The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-02-16
THEY'LL LIVE IN COMMON
NEW RELIGIOUS COLONY EsTAR-
LISHED IN PENNSYLVANIA.
wealthy Pittsburger at Head Of One
Where All Will Work For
Common Interest.

|
SCRANTON, Pa.-No monarch Of
feudal days could boast of muck
greater power than that which Will
liam Schlingmann of Pittsburg wiz
WELD over the jewellers in the Provi-
dence community to be established
by him in North Abingdon, near this
city. A tract of land comprising 32e
acres has been bought by Schling-
mann for $1,000, and when the
present lease expires April 1st a
group of free religionists who are
associated with him will take pos
session.
What Schlingmann describes as
the new commandment, Love We one
another" will form the base of an
the laws of the community, and the
members will live as nearly as nos
sible in imitation of Christ. There
is to be nothing freakish in the coma
munity life, however-no free love.
no barefoot dancing or walking and
no hysterical religious ceremonies.
The jewellers will till the soil, build
houses, manufacture their necessities
and educate themselves and their
children out of common fund to be
| created from their earnings. Schling
mann himself will be the head of the
settlement. AS high trustee he shall
nave the power to prescribe rules for
the government of the community.
TO amend, alter or repeal the same
and to make whatever additional
laws he deems necessary.
Despite this czar-like authorize
Schllngmann declares that in estak-
fishing the settlement he is perform
ing duty to God. He quotes pas
sages from the Bible to prove that
the mode of living to be followed in
the Providence community will be
IN accordance with divine teachings.
Based ON Christian Fellowship.
Schllngmann is wealthy, and made
his money in the building contracting
business in Pittsburg. He is a Bap-
list, but says he is not a believer in
UNCONVENTIONAL religion. The com
munity which he is to establish. he
says, will be founded upon the rock
of christian fellowship for the pur-
pose of furnishing it's members and
their families with the necessary
lodging, food and raiment required
in living plain life, and a home
in health and sickness
After the decease of a members
these benefits will be continued to-
ward his or her surviving family in
return for the labor to be rendered
to the community by every male and
female member and their children.
while physically able.
The community will operate a
general store, and when a member
needs clothing he will be given an
order by the trustee for what he re-
CURES. 1t will be the same with food
and medicine. The community will
nave its own physician and dispen-
sary and everything necessary for
bodily welfare and comfort will he
provided, thus eliminating the neces-
sity for weekly or monthly wage"
There is to be a single house of
worship in the settlement, but the
services will be undenominational
Any member who desires to come to
scranton or any nearby village to
attend services at a particular church
may do so. The liberties of the
jewellers are in no sense to be re-
stricted.
The community idea which Settling
mann is adopting originated in 1907
with George Rapp, a German, whe
came to this country and founded the
Harmony Society in Butler county.
Subsequently the members removed
to Indiana, later returning to this
state and founding the town of Har-
mony, near Pittsburg.