The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1916-03-09
TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE THE CIVIL
AND RELIGIOUS LAWS Of COMMUNITY
Quaint Amana Colony in Iowa Bars Hair Ribbons to Women and
mustaches to Men and Furnishes Boys Who Play Baseball on
Sunday by Barring Them From Church for Two Sum-
days-Socety Is Worth 100000.

village was founded by members. Of
the Church of the True Inspiration, or
"Separatists," as they had been called
in Germany since the beginning of the
eighteenth century. The men who
founded the first village named it
Amana, a name taken from the Bible
and meaning remain true" These
had come to America in the forties
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 vas $500 acres. Grad.
ually more land vas acquired and the
other six villages established-West
Amana. South Amana, High Amana.
'East Amana. Middle Amana and
Homestead.
In 1868 there were about 1900 mem.
bera of the Amana society. The num-
Der 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 had
determined on community life as the
best method Of holding true to the
ideals Of their religion. The society
vas incorporated as a religious and
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" THE purpose Of our organiza-
tion," reads the constitution, lis there
fore no worldly or selfish one.",
Article II of the constitution states:
1T Is our unanimous will and resolu-
ton that the land purchased here and
that may hereafter be purchased shall
be and remain q common estate and
property, with all improvements there
upon and all ap%purtenances thereto.
as also with all the labor, cares, trou.
BILE and burdens, OF which each mem
Der shall bear his allotted share with
q 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 Of
sustenance, and out of the income Of
these the expenses of the society shall
be betrayed. II 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 a business and safety
fund and to benevolent purposes In
general"
Tho Aged Cared For.
The control and management Of the
society is vested in thirteen trustees
elected annually from among the cid.
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 Amara
| 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 a 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 OF Is expelled
this property ia given back, but with
out interest.
And when he joins the society, &C
cording to the constitution, leach
member Ia entitled to free board and
dwelling, to support and care in old
age, sickness and infirmity. 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 80.
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. ut 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 its means we are better able
to lead true and Christian livea."
"De you vote" I asked. =.
"No," said the head of the society.
Sometimes we vote in township cleo
lions. But not for national issues"
"Then you are %citizens?" ! 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 the
war;" l asked.
"War is against u religious faith"
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