The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-29
END OF THE sHALAM COLONY.
Their Famous SocinIistic-Re Iilious
Organization No More.

Ell PASO, Tex. April 2S.-The famous
shalam Colony is no more. Last week
this socialistic-religious colony, which
| has been so much written about in news
papers and magazines, ceased to exist
as such. and it will hereafter be classed
with the many other failures of the kind
that have occurred from time to time in
different parts of the world. By a de-
cision rendered in Las Cruces. n. N.
last week by Judge Parker, the property
reverts to \. NJ Rowland, who has been
chief of the colony for several years
since the death Of the widow of Dr. New
brOugh, the founder The colony is now
entirely abandoned, and it is said that a
large sanatorium will soon be erected on
the site of it.
The Shalam Colony was established
twelve years ago by DIR. Newbrough, a
dentist from New York. He was a spirit
ualist and medium, and asserted that
while under the influence of spirits. he
wrote the book which he called "Oahspe,
a New Bible. According to this book
it is unlawful to eat meat or to kill any
kind of animal for any purpose 1t teach
es a sort of pantheistic religion. and
contains what purports to be a history
of the creation of the world. 1t Is a
strange and weird book full of extraor-
binary illustrations and strange tales.
The colony was supposed to have been
founded in obedience to the command of
spirits and was established about fifty
miles north of Ell Paso, in a bend of the
Rio Grande River occupying a large
tract of fertile land. Mr.. Rowland was
one of Dr. Newbrough's first converts
After the death of DIR. Newbrough, his
widow became the head of the colony, but
she soon died. and Mr.. Rowland was
made chief. Few persons came to the
colony. and fewer remained. Then it was
planned to collect from all parts of the
country orphans of all ages and raise
them in the doctrines of Shalam, and
from this reform the whole human race.
They were allowed to eat no meat, and
wore few clothes for the greater part of
the year. While it was never taught by
the chief, a kind of free love soon pre-
vailed, and a bad state of affairs follow
ed. For a long time Mr.. and Mrs. How
land were the only adults in the colony
except the hired help. and little attention
was paid to the children. who had moth
ing to do except follow their own wills.
According to the teachings Of "Oahspe,"
as he asserted, Mr. Rowland some years
ago transferred the estate to twenty-six
of these children. retaining for himself
the supervision as their trustee, the plan
being that they should own it in common
as their heritage. Seeing the plan was a
failure. however. he applied to the courts
to set aside this deed and restore the
property to himself, agreeing at the same
time to see that all the children were
placed in good homes and we'll cared for
on these conditions his application was
granted.
Dr. Newbrough, the founder. was
wealthy man and spent many thousands
of dollars on the colony. He built fine
HOUSES, constructed reservoirs dug irri-
cation canals, and put expensive machin-
cry wherever needed. He spared neither
money nor work in making the conditions
perfect. and it looked for time as If the
colony would at least be a financial sue
cess. Rowland, his successor. was also
wealthy, and spent his fortune in i'm
proVementS.