"As soon as we adopted community of goods we began to prosper," said one of the older members to me. Having abundance of hands, they set up shops; and, being poor and in debt, they determined to live rigidly within their means and from their own products. They crowded at first into a few small log-cabins; some of which are still standing, and are occupied to this day. They kept cattle; were careful and laborious farmers; and setting up blacksmith's, carpenter's, and joiner's shops, they began to earn a little money from work done for the neighboring farmers. Nevertheless their progress was slow, and they accounted it a great piece of good fortune when in 1827 a canal was built through their neighborhood. What with putting their own young men upon this work, and selling supplies to the contractors, they made enough money from this enterprise to pay for their land; and thenceforth, with free hands, they began to accumulate wealth. They now own in one body over seven thousand acres of very fertile land, including extensive and valuable water-power, and have besides some land in Iowa. They have established a woolen factory, where they make cloth and yarn for their own use and for sale. Also two large flour-mills, a saw-mill, planing-mill, machine shop, tannery, and dye-house. They have also a country store for the accommodation of the neighborhood, a large hotel which receives summer visitors; and for their own use they maintain a wagon shop, blacksmith's and carpenter's shops, tailors, dressmakers, shoemakers, a cider-mill, a small brewery, and a few looms for weaving linen. They employ constantly about fifty persons not members of the community, besides "renters;" who manage some of their farms on shares. They have now (in the spring of 1874) about three hundred members, and their property is worth more than a million dollars. II.--RELIGIOUS FAITH AND PRACTICAL LIFE. The "Principles of the Separatists," which are printed in the first volume of Joseph Baumeler's discourses, were evidently framed in Germany. They consist of twelve articles: "I. We believe and confess the Trinity of God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. "II. The fall of Adam, and of all mankind, with the loss thereby of the likeness of God in them. "III. The return through Christ to God, our proper Father. "IV. The Holy Scriptures as the measure and guide of our lives, and the touchstone of truth and falsehood. "All our other principles arise out of these, and rule our conduct in the religious, spiritual, and natural life. "V. All ceremonies are banished from among us, and we declare them useless and injurious; and this is the chief cause of our Separation. "VI. We render to no mortal honors due only to God, as to uncover the head, or to bend the knee. Also we address every one as 'thou'-- _du_.