The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1961-03-16
Communal Living Is
Methodist Men Topic

ing of Methodist Men Of Bethel
and White Churches in the Mt.
Lake Church Tuesday evening.
The program leader, Clinton
Shrout, introduced five speakers
who talked on the subject Mr.
Shrout explained it was the sec
ond phase of the groups general
study of Communism.
The word communism was
coined in 1885 by French revolu-
tionaries and the first speaker.
James Trickett, pointed out that
it actually does not define the
joining together OF groups of
people for economic or religious
reasons He referred to early eX-
amples of communal society as adj
vocated by the Greek philosophers
Plato and Aristotle Mr. Trickett
made it clear that communism
is a society better defined as one
resulting from political power inn
posed by revolutionary groups up
on the people without regard to
the religious, political or personal
views of the masses.
The Rev. James F. Remley pas
tor. presented the origin Of COM
munal society among mankind
Man developed beyond tribal fami-
ly life. he explained, and learned
that joining together for security,
represented by the basic necessi-
ties of existence, led to better
life through sharing ideas and
slills. But he also pointed out
that the first communal life of the
early church was abandoned I'M
der the pressure of persecution.
One of the first examples of such
religious group life. said Rev
Remley. was that of the Essences.
This society was formed by ascetic
Jews who lived in caves and under
strict rituals and religious regula
tiOns of cleanliness and personal
conduct. 1t was from caves once
occupied by the Essences that the
Dead Sea scrolls were recently
discovered.
As background material to mans
group living, Blair Simmons gave
a resume of Toynbee's historical
research into the 10000 years OF
human development He Illus
trated the Sinic philosophers sym
bolisn of the Yin man as a primi-
tive being living in darkness
beneath clouded sun and slow
~ rising up a cliff toward light
and civilization for only the last
5000 years. Those emerging from
the darkness were termed the
Yang people. Mr. Simmons pointed
out that this situation still remains
upon earth with the tribes in
Australia. Africa and in South
America It was brought out that
one OF the factors still regrettab-
" true is that the Yin Man killed
his brother with a stone or club
while today's Yang Man blasts his
brother into oblivion with atomic
fire
Communal living on the basis
of religion was discussed by Wal
ter Price, who stated that our in
tcrest in such society is not on
account of the unconventional
habits of living or religious belief
Of such societies. He suggested
that Christians seek to learn from
the industry, honesty, and frugali-
ty of communal societies how to
gain higher values of human CO.
operation.
The closing speaker on the sub
ject, Ebert Riley gave an eX-
PLANTATION of the life Of the Hut
terite communities in South Da-
kota. Mr.. Riley explained thai
these followers Of the 18th cen
fury martyr, Jacob Hutter, repre-
sent colonies organized on relig-
ious basis in many places through
out the world. They are branch
of the Mennonite persuasion and
in their principal South Dakota
colony. on the James river, own
and cultivate thousand acres of
fertile land Mr. Riley pointed out
that these people elect their minis
ter and give him 30 cents spend
ing money per month and insist
that he also keep busy with trac-
tor in the fields and his hoe in
the vegetable garden. The speaker
said that the Hutterite colonies
were so successful that the public
had introduced legislation in South
Dakota to keep new colonies from
buying up more land.
AT the close of the program there
were questions and answers bear
ing on the subject of communal
living. The next meeting of this
group at White Church will begin
an analysis of MARKHAM Communism
This will be followed up by the
problem of Russian Communism
and its threat to Christian belief