Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-08-29
A NEW 'ASKOV

| ASKOV TOT SIX months up 10 Au-
gust, and after that returned to
his home in DannebrOg, Nebr.,
together with his family. writes
that they enjoyed their stay here.
They liked the climate and the
people, but added that their time
here was too short to get really
we'll acquainted. Rev. M9ller
thinks that this would be an
ideal place for small farms and a
happy location for many satisfied
and contented families.
Under the heading of "A New
Askov" Rev. M0ller wrote the fol-
lowing article for publication in
the Americana:
The green circle in "Folkesam.
funds" park is the center of the Asko>
community. In days to come all free
men will assemble here once a weeH
to perpetuate justice. They will stand
On the ground while so doing. All so.
cial difficulties will be settled an6
solved here. The counselors will be
three men from Askov who have stu.
died law and come to see that we are
being crushed to death by an imposed
Roman law system. They went home
to rediscover and enact obsoleted
laws of the Indians and the pioneers
They found two old basic laws ac-
cording to which a person has a RICH.
to live where he is born, and no one
can drive family from its home
Devoted as they were, they did Undue
people with those native laws. They
also gave them old, yet new concep-
lions in regard to property, work
theft, murder, etc. They revived the
! communism of the Indians and the
Scandinavians. They found the lines
of demarcation between what is COM
mon and what is private.
And now, l see some cozy huts
around the Legion hall. Here some
unemployed and disillusioned teachers
started new school which was not
Roman school but a Minnesota
school. 1t has no connection with
any superior state authority. All re-
sponsibility is vested in the COM
munity. Whoever is gifted as teach
er can instruct in the school. Knowi-
edge is submitted only to the extent
that it is asked for. Anyone from
the babe to the granddad can go to
school. School periods are adjusted
to the work and climate of the COM
munity. 1t is organically a part of
the community life. Teachers are
there for lifetime.
The church is still there, for a
more genuine life will enhance a re-
alization that we do desperately need
the grace of God. 1t is now what it
was intended to be, community
church. but there is unlimited free
dom for various groups to congregate
at various times and there is of course
no language suppression. 1t is, how
ever, very probable that there will be
more One-mindedness when King
MammOn and Roman law no longer
can divide people into political par
ties and platforms. These have never
done anything but harm.
Old and young people are playing
In the park more than ever and they
do not permit any money interest to
take the fun out of the play.
Many will be living close to the vii
lage and much land will be cultivated
in common.
The pioneers of the New Askov,
were tempted again and again to run
away. for they needed new shoes and
cvercoats, and they earned no money.
The old order tried again and again
to suffocate the new baby.
But the baby was born and the
world could not resist it.
We are now subjected to alien, de-
teriorating forces which set I'D a
stone wall between man and his
neighbor-but all truth is concen-
trated in one word-resurrection.
When we are delivered from the
stencil OF our present artificial exist
ence which can end in nothing but
decadence, and we become more genu-
inc. then we shall be irresistible.
Resurrection means a renewal of
what has been buried. perhaps CEN
turtles ago. The soul of the old has
been purged and is now ready to take
upon itself new body. Resurrection
takes place through agonizing bitth-
throes. While passing through them.
our emotions desire to return to the
slave order of King Mammon. Then
it is time to look forward-to the new
baby. We must live in faith and hope
much more than We live in emotions
and desires. That means that we
must be willing to lose everything in
order that rebirth can successfully
take place. 1t is not at Moscow, Ok
ford. or Washington that | shall he
converted to a life of stability and in
tegrity. but it is here where | rub ell
bows with neighors. To expect saliva
ton from Marxism. Fascism. Oxford
ism. etc., is to escape from reality.
1t is here | must be rescued with 9th
ers from King Mammon's hell.
The best of wishes to friends at
ASkov