The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-01

W ihIeodN, IN georgia ana NarcOOSSee. in
Florida. Each society contains from two
TO four families" the subdivisions being
made for the purpose OF simplifying gov
eminent
Mr.. Kent traces the rise and decline Of
The Shaker societies from the foundation
of the original society by Ann Lee. in IVA
70 the present time Mother Ann
preached the life Of perfect purity and
marriage is forbidden TO her followers
To the general disbelief in the theory that
marriage IS an insurmountable obstacle
T. 20 the highest living Mr.. Kent ascribes
! the failure Of the Shaker doctrines to
spread. for. in many respects. their prac-
tees are most COmmCuGdble. Perfect
equality OF sex is recognized in the work
and In the government, although the en-
ploymeut Is designated 20 suit the sex OF
the member of the community.
At one time the Shakers had 5000 mem
! bers although now probably they number
less than ! go. Their homes are -hygieni-
cally constructed and the routine of the
I life is that considered most conducive to
health, consisting of good food. light and
pleasant labor. recreation. education. and
regularity They have religious and so
| cial advisers Of both sexes, and. while the
| sexes are separated as much as possible
N-+"- hN-AAA-ai4l-lF az Ilt-ifE NLlfc. new
\ are aveTse TO war and SO DO not vote. be-
| Iieving il wrong TO take part in a Cow
/ eminent which supports an army and
| navy. For the same reason they do not
/ like 20 pay taxes for military purposes.
! although they promptly pay all civil
| taxes. Shakers are generous. believing
/ It TO be wrong TO accumulate excessive
/ wealth. But the children they educate
] nearly all leave the community 70 enter
/ the world and the societies receive few
! novitiates from the outside So that their
/ ranks are being depleted As il is neces-
/ sary for them TO hire aliens To work their
/ farms they are becoming dissatisfied with
| existing conditions. They hold about 1o6-
/ opJ acres of land. most of it in a high
I state Of cultivation.
The Community OF True Inspiration
/ otherwise known as the "Amaua Socis-
| ". was originated iD Germany I'm the
/ carly part Of the eighteen century. 1t
was founded on the belief that Cod was
willing and ready TO reveal His word aud
| viii 20 men and women VINO were ready
I to hear and 10 do it. A desire eor liberty
| Of conscience drove them 10 America IN
| l>+3. first to Erie county New York. and
I then 90 Iowa, where they have 5000 acres
/ and have seven villages. with 1S1O uouu-
/ laJiou- Each village has manufacturing
industries as wei as farming, and the
society also conducts its own stores. They
! have sawmi'is. gristmiIIs. tanneries s4aU
and starch factories. as well as shoemak-
ers, tail0rs'. aGd carpenters shops From
seven To fourteen years Of age each child
| is compelled 70 attend school the year
round From fourteen to twenty they at
tend in the winter season. Children are
studied and their natural trend OF mind
l Is
unity OF God, opposes war and osteUta-
t!Dus display and the members hold
property in common The latter feature
was adopted q bind the members TO their
/ religion. and the society has steadily in
/ creased in numbers and wealth With
thom public office is a public trust" and
the Office seeks the man. The absence Of
"a theatre and library IS offset bv the alb
Se1ce OF saloon and q Jail The meet
! ing houses are divided iut0 four parts
two for the young men and women ard
two FOR the older men and women. each
keeping To- itself
AIR Kent treats the Separatist Society
of Zoar, which passed out of existence in
ls5> 90 an obituary notice. This was
German society. founded Oh religious Iif-
ferruces. rejecting baptism. confirmation.
and other ordinances, refusing 10 bear
.yrns OF take oaths and ia other WAYS
! conducting themselves So they were COM
peeled 90 seek refuge iu America In 1,uf
/ from persecution at the hands 1f tho au-
| tHori-i,s. About J.o OF them settled i'm
4 Beaver county. Pa, forming the Harmo-
ny Society. and in 1917 the Zoar Society
was formed by others ia TuScarawas
county. Ohio At first they had 100 thought
OF communism. but in 1919 adopted its
principles In lSa2 1t was incorporated. 40
American is known TO have Joined this
society in its early years but IL received
accessions from friends and relatives OF
the members. Marriage was not prohib-
tied. but il was not regarded with favor.
Strange TO say. Levi BimeIor. "a descend
ant OF Joseph Bim.ler. who was the origI-
nal leader Of this colony. was the leading
spirit i1 urging its dissolution after sew
enty years of existence. For some years
the society had had mo- leading spirit and
h. was declining Ey a general vote IL was
ORGANIZED and the members received
&l-s.f per capita. Sa.r more than Jhe aver
age In the United States. aIthOsIeh al the
height OF itE prosperity the per capita IS
'~-lma ira g" have been 5000
The Harmony Society. OF which mention
was made. has been reduced 10 "A member
snip % nine persons, who, however. must
De- doing quite Wei. FOR they manage To
pay uUI yearly Sl-7.HJG FOR the guUUOrr az
Their village. which IS situated on the
OHIO River, near EIttSburg. and Is called
A-t.tl-'tllN Hl'frL VI inc residents ont
sIders who conduct the business OF the
community. but Jhc nine members are the
governing body. The reduction from the.
original 1000 members TO nine is due 10
the practice OF cellDacy. The society Was
organized in 1876 by Frederick Rapp. who
landed iu Baltimore and settled at Econ
omv. A few years later-iu lNIJ-thinIsirc,
70 better their condition the members re-
moved 10 POsey county. IND. where il
purchased $1,000 acres Ten years later II
was found that the climate Of Indiana and
The attitude Of the neighBOTs did not agree
with the members. so they disposed Of
their property to Robert owen for the
New Lauark colOnA and returned TO Econ
Omy. After the civil war the members
due 10 the rapidly with which fortunes
were made IN petroleum and other indus
tries in the vicinity, and many younger
member deserted
The Oneida Community was once a
hourishing society founded on a com
W'Hf} years ago 30 was diSbaudcd and
TeorSauized as a stock company.
Tho history Of Brook Farm and the
lcIrl1u Community are briefly referred
70. bur the writer treats al some length
Of the Ruskin Commonwealth II was
founded in Tennessee by people Of an
classes entertaining socIalistic and am
but a short time when IL was forced into
The hands Of receivers and the property
swallowed MP. About 80 OF the members
moved 20 Ware county, Ga. where they
are struggling 20 found community and
hope for good results The original colo
ny was founded I'm 1888
The Christian Commonwealth was or
gained in MusCogee county. Ga. in 1886
on the principles Of Christianity. Believ-
ing and praCtiCiIg the PRINCIPLES OF broth