Ohio History Journal

OHIO

Archaeological and Historical

PUBLICATIONS.

THE SEPARATIST SOCIETY OF ZOAR.

AN EXPERIMENT IN COMMUNISM -FROM ITS COMMENCEMENT

TO ITS CONCLUSION.

BY E. O. RANDALL, LL. M., SECRETARY OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL

AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

It is somewhat singular, if indeed not really significant,

that just at this time while the views of Edward Bellamy1 are

attracting world-wide attention and receiving an enthusiastic

acceptance almost startling in its extent, one of the most com-

plete and perhaps most thoroughly tried applications of the so-

1Edward Bellamy, born Chicopee Falls, Mass., March 26, 1850;

died same place, May 22, 1898. Author of "Looking Backward" (1889)

and "Equality" (1897). Editor "The New Nation," established January,

1891. These works advocate a socialistic communism. Bellamy's books

reached a sale of hundreds of thousands and some four hundred papers

and periodicals have been established devoted to his theories, while

thousands of clubs and societies have been formed throughout the coun-

try promotive of what is called the Nationalistic Movement, which in

certain sections has taken an organized political character, leading to

the formation of local, state and national parties. The Nationalistic

Movement does not at once demand the adoption of the perfected ideal

scheme as described in "Equality," but tends towards an Utopian com-

mune, to be preceded "by the nationalization of industries, including as

minor applications of the same principle, the municipalization and state

control of localized business."

Vol. VIII-1

2    Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

cial scheme of communism has reached a termination and, a

self-confessed failure, has passed out of existence, as to its com-

munistic feature, and that too after a duration of more than

three quarters of a century, a continuance apparently under the

most favorable circumstances.

ORIGIN OF THE SOCIETY.

The history of this communistic experiment is a sociologi-

cal study, both important and instructive. It is the history of

the Separatist Society of Zoar. As religion was the funda-

mental basis of the organization, the object of its formation, the

cause of its emigration to this country, and a prominent ele-

ment in its operation and final failure, some considerable space

is devoted to this component of the Zoar Colony. As is well

known to every reader of history, the reformation in Germany

in the sixteenth century resulted in the springing up, through-

out the fatherland, of innumerable anti-Romish sects. This

was especially true in those countries where the union and

united oppression of the church and state had become unusually

obnoxious and tyrannous. The Kingdom of Wurttemburg be-

came one of the hotbeds of the revolt against popedom and

churchdom, and for three or four centuries before the reforma-

tion, Wurttemburg was noted for the reformatory activity of its

people.

While following the leadership of the Wittenberg Monk,

Wurttemburg became, not only the stronghold of Protestantism,

but also a prolific breeding ground for countless religious inde-

pendents, and also for an innumerable variety of sects and

creeds.  As early as 1544, two years before the death of Lu-

ther, a preacher of Waiblingen complained that there were as

many sects in Wurttemburg as there were houses. The Lutheran

Church became the church of the state, and the orthodox clergy

supported by the compliant government, stood up, of course,

resolutely against the dissenting and independent religionists.

Among these numerous heterodoxies the Pietists constituted

one of the strongest and most influential religious parties-

they were hardly an organized sect-but were antagonists to

the state church. This sect, or rather theological school, owed

The Separatist Society of Zoar.     3

its origin and growth to the writings and teachings of Johann

Arndt (1555-1621), Johann Andrea (1586-1654) and Frederick

Christoph Oetinger (1702-1782). The latter was an enthusiastic

disciple of the mystic philosophy of Jacob Boehm (1575-1624).

Oetinger's heterodoxy fostered a species of dissent known as Sep-

aratism. The Separatists rejected baptism, confirmation and

other ordinances. They declined to do military duty or take

the legal oath, and refused to remove their hats to their desig-

nated superiors-they had no superiors in their own estimation,

as all men were equal before the Lord. They would not permit

their children to attend the public schools, which were con-

ducted by the Lutheran clergy. Disobedience to the conven-

tional forms of the regular church and the dictates of the ruling

state, naturally brought the Separatists into conflict with the

government. They were insulted and persecuted. They were

brought before the civil authorities and punished with floggings

and imprisonment. Their houses and lands and personal prop-

erty were confiscated; their children were taken from them and

sent to orphans' homes or other public institutions.  In short,

an intolerable and bigoted oppression of the Separatists pre-

vailed, just as two centuries earlier the Puritans of England

were persecuted by the Protestant King James.²  There was

2 The interesting fact should not be lost sight of that while the prime

purpose of the expedition of the Mayflower (1620), under the reign of

King James I, was for religious liberty, the financial plan and practical

working of the Pilgrim Forefather settlement was a phase of communism.

The Leyden Emigrants having no means of transportation and being

scarce of funds, entered into a hard bargain with one of the English

Colonizing Companies of London. "In their arrangements for the voy-

age, and the business foundation and management of the colony," the

Pilgrims formed a communistic co-partnership. The Plymouth Company

of London, comprising some seventy merchants, handicraftsmen, etc.,

"which raised the stock to begin this plantation," had an original

capital of some seven thousand pounds, divided into shares of ten

pounds each ($50.00). This company was to furnish the Pilgrims trans-

portation and land for settlement. The Pilgrims were to go as planters

or pioneers-they were to become stockholders by virtue of their services

or contributions. "The shares were ten (10) pounds each. For every

person going, the personality (that is, from sixteen years of age) was.

accounted one share for him and every ten pounds put in by him (in

funds or property) was accounted an additional share." This co-part-

4          Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

no alternative for the Separatists but to suffer or flee the coun-

try. They were forced to emigration. The first of these Sep-

aratist departures to America was under the leadership of George

Rapp, the eloquent weaver-preacher of Iptingen, Wurttemburg.

He first gathered a small congregation in his own house in

1787. He and his followers were duly fined and imprisoned

when in 1804 some six hundred of them, mainly mechanics and

peasants; landed in Philadelphia and finally located on the Ohio

river some twenty miles northwest of Pittsburg, in Beaver

county, Penn., where they purchased some five thousand acres

of wild land. They called the place of their settlement Econ-

omy, and they "formally and solemnly organized themselves

into the 'Harmony Society,' agreeing to throw all their pos-

sessions into a common fund, to keep thenceforth all things in

common; and to labor for the common good of the whole

body."3

nership was for seven years. During this time the Pilgrim colonists

were to be supported out of the common colony property. At the end

of the seven years, all the possessions of the colony, with everything

gained by them, were to be equally divided among the whole of the

stockholders-London capitalists as well as Pilgrim colonists. Such

was the contract, the essence of which was co-partnership in interest

and a communism in support and subsistence. One of the earliest

studies, therefore, in this country of the relations of capital and labor

is offered in the establishment of the Plymouth colony. In 1623 the

colonists raised funds through English friends and bought out the

London stockholders in the company, and the Pilgrims thus became

possessed of all the stock and property of the company.-[Pilgrim

Fathers, G. B. Cheever, page 107.]

3The Harmonists or Rappists, as sometimes called, remained in

Economy ten years and then moved to New Harmony, Indiana, re-

maining there till 1824, when they sold their land to Robert Owen, the

scientist and philanthropist, author of "New View of Society" and

"The Book of the New Moral World." For three years Owen tested

his socialistic theories at New Harmony when the experiment became

unsuccessful and was abandoned, Owen returning to England, his native

country. The Harmonists (1824) returned to Economy, which has ever

since been their abiding place. They suffered many vicissitudes, dissensions

and desertions. Several times seceders established other communistic

societies. The Harmonists at Economy numbered at one time over a

thousand members-and in their palmiest days were reported possessed

The Separatist Society of Zoar.             5

The company that comprised the Zoar colony departed from

Wurttemburg in April, 1817. A few months earlier several of

their number were sent to Antwerp to engage a ship to trans-

port them to America. They chose as their leader one Jo-

seph M. Baumler, which name was later changed for the sake

of English euphony to Bimeler and is so known to-day in Zoar

and elsewhere. Bimeler was of humble and obscure peasant

origin but a man of unusual ability and independence, a

teacher, a natural leader and a fluent speaker.    He easily

became by common consent the guide and mentor of a large

following.  There were some three hundred in this pilgrim

company. They were from the poorer class of their country-

men. Many were unable to pay their passage, which was pro-

vided for by some of their more fortunate companions and ma-

terial assistance was rendered to these religious emigrants by

the sympathizing "Society of Friends," the Quakers of Eng-

land. The journey of the Separatists lasted some three months,

and the voyagers landed in Philadelphia on August 14, 1817.

They were kindly received in the City of Brotherly Love by

their friends, the Quakers, who provided a large building in

which the Separatists could remain until departing for their

western home. As further acts of aid by the Quakers, it is re-

lated that the "Society of Friends" in England had sent a

considerable sum of money to America for the use of the worthy

but destitute Wurttemburgers-a sum amounting to about eight-

een dollars for each Separatist. This fund was given the re-

cipients upon their arrival in Philadelphia and was used later

to send them on to their destination in the Tuscarawas Valley.

As most of these emigrants reached Philadelphia "in an im-

of property valued in the millions. They made large real estate invest-

ments which proved exceedingly profitable, for the coal mines, oil

wells, etc. They built up large industries, shipping their goods through-

out the country. The past few years they have rapidly declined. They

number now less than a dozen members. Their manufactories are mostly

abandoned. Their property has been mainly sold and that remaining

has greatly depreciated in value and is more or less encumbered. The

society has practically lost its co-operative character and its fate as a

communistic society will doubtless be at no distant day that of its kin-

dred at Zoar.

6         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

poverished condition," this Quaker beneficence came to them

like an act of Providence and the Separatists have always pre-

served a warm spot in their hearts for the generous and sym-

pathetic Quakers. They tarried in Philadelphia several months,

during which time Bimeler arranged for the Ohio settlement.

He purchased of one Godfrey Haga a tract of five thousand

five hundred acres of land, a military grant in the wilderness

of Tuscarawas county. He was to pay three dollars per acre,

giving fifteen hundred dollars cash -(loaned, it is said, by

their Quaker friends)-and his (Bimeler's) individual notes for

fifteen thousand dollars, secured by a mortgage on the land

for that amount, to be paid in fifteen years, the first three years

to be without interest. This transaction was solely in the

name of Bimeler, but with the understanding that each mem-

ber of the society should have an interest therein proportionate

to the amount he might contribute to the payment for the land.

Bimeler, with a chosen few of his company, went out to take

possession of this purchase December, 1817, when the first log

hut was erected, others rapidly following, on the site of the

present village of Zoar.⁴  The colonists were as fast as pos-

sible to cluster their humble homes about this chosen center,

after the custom of the German peasant farmers who settle in a

common locality rather than scatter their dwellings upon their

respective and more or less distant farms.

In the succeeding spring (1818) the colonists then remain-

ing in Philadelphia went on and took up their abode at Zoar

-that is all that were able to do so.  Many were too poor

to reach there without assistance and a large number were com-

pelled to take service with neighboring farmers to earn sup-

port for themselves and families. They were almost wholly

unskilled workmen and many delayed their journey at an op-

4Zoar was, as may be surmised, so named from the ancient town

on the shore of the Dead Sea, a city described in Genesis as "a little

one" to which Lot was permitted to take refuge in his flight from

Sodom. The choosing of this name is indicative of the religious char-

acter and purpose of the Separatists. They have generally been known

as "Zoarites."

The Separatist Society of Zoar.           7

portune station to acquire a knowledge of some useful trade or

calling.

This Separatist emigration had been primarily for the pur-

pose of securing religious liberty; secondarily for better oppor-

tunities of obtaining a livelihood. They had thus far no in-

tention of forming a communistic society; they held their in-

terests individually, and it was expected that each member

should pay for his own share of the land, which had been se-

cured by Bimeler to be subsequently divided and sold among

separate purchasers. But the members were unequal in age,

strength, experience, energy and enterprise. They soon real-

ized that their individual inequality stood in the way of the

collective success of the company. "Having among them   a

certain number of old and feeble people and many poor who

found it difficult to save money to pay for their land, the lead-

ing men presently saw that the enterprise would fail unless it

was established upon a different foundation; and that neces-

sarily would compel the people to scatter." Early in 1819 the

leaders, after consultation, determined that, to succeed, they

must establish a community of goods and efforts, and draw

into themselves all whom poverty had compelled to take ser-

vice at a distance. This resolution was laid before the whole

society, and after some weeks of discussion was agreed to; and

on the 15th of April articles of agreement for a community of

goods were signed. There were then about two hundred and

twenty-five persons, men, women and children.⁵

These articles of association were dated April 19, 1819, and

were signed by fifty-three males and one hundred and four fe-

males. The articles created a common unity of interests, pre-

sent and prospective, whereby all the property of individual

members, and their future earnings, should become the com-

mon stock of the association, to be taken care of and man-

aged by directors to be elected annually by the members.⁶

5Nordhoff, Communistic Societies in the United States, page 101.

6 The articles of association entered into by the society were prefaced

by the following preamble: "The undersigned, members of the Society

of Separatists of Zoar, have, from a true Christian love towards God

and their fellow men, found themselves convinced and induced to unite

8          Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

In March, 1824, amendatory articles⁷ containing features

similar to but more extended than those of 1819, were drawn up

and signed by about sixty males and one hundred females,

themselves according to the Christian Apostolic sense, under the follow-

ing rules through a communion of property; and they do hereby de-

termine and declare that from the day of this date, the following rules

shall be valid and in effect:"

1. "Each and every member does hereby renounce all and every

right of ownership, of their present and future movable and immovable

property; and leave the same to the disposition of the directors of the

society elected by themselves.

2. "The society elects out of its own members their directors and

managers, who shall conduct the general business transactions, and

exercise the general duties of the society. They therefore take possession

of all the active and passive property of all the members, whose duty

it shall be at the same time to provide for them; and said directors are

further bound to give an account to the society of all their business

transactions."

The other articles relate to the duties of the members of the society,

the adjustment of difficulties which may arise among them, and an

agreement that backsliding members cannot, either for property brought

in, nor for their labor in the society, demand any compensation or resti-

tution, except under the order of a majority of the society.

5 McLean, page 224.

7"We, the undersigned, inhabitants of Zoar and its vicinity, etc.,

being fully persuaded and intending to give more full satisfaction to

our consciences, in the fulfillment of the duties of Christianity, and

to plant, establish and confirm the spirit of love as the bond of peace

and union for ourselves and posterity forever, as a safe foundation of

social order, do seek and desire, out of pure Christian love and per-

suasion, to unite our several personal interests, into one common in-

terest, and, if possible, to avoid and prevent law suits and contentions,

or otherwise to settle and arbitrate them, under the following rules, in

order to avoid the disagreeable and costly course of the law, as much

as possible. Therefore, we unite and bind ourselves by and through

the common and social contract under the name and title of "The

Separatist Society of Zoar," and we agree and bind ourselves, and

promise each to the other and all together, that we will strictly hold to,

observe, and support all the following rules and regulations. New

articles, amendments, or alterations, in favor of the above expressed

intentions, to be made with the consent of the members.

"We, the undersigned, members of the second class of the Society

of Separatists, declare, through this first article, the entire renuncia-

tion and resignation of all our property of all and every dimension, form

The Separatist Society of Zoar.                 9

under which articles, with those of 181₉, the affairs of the

Society were thereafter managed. On February 6, 1832, the So-

ciety was incorporated under the then existing laws of Ohio,

and shape, present and future, movable and immovable, or both, for

ourselves and our posterity, with all and every right of ownership,

titles, claims and privileges, to the aforesaid Society of Separatists,

with the express condition that, from the date of the subscription of

each member, such property shall be forever, and consequently also

after the death of such member or members, remain the property of the

said Separatist Society."

Directors were to be elected by the society, who were authorized

to take all the property of the individual members and of the society

into their disposition, and to hold and manage the same expressly for

the general benefit of the society, according to the prescriptions of the

articles. They shall have power to trade, to purchase and to sell, to

conclude contracts and dissolve them again, to give orders if all of them

agree, with the consent of the cashier, who was to be elected by the

society. They were "to appoint agents and to conduct the entire pro-

vision of all and every member in boarding, clothing and other neces-

saries of life, in such proportion as the situation, time, circumstances

may require." And the members bound themselves to obey the orders

and regulations of the directors and their agents. The children of the

members, during their minority, were to be subject to the control of

the directors, but without the votes of a majority of the society, they

cannot bind apprentices out of the association.

The directors are required to take charge of inheritances of de-

ceased members as universal heirs, in the name of the society; to investi-

gate and settle disputes among the members, an appeal being allowed to

a board of arbitrators, which was to be elected and to consist of from

one to three persons. The arbitrators were bound to observe the economy

of the society, and give orders and instructions, to investigate accounts

and plans which may have been made by the directors and their agents.

All transactions, exceeding in amount fifty dollars, to be valid, required

the sanction of the board of arbitration. This board had also the power

to excommunicate arbitrary and refractory members, and to deprive

them of all future enjoyments of the society.

New members were to be admitted, being of full age, having been

approved of by the directors and board of arbitration, by a vote of two-

thirds of the society; and on condition that they should resign all their

property to the society, as had been done by the original members.

Directors and arbitrators were to be elected as often as shall be deemed

necessary by the society. "The highest power shall be and remain for-

ever in the hands and disposition of the society, who reserve the right

at pleasure to remove and to establish officers, or to place others in

their stead; in short, to make any alteration which may be deemed best."

10         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

by the name of "The Society of Separatists of Zoar." This

conferred upon the Society the ordinary and usual powers of

a corporation, with perpetual succession, with power to hold

property, purchase and sell, pass by-laws, etc.⁸

On May 14, 1833, at a meeting of the members of the So-

ciety, called in pursuance of said act of incorporation, an or-

ganization was effected and a constitution adopted for the gov-

ernment of the Society, under which its affairs have ever since

been regulated. All the members under the articles who re-

mained in the Society at the adoption of the constitution, be-

came members of the Society in its corporate capacity.

According to the constitution⁹ of the Society adopted un-

der the articles of incorporation (1832), the members were di-

vided into two classes, the novitiates and the full associates.

The novitiates were obliged to serve at least one year before

admission to the second class and this applied to the children

of the members, if on becoming of age they wished to join the

Society. The full associates must be of legal age, the males

twenty-one and the females eighteen. The members of the

first or probationary class did not give up their property. A

child of a member or an incoming outsider, wishing to enter

the Society, was admitted to the first class if the officials of

the Society found no objection. Later on the candidate made

application for full membership. The trustees would formally

receive this request, inquire into the case as far as seemed

necessary, and if no cause to reject was presented, they there-

The cashier was bound to keep all the funds of the association, and to

apply all moneys which may come to his hands, by the orders of the

directors and arbitrators, to the benefit of the society-to pay its debts

and to liquidate its general wants."

And it is agreed that individual demands by backsliding members,

or such as have been excommunicated, whether such demands may be

for goods, or other effects, or for services rendered to the society, are

abolished and abrogated by the members themselves and their posterity.

These articles are declared to be confirmatory of those of 1819, and

extending to a more detailed explanation.

5 McLean Reports, 225.

⁸Vol. 30, Ohio Laws, page 92. (See p. 77 this article.)

9This constitution will be found in full on p. 79, etc.

The Separatist Society of Zoar.                11

upon would, by posting his name in the public meeting room,

give thirty days' notice to the Society of the time and place at

which he was to sign the covenant.     At the appointed date he

would subscribe to the constitutionl0 and yield up to the So-

ciety any and all property he might then possess. It was not

required that he have any property, but he could not be ad-

mitted if he were in debt.

Strangers who came to Zoar for admission during the pro-

bationary year received food, clothing and lodging, but no pay-

ment. During the early years of the Society many friends and

relatives of the first comers emigrated from Germany and joined

the colony. Very few other foreigners became converts. Oc-

casionally an outsider would enter the community because of

marriage to a member. But outside accessions or conversions

were exceedingly few. No native American is known to have

entered the Society.1l According to the constitution of the So-

ciety, all officers were elected by the whole Society, the women

voting as well as the men-all elections being by ballot and a

majority vote. The government of the community vested

solely in a board of three trustees (or directors) to serve three

10The covenant the elected subscribed to was as follows: "We,

the subscribers, members of the Society of Separatists of the second

class, declare hereby that we give all our property, of every kind, not

only what we already possess, but what we may hereafter come into

possession of by inheritance, gift, or otherwise, real and personal, and

all rights, titles, and expectations whatever, both for ourselves and our

heirs, to the said society forever, to be and remain, not only during

our lives, but after our deaths, the exclusive property of the society.

Also we promise and bind ourselves to obey all the commands and

orders of the trustees and their subordinates, with the utmost zeal and

diligence, without opposition or grumbling; and to devote all our

strength, good-will, diligence, and skill, during our whole lives, to

the common service of the society and for the satisfaction of its trustees.

Also we consign in a similar manner our children, so long as they are

minors, to the charge of the trustees, giving these the same rights and

powers over them as though they had been formally indentured to them

under the laws of the state."

11An old member stated that a "Yankee," by which he meant a

New Englander, lived with the colony several years, but never became

a legal member.

12        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

years each, one to be elected annually.¹² These trustees had un-

limited power over the custody and management of the prop-

erty, and all the temporalities of the Society, but were bound

to provide clothing, board and dwelling for each member, "with-

out respect to person"; and to use all means confided to their

charge for the best interests of the Society. They had the man-

agement of all the industries and affairs of the Society. They

designated to each member his especial work. But in this they

consulted the inclination and peculiar abilities of the member,

endeavoring to fit each man into the place for which he was

best adapted. The trustees appointed the subordinates and su-

perintendents of the different industries and departments of

labor. This board of trustees, which might be called the ad-

ministration committee, was accustomed to hold monthly meet-

ings in which foreign and home affairs were considered and trans-

acted. Beside this ruling board of trustees there was a stand-

ing committee or council of five, one member being elected each

year. This standing committee or council was the supreme ju-

diciary or board of arbitration of the Society. It was the

high court of appeals in cases of disagreement, dissension

and complaint. This council had power to excommunicate

arbitrary and refractory members, and to cross out their sig-

natures and deprive them of all participation in the affairs of

the Society. It was agreed that all disputes should be settled

by arbitration alone and within the Society. The trustees en-

deavored to act at all times in harmony with this council. The

Society elected once in four years a cashier or treasurer,¹³ whose

duties were those of secretary and treasurer. He had sole and

exclusive control of all the moneys of the Society, the trus-

tees being obliged to hand over to his custody all they received.

He kept the books and had immediate oversight over the bus-

iness transactions of the Society. There was also an elected

officer known as the Agent General,14 who acted as the trader

to buy and sell for the Society in its dealings with the outside

world, make and conduct contracts, etc. The office of Agent

12 See Constitution, Article II.

13 Article V of the Constitution.

Article III of the Constitution.

The Separatist Society of Zoar.          13

General was, when created, regarded as the position of honor

and influence in the Society, and to it Joseph Bimeler was

elected. It was the one office he held and he continued in it to

his death, after which the office always remained vacant. The

duties of this office were subsequently performed by the cashier

or one of the trustees. The time and place of an election by

the Society were made public twenty days beforehand by the

trustees and five members were chosen at each election to be

managers and judges. The office of president was unknown.

The constitution was read in a public and general meeting of

the members of the Society, at least once every year, at which

time the villagers met and discussed and acted upon their af-

fairs much as was the custom in the New England town meet-

ings. So far as Zoar had any political form of procedure, it

was a pure democracy.

THE RELIGION OF THE ZOARITES.

We have already alluded at some length to the religious

origin in Wurttemburg of the Separatists as a sect. We can

not properly study the Zoar community without a thorough

understanding of their religious faith and practices.

The "Principles of the Separatists," which were set forth

in the works of Joseph Bimeler, were evidently framed in Ger-

many. They consisted of twelve articles, as follows:

"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.

14        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

"VI. We render to no mortal, honors due to God, as to

uncover the head, or to bend the knee. Also we address every

one as 'thou'-du.

"VII. We separate ourselves from all ecclesiastical con-

nections and constitutions, because true Christian life requires

no sectarianism, while set forms and ceremonies cause sectarian

divisions.

"VIII. Our marriages are contracted by mutual consent,

and before witnesses. They are then notified to the political

authority; and we reject all intervention of priests or preachers.

"IX. All intercourse of the sexes, except what is necessary

to the perpetuation of the species, we hold to be sinful and

contrary to the order and command of God. Complete virginity

or entire cessation of sexual commerce is more commendable

than marriage.

"X. We can not send our children into the schools of

Babylon (meaning the clerical schools of Germany), where other

principles contrary to these are taught.

"XI. We can not serve the state as soldiers, because a

Christian can not murder his enemy, much less his friend.

"XII. We regard the political government as absolutely

necessary to maintain order, and to protect the good and hon-

est and punish the wrong-doers; and no one can prove us

to be untrue to the constituted authorities."

Joseph Bimeler was not only their leader and guide to this

country, but he was their priest and prophet, if such they had.

Bimeler was their spiritual leader and preacher, not by any

formal authority, but merely universal acquiescence. The

standard, and indeed the only theological literature of the Zoar-

ites, consists of the works, or rather printed discourses, of Bi-

meler.¹⁵ They are in three large octave volumes, the first four

parts having the common title:

15 On the subject of the faith of the Zoarites I have made free use

of a little German Pamphlet, by Karl Knortz: "Aus der Mappe eines

Deutsch-Amerikaners." Bamburg, 1893. Herr Knortz carefully examined

the works of Bimeler and in his pamphlet gives a summary of many

of Bimeler's views.

The Separatist Society of Zoar.         15

THE TRUE SEPARATION

OR

THE SECOND BIRTH.

SET FORTH IN

BRILLIANT AND EDIFYING CONVENTION SPEECHES

AND

MEDITATIONS.

PERTAINING ESPECIALLY TO THE PRESENT TIME.

HELD IN THE COMMUNITY OF ZOAR IN 1830.

PRINTED IN ZOAR, 0., 1856-1860.

These ponderous volumes of theological thought and re-

ligious reflection are in German and have never been trans-

lated. The original copies are rare; very few Zoar families

possess a copy. The last two parts bear the title:

SOMETHING FOR THE HEART

OR

SPIRITUAL CRUMBS

FROM THE TABLE OF THE LORD.

GATHERED

BY A DEVOUT SOUL

AND COMMUNICATED WITH THE INTENTION OF A BLESSED ONE.

CONSISTING

OF A COLLECTION OF EXCERPTS OF MANY FORCEFUL

SPEECHES AND OBSERVATIONS;

PARTICULARLY DIRECTED TOWARD THE INNER LIFE

PUBLICLY HELD AND READ BY A FRIEND,

OF GOD IN TRUTH IN ZOAR.

ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO THE PRESENT TIME.

PRINTED IN ZOAR, 0., 1860-1861.

16        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

Besides the history of Bimeler's separation, these works

contain speeches, which the Zoarite teacher made before

his people, in a language which was clear and easily un-

derstood, although not always correct. According to the tes-

timony of the publisher, they are to be considered as direct man-

ifestations of the Holy Ghost, as Bimeler never studied or com-

mitted his utterances. In his opinion, the separation of the peo-

ple, who had inwardly renounced the world and received Christ

into themselves, from the false Christians, was a necessary pos-

tulate in the interest of the salvation of the former. In the same

manner, it was necessary to declare war on the official clergy,

who were called "lazy and useless servants," and of whom it

was said, that by their empty, ceremonious trifles they de-

luded the people and kept them from entering upon the road

of truth.

From these speeches, a truth-loving, believing Christian,

as well as a true and honest character speaks to us and all

living Separatists, who had listened to the sermons of Bimeler,

have unanimously declared that he lived up to his teachings.

In his speeches, which abound in hints for the practical life,

we now and then meet with declarations which would greatly

honor a modern progressive theologian. Thus, for instance,

he says that the religious needs of mankind are not the same

at all times and that, therefore, divine revelation progresses

and assumes a character adapted to existing conditions.  Bime-

ler preached from 1817 to 1853, that is, to the year of his

death. He did not write his speeches down, and the same would

probably never have been printed had it not been that a patient

and dutiful youth of Zoar had written them down from his

memory at the request of his deaf father, who did not attend

the meetings. This work the son performed during the night, as

in day-time he had to follow his accustomed occupation. His

memoranda embrace the time from 1822 to 1832. In the last

mentioned year the reporter died, but happily there was another

young man who possessed the necessary clerical skill to save

Bimeler's meditations from oblivion. When the founder of Zoar

died (1853), there was not a man in the whole colony who

could fill his place as speaker. For a time they read to each

The Separatist Society of Zoar.        17

other from good books, but as is said in the preface to Bimeler's Meditations, by the compiler, "It was not quite so agreeable." So the Separatists resolved to have Bimeler's speeches printed, that they might be read at their services. They also believed it would be a great sin, if they did not put to the best possible Christian use the good which had been entrusted to them. They therefore purchased a hand-press; and as they found no one in Zoar who knew how to use it, they engaged a practical compositor and a printer, who were charged with su- perintending the printing of the work. The second publica- tion which was issued from the hand-press of the Separatists at Zoar, is a collection of poems or hymns by Terstegen, the mystic poet of the Reformed Church (1687-1769). Terstegen's collection was used by the Zoarites in their church services. The works of Bimeler and Terstegen were the only productions of the Zoar press. The printing outfit was subsequently sold and removed from the village. The Zoarites firmly continued in their view, that ever- lasting happiness could not be attained by outward ceremony, which rather led people astray. Therefore, the Wurttemburg school teacher, Bimeler, made it his purpose to bring light to the true teachings of Christ and to proclaim them courageously to his followers. As the preface of Bimeler's sermons says: "Chris- tianity must be a thing of the heart. Man must divert himself of his bad qualities and of his passion, and deny his own vi- cious will and subordinate it to God in order that the old Adam die in him and Christ may arise anew." The Separatists were fond of designating themselves as those who have found the way that leads to eternal life. The sermons of Bimeler profess to proclaim true Christi- anity and their author was considered the mouthpiece of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, it is the latter that speaks in these books and not the founder of Zoar, who is nowhere men- tioned. Bimeler used to say, before he commenced his "meet- ing speech": "When I come here, I generally come empty, with- out knowing whereof I am going to speak. I first get an in- spiration what and of what I am going to speak, but as soon Vol. VIII-2

18        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

as I commence to speak an infinite field of ideas opens before

me, so I can choose where and what I like and what seems to

me the most necessary."

In these speeches Bimeler showed how man, after he

leaves the state of innocence, starts on the road of nature

which leads him to eternal damnation. But, if like the lost son,

he turns at the right time and cleanses his heart by penitence,

he is again taken into the community of God.

Bimeler is very severe in his treatment of the official

preachers, "who enter the pulpit only for the wages and for

the comfort of life it affords, and who promote the hypocriti-

cal worship and ceremonies, and he reproves them for with-

holding intentionally from their flocks the true Gospel." He

boldly stated the clergy were the pensioners of the state. That

they did not get their knowledge from God, but had learned

it like a trade in the schools. They explained the letter of the

text, but felt not its spirit.  They preached for compensation

and were given to arrogance and hypocrisy.

Bimeler's speeches contain lessons on morality, temperance,

cleanliness, health, housekeeping, etc. As Bimeler possessed

a certain amount of medical knowledge, some of his discourses

even describe "the inner parts of the human body," in order to

show what influence the immoderate use of food and drink may

have on them.    Bimeler is very liberal towards worldly

science and does full justice to its progress.  Besides, it

is everywhere noticeable that he, unlike most of his col-

leagues, was an educated, well read and, in many respects, an

unprejudiced man. He possessed not only great talent, but

a vast fund of knowledge.

For the traditional Christian holidays, he did not have much

respect, as he thought one day as sacred as another. Sunday

he did not even consider a day of rest, because, as he remarked,

the crops sown on that day did just as well as those sown on

any other day. If nature makes no distinction in this respect,

it was not necessary for man to do so. Time should always

be used to the best advantage.   The Zoarites worked on

Sunday when occasion required, but in late years generally

observed the day as one of rest. In spring one should sow, and

The Separatist Society of Zoar.         19

in summer assist the crops so that the weeds would not out-

grow them. In fall, the crops should be gathered, and winter

should be used to prepare for the spring work. The lessons

of the seasons Bimeler also applied to the spiritual life of man.

His parallels in this respect are distinguished from other sim-

ilar teachings by their wealth of original and practical thought.

His speeches, however, lack logical construction. "The most

heterogeneous subjects are often thrown together higgledy-pig-

gledy, which is especially annoying, because there is no connecting

thread. But this fault may be chargeable to the amanuensis who

certainly was not a stenographer."16

The Separatists of Bimeler's school, like most other Separa-

tists, were inclined to chiliasm.¹⁷ In course of time, however, they

came to the conclusion, that the kingdom of God would not come

outwardly, but inwardly, and even then slowly and by degrees.

A state of grace could only be gradually attained by sincere re-

pentance; just as a person could not exchange his sick body for a

sound body by legerdemain. A new heaven and a new earth can

be created only, if by the killing of the old Adam we ourselves

become new. If the latter is not done, a new heaven or earth are

of no use to us.

But Bimeler does not put all the blame on old Adam, for he

believes that all men have a desire to taste of the tree of knowl-

edge. Adam consequently acted simply according to human na-

ture. He was just like men nowadays and had his bad and good

qualities, the same as they are found in all other products of na-

ture, such as plants, animals and minerals.

Nor does Bimeler think much of foreign missionary work,

because, he thinks, it is much more important for a true Christian

to do this missionary work at home. The professional mission-

aries only make nominal Christians and hypocrites, who may be

able to recite the confession of faith, but otherwise know as little

of Christ's plan of salvation, as they do of the man in the moon.

In regard to marriage, which is always a vexed question in

16 Karl Knortz.

17 The doctrine that Christ will reign on earth a thousand years

visibly and personally before the end of the world.

20        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

the confession of faith of the separatists, Bimeler does not always

express himself as clearly and distinctly as he really intends. But

this much is sure, he did not consider the married state absolutely

sinful, as he himself was married and the father of several chil-

dren. He said he knew, that many believed him opposed to mar-

riage, but added, that if it enhanced the happiness of people, he

had nothing against it. Moreover, such happiness was only tem-

porary and ended with death. But he wished that the endeavor

of men was principally directed towards acquisition of eternal hap-

piness. A chaste life is therefore preferable, because through

marriage sin with all its sad consequences is perpetuated. The

married state could only in very rare cases be called sacred.18

Many of the members of the original company were opposed

to the institution of marriage and decided to make celibacy ob-

ligatory in the society as had Rapp with the Harmonists. Bimeler

himself at first supported this view and taught that God did not

look with pleasure on marriage, but that He only tolerated it;

that in the future world there would be no marrying or giving in

marriage; that "husband and wife and children would not know

each other" in heaven as there was no distinction of sex there.

For the first ten years of the society therefore Bimeler opposed

marriage and it was prohibited until about 1828 or 1830, when

Bimeler was smitten with the charms of one of the comely mai-

dens who was an inmate of his household and whose duty it was

to wait upon the spiritual and temporal head of the Society. They

were married and this wedding and example of the leader led to

the abrogation of the anti-marriage rule and the previous celibate

practice of the Society. The benedict Bimeler, consistent with his

new and happy state, then freely advocated marriage as shown by

his discourses.

With regard to education, Bimeler says many things that de-

serve notice. As a good example is much more efficacious than

words, he exhorts parents to lead an exemplary life, whereby they

can influence their children better than by the everlasting admoni-

tion to pray and to attend prayer meetings, which fills them only

with abhorence for the Word of God. Prayers at stated hours

18 Karl Knortz.

The Separatist Society of Zoar.           21

do not at all promote the fear of God, because, if one is not in the

right humor, they are easily regarded as a troublesome function.

Prayers must be short. Long prayers are an abomination. Bi-

meler himself did not pray, at least not outwardly, but inwardly,

"in spirit and in truth." All prayers must come from the heart,

free and unforced. Therefore prayer books are not only unneces-

sary but injurious to the true Christian, because they "promote

babbling with the mouth." Bimeler sincerely appreciated the

freedom, which obtained in American school and educational mat-

ters, and the fact that there was no attempt made to prejudice

the young mind against any social or religious tendencies. The

youth are permitted to attain their majority, when they may choose

for themselves. This is entirely in harmony with the divine in-

tention, according to which men are created free and which does

not favor any creed that may have been created, parrot-like, during

infancy. Bimeler was a decided admirer of the republican prin-

ciple of government and he demanded what was perfectly in har-

mony with it, the subordination of the individual will to that of

the whole, as otherwise in a community like Zoar peace and har-

mony might be easily disturbed.

As all strife of the world may be traced back to selfishness,

man must restrain love of self in the interest of all which, how-

ever, few will try and fewer still achieve. But it is said, "Love

God with all thy heart and thy neighbor as thyself," and the latter

is only possible through restraint of self-love, which, therefore, is

a divine commandment. It is easy to love God, it is harder to love

one's neighbor. But as men are one family the individual has no

right to refuse to love his neighbor. The Separatists therefore

took as their model the first Christian community of Jerusalem,

where all were one heart and one soul. There was no compulsion

there. But as soon as Christianity adopted compulsory means for

its preservation, it began to decay. In a communistic colony there

are neither poor nor rich. In the outer world there is wealth, and

poverty, of which Bimeler prefers the former, because in its proper

application it may conduce to much happiness, while the latter

often produces many sins and much misery.

Bimeler nowhere appears as a zealot or fanatic and with the

exception of the clergymen, whom he thoroughly hates, he con-

22        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

demns nobody, because we only see the acts of men, but not

their motives. Nor is he an admirer of blind superstition; and

wherever there is a chance, he praises the advance of science, be-

cause it improves the condition of everybody. Every new inven-

tion he hails with sincere joy. He always speaks like a loving

father to his beloved children. He never acted toward his people

in a tyrannical manner as Father Rapp (of the Harmonists); he

exhorted but did not punish, and if some one differed with him,

Bimeler did not for that reason expel him from the community.

Like Father Rapp, Bimeler had declared war on tobacco,

without, however, entirely prohibiting its use; as he never de-

manded servile obedience, which would suppress individual views.

Everybody should reflect for himself on all questions of life and

form his own independent opinion. Therefore he says:

"We must be glad, that God has led us out of our former

fatherland, which is kept so much under pressure and servitude.

We should rejoice and thank God with all our heart, that He has

freed us from that servitude, and brought us hither, where we can

serve our God without hindrance and molestation, according to

our conviction and conscience. You know, my friends, in Ger-

many they did not allow us to do so, and therefore we had no

other choice but leave the country and seek a livelihood somewhere

else. This was the reason why we came to America. It was not

selfishness, nor greed, nor avarice, nor desire for any easy life, that

caused us to emigrate. No, no such base motives led us to this

step. If either of these had been our motives, as is the case with

thousands of emigrants, we would not be so peaceful and satisfied

within ourselves, as we indeed are, because we know that our mo-

tives were, as above mentioned, a desire of a free practice of our

principles. And I do not believe, my friends, that we should have

attained our aim, if we had been guided by those ignoble in-

tentions."

The old piety which was cultivated by Bimeler and his orig-

inal followers had to give place in Zoar to ideas more adapted to

the present world. But in spite of all that, the Separatists of the

third generation until recently (as stated by Herr Knortz) still

sang the favorite verses of the old Separatists, one of which

verses was:

The Separatist Society of Zoar.           23

Yearning is the soul in me

After peace,

That my troubles, stilled by Thee,

Soon may cease.

Lead me, Father, out of harm,

To the quiet Zoar farm,

If it be Thy will.

LEGAL STATUS OF THE SOCIETY.

Much speculation at various times was indulged in con-

cerning the legal status of this society; its character as an or-

ganization and the legal relationship of its members to the So-

ciety. In several instances the courts were called upon to con-

sider these questions. Members who were deprived of sup-

posed rights, or who had been expelled, at different periods

in the history of the society, resorted to the law for remedy.

Two of these cases became famous and important as legal pre-

cedents. In the April Term, 1851, a suit was brought by John

G. Gosele and others in the Seventh Circuit Court of the

United States.l⁹

John Gosele was one of the original Separatist emigrants

and continued as a member of the Zoar community until his

death in 1827. He was a subscriber to the association articles

of 181₉ and 1824, but died before its incorporation. His heirs,

John G. Gosele and others, brought this suit for a partition of

the Zoar property and the restitution to them of their ances-

tor's distributive share. This raised the question of the nature

of the contract entered into by the members and also the char-

acter of the organization under our laws. Did the Society con-

stitute a joint tenancy or a perpetuity in property, both of which

our laws forbid? If such was the contract it should be de-

clared null and void. Or was the scheme some legal form of

a partnership, and if so, did the death or withdrawal of a mem-

ber destroy this partnership, and compel or permit the distri-

bution of the co-partnership property. And how did the laws

governing real estate descent apply to the lands of the com-

munity?

19John G. Goesele et al. vs. Joseph M. Bimeler et al., 5 McLean

Reports, 223.

24        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

"The rights of the plaintiffs in this suit rested upon the

contracts before the incorporation of 1832. They claimed: 1,

that there was no grantee (of the lands); 2, that if there were

a grantee, the grant would be void as a perpetuity. To this

the court, in its opinion, replied that the lands were purchased

by Bimeler for the Society, were paid for by it, and were held

in trust by him; the fee was in him and the members of the

Society were the cestui que trusts. It was admitted that an un-

incorporated community could not, in its aggregate capacity,

take lands in grant, nor could its directors and their succes-

sors in office take them, as the law, under the circumstances,

recognizes no succession. A valid grant to such a community

would only be made to the individuals composing it, or to an

individual and his heirs, in trust for its use. The articles of

association constituted a declaration of trust, which Bimeler,

the trustee, recognized as binding upon him. This declara-

tion did not require the formalities of a grant; it was in writ-

ing and the application of the trust being distinctly stated, it

was not affected by the statute of frauds and perjuries.  The

members of the Society agree with each other that their prop-

erty of every description should be held and used as a com-

mon fund for their general benefit and they appointed certain

agents to manage their concerns and provide for their sup-

port. It is true, they relinquished to the Society their entire

property, but it was done that, as a community, they might

enjoy the benefits of the whole. The aggression which they

established relieved the members generally from personal care,

but the sum of their enjoyment was not lessened. The want

of capacity in the Society, as deeds to take by grant, does not

invalidate this procedure. The agreement was that the equit-

able individual right to the trust should be relinquished for a

common right with the other members, to the entire property.

In effect, it was constituting a universal partnership, known

to the common law and which is not in violation of any of

its principles, the name of the Society was used as a designa-

tion of the whole body, the same as the assumed name of a

firm to designate its partners. Individuality of membership of

the property then possessed by the members of the association

The Separatist Society of Zoar.         25

was abolished, and also future acquisitions for the common right

of an interest in the whole. This common right was limited

to the members of the association; consequently those who left

it, or were expelled, forfeited such right. * * * * By this

arrangement, the members of the association were placed on an

equality as to their interests in the property and their enjoy-

ment of it.  Their minutest wants were alike provided for,

through the agency established; and this was the consideration

on which the contract was founded. That, in the absence of

all fraud and unfairness, this was a bona fide and legal con-

tract, cannot be doubted. An important part of this contract

was that the property thus surrendered should belong only

to the members of the association; consequently the heirs of the

members could not claim an interest in the property as heirs,

but only as members. Against such a disposition of property,

I know of no principle of law or morals. Any individual has

the power to divest himself of his property, real and personal,

for a valuable consideration.

"Gosele and the other members, when they relinquished

their individual property for a common interest in the whole,

and appointed agents to manage the concern, expressly agreed

to receive as a consideration for their property and labor a

support for themselves and their families, including clothing

and  every  other provision  necessary for their comfort.

* * * * It was a partnership agreement among themselves,

and was binding upon each individual who entered into it.

"If there be no principle of law opposed to such a com-

munity of property, it must be held valid on the rules which

apply to partnerships. There was no moral considerations op-

posed to it. In adopting it, the Separatists Society followed

the example found in the early history of the Apostles, and

which received a lawful sanction of heaven.

"But it is said that this association contemplates an enjoy-

ment of the property in perpetuity; that those who shall be-

come members of it, through all time shall enjoy it, and that

this the law will not permit. * * * * It must be observed

that title (to the land) vested in the trustees from the date

of the deed; and the common use, in the society, as fully when

26        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

the articles were agreed to, as was contemplated at any future

period. It is true that the association could only be perpet-

uated by the admission of new members. But such admission is

not obligatory on the Society. An applicant to become a member

must first apply to the directors, who bring his case before

the board of arbitration, and pass their examination. If ad-

mitted, it must be on the condition that he shall relinquish

his individual property to the members of the association,

and with them enjoy a common benefit in the whole. This

is a matter of contract at the time, as it was at the formation

of the society. The perpetuity then, is not created by the first

contract, but depends upon subsequent contracts, which may

or may not be entered into. No right is derived or can be

claimed under the articles of association until the individual

shall have complied with the conditions of his admission. He

then becomes a partner in the association, and is subject to the

original articles, not from any instrinsic force in them, but

because he has adopted them by contract. Here is the origin

of his right, and of his obligation, and the question may well

be asked, is this a perpetuity? If it be a perpetuity, it is a

perpetuity that can extend beyond lives in being, only by vol-

untary contracts. * * * * This association, in principle,

does not differ from any other partnership, where the mem-

bers create the capital by giving up their property to the con-

cern, living upon their profits, applying their surplus to an in-

crease of capital, and receiving new members on the terms of

the original association. This, if carried out, may endure for

many generations, but it is not a perpetuity, which the law

prohibits. The enjoyment of the right, on condition of con-

tinued membership, has no necessary connection with a perpe-

tuity. If the condition be broken by a member, it depends

upon the individuals and the Society whether he shall be re-

stored or not. * * * * For the reasons stated, I think

the agreement entered into by the members giving up their in-

dividual interest in the property for a common interest in the

whole of it, so long as they shall remain members, is not void

in law."

The federal circuit court decided the case for the Society

The Separatist Society of Zoar.           27

and against the contestants. They appealed the case to the

United States Supreme Court, when it was tried in the De-

cember term, 1852, Roger B. Taney being then Chief Justice.

The interests of the Society were defended by no less distin-

guished advocates than Henry M. Stanberry and Thomas Ew-

ing. Mr. Stanberry, in a very learned brief, argued that the

association was not a simple pure partnership, liable to the

incidents of such and subject to the operation of all the or-

dinary causes of dissolution-viz: that it might be dissolved by

the first death which happened among its members, and was

capable of dissolution and partition of its real estate, at any

time at the instance of any member. "The original agree-

ment provides," he said, "for a perfect community of property,

real and personal, and for a succession or survivorship among

members on the Tontine principle. It guards with great care

against the dissolution of the body. *  *  * This was not

a mere partnership, nor the members tenants in common. The

agreement for community of property, the mutual surrender

of all individual property into the common stock and the ex-

press stipulation against any reclamation in the case of with-

drawal, and for the preservation of the common property, for

the exclusive use and perpetual enjoyment of the members, in

succession, are inconsistent with the incidents of mere part-

nership or tenancy in common.

"But, is is said, there are legal difficulties which the agree-

ment of the parties cannot surmount. That upon the death of

a member, the Society was dissolved ex necessitate. This con-

sequence, though generally true as to partnerships, does not

follow where the agreement provides against it. It is not an

inevitable consequence. The doctrine of dissolution upon the

death of a partner, only obtains where the deceased partner has

a continuing interest in the property or profits of the associa-

tion. It is not just that the surviving partners should be obliged

to carry on the business, without his co-operation, for the bene-

fit of his estate.

"I have said this Society was not an ordinary partnership,

It very closely resembles that sort of partnership in the civil

law which is called universal. "Universal partnerships (des so-

28        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

cieties universelles) are contract by which the parties agree to

make a common stock of all property they respectively pos-

sess-they may extend it to all property, real or personal, or

restrict it to the personal only. They may, as in other part-

nerships, agree that the property itself shall be common stock,

or that the fruits only shall be such; but property which may

accrue to one of the parties, after entering into the partner-

ship, by donation, succession, or legacy, does not become com-

mon stock, and any stipulation to that effect, previous to the

obtaining of the property aforesaid, is void.'

"'An universal partnership of profits includes all the gains

that may be made, from whatever source, whether from prop-

erty or industry, with the restriction contained in the last ar-

ticle, and subject to all legal stipulations between the parties.'

*  *  * This association is a general partnership, with the

principle of survivorship ingrafted upon it.  In this particu-

lar it takes the character of a Tontine, which is a society with

the benefit of survivorship, the longest liver taking the com-

mon property in absolute ownership. *    *     *  I can see

no objection to this provision as to ownership. Certainly as

to personalty there can be no difficulty; but it is said, in so far

as the real property of the company is concerned, there can be

no joint tenancy, no right of survivorship, in Ohio; and that

upon a death of a member, his interest in the real estate passes

to his heirs at law, and that at any time the right to parti-

tion might be asserted. * * * * There is, then, no ob-

jection to survivorship by express limitation or agreement.

This being so, there has been no descent of any heirs of the

deceased members of the society, and there is no present right

of partition in any of the living members.

"Objection is also made to this association, that the prin-

ciple of community and succession of property among the mem-

bers, involves a perpetuity. There is nothing like a perpetuity

in it. The society has the perfect right of disposal over all its

property, real as well as personal, and this power of disposal

is wholly inconsistent with the idea of perpetuity, which only

exists where the property is so limited that no living agency

can unfetter it.

The Separatist Society of Zoar.           29

"It is further urged that this Society is contrary to the

genius of our free institutions-that its constitution enforces

perpetual service and adherence to a particular faith, and that

it is aristocratic in its tendency.

"If there were anything in such objections, the constitu-

tion answers them all. So far from being at all aristocratic,

this Society is a pure democracy. All the officers are chosen

by ballot, every member, male and female, have an equal voice;

and the body of the Society reserves to itself the power of

removing officers and changing the form of government at

pleasure. All distinctions of rank or wealth are abolished, and

a perfect equality provided for. No single dogma in religion

or politics is announced, no unusual restraint on marriage, nor

subserviency to any doctrine out of the common way, exist;

and so far from any enforcement of perpetual service being

provided for, the right is reserved for every member to retire

from the society at pleasure, with the single condition that no

claim is to be set up for services or property contributed. The

powers which the Society confides to its officers are temporary,

and so distributed as to prevent any one member or officer

from engrossing too much power.

"Besides this liberal frame of government, the constitution,

by very full enactments, provides for the education of the chil-

dren, the comfort and support of all the members, and the

peaceable settlement of all controversies by domestic tribunals.

It is impossible to hold that such a constitution is contrary to

public policy, or in any sense illegal. To say that such a so-

ciety cannot exist under our form of government is a libel on

our free institutions.

"This is not a perpetuity in the common law sense of the term,

it does not tie up real estate, for it may be disposed of at any time.

Such a limitation of the real estate, or its proceeds, would be good,

by the laws of Ohio, for the lives in being; and each tenant for

life, by his own signature, if the full estate at any time vested in

him or them, could equally well transmit it to another life, and so

in succession, a majority being at all times able to terminate the

succession at pleasure."

Justice McLean delivered the opinion of the court in which

30        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

he said that "according to the plan of the Zoar articles that Gosele

renounced individual ownership of the property and an agreement

was made to labor for the community in common with others, for

their comfortable maintenance. All individual right of property

became merged in the general right of the association. He had

no individual right and could transmit none to his heirs. It is

strange that the complainants should ask a partition through their

ancestor, when by the terms of his contract, he could have no

divisible interest. They who now enjoy the property enjoy it

under his express contract. * * * * This was a benevolent

scheme and from its character might properly be denominated a

charity. But from the nature of the association and the objects

to be obtained, it is clear the individual members could have no

rights to the property except its use, under the restrictions im-

posed by the articles. The whole policy of the association was

founded on a principle which excluded individual ownership.

Such an ownership would defeat the great object in view, by nec-

essarily giving to the association a temporary character. If the

interests of its members could be transferred, or pass by descent,

the maintenance of the community would be impossible. In the

natural course of things the ownership of the property in a few

years, by transfer and descent, would pass out of the community

into the hands of strangers, and thereby defeat the object in view.

By disclaiming all individual ownership of the property acquired

by their labor, for the benefits secured by the articles, the members

give durability to the fund accumulated, and to the benevolent

purposes to which it is applied. No legal objection is perceived

to such a partnership. If members separate themselves from the

Society their interest in the property ceases, and new members

that may be admitted, under the articles, enjoy the advantages

common to all."

A subsequent suit²⁰ was begun in the common pleas court of

Tuscarawas county, carried through the circuit court and finally

decided in the Ohio supreme court in the December term, 1862.

That case was brought by John Gasely and his wife Anna Maria

Gasely. Anna Maria, with her father, was one of the emigrants

20 Gaselys et al. vs. Separatists' Society of Zoar et al., 13 Ohio

State, 144.

The Separatist Society of Zoar.           31

of 1817, John Gasely was also a member. They were married in

1830 and signed the articles in 1833. In 1845 John Gasely was

expelled from the Society, "for just and sufficient cause," it is

claimed, and his wife, Anna Maria, "was compelled to leave also

or abandon him and their children, which she was unwilling to

do." The petition of the Gasely's was for their distributive share

of the Zoar property. In this case also the Supreme Court of

Ohio sustained the contract upon which the community was

based.

PRACTICAL WORKINGS OF THE SOCIETY.

The location of the settlement of Zoar was well chosen on the

cast bank of the Tuscarawas river, in the northern part of the

county (Tuscarawas) where the stream flows through a valley

fertile in soil and rich in scenery. The Ohio and Erie canal21

passes near by and the town is a station on the Wheeling & Lake

Erie Railroad. Alighting from the train one seems to have left

the modern American civilization and to have suddenly dropped

into a little German village that dates its origin to a century or

more ago. One of the county highways passes through it and

forms its principal thoroughfare called Main street, and the only

one having a name - and running almost due north and south.

The village consists of not more than seventy-five buildings - of

various shapes and sizes - and scattered irregularly upon eight

or nine streets, two of which on either side are parallel to Main,

the othe^r four crossing these at right angles and extending east

and west. Excepting Main, the streets are narrow and unim-

proved, there being no curbs or gutters, and on the side streets no

distinctive walks unless created by packed ashes or gravel, making

a footway slightly raised above the level of the road. There was

no system of sewage or drainage - though water was brought

into the village by piping from a spring on the hill north of the

urban limits; water was thus conveyed to one or two public drink-

ing troughs, but it was generally not carried into the houses.

Zoar seemed to studiously avoid modern conveniences. Particu-

larly did it shun light; at some of the street corners a wooden

21 The Ohio and Erie Canal was built 1825-1833 and extends from

Portsmouth to Cleveland.

32        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

lamp post stood like a lonely and almost useless sentry, as the ap-

paratus for illumination was either wanting or impaired. But

there would seem to be little or no need of village lights as the

good people had rare occasion to "go out o' nights." The streets,

however, were cleanly; the village for the most part had a trim

and swept appearance, characteristic of the German habit. The

garbage of the dwellings was gathered each day in a wagon and

carried off. The home interiors were scrupulously scrubbed and

dusted. The total population did not exceed 300 including the

Zoarites proper and the employed help. The natives lived in some

forty dwellings - a fewer number than usually obtains in a settle-

ment of an equal number of inhabitants. Many of the domiciles

were double and accommodated two or possibly three families.

The other buildings were for public or common purposes, - fac-

tories, barns, store-houses, hotel, town hall, church, schoolhouse,

etc. The living houses were of various ages and styles - an-

tiquity prevailing. Some of the log cabins still stood in part-

if not entire - mementoes of the pioneer life of the Society. The

later frame structures were a story, a story and a half, in a few

instances, two stories high. There were a few old time red bricks

with heavy beam lintels. These homes though indicating the

strictest economy in construction and form were comfortable; the

rooms were usually large, square and low, the windows often

placed high up and small; the chimnies were often those of "ye

olden tyme." There were no cellars and no garrets. The floors

were mostly bare or partially and cheaply carpeted. The furni-

ture was simple, sparse, heavy and time-honored. Pictures and

ornaments were few and far between. A rigid plainness existed

throughout these humble homes, nor was there any variation de-

noting different degrees of comfort or means as one sees in every

other village. There was an undeviating sameness in the mode

of living.

The houses stood close to the street, upon which the steps

often projected, but in nearly every instance an extent of yard

surrounded the house on the sides and rear. These yards were

invariably utilized as vegetable and flower gardens. Each family

mainly raised its own vegetables though the more common ones

were supplied by the Society. Flowers in great profusion was

The Separatist Society of Zoar.          33

the one and almost the only Aesthetic feature of Zoar domesticity. But the flowers were mostly the old fashioned sort. "Roses red and Violets blue, and the sweetest flowers that in the forest grew." In some cases the homely walls of the antique homes and the lat- tice of the open porches which many had, were decorated with climbing foliage and creeping flowers. Their devotion to flori- culture was evidenced by public recognition, in the maintenance of a flower garden or park situated in the center of the village, facing on the main street and occupying a full square, an acre or more of ground. In the midst of this space was an arbor uniquely de- vised by spruce trees so planted and trimmed as to form a tree cabin, in which were wooden seats -- offering a most suitable trysting place for the Zoar Romeos and Juliets. From this bower, so curiously combining art and nature there radiated, like spokes from a hub a series of narrow walks flanked with beds of blossoms and rows of small shrubbery. This garden was the special pride and pleasure of the villagers and from time memorial has been cared for by some member especially delegated as the gardener. It has been the admiration of all visitors and the subject for many an artist. The other picturesque characteristic of the village were the old, red, heavy, trough-shaped, tile roofs that covered many of the buildings. At one time the manufacture of these tiles was an industry of the Society, but long since the market for these obso- lete goods ceased. Near the garden, lofty stone steps ascending to the entrance, was the conspicuous dwelling of the village - the former resi- dence of the leader, Joseph Bimeler. This edifice, often desig- nated by the visitors as "the palace," was a spacious basement and two and a half story, cupola surmounted, red brick mansion; a two story, colonial columned portico extended the full width of the front. It was erected in 1835, a few years after the marriage of the founder of the Society -  in those days a most costly and pretentious establishment and certainly not only far beyond any- thing in its locality, but quite equal to the best western manorial homes of its age and generation. This semi-official residence was given a somewhat villa like appearance by the ample grounds on Vol. VIII--3

34        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

either side, in which flowers and small fruit flourished in great

profusion. The interior arrangement was in accord with the

striking exterior architecture. Here Bimeler lived until his death

in 1853. Bimeler taught equality of life and in his discourses

played the part of a "great commoner," but this comparatively

aristocratic abode - so far in excess of anything any of his asso-

ciates occupied- rather suggests the suspicion that the disciple of

democratic commonality was not averse, even at the expense of the

community, to enjoying some exclusive luxuries. At times, how-

ever, this conduced to criticism and even open charges, particularly

from those who withdrew or were driven from the Society. It

was claimed by the Gosele contestants that Bimeler was making a

good thing out of his prominent position and that the Agent-Gen-

eral traveled about in "a gay and brilliant equipage that flashed

and spun," consisting of a fine carriage and span of speeders.

This imputation was not sustained and it was proven in the trial

that the carriage was a very ordinary one, "worth only about three

hundred dollars," that one of the horses cost about twenty dollars

and the other thirty or forty dollars. It was unmistakeable how-

ever that Bimeler did ride about with his wife - while his equals

footed it. But it is also true in extenuation of this privilege-un-

enjoyed by other Zoarites-that he was permanently lamed by a

broken leg, his carriage conveyance being necessary. But beyond

doubt Bimeler seasoned his plain thinking and simple teaching

with no slight flavor of high living, but that seems to have been

willingly and cheerfully allowed by his contemporary people. Un-

disputed tradition and the universal testimony of the aged mem-

bers, still living, who remember Bimeler, deprecate any aspersion

upon the character, morality, honesty or sincerity of precept or

practice of their founder and acknowledged superior. With just

cause they all respect and honor his memory as an able, just and

true man - devoted to the welfare of his fellow-members. This

official residence for the past few years has been used in part as

living quarters for some of the families and in part as the store-

house or repository for the goods to be distributed to the members,

groceries, clothing and living necessities. To this building on

(two) designated days of the week the villagers would go to

procure their supplies - each family being allowed ample quantity

The Separatist Society of Zoar.          35

of the articles supplied, both food and such things as were fur-

nished for the housekeeping. No account or reckoning of this

distribution was kept by the society - or its officers - with any

individual member. This at first always surprises the thoughtful

visitor and appears to be a gross laxity of business procedure, but

there was no need of "bookkeeping;" there could be no charge

against, or credit to a member and hence no balance to be struck.

What was the property of one was the property of all. The trus-

tees allotted the proper portion to each individual or family. Each

person was permitted two suits of clothes a year. The material

would be submitted in a limited variety and quality; each would

select the cloth and the tailors made the men's suits and the seam-

stresses the women's dresses. Often the women made their

own dresses and knit their own stockings and those for the men.

In former years the attire of the Zoarites was nearly uniform,

being very simple and eccentric in style, somewhat after the

fashion of the Quakers. But now-a-days their apparel is much

the same as one might see in any American village. They are

neat in appearance and their clothes are kept in better order

and repair than is usually the case. The women wore the homely

sun bonnet. Luxuries, such as jewelry and ornamental articles

of dress were, of course, unsupplied and unworn. Each man

was however entitled to a plain, silver watch and watch and

clock repairing was one of the assigned occupations.

Until recent years the material for their clothing was almost

entirely made by the Society. They raised their own flax and

wool and in their mills wove both woolen and linen cloths; this

was done to the extent of selling these goods in large quantities to

outsiders. These factories were both closed at the date of my visit.

For some time they had ceased to export their fabrics, but on the

contrary had purchased the material, at least in part, for their own

clothing.  The Society could buy cloth cheaper than it could

make it. Indeed this was true of nearly all their industries which

formerly were numerous and flourishing and not only produced

all necessary commodities for their comfortable existence, but also

afforded large and profitable commerce with the outside world.

Their location upon the Tuscarawas river gave them a valuable

and unfailing water power and they had two large flour mills, a

36        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

saw mill, planing mill, machine shop, tannery, dye house, stove

foundry, cooper shop, woolen mill, brewery, slaughter house,

blacksmith shop, tile works, pottery, etc. In all these concerns

when in successful operation the best of goods were produced

both as to quality of material and honesty of manufacture, and

their goods were eagerly sought by foreign customers. But dur-

ing the present generation these enterprises have declined and

ceased to be profitable - the age of invention and improvement in

machinery, the multiplicity of outside manufactures and the fierce

contest of competition had undermined and crushed many of their

manufacturing interests. The Zoarites are not a progressive peo-

ple; they do not keep pace in their business methods with the

times- the changes in appliance and the modes of conducting

commercial affairs became too rapid for their adoption, and from

being producers they have become consumers, relying mostly

upon the outer world to supply their needs.

Up to a few years ago they obtained the hides from their cat-

tle and made their leather for their shoes; that was long since

abandoned, as they could buy leather for less than the cost of

making; and their chief shoemaker informed them that they were

foolish to continue making their shoes, as they could obtain them

ready made better and cheaper. But he added, "We have not

the money to buy all them things, so we keep on making our

clothes and shoes." Formerly it was the rule that the mem-

bers get an order from the trustees on the shoemaker for their

shoes. Latterly this has not been required. One needing "foot

gear" simply resorted to the shoe shop, had his measure taken

and patiently bided the time of the leisurely cobbler. For many

years in the past the Zoar shoe shop did a thriving business

with the outside countrymen. But now the shrewd farmers

buy the machine made article, elsewhere, for less money.

The stove foundry long ago closed up-the stoves cast

were grotesquely large and cumbersome. When the sale for

the original pattern ceased they attempted to make no others.

The stoves outside might grow light and graceful and econo-

mical in the consumption of fuel, but the Zoar heaters remained

large, heavy and homely as ever.

The machine shop, planing and saw mill were all in op-

The Separatist Society of Zoar.         37

eration, as was the larger flouring mill, the latter under the

management of Peter Bimeler, a direct descendant in the third

generation from the noted Joseph. This mill is most pic-

turesquely located just south of the village on the main road

from Canal Dover. It is not far from the river and the mill

race runs through a cluster of noble and venerable forest trees,

while across the roadway and upon the slope of the hill are the

home and grounds of the miller, just named. His house is

famous for containing a pipe organ, made entirely by Mr. Peter

Bimeler.  The wind department of the instrument is ingen-

iously run by a cable extending to the mill and propelled

by the same power that drives the grist wheels.  Mr. Bimeler

is not only a genius in invention and mechanical construction,

but also he is one in music. Without ever having had any

instruction from professional or amateur teachers, he plays read-

ily and most skillfully the most classical and the most popular

music. It has been remarked that music seems to be the only

direction in which the Zoarites display any talent, but that,

it may be said, is common to the German people. There were,

however, no educated musicians in Zoar. Worldly music was

prohibited by the more fervid in religion. They used a hymn

book, but sang sparingly in their church services. They had

for some time maintained an orchestra, which, I was told, did

most creditable work. It was led by Mr. Louis Zimmerman,

the energetic secretary of the Society, and an accomplished

musician. Mr. Zimmerman seemed to be the promoter and

leader of whatever social life Zoar could boast. The Zoar

brass band   was an   institution  of some  years' stand-

ing.  I did not see a piano nor an organ in any of

the houses, save that described above and the one in their

church. I was much entertained one morning by watching

a band of four or five Italian musicians, tambourine and banjo

girls, led by the inevitable organ grinder, as they strolled and

played through the village. The children flocked to hear the

music, much as children do anywhere, but there were no demon-

strations of joy or glee, and greatly to the disgust of the play-

ers, who evidently did not understand the peculiar character of

their audience; there were no pennies thrown; "not one cent for

38       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

tribute"-it was not a cash community-strange anomaly,

money did not circulate in that civilization. Music, neverthe-

less, timid and primitive as it seemed to be, constituted appar-

ently the only form of recreation in which Zoar ever indulged.

The hum-drum of Zoar life was relieved during the sum-

mer months by the visitors who frequented the place. Zoar

is a favorite destination for excursion parties and these are

accommodated in a large and attractive grove called the Park,

just west of the village and overlooking the valley and river

of Tuscarawas. This custom of permitting and even encourag-

ing visitors is an innovation of late years and one not calculated

to advance the welfare of the community, which is thus brought

in contact with the outside life and a phase of it not always the

most desirable.  The Zoar people in their life were almost de-

void of amusements. Their religion prohibited dancing; they had

no social nor literary nor even musical entertainments. Such

a thing as a lecture or concert or public entertainment of any

kind seemed to be, nay was, entirely foreign to Zoar. Nor

so far as I could learn had they any diversions in the home

circle. Nor did they seem to miss the pastimes of modern

society. Perhaps their life, free from care, worry and hurry,

and excessive physical labor and mental exertion required little

or no relaxation. Their temperament, moreover, was sedate

and stolid.  They showed less sense of humor than the Ger-

man generally manifests. Though on the other hand they were

uniformly affable and good natured, perhaps more so than the

average German. Occasionally a gleam of facetiousness would

break through their earnest conversation. One would imagine

that their isolated and fraternal form of life would intensify

sociability; probably it did; they knew each other as one fam-

ily and owing to their close and continued contact many fam-

ilies were intermarried. Marital relationship and proximity of

residence is not always promotive of friendliness, but the Zoar-

ites constituted to an exceptional degree a happy family.

My first visit was made in the summer of 1898, after their

determination to divide the property and dissolve the Society,

but some months before either of those purposes were accom-

plished. Preparations were in process for the distribution, such

The Separatist Society of Zoar.         39

as the surveying and appraising of the land. The old regime

of the society was still in full force, but they were inclined just

then to be some somewhat suspicious of visitors from fear of

interference with their affairs or the acquiring by outsiders of

information which they did not wish imparted to the public.

It was in the afternoon that I arrived at the Zoar hotel, an

overwhelmingly large hostelry for so small a town. The old

hotel, erected half a century ago, stands on the main street,

and extending east on the corner for fully a hundred and fifty

feet, has had added to its front a modern structure three stories

in height and containing some fifty commodious rooms. A wide

veranda surrounds the new addition on the west front and south

side. This new wing was added some five or six years since to

accommodate the large number of summer boarders who frequent

Zoar to spend a longer or shorter time enjoying the beauti-

ful scenery, the rural drives of the surrounding country and

the quaint and quiet life of the village. The old landlord greeted

me respectfully, but hardly with that personal zeal and financial

interest usually displayed by the professional hosts in their

new guests. From majority he had been allotted to "run the

hotel." He was moreover a trustee of the society and a man

of unusual general intelligence and special knowledge of the

affairs of the Zoarites. The hotel corps, cooks, waiters, etc.,

were assigned to their duties as their respective portions in the

labor of the Society. The cuisine was countrified but credit-

able-not quite the usual hotel variety, but all wholesome, well

cooked and all the articles of diet were the "real thing," as

they were genuine home productions and could be trusted

without the test of the state "pure food" inspection. There

was a "bar"-the only one in Zoar-in the corner room of the

hotel, where beer and wines were served; the latter mostly of

the village vintage. The beer drank in this region had here-

tofore been solely that of Zoar brewing, noted for its purity

and excellency. The brewery had recently shut down and an

importation was now all that could be had.  It could be bought

cheaper than made.   The Zoarites drank beer freely. This

beverage, fresh from the brewery, when in operation, was sup-

plied to each family in generous quantities each day, precisely

40        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

as was milk and cider. But they were a sober people; rarely

did a case of intoxication occur. The income to the hotel from

whatever source, bar, board or livery, went, of course, to the

society fund, as did all revenues received from any source; none

went to the landlord or any of the hotel force.

Across the street, opposite the hotel, was the only store of

the place; a general country store, where dry goods, grocer-

ies, hardware, etc., were provided for the outside country cus-

tomers, the neighboring farmers. This merchandizing estab-

lishment was conducted in the interests of the Society and did

a large and profitable business. Mr. Louis Zimmermann, the

secretary and treasurer of the Society, was the manager of this,

as he was of all the negotiations between the Society and out-

side parties. In this store room was the postoffice of the vil-

lage. This store and the hotel opposite formed the center of

the village life and here the male members who were so in-

clined spent their lounging hours, smoking, chatting and dis-

cussing the affairs of their community. Their conversation

was mostly in German, not a very pure form, but rather a peas-

ant dialect. Nearly all could speak English. They were not

an educated people, though all adults could read and write in

German. They were not a reading class. Literature of any

description was conspicuously absent in this community. There

was no library in the place; books were a rarity in the homes.

Some of the Zoarites were subscribers to a weekly (generally

German) paper, but that was an exception. In former years the

admission of outside literature was discouraged, if not forbid-

den as tending to weaken their religious faith and make inroads

into the principles and practices of their life. On the contrary,

they never attempted to propagate their doctrines among outsid-

ers.  They never sought converts.   No paper or periodi-

cal of any kind was ever printed or published by the So-

ciety. They took little or no interest in the concerns of the

outside world, unless it was in national politics. This lack of in-

terest was true of the older people but did not apply so much

to the younger generation. They were all loyal American citi-

zens. In the Rebellion, in spite of their peace principles, many

enlisted and fought for the preservation of the Union, and the

The Separatist Society of Zoar.         41

Society had its quota of veterans. None, I was told, took part

in the late Spanish war.  They took an interest in national

events, particularly in the campaign of 1896, when as the elec-

tion returns showed, almost to a man they voted the Repub-

lican ticket. The money issue of that campaign must have seemed

rather extraneous to their personal inter-dealings. The ques-

tion may have had a bearing on the commercial relations of the

Society with outsiders, but among themselves they had no need

of nor use for money. Everything they permitted themselves

to have or enjoy was provided to the individual "without money

and without price." In this respect they, the older ones espe-

cially, were to be regarded as in the position of wards of an

estate. I wondered what they would do when given their prop-

erty and placed upon their own responsibility, exertion and

resources. There were, in a partisan sense, no local politics

in Zoar, though there was not an absence of municipal func-

tions. Once a year the members of the society met in the

Town Hall, situated in a small frame building erected for that

purpose, and in the little belfry of which hung the bell that

called the people to work in the morning and sounded the din-

ner and quitting hour. In this little hall the members would

gather, hear reports from their officers, consider their questions,

discuss their interests and hold their elections.

In 1884 (August 25) when the railroad came along and

established a station at Zoar and put the village in steam touch

with the world, the Zoarites incorporated²² their village and as-

sumed municipal form, with a mayor, town council, marshal,

etc. But in the election of these officials there was never any

division of any kind. No partisan contests disturbed the even

tenor of Zoar life. Their elections were monotonous and unani-

mous. The municipal officers were chosen from the leading

members of the Society and at the time of my visit Jacob Sturm,

one of the three trustees, was the Mayor as well. He was also

the railway station agent. His earnings belonged to the Society.

As the evening shades began to fall an interesting scene

was presented by "the lowing herd winding slowly" from the

22These Articles of Incorporation will be found in latter part of this

article.

42        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

pasture to the village barn. There were "ninety and nine" of

them, many with their clanging bells, driven, or rather accom-

panied, by one of the Zoarite patriarchs, who bore on his bent

shoulders the burden of more than three-score and ten years.

The sleek kine filed leisurely down the lane into either side of

the basement of an immense barn. The name of each cow was

posted in large letters over her stall and each found without

hesitation her own proper place. A dozen or more Zoar lasses,

with pails and stools, cheerily entered upon the task of milk-

ing, superintended by the stable "boss." The cattle and barn

were clean and tidy and this milking scene was a memorable one,

The milk was carried into a small dairy close by, placed in large

cans, and here dealt out to the village housewives or children

who came with their buckets to receive their portion. The

barn was a lofty concern, and in the upper story was kept hay

and feed for the cattle. There were two other extensive build-

ings or sets of buildings used in connection with the farming

department. On the eastern edge of the village were the stables

where were kept all the horses, some fifty or more in num-

ber, and in adjoining buildings the wagons, farm implements,

machines, etc. The horses were well fed and cared for, though

this stable establishment had a decidedly neglected and dilapi-

dated appearance.

On a hill still to the east of the village was an enormous "L"

shaped sheep shed with the red tile roof, which, owing to the

elevation on which the buildings stood, could be seen from

almost any direction for a long distance. At one time wool

raising was a very great feature in their industrial life, but the

flock of sheep now only numbered two or three hundred. In

the good old times it had often numbered more than a thou-

sand. Not far from the horse stable was the cider mill, which

was in full blast, producing an article of superior quality. When

in season this was daily carted about the village in a low-

wheeled, large-barrelled conveyance, precisely resembling a small

sprinkling wagon. It stopped at every door and the inmates

were supplied with a pail full or more, as was required.

Not far from the hotel was the laundry where the washing

was done for the community. Near by was a stunted, one-

The Separatist Society of Zoar.          43

story, sullen, ominous, looking structure with small, iron-grated

windows and a heavy double plank door. It was the Zoar Bas-

tille; they called it the "calaboose." I inquired with much sur-

prise as to the necessity for this penal institution in so moral

and sober a community, and was informed with a smile on the

part of my respondent, that it was built solely for the benefit of

visitors to the village. It came with the incorporation of the

town and the town marshal. Zoar was, as before stated, a fa-

vorite field for the pleasure seeker and occasionally the excur-

sionist exhiliration reached a boisterous and even belligerent

stage, and incarceration was the only remedy. In the days

when the tramp was so numerously abroad in the land, Zoar

was his haven and delight, as the generous and sympathetic

Zoarite would "take him in," feed him and lodge him over

night in the lockup.  But my informant proudly stated the

Zoarites themselves never had any use for a prison. No com-

munity of like number and age ever had such a record for mor-

ality and good behavior. From the origin of the Society no

Zoarite, while a member of the Society, was ever charged with

a felony or crime. These remarkable statements were verified

by several of the oldest inhabitants; certainly the highest testi-

mony to the perfect character and spotless life of the Separ-

atists. It is doubtful whether any community in any time or

place can produce such a record.

At the northern outskirts of the village upon rising ground

that overlooked the whole settlement were the bakery, church and

schoolhouse. The bakery was an interesting relic of the old time,

primeval bake ovens. The family having in charge this important

feature of the Society's provision department, were assigned a

good sized corner dwelling, with a roomy, stone floored kitchen

into the rear of which was built a cavernous brick oven, the cook-

ing chamber of which was elevated about two feet from the level

of the kitchen floor. This oven was large enough for a man to

easily enter and crawl about when repairs were necessary. The

heating apartment was a similar brick chamber, not under but at

the side of the bake oven. Here most of the baking was done

for the village, though all of the families cooked more or less

for themselves. The schoolhouse and church were brick buildings

44        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

of many years standing. The schoolhouse was a two story struc-

ture with a spacious recitation room on each floor. This property

was dedicated by the Society to the Township school authorities.

The school was conducted in all respects like any village school,

under the state school laws. The township school trustees elected

the teacher and paid him from the public school fund. For fif-

teen or sixteen years the only teacher has been Mr. Levi Bimeler,

a great-grandson of Joseph Bimeler. He obligingly showed me

through the school building and I found him a gentleman of ability

and culture. He had been fitted for his profession by attending

the public schools at Strasburg (Tuscarawas county) and the

Normal Schools at Shanesville and New Philadelphia. These

outside educational advantages, improved by Mr. Bimeler, were

at the expense of the Society and so far as I could learn this

was the only instance in which a member had been sent away

or been permitted to leave temporarily for the purpose of being

educated.

He held his certificate from the county board as any public

school teacher. He was paid the salary of fifty dollars per month,

which of course under the rules of the community he turned into

the treasury of the Society. It was vacation when I visited the

building and I did not see the school in operation. Mr. Bimeler

informed me that there were ninety-five pupils enrolled and about

sixty-five in average attendance. This number embraced, how-

ever, many children not belonging to the Zoar society or village,

but residing in this school territory, children of outside neighbor-

ing farmers.

Might not this collateral education of the Zoar young and

the "worldly" youth have been a dangerous influence upon the

growth or retention of the principles of the Zoarites in their boys

and girls?

All the Zoarite children attended school from the ages of six

to fifteen with the girls, and to sixteen in case of the boys. The

pupils, their tutor testified were bright, attentive, studious and

obedient. The course covered the main studies of the primary and

grammar grades. There were a few studies that might be classed

as in the high school curriculum. The instruction was in Eng-

lish except on two days in the week, when they were taught Ger-

The Separatist Society of Zoar.          45

man. Music was a favorite study and in that the pupils did well.

The children of the village with whom I talked seemed intelligent,

well behaved and obedient, and less forward and "pert" in man-

ner than the average American youth of similar age.

The village church if not orthodox in its faith was so in its

furniture with its old fashioned, straight back seats. The walls

and ceilings were uncolored and unadorned; the whole air of the

interior was cold and uninviting. A melodeon was on the plat-

form near the desk. On the open space back of the seats stood

one of the colossal Zoar stoves, with a capacity sufficient to absorb

the contents of a small coal mine at one divine service. But coal

in those parts was plenty as the lands of the Society were well sup-

plied with this mineral, though it was not of the best grade. Be-

fore the decline of interest in religious observances, the services

were three on the Sabbath; a Sunday school in the afternoon and

worship exercises in the morning and evening. There were no

prayers - only a song or two and the reading of one of

Bimeler's discourses.  This reading had lately been done

by the village gardener who acted as both florist and par-

son. Bimeler's homilies had been read and re-read till they

had become an old story and interest in them was sadly waning.

Much that they contained had become obsolete in the Zoar belief.

Attendance upon church was not obligatory and the audiences

were slowly dwindling in number and zeal. All services had been

abandoned at the time of my visit, and as one member remarked,

their religious sentiment was passing away, as a prelude to the

departure of their communism. The descendants of the pioneer

and pious Separatists clung no longer to the plain and simple faith

of their fathers. But while there seemed to be an abatement of

religious life in the Society there was no lessening in the standard

of their moral conduct. The church was not used for the cere-

monies usually celebrated in the sanctuary. The funerals and wed-

dings did not take place in the kirk. There was no religious ob-

servance in marriage. It was purely a civil contract, the legal part

being performed by a justice of the peace. In 1898, and for some

years previous, the secretary of the Society held the office of jus-

tice of the peace, and discharged all the duties of the same. They

did not permit members to marry outside of the society, and re-

46        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

quired all who made outside matrimonial alliances to leave the com-

munity. When marriage first began among them the plan was

adopted that the children should remain in the care of their parents

until three years of age, when they were housed in a common chil-

dren's home, the girls in one and the boys in another, where each

respectively were brought up under the direction of persons ap-

pointed for that purpose; nor did they ever again come under the

exclusive control of their parents. This custom prevailed until

1845, when it was discontinued and thereafter the children were

reared in the homes of and by their parents, subject to the juris-

diction of the trustees, to the extent that their authority invaded

the domestic life. It was the business of the Society, through the

trustees, to provide for the children all they required, until they

became of age and elected to become members of the Society.

The funerals were very simple affairs, there being no cere-

mony of any kind either at the house or at the burial. The

encased body, in an open wagon, followed by the villagers on

foot, was quietly conveyed to the grave at the usual hour of

1 P. M. The following Sunday evening a funeral sermon was

read in the church. The cemetery, situated on a hill north-

west of the village, was a veritable "God's acre;" densely shaded

by fir trees, the grounds almost without paths and profusely

overgrown with grass, wild flowers, creeping vines and weeds.

Until a few years ago, tombstones were proscribed. The graves

were not even designated. Bimeler requested that no monu-

ment mark his sepulchre, and none does. I could not find it,

though its location is well known to his people. It is now the

custom to have the graves marked by a wooden head-piece or

in some cases by a stone slab.

Such were the more noticeable external features, as pre-

sented to me during my few days' sojourn in Zoar. They were

a unique and in many respects remarkable people, leading a

peculiar and isolated life. Their daily needs and simple wants

were all readily supplied. Their lives were peaceful and easeful,

proof of the sad refrain of Anna Boleyn:

"'Tis better to be lowly born,

And range with humble livers content."

The Separatist Society of Zoar.          47

The men looked well fed and ruddy and moved about with

a deliberation at times almost amounting to indifference. The

women were noticeably the busier and more active. In the

earlier period of the community they shared almost equally the

physical labors of the men. They cleared the forest and tilled

the field no less than their husbands and sons. After the So-

ciety reached its prosperous stage, the lot of the women was an

easier one. Their household cares were lighter than is usually

the case with housewives. But they did not appear as hale

and hearty as the men, perhaps, possibly, because they confined

themselves indoors more than is generally the habit with the

village dame. But they were happy and contented. Their do-

mestic life was serene and pleasant. This is evidenced by the

astounding fact that there had never been a divorce in the So-

ciety. At the time of my visit the wives, though consenting to

the coming change in the community, were more anxious than

their husbands as to the outcome.

To one from the hurly-burly of the business world the vil-

lage of Zoar seemed oppressed with an air of stillness, if not

even sluggishness. Hamlet could have walked the streets of

Zoar for a stage and have truly remarked:

"And enterprises of great pith and moment,

With this regard their currents turn away,

And lose the name of action."

What did the Zoarites themselves think of it? Did they

regard it as a success? Did they wish to change this life to

one of individual responsibility and result?

The patriarch, whose duty it was to drive the cows to pasture

at early morn and to the barn at dewy eve, did not wish to give up

the Zoarite scheme. Communism with him had been and still was

a success. This was the sentiment of many of the older members-

it was too late for them to launch out into the world on an untried

experience for themselves; many of them succumbed reluctantly

and apprehensively to the will of the great majority - in the de-

cision to disband. To them it was a life free from care, worry and

excessive work. They literally took no thought for the morrow.

They lay down in comfortable homes at night, in certain and sat-

isfactory knowledge that they would be equally well provided for

48        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

on the succeeding day. What boon in life greater or more desir-

able than that?

"From toil, his spirits light,

From busy day the peaceful night,

Rich, from the very want of wealth

In heaven's best treasures, peace and health."

The Zoar region was a remarkably healthy one; the pure and

wholesome food, their simple and regular habits, all united to pre-

vent disease and prolong life.

There was one doctor in the Society, the only one they had

known for a generation. His office was a room or two in one of

the less attractive buildings near the hotel. He was self-educated;

had "picked up" his medical knowledge; his nostrums were few

and simple and nature was doubtless his chief assistant; his

"school", if he had any, might be called "the school of common

sense." In extremely difficult cases an outside surgeon might be

called in.

"Yes," said the doctor in his chat with me, "the old ones are

not so anxious to quit but the young ones are bound to wind up.

They go out and get a taste of the world and its opportunities

and activities and they become discontented and restless."

And that was true; many a family had a son in the great west

or some large city. The young men wanted to start out for them-

selves and possess and control the results of their efforts. The bar-

ber shop was a little back room allotted for that purpose in the town

hall building. Two days in the week the members, who were ad-

dicted to the custom, were shaven and also such visitors as were in

need of tonsorial attention. The knight of the razor was a bright

young fellow who gave me fair facial treatment, and with the cus-

tomary barber's conversational powers imparted much information

as I plied him with questions. He was of age, born and raised in

the Society but did not care to become a member. "No chance

here for a young man."  He contemplated going off to "find a

job" elsewhere; wanted to do for himself; had already "worked

several years and had nothing to show for it." But as he was

eligible to probation and membership he hoped by remaining with

the community until the distribution that he might get half a share.

There were several in the same situation. As I gave him the price

The Separatist Society of Zoar.          49

of his labor (shave) he remarked if he were his own man he would get that, while now "it goes to the Society." He thought it was better for all that they divide up. The blacksmith, a stalwart six footer, testified he had worked hard all his life with an indefinite undivided property interest as his reward. "Think how much I would have now had I worked and saved for myself - some in the Society have done hardly any work, but will get the same that I do. This way of doing busi- ness is not natural, nor right," he added. I found several who touched on this note - that those put at the hard or difficult, or continuous tasks felt that others were not so heavily burdened - yet the recompense was precisely the same. One whose task began at times at daylight and did not end till night was very "sore" at some who got off with "easy jobs." This feeling of the inequality of the exertion put forth and of the labor performed was very often expressed in no undisguised terms. Yet all admitted it was not the fault of the authorities in their efforts to assign and equalize the work. The trustees tried to be fair and judicious in the apportionment. It was natural for some to work. It was equally natural in some to shirk. Said one of the most intelligent and observant in the Society: "This sys- tem of communism puts a premium on indolence." It deadened the spurs and motives of activity. Some one has said man is nat- urally a lazy animal, he only works because he has to. Human nature is prone to seek the paths that present the least resistance. Communism affords favorable conditions for the discouragement of energy and the exercise of the inertia. I was not a little amused at my encounter with the "boss" of the barn. He was silently engaged in extracting the lacteal wealth from one of the patient kine - that prosaic process commonly called milking. I approached and addressed him in English, elic- iting no response. I then tried my German, rusty from disuse and many years absence from its Fatherland. He evidently preferred my better American to my bad German. To my queries he ac- knowledged he heartily favored a distribution and a chance for himself. The communistic system gave the lazy too much leeway. He toiled while others slept. Finally to spike my battery of inter- Vol. VIII-4

50        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

rogatories he asked, "Was you one of dem newspaper fellers what

wants to know evertings ?" "No," I replied, "I am a college pro-

fessor." "Oh, vell," he instantly retorted, "dot was the same ting

and just as bad,"  We understood each other perfectly after

that and became good friends.

In the hot boiler room of the cider mill I found one of the

oldest members who seemed to be the personification of con-

tentment. He was, and for many years had been, the fireman

and he sat in his bared arms eating an apple and apparently

wrapt in pleasing meditation. I think he must have been think-

ing of the approaching dismemberment of the community, for

upon my asking his views he unhesitatingly stated he had keenly

enjoyed the Zoar life. It had been one of plenty and peace.

But he realized there had come a changed condition of affairs

and he philosophically accepted the "new dispensation." "Yes,"

he said, "I was satisfied and happy. It was all right till a few

years yet. I know not how it will do in the new way, but we

must make the change, dat was sure."

The good old shoemaker who, with two younger assistants,

was "pegging away" in a faithful but deliberate manner, was in

favor of the dissolution, though a little uncertain and uneasy about

the outcome to himself and some others. All three agreed it was

"not according to nature for one to work for others," "it is better

that each be by himself and know what he has got." The element

of self-interest and individuality was self-assertive. The principle,

"every man for himself," was a popular sentiment. Many minor

influences had been working to undermine the Society. Oppor-

tunities had been increasing as time passed for the shrewd and

enterprising ones to acquire sums of money in a way that did not

demand, in their estimation, its being turned into the general fund.

This developed in some curious and ingenious ways. Many fami-

lies raised chickens in their yards; these and the eggs they would

sell to outsiders. This questionable method of traffic created much

dissatisfaction and the trustees endeavored at times to regulate

and equalize the poultry production - by dictating the number of

fowls each family might raise. This attempt was found difficult

to enforce. Housewives would take in washing for the visitors;

the young and older too would do sewing for the summer board-

The Separatist Society of Zoar.          51

ers, or make lace and various articles for sale; the boys would

catch and sell fish; make and let boats on the river; slip off after

work and do odd jobs for outside parties. Individual effort for

personal gain could not be suppressed nor equalized. I was talk-

ing with one of the elder members as he sat on his porch when a

young man rode up on a Columbia wheel, dismounted and entered

the house. He was the son of my old friend. I asked if the So-

ciety furnished bicycles to the members. The old gentleman

laughed and said "not much", and he explained that the young fel-

low earned money nights working for the railroad and bought a

wheel. It was the only safety I saw in Zoar, but the manner of its

acquisition was illustrative of one of the currents that was in op-

position to the simple communism with which they started.

Another source of inequality and dissatisfaction was the furnish-

ing certain members at times with money to go upon trips

to see friends or transact some necessary business at a distant

point. Those who had no occasion for going objected to or at

least regarded with disfavor those who went. Again, and one

of the most important items tending toward disruption was the

necessity for the Society to employ help. Their principal busi-

ness had always been farming and stock-raising. This required

the continuous labor of many "farm hands." Their farming in-

terest was about the only one left them. The young and stout

men were drifting away. The older members were unable to do

hard and incessant manual work. There were thousands of acres

to care for or go to waste. The Society was driven to the em-

ployment of imported help. A field near the cemetery was being

plowed by four teams, driven by as many plowmen. I accosted

them as Zoarites, only to learn all were "hired help" and foreign

to the Society. Some fifty men were on the pay roll of the So-

ciety at the time of my visit, all of course non-members. There

were also several adult members [by birth] of Zoar families who

declined to become members of the Society, but who were per-

mitted to remain in the community and who, in addition to get-

ting their living from the Society, were paid small annual sums

for their work. They were of course eligible to membership

but for various reasons did not wish to legally join. A main

factor in the failure of the Society was the general decline of

52        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

its industries and the shrinkage in values. To the decline in the

industries of the Society I have already referred. The shrinkage

in values of both real and personal property was necessarily not

confined at this time to the Society. It was common to the

country wherever property of any description was to be found.

A few Zoarites acknowledged that the communistic plan

fostered extravagance or at least lack of thrift and economy on

the part of the members. There was great and unnecessary waste

of material, particularly in the line of food and fuel and house-

hold necessities. The baker would get from the miller more

flour than was actually needed. The consumers drew from the

baker more than their needs demanded. Not being required to

save for themselves, they naturally did not attempt to save for

others or for all. What came so easily and so plentifully was

not properly valued and there was no incentive to household

economy.

DECISION TO DISBAND.

The history of Zoar is the record of the rise and decline

of a communistic civilization. In the pioneer years, their re-

ligious zeal and physical necessities impelled them to industry

and thrift. After the forming of the communistic contract they

prospered as a Society. The country was opening up; the west-

ern tide of emigration, as it swept by or settled about them,

fostered their industries and enhanced the value of their prop-

erty. The building of the Ohio Canal was of great benefit to

them. They contracted to dig the canal throughout the ex-

tent of their territory, by which they not only acquired the sum

of $21,000.00 in ready money, but also made a considerable sum

by furnishing the neighboring contractors with articles of food.²3

It was a period of development; of clearing and improving

the land; of labor and of saving. They added to their original

purchase until at one time they possessed some twelve thousand

acres. They not only built up industries for their own con-

sumption, but established a large commerce with the outside

23Penny Magazine (1837) Vol. VI, page 411.

The Separatist Society of Zoar.           53

world. The growth and prosperity of the Society was largely

due to the ability and shrewdness of Joseph Bimeler. Until his

death the affairs of the community progressed. This success

continued, or rather remained undiminished for several years

after his death.²⁴ Then the decline set in and for the past twenty-

five years the interests of the Society, as one member put it,

"have been going down." Their trade gradually fell off, their

income decreased and their expenses increased. Their young

and active members deserted. At various times in its history

individual members withdrew and made claim for their distribu-

tive shares of the accumulated property. More rarely a disso-

lution was suggested, but such proposal met with little or no

encouragement among the members. In the few bygone years

the more intelligent and observant among them could not fail

to realize that the Society was "auf die Neige" - on the wane

-and time alone would determine its dismemberment.

One of the most interesting episodes in the later history

of the Society was the outspoken "rebellion" of one of its

leading members, Mr. Levi Bimeler, the descendant of Joseph

Bimeler and the village school master, of whom we have already

made mention.

Mr. Bimeler was educated, as has been noted, outside of the

Society. He openly advocated the right of the members to with-

draw and receive their distributive share if they desired it. In

1895 Mr. Bimeler promulgated his views in a little folio,-a four-

page sheet about the size of a legal cap page. Mr. Bimeler was

editor, publisher and pressman. He wrote the entire contents of

his paper-a monthly-and then duplicated it upon a letter

copying press. The edition was of course very limited, a hundred

or more, and sold to the members. It was the only periodical

publication ever attempted in Zoar.

²⁴As late as 1875 their property was estimated at the nominal value

of $1,500,000. About the date of Bimeler's death, the society numbered

some 500 adults and children. This number in 1885 was 390 according

to the statement in Prof. Ely's "Labor Movement in America."

54       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

This organ of the agitator was called the "Nugitna" and

three numbers were issued, the fourth partially prepared for

duplication and publication, when the editor was "called down"

by the Society authorities and given to understand that unless

he ceased his vexatious and rebellious publication he would

be expelled and deprived of all rights, present or prospective,

in the Society. The fourth number never appeared. As these

monthlies represent an element - however small it may have been

- in the Society at the time of their appearance, and as they con-

tribute much information concerning the history and purpose

of the Society, they are herewith reproduced without alteration.

They have historic interest and deserve permanent preservation

in the archives of Zoar.

We would not say that they are to be taken as voicing the

popular sentiment at the period of their publication. As the

editor frankly confesses, his propaganda met with both approval

and disapproval. The exercise of the censorship of the press in

this case would indicate a centralized power in this equal com-

munity. The "Nugitna", as the reader will observe, was a

bugle-blast for individual rights in no mild or mistaken tones.

It is the irony of fate that a Bimeler should have been the most

pronounced iconoclast of his great-grandfather's institution. The

claim for which the "Nugitna" contended was not a new or novel

one. It had often been made at various times and by various

members who wished to withdraw from the Society and take

their "belongings" with them, or by members who had with-

drawn. We have already reported the law cases growing out

of such claims. But we let the "Nugitna" speak for itself.

THE NUGITNA.

Vol. 1.          Zoar, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1895.     No. 1.

INDEPENDENCE, NOW AND FOREVER

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary

for one person to dissolve the political bands which connect him

with a Communistic Society, and to assume among the citizens

of a state the equal and separate station to which the laws of

nature and of nature's God entitle him, a decent respect to the

opinions of his fellow Communists requires that he should de-

clare the cause which impel him to such separation. Whenever

any form of government becomes destructive of the ends for

which it was instituted, it is the right of the governed to amend

or abolish it.

Fellow Communists. I quote the above, with slight altera-

tions, from the "Declaration of Independence." It fits our con-

ditions exactly. And, if we possess only half the "grit" and

determination of our ancestors, we will be successful in obtaining

the coveted liberty and Independence. This Society has for a

long time back become destructive of the ends for which it was

instituted.

You know-or perhaps you don't-that this "Communistic

Society" was instituted for these five ends; viz: 1st. To secure

that satisfaction, proceeding from the faithful execution of those

principles and duties which the Christian religion demands; 2nd.

55

THE NUGITNA.

To plant and establish the Spirit of Love as the bond of peace

and unity; 3rd. To unite our various individual interests into

one common stock; 4th. To abolish all distinctions of rank

and of fortune; 5th. To live as brethren and sisters of one com-

mon family.

We believe that the faithful execution of those "Christian

duties " was an easy matter to our forefathers, but that it is not

possible for us to do likewise as Communists. We may form

the best resolves, and aim to live according to the rules laid

down by the founders of this Community, but all of these vanish

like a light morning mist, when we see the total corruptness of

our whole system. Some, indeed, still believe that this is the

system, and can not understand why some have the audacity to

condemn it, and to attempt to withdraw therefrom with a proper

share of the Society's property. But some day they will have a

revelation. Look about you, and show me the man or woman

who has secured the desired satisfaction as indicated in the 1st

end. There is not one who can truly say it. Examine your-

selves, go down into the depths of your conscience and ask

yourself-Am I living up to this purpose?-and the answer

will surely be negative. To those who say that they have lived

and are now living in accordance with the 1st end, I can only

say that they are the worst hypocrites existing, and that none

but their like believe them.