theories by actual experience. TIL colo
nists have 931 acres OF land. The farm was pur-
chased by a committee which came South from
Nebraska, Their principal vacations are farm
ing. fruit raising. nursery work and the build
ing up of a publishing business. It Is expected
that cloth manufacturing will begin soon.
Tho movement to start such n colony grew
out Of agitation made in the Wealth Makers
of Lincoln, Neb.. to which George Howard Glib
son. now the editor OF the Social Gospel
contributed articles in agitation in the King
dom. by John Chapman, and by tho Rev. Ralph
Albertson. who quickly joined in the proposed
plan. Mr.. Albertson. before entering the
movement. was pastor OF n Congregational
church in the city of Springfield. o. He is an
eloquent preacher. an attractive writer and a
man OF very versatile talents.
There are now eighty mine persons in the
colony. Eighty are members. the rest being
visitors or applicants for membership whose
applications have not yet been acted upon.
Prof. Damon. the present President of the
Christian Commonwealth. was for nineteen
years professor of Greek. Latin and history at
the Methodist College at Napa. Cal. Mr.. Glib
son was editor OF the Wealth Makers. which for
a time attracted attention in Nebraska affairs.
Speaking of the colony, a member said:
we nave tuOpleu inc law Oh love as the
adhesive law Of our lives. and. incorporating it
into our constitution. have made it unalterable.
We have no creed other than this. In short,
we believe in the fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood Of man. We actually believe this.
Therefore, we are here. 1t is what brought us
together.
"Wo have a good school. the best In the
county. all things considered. Three very eff
cient. trained and active teachers compose the
faculty. We have no church organization. We
have prayer meeting every Thursday evening.
preaching OF an unconventional sort. and Sun
day school. We have no hired preachers.
There is no division in sects. No religious for
malities or ceremonies are required. We are,
nevertheless, a deeply religious. love-ruled
people. The orthodox. heterodox. and people
Of all Churches are welcome. and in church we
meet on common ground in everyday life OF
love. We are nearly all Americans. There are
one German and one Norwegian in the party.
THE common Christian Commonwealth
movement with Commonwealth as its head
quarters leads and awakens what is being
recognized as the Social Conscience We are
preaching and practicing brotherhood. 1t Is a
5000 Ting MP e the poor 1t is pure Christianity;
America. Canada. England. Scotland. Russia,
Austria. Belgium. Switzerland. France: Pales:
New Zealand. we are radically unlike the
other corporation colonies in that we have no
poorest. to all who would love and beloved. We
turn no tramp away who is willing to work.
are prepared to divide ali we have with the poor,
the %outcast. the socially disinherited. This is
9 r St q p DtantfioG y What Ia H Ko would do wifh 4 It
in the presence Of all who need. 1t is costing
US s2mething We ere naying the price Of love.
needed by the Christian Gommonweaith move
cSarnatiQn;, by M. Albertsoni Is nov out. Mr..
first. and will hear the title Of 'Brotherhood."
The colony has a mngazine entitled the Social
CtonSssidterinaE the ' eSce ed Te erampe edH f%aciIities.
the typographical %neatness, of the journal alone
is remarkable Published right out in the
magazine that would do credit in general APP !
n,earaneG TO- good sized publishing house, IN
colony and contributions from persons inter-
estcd in the sociali?tic movement.
When, the c~olOnistS came here they were
poor. They went into the enterprise very much
G rPn M on f9fa n6@ thy and the struggle has been
tie sn moneys USo a ,n4T mo- IN" an Gs y begck inr st yeTy lit,
their existence; 1t has been a, matter not Of
obliged to live with exceeding frugality. Some
endure the hardships. They left the colony.
Others who were once weak in the faith have
SipMu l''buNt III inc power OF ShcrlUcn.
Sinking is tho least Of the troubles. The
~colonists have been Hospitality received by the
people OF the community. who are Interested In
the e;%xperiment;, With almost. no unfriendly !
manifestations there has been fricndliness and
courtesy from country neighhors and towns
people In the matter Of work the weak have
the liGhtest burdens. for the colony. like. every
other community, has its physlcallyfr For
that matter. everybody works. Ever the chill |
dren have theirlittle tasks. Industry is made
dhphora6le. me children, seem very happy.
warm believers in the brotherhood Of life.
Lack Of capital compels the c~oionists to work
TO considerable" Disadvantage, Most Of those
who go to the colony carry little or nothing.
Open doors are kept for the poor. The colo
nists live for the most part ON corn bread. cow
peas, sweet potatoes md vegetables Of their
own raising, Their" Is considerable ]lptci!cc;
receive an impetus by the establishment ~ tho
proposed norma institute.
Some Of the families live about IN cottages.
doing, AL their own work: some COOK ma com
mon kitchen and. cat together. either from
choice or because house room il scarce. Harm
less ,amnscmcnts are believed IN and encour-
aged. Culture il believed in most heartily. The
view is taken that culture, like amusement,
must b.. incidental and helpful Ia service,
The following covenant is entered into by