History of the Hopedale Community

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1897. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 1857-1876. Dismantled Condition -- Increasing Paralysis -- In War Time -- Religious Aspects -- The Hopedale Parish -- Conclusion. T)EFORE proceeding to sketch the last act of the drama which this volume is designed to present to the reader, or, in other words, to recall and record the principal features of that process of deterioration which terminated at lengtli in the utter extinction of The Hopedale Community, it seems fitting and desirable to set forth the exact status of its affairs at the opening of the year of 1857-- to show, with considerable degree of precision, what was taken away from its original powers, rights, immunities and obligations by the revolution of the previous year, and what was left as an equipment for further service in the cause of Christian Socialism. It has already been stated that thereby the enterprise had cast off many of its former cardinal characteristics and become a merely religious, moral reform, and mutual guaranty society. This was in a certain way and in a large measure true. But something more specific and positive is requisite to a clear comprehension, on the part of the average reader, of the condition of things with us at that date. And hence a few paragraphs at the beginning of the present chapter are properly devoted to the elucidation of the matter. It must be obvious to the thoughtful mind that the abandonment of the united proprietorship of the Community capital, including lands, buildings, machinery, money, and other forms of real and movable estate, together with the surrender of the supervision and management of its multiform branches of industry and the operations they represented, was the obliteration of one of the most essential and distinguishing features of our movement, as it was of other movements of tha...