Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-08-13
COMMUNISM IN IOWA
COMMUNITY OF TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE
Interesting Sketch of the Amana Society
Located in Iowa County,
this State.

Comparatively few people in this
section are aware that there exists 4
society or sect in Iowa with absolute
community of interests, and still less
have read descriptions of the method
of government and habits of the So
ciety. A few days ago the editor of
the Oelwein Register visited this So
ciety, and writes an interesting de-
scription of the sect which we be-
lieve will prove pleasant and profit
able reading:
Within few weeks we rode from
Iowa City to South Amana in COM
pany with DR.. VIM. Moerschel, the
physician of the society, and from
him we learned number of interest
ing points in connection with this So
ciety. He also presented us with a
brief history from which we CLEANED
facts concerning the affairs of the
early days.
Thinking that an outline of this
society might be of interest to our
readers, we give short writeup of
this Iowa community of people who
are working along community lines,
combined with church relations which
find their basis in the teachings of the
new testament. We assure our readers
that visit to the society will prove
of interest and profit to anyone inclin-
ed to make study of social and eco
nomical questions
The Amana Society dates back to
the year l714 when Messrs. J. F. Rock
and E. L. Gruber,. of Hessia, Ger
many, organized a religious sect,
having for its creed that God could in
these latter days inspire men to speak
and declare His word and will. They
soon had many followers who desired
purer religion with higher standard
of virtue and morality. The preachers,
their successors and followers were
prosecuted, derided and mobbed.
They were even tied to the whipping
post and whipped, and were some
times publicly lashed through the
streets. They were forbidden to hold
meetings, and on the death of P. G.
Nagal, one of their leading preachers,
in 1919, the society declined.
In 1917 the good seed sown bore
fruit, among them M. Kraussert. of
Strassburg, Barbara Heineman, of
Leitersweiler, Alsace; and Christian
Metz, of Ronneburg. Under these
leaders the society became organized
much as it is today except that there
was no community of goods They
established parochial schools that
their children might be taught the
religion which they professed. In
1926 the society leased large estate
atSMarienborn, and here the members
earned their living according to their
inclination. each paying share of the
rent. Woolen mills and knitting
works were established. Two other
communities were established at Her
rnhaag and Arnsburg. The society
continued to increase in numbers till
1912 when it was decided best to emf.
CRATE to America.
The representatives of the society
bought 5000 acres of land neaI
Buffalo, N. Y. Here during the year
of 1S43-4 about eight hundred people
came over from Germany and settled.
The land was cleared, houses were
scattered over the territory, and -four
villages were established. The pract.
ice of communism was now fully
adopted, and the name of "Ebenezel
Society was adopted. The society
increased and prospered till 1854 wher
it became apparent that more lane
was necessary, and as it could not bt
procured in that vicinity it was decid
ed to send a delegation west on pros
pecting tour. They went to Kansa.
but could find no land satisfactory.
new committee was sent to Iowa il
November, and qp their favorable re-
port $500 acres Of land was purchased
about twenty miles west of Iowa City
The land in New York was disposed
of, and this paid for. Additional lant
was subsequently obtained till the
present 90, 600 acre limit was reached
Here unmoved by the political con
tests and competitive strife about then
reside nearly 1900 people who have {
common interest in property to thu
value of over $4,000, 900. They arr
prosperous farmers and manufacturers
and have established seven village,
named Amana, West Amana, Soutl
Amana, High Amana, East Amana
Homestead and Middle Amana. TIL,
society is incorporated under tn,
name of the "Amana Society,"" Ac
cording to the articles of incorporation
"The foundation of our civil organi
zation is and shall forever remain il
God, the Lord, and the faith whicl