Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-05-17
TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE THE Civil
AND RELIGIOUS LAWS Of COMMUNITY
Quaint Anana Colony Iowa Bars Hair Ribbons to Women and
Mstaches Men and Furnishes Boys Who Play Baseball on
Sunday by Barring Them From Church for Two Sum
days-Society Is Worth S8,000,000

the Church of the True Inspiration, or
"Separatists," as they had been called
| in Germany since the beginning OF the
eighteenth century. The men VINO
founded the first village named It
| Amana, a name taken from the B1ole
and meaning remain true" These
! men had come to America in the fortles
with their families seeking religious
freedom. They had settled in New
York, but the community had grown
faster than land could be acquired and
they moved West. The first purchase
of land in Iowa was $500 acres. Grad
ually more land was acquired and the
other six villages established-West
Amana, South Amana, High Amana,
East Amana, Middle Amana ana
Homestead.
In 1863 there were about 1900 mem
bers of the Amana society. The num-
ber is about the same today.
It was in 1859 that the society was
incorporated under the laws of the
state of Iowa. The men who had come
from Germany to the new country mad
determined on community life as the
best method Of holding true to the
ideals of their religion. The society
was incorporated as religious ana
benevolent society under the name
Amana society.
The constitution of the society de-
clares that the foundation of the civil
organization shall remain forever
God" 1.-The purpose of our organlza'
tion," reads the constitution, is there
fore no worldly or selfish one.'
Article II of the constitution states:
"It is our unanimous will and resolu-
ton that the land purchased here and
that may hereafter be purchased shall
be and remain a common estate and
property, with all Improvements there
upon and all appurtenances tnereto'
as also with all the labor, cares, trou-
Bile and burdens, of which each mem
ber shall bear his allotted share Win
a willing heart"
And here is the provision in the con-
stitution which shows how the Amana
society makes the money to care for
it's people: Agriculture, manufactures
and trades shall form the means or
sustenance, and out Of the income OF
these the expenses Of the society shall
be betrayed. If any surplus remains
it shall be applied to improvements,
to the erection Of school and meeting
houses, care Of the old and sick, the
foundation of business and safety
fund and to benevolent purposes IN
general"
The Aged Cared For.
The control and management OF the
society is vested in thirteen trustees
elected annually from among the eld'
ers. Death is about the only thing
that changes the makeup Of the bord
of trustees. There are no chickering's
in Amana and a public examiner has
never been called in to audit the So
ciety's books. The people Of Amana
place explicit trust in the trustees and
the officers.
Every member Of the Amana society
at the time of joining is in duty bound
to give his or her personal property
and real property to the trustees for
the common fund. The member is
entitled to credit for this property on
the society books and is given re-
cept signed by the president and Sec
cretary. This property is secured by
the pledge of the common property OF
the society. If a member either volun.
tarily leaves the society or is expelled
this property is given back, but with
out interest.
And when he joins the society, &C.
cording to the constitution, each
member is entitled to free board and
dwelling, to support and care in old
age, sickness and infrmity, and to an
annual sum of maintenance, the
amount Of which is to be fixed by the
trustees. The members release all
claims for wages, interest and any
share in the income and Of the So
ciety separate from the common
stock"
THAT shows you that communism
here is not practised for temporal or
pecuniary purpose" said President
Heinemann after he had shown the
constitution of the society. "It is not
an experiment to solve great social
problems. We care nothing for poll.
tics, for economics. We have adopted
the communistic plan because we
think by it's means we are better able
to lead true and Christian lives"
"Do you vote?" asked.
NO." said the head Of the society
Sometimes we vote in township elec-
tions. But not for national issues"
"Then you are citizens?" I said
EYES," he replied. "And we try to
be good citizens. We have no beer
because Iowa has gone on record
against beer. We have even stopped
dispensing the wine we make here.
How are your sympathies in Che
r-oroo ockad