THE SAINTS OF ONEIDA CREEK.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1435, 14 June 1867, Page 3

THE SAINTS OF ONEIDA CREEK.

Tiie " Pall Mall Gazette," in reviewing the work of Mr Hepworth Dixon, entitled " New America," gives the following account of these people : — The Bible Perfectionists of Oneida Creek leave the Mormons far behind them in the freedom of intercourse which is allowed to its members. The " platform " of this sect is the restoration of the divine government of the world—the putting of the two sexes on an equal footing, and the abolition of all humau laws in general, and of matrimony in particular. The founder is John "Humphrey Noyes, " a tall pale man, with sandy hair and beard, grey dreamy eyes, good mouth, white temple, and a noble forehead." Noyes' scheme embraces the communistic principle of Owen, Cabet, Fourier, and Eapp. All the inmates of Oneida Creek Settlement have an equal interest in the estate. But those unfortunate visionaries discarded the grand binding principle of religion essential to the harmony and success of any community of civilized men. Hence their repeated failures one after the other. At least that is the view of previous attempts at the communistic scheme taken by John Noyes. The Bible Order are both free lovers and saints. Continual peace, good-will, and happiness is offered them in this world ; eternal bliss is assured them in the next. Many who might resist the temptations of pantagamy or the doctrine of the elect alone are attracted by the double bait, and the communistic settlement of Oneida Creek is at present a great success. Muscle is not wanting in most of the new Transatlantic churches. "Work is as holy as faith, and enterprise as religious enthusiasm at Oneida Creek. In one year the family sold 25,000 dollars' worth of preserved fruit. An old trapper coming into the community invented an ingenious trap, which quite superseded the article imported from Germany. In twelve months the Order cleared 80,000 dollars in. the sale of this new trap. Mr Dixon had opportunities during his stay at Oneida Creek of observing the working of the " domestic system " of the Bible Order, the basis of which Brother Noyes freely discussed with him :—" Men and women," said he, " find universally that their susceptibility to love is not burnt out by one honeymoon, or satisfied by one lover; on the contrary, the eecret history of the human heart will I bear out the assertion that it is capable oi loving any number or persons, ana ■fclxa-fc tte more it loves the more ifc cam love. This is tbte law of" nature." JXtr \T)\ 1 J) ] i) ' Dixon. pays ke iound ine women at Oneida Creek seemingly busy, brisk, and content, and in the enjoyment of considerable power under Mr Noyee' blessing of " the law of nature," Here we must close our brief notice of a very entertaining and instructive book.