To the Editor of the Regenerator:
Dear Sir:--You being the unbiased advocate, as your paper is the unbought vehicle of human redemption, by means of Social Reform, I am induced to lay before your readers a few plain statements of facts, regarding one of the Communities which sprung into existence early last year, and to which I have hitherto lent my feeble support. As there have been many reports abroad respecting this community, some of which are true as others are false, and others being both true and false; I am impelled to make these statements, all of which are true. Moreover, I conceive this a duty I owe to society in general, and to all genuine Socialists especially, as some of those false statements are said to be circulated by some claiming friendship with us. You, sir, being a whole-souled philanthropist, I know you have no predilections for the advocacy of this or that community, but an unprejudiced desire to promote truth wherever found, by the admission of simple and unassuming facts.
In these times, when the struggling sympathies of humanity are kindling the universal breast, to devise some means to relieve suffering humanity from the crushing incubus which binds her convulsive energies; none are more sincere, none more untiring, none more constant in their love of their kind, than the hardy spirits who have taken their stand at Regeneration Hall; where truth is sought with fullness of heart-- where the bleeding sufferings of humanity are enumerated with the liveliest of sympathies--where the evils which have produced these sufferings are exposed with a searching and rigid adherence--and the remedy explained with philosophic deduction, and logical reasoning. Cheerfully acknowledging all of the above, yet I feel that have even now omitted a portion of duty they owe their bearers, inasmuch as many of those bearers are even now ignorant that a community called the One-Mentian, or Social Community, has an existence; and if they know this, they have yet to learn its origins and progress; its locality and extent; its privations and enjoyments; its hopes and fears; and likewise the requisites necessary to become members of that association. It is, Sir, to supply those omissions, that I trouble you with this communication.
In the beginning of last year, a few humble but sincere persons, resolved to raise the standard of human liberty, and though limited indeed their means, yet such as they could sacrifice, they contributed for that purpose; believeing that the tree being once planted, other generous spirits, filled with the same sympathy, enlightened by the same knowledge, and kindled by the same resolve, would, from time to time step forward, unite in the same holy cause, and nurture this tree, until its redeeming unction spread a kindred halo through the length and breadth of the land. Having made this resolve, they looked not behind them, but freely contributed of their hard earned means, and purchased nearly 800 acres of good, fertile wood land, in Pennsylvania. Their zeal, perhaps over-pacing their judgement, they located upon their domain several families, before organizing a sufficient means for their support, which necessarily produced much privation and disappointment; and which placed men and women, good and true, in a position to which human nature never ought to be exposed. But their undying faith in the truth and grandeur of Social Community, strengthened them in their endeavor to overcome their disasters, and they have passed the fiery ordeal, chastened and purified. Do I censure their want of foresight? Oh no! It bu the more forcibly confirms me in my persuasion of the practicability of our system. It but the more clearly shows, how persons united in a good and just cause, can and will surmount unequaled privations, withering disappointments and unimagined difficulties; if their impulse be as pure as their object is sacred and magnificent. It shows to, most clearly, how the humblest in society can work out their own redemption, when true to one another. And moreover, it is a security that blessings so dearly purchased, will be guarded by as judicious watchfullness, and jealous care, as the labor was severe and trying, in producing them.
But the land has been bought; and, better still, it is paid for; and the society stands at this moment free from debt. We have no interest nor rent to pay, no mortgage to dread, but we are free and unincumbered. The land is good, as can be testified by several persons in this city, who well know it, and who are willing to bear witness of this fact, to any who may have questioned it.