Part 34 (1/2)
”SEC. 1.--The community shall be considered as a family. The members shall unite in their labor and business, hold their property in common for the use of all, and dwell together in a unitary home.”
”SEC. 2.--Each member shall be free to hold whatever opinions his conscience may dictate; and the community shall make no restriction or regulation interfering with the freedom of any, except when his actions conflict with the rights of others.”
”SEC. 3.--All shall be alike responsible for the strict observance of this const.i.tution. Equal rights and privileges shall be accorded to all members; but the community may temporarily withhold from a member the right to vote by the unanimous consent of the rest.”
”ARTICLE II.”
”SEC. 1.--All matters concerning the welfare of the community shall be decided by the members at their meetings, which shall be of the following kinds: (1) Daily business meetings for the decision of daily work; (2) Weekly meetings for the discussion of business questions, and for remarks on the general interests and welfare of the community.”
”SEC. 2.--All decisions, except as herein otherwise provided for, shall be by a majority of three fourths of all the members.”
”SEC. 3.--Debts may be contracted, or credit given, only by the unanimous vote of the community.”
”SEC. 4.--The officers of the community shall consist of a president, secretary, treasurer, and managers. They shall be elected at the end of each year, and enter on the duties of their offices on the first of January following, being subject to removal at any time.”
”SEC. 5.--The president shall preside at all meetings, shall see that the decisions of the community are carried out, and make temporary arrangements for the business of the day when necessary.”
”SEC. 6.--The secretary shall record the proceedings of all the meetings of the community, attend to all its correspondence, and preserve all the valuable doc.u.ments thereof.”
”SEC. 7.--The treasurer shall hold the fund of the community, and keep an accurate account of all money received or expended; but no money shall be paid out except as appropriated by the community. He shall make a report at each business meeting.”
”SEC. 8.--The managers shall control the different departments to which they are elected, decide all details of business, if not previously acted upon by the community, and make reports at each business meeting.”
”ARTICLE III.”
”SEC. 1.--Any person, after having lived in the community, and having become thoroughly acquainted with its members and the community life, may become a member by subscribing to this const.i.tution; provided he is accepted by the unanimous vote of the community.”
”SEC. 2.--All property which members may have, or may receive from any source or at any time, shall be given to the community without reservation or return.”
”SEC. 3.--The members shall be furnished with food, clothing, and lodging, care and attention in sickness, misfortune, infancy, or old age, and the means and opportunity for a complete integral education, and for such other necessary requirements as the community can afford; and these benefits shall be guaranteed by the whole resources of the community.”
”SEC. 4.--A withdrawing member shall not bring any claim against the community on account of any labor, services, or property given thereto; but his current expenses and the advantages of the community life shall be considered as an equivalent therefore. He shall be allowed to take from the common property only what may be decided upon by the community at the time of withdrawal.”
”SEC. 5.--Children of the members, or those which may be adopted by the community, shall be considered as members thereof; they shall have equal rights as herein specified, except voting, to which privilege they shall be admitted when the community by unanimous consent shall think best, and after signing their names to this const.i.tution.”
”ARTICLE IV.”
”Any amendments, additions to, or interpretations of this const.i.tution may be made at any time by unanimous vote of the community.”
THE SOCIAL FREEDOM COMMUNITY.
This is a communistic society, established in the beginning of the year 1874 in Chesterfield County, Virginia. It has as ”full members” two women, one man, and three boys, with four women and five men as ”probationary members.” They have a farm of three hundred and thirty-three acres, unenc.u.mbered with debt, and with a water-power on it; and are attempting general farming, the raising of medicinal herbs, sawing lumber and staves, coopering, and the grinding of grain. The members are all Americans.
They hold, the secretary writes me, to ”unity of interests, and political, religious, and social freedom; and believe that every individual should have absolute control of herself or himself, and that, so long as they respect the same freedom in others, no one has a right to infringe on that individuality.”