History of American SocialismsNoyes, John Humphrey
History
History of American Socialisms
Noyes, John Humphrey
Communism -- United States; Socialism -- United States
"6. Christian Metz, a German, with his followers, founded a
society eight miles from Buffalo, New York, in 1846. They called
themselves the inspired people, and their colony Ebenezer. They
believe in the Bible, as it is explained through their mediums.
Metz and one of the sisters have been mediums more than thirty
years, through whom one spirit speaks and writes. This spirit
guides the society in spiritual and temporal matters, and they
have never been disappointed in his counsels for their welfare.
They have been led by this spirit for more than a century in
Germany. They permit marriage, when, after application has been
made, the spirit consents to it; but the parties have to go
through some public mortification. In 1851 they had some
thousands of members. They have now removed to Iowa, where they
have 30,000 acres of land. This is the largest and richest
Community in the United States. One member brought in $100,000,
others $60,000, $40,000, $20,000, etc. They are an intelligent
and very kind people, and live in little comfortable cottages,
not having unitary houses as the other societies. They are not
anxious to get members, and none are received except by the
consent of the controlling spirit. They have a printing-press
for their own use, but do not publish any books.
"7. Erick Janson, a Swede, and his friends started a colony at
Bishop Hill, Illinois, in 1846, and now number about eight
hundred. They are Bible-believers according to their
explanations. They believe that a life of celibacy is more
adapted to develop the inner man, but marriage is not forbidden.
Their minds are not closed against liberal progress, when they
are convinced of the truth and usefulness of it. They began in
very poor circumstances, but are now well off, and not anxious
to get members; do not publish any books about their colony.
Janson died eight years ago. They have no head; but the people
select their preachers and trustees, who superintend the
different branches of business. They are kept in office as long
as the majority think proper. I am living there now.
"_August 26 1858._ A. JACOBI."
The connection between religion of some kind and success in these
Communities, has come to be generally recognized, even among the old
friends of non-religious Association. Thus Horace Greeley, in his
"Recollections of a Busy Life," says:
"That there have been--nay, are--decided successes in practical
Socialism, is undeniable; but they all have that Communistic basis
which seems to me irrational and calculated to prove fatal.***
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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