Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-01-14
NOT DIVORCE OVER
HALF A CENTURY
No Hired Girl Problem, Social Evil,
Jail to be Found il, Amana
and its Villages in Iowa.
ALL PROPERTY RElO IN COMMON
Society Jointly cultivates 26,a25 Acres
of land-Has Become Rich Without
Desire for Worldly Goods.

SoS'Sty ooH't'y Su't'NdtSS Eo,GEo NCTeo
of Land-Has Become Rich Without
Desire for Worldly Goods.
Just now when statistics from the
courts Of domestic relations are caus.
ing the general demand to know what
is the matter with marriage a com !
munity of seven villages, comprising
about 1000 souls, where there has |
never been divorce, furnishes an in
teresting study.
This is the community of Amana, To-
Gated in Iowa County, Iowa, and it is |
commendable to observe in connection
with this remarkable record that here
will neither be found any social evil,
any jails, any insane asylum, any juve.
nile court any hired girl problem or
any women's clubs. And when it is
said there has never been a divorce
here it must be conceded the record of
sixty years.
In the first place celibacy being
their highest ideal, marriage is dis
couraged, but not prevented. Assum.
ing, therefore, from basis of religious
tenets that matrimony is attendant
with serious dangers to peace of mind
and spiritual development, the joining
Of lives is approached with caution
becoming of the danger When two
young people Cor old ones either) be-
come the victims Of willy Dan Cupid
and express their desire to unite in
matrimony severe test is made of
their affection.
Each is sent to separate village
Of the community, and for year and
day all communication is cut off be-
tween them. Neither may they see
each other, or write or send word If
at the end of this time they remain
steadfast in their purpose and loyal in
their affections they are reunited and
| joined in matrimony by very simple
| service.
The secret of enforcement of the
rule lies in the fact that Amana is q
purely communistic society. There is
no individual property here, and each
member must submit to the rules of
the organization or withdraw penniless
from the settlement where he or she
is insured of care and protection dur
ing life and burial at death. For the
property of this community is valued
at three and one-half million dollars
So the question of care and livelihood
never enters into woman's considera-
tion of matrimony. 1t is purely a mat
ter of sentiment.
Once married, she is given such con-
sideration as nigh. prevent many Of
the domestic breaches in society gen.
orally today. She has equal participa-
tion in all the benefits of the commun-
ity; she is exempt rom all work dur
ing the first two years Of her childs
life; she Is relieved from kitchen duty
one out of every three weeks; she Is
furnished free nursery for ter chill
dren during the day; she Is assured
lifelong care after becoming aged; she
is given medical caro- when i'll; she Is
given a respectable burial when dead,
and her children are insured support
and education.
The management of this interesting
community is placed In the hands Of
thirteen trustees, elected by the mem
bers, women having an equal voice in
the election with the men.
The Amana Society was originally
founded in 1854, when 500 Germans
came here from their native land to
avoid religious persecution They are
believers in divine inspiration" today
as we'll as in times of old, and while
the economic management of the com
munity has generally been voted to
the men, it remained for woman to
be their last and greatest prophet
Barbary Heinman. Since her death
there has been no prophet, and her ire
velations," are read regularly in the
Amana churches as part of the relig
ious services.
From the mere handful of Germans
who secured 5000 acres of land here In
1854, the community has grown to its
present membership of nearly 1000
and cultivates 26,225 acres of land, be
sides operating two woolen mills, one
cotton mill, -four mill, seven saw
mills, elevators, etc. Their develop
ment of wealth has been rather IL
spite of themselves than because o.
their desires, for they are living, moi
for worldly gain, but In preparation o.
their souls for future life. With al
their wealth, each member can have
but the ordinary necessities of life.
Here uniformity of dress is requir
ed. 1t is of the simplest nature, re
sembling the German peasant dress o
> the Seventeenth Century with sucl
changes as convenience and not fame.
have commended. No dances are per
, mitted; no theaters are allowed; ther'
is no music other than that of TIN
human voices. Houses are unpainted
; personal photographs are forbidden a
craven images; jewelry is branded a
sinful, and all frivolous decorations O
, person or home are forbidden. Eve
: the graves of the dead are marked onl
, by simple wooden cross bearing tn
s name, date of birth and death.
= There are in all seven villages
;. Amana, West Amaua, South Amant
4