Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-10
A BROTHERHOOD COLONY
PECULIAR COMM ONWEALTH SOCIETY
IN MUSCOGEE COUNTY, CA.

One of the most peculiar settle
ments which have been established in
the United States has begun life at
Commonwealth, Muscogee county,
Ga. Commonwealth is as brand new
as the colony. In fact the colonists
founded Commonwealth. IT'S origina-
tors were men OF slrong 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 col
ony. The results are held in COM
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-
templating the establishment of nor
anal school, of a large publishing
house and a cotton cloth factory.
The colonists are more than ordin-
ary men. The colony has in its ranks
college 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 committee
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 the Social Gospel, contribut-
ed articles; in agitation in the King
dom by John Chapman, and by the
Rev. Ralph Albertson, who quickly
joined in the proposed plan. Mr.. AL
bertson, before entering the move
ment, was pastor of 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 Napa, Cal.
The colony has magazine entitled
the Social Gospel. 1t is a 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 little one
story building, it is a magazine that
would do credit in general appearance
to a good-sized publishing house. In
the publication are given the latest
news,of the colony and contributions
from persons interested in the social
lstic movement.
When the colonists went to Georgia
they were poor. They went into the
enterprise very much cramped finan-
cially and the struggle has been hard
one from the beginning. With very
little money and no financial backing,
strangers in Il new country, they have
fought hard for their existence. 1t
has been u matter not of Injuries, 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 ex-
pertinent. With almost no unfriendly
manifestations, there has been friendli-
ness and courtesy from country neigh
pSiS sh't toN oNioPSoPiOs LII VIC ihitICl
of work the weak have.the lightest
burdens, for the colony, like every
other community, has its 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
prODosed normal institrte