Jjiorbh ^rriericaq ^7 ha Lari^ 
 
 AN 
 
 eH^foricaf aT^ti ©e^cripit^e ^iCefc"^ 
 
 BY 
 
 Charles Sears 
 
 _ 
 
 WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY EDWARD HOWLAND. 
 
 PRESCOTT, WIS. 
 
 JOHN M. PRYSE, Publisher. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Y 
 
 The following corrections of typographical errors were made 
 by Mr. Charles Sears in a copy of the Historical Sketch of the 
 Phalanx sent to him : 
 
 P. 2, 3d paragraph from bottom, read “unitary” for “arbitrary.” 
 
 “ 3, last 
 “ 5, 8th 
 “ 7, 6th 
 “ 7, 7th 
 “ 8, 7th 
 « 9, 3d 
 “ 9, 7th 
 “ 10, 7th 
 
 “ “ “Giles” for “Giley.” 
 
 top, read “constituted” for “constructed.” 
 “ “ “members” for “numbers.” 
 
 “ insert “or both” after “capitalist.” 
 
 “ read “guaranties” for “quantities.” 
 
 “ “ “sincerely” for “since.” 
 
 “ “ “Starks” for “Starlls.” 
 
 “ “ “over-charge” for “our change.” 
 
s-e f 
 
 <aJ\ 
 
 8 N PKESENTING to the Credit Fonder this sketch by Mr. 
 Ghas. Sears of the History of the Phalanx, it may not be 
 amiss for me to preface it with a few remarks concerning 
 its important value to us just at this juncture, while we are 
 waiting, and gathering together our strength for the prac¬ 
 tical continuation in Mexico of the social experiment which was 
 so successfully carried out by The North American Phalanx, dur¬ 
 ing its corporate existence. In the letter to me accompanying its 
 transmission Mr. Sears, in speaking from experience, advises us 
 “as soon and as fully as possible to institute the serial organiza¬ 
 tion in production, 4 distri bution and administration.” 
 
 Most probably this advice will not have the force to the very 
 large majority of the colonists that it has to me and to Mr. Sears 
 himself. To enforce it he quotes the dictum, “The Series Distrib¬ 
 utes the Harmonies.” This is as conclusive to me as it is to him. 
 My knowledge of its force, however, is merely theoretical. I 
 have never had even the smallest chance to practically apply it. 
 To be sure, for the past twenty years or more, ever since I had 
 the blessed privilege of reading Fourier and getting my mind sat¬ 
 urated with his doctrines, I have always had hung up, fastened to 
 the wall in my house, these mottoes, by him: “The Series Distributes 
 the Harmonies” and “Attractions are Proportional to Destinies;” 
 and hundreds of times have explained their significance to inquir¬ 
 ing visitors whose attention has been struck by them. Until, 
 however, Mr. Sears made this mention of the application of one 
 of them, I had never thought of the possible practical application 
 of them to the machinery of our daily lives. 
 
 They form the efficient epitaph carved upon Fourier’s tomb, and 
 it shall be my first care in Sinaloa fo see that they are present in 
 and about our homes in Sinaloa, together with the mottoes placed 
 above our organ. 
 
 In his historical sketch Mr. Sears explains the practical way in 
 which the serial method was made the basis of their industrial or¬ 
 ganization, and the success which it gave them. I am sure that 
 his suggestion is of incalculable benefit to us, and that if we will 
 study it out we will all of us become so convinced of it that we 
 will lose no time in organizing ourselves upon the serial method 
 as the first step before us. 
 
 Notice in his history that at first there was no attempt made to 
 do this. The experience of the Phalanx will be our salvation if 
 we follow it. 
 
 Whereas, if we enter upon the work of living, as the first set¬ 
 tlers at the Phalanx did, it will be with us as it was with them, 
 three months will not pass before we shall find as they found, “the 
 president and his associate directors” will come to a dead-lock 
 “respecting the business administration.” 
 
 The North American Phalanx most fortunately was in relation 
 
 4:2177 
 
 •4 
 
 reL or (Hcoo of? #afroiLu.cfiot2 
 
with some persons who had evidently an accurate knowledge of 
 and a confident faith in the efficacy of a serial organization. Who 
 these persons were I do not know, though I am pretty certain Mr. 
 Sears was one of them. 
 
 To my mind the practical adoption of this method in every way 
 in which we can apply it, is all that we want to fully equip us for 
 our work. We will find in practice that it is the only method for 
 uniting harmoniously the principles of democracy with all that 
 is good in the one-man power. 
 
 In all industrial enterprises to-day the workers are supposed to 
 be insubordinate unless they meekly and unquestionably submit 
 to the boss, though he may be only an incompetent tyrant. 
 
 I believe that, by the introduction and practical operation of the 
 serial method of organization in our enterprise, we shall make a 
 vindication of association that will do much to remedy the sad 
 tendency so rapidly working to corrupt and destroy all the prog¬ 
 ress we have ever made toward the establishment of democratic 
 principles. 
 
 There are several other points suggested by Mr. Sears’ sketch I 
 wished to make, but I shall defer the discussion of them until we 
 meet personally, calling attention only to the points of comparison 
 between our movement and theirs. 
 
 Mr. Sears gives us an account of the manner in which the move¬ 
 ment resulting in the Phalanx began; our subscribers have been 
 found entirely by their attraction to the organization advocated 
 by the paper issued at Hammonton. The education of our sub¬ 
 scribers; their discontent with the present condition of social 
 affairs, and their belief that it is quite possible, by the adoption 
 of such social methods of organizations as we have proposed from 
 the first to enter upon a new and progressive life, fit them better 
 for success than were the persons who gathered first to organize 
 The North American Phalanx. 
 
 But in addition we have the opportunity to use the experience 
 of the Phalanx and to commence with the important addition of 
 the system of serial organization, which they arrived at only after 
 their business admistration hqd come to a dead-lock, and fortun¬ 
 ately the knowledge of the serial method of organization was 
 presented to them and accepted after the fullest examination. 
 
 Let us, while waiting for the call to move, spend the time in 
 studying the matter of serial organization, so that when we meet 
 in Sinaloa we shall be ready to understanding^ set about it. 
 
 For the purpose of finding out about it, this history by Mr. 
 Sears is sufficient. Of course none of us, as far as I know, have 
 had anything but, at most, a theoretical knowledge of it, but we 
 can come together, if we feel its importance, ready to take hold of 
 it and organize it for immediate application as soon as we are on 
 the ground. 
 
 Another word concerning our position financially compared 
 with that of the persons who organized the Phalanx. 
 
 They started with a debt upon their place. 
 
 Let us on no consideration incur a debt. I do not fear that 
 there will be any need of it, but, anyhow, let us resolve to do with 
 what we have. 
 
 Edward Howland. 
 
— ©Jfte riortFi J\menea^ <jpfia?an£ 
 
 AN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH. 
 
 —BY— 
 
 -^•CHARLES SEARS.^- 
 
 1879. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 , LBERT BRISBANE in 1843 published in the New York 
 Tribune a series of articles on the reconstruction of so¬ 
 ciety; contrasting the present industrial anarchy through 
 conflict of interests, waste in production and distribu¬ 
 tion, disorderly competition, and the increasing servitude 
 of the masses under the hireling system of labor, with a society 
 organized on the basis of Joint Stock Property; Co-operative 
 Labor; Association of Families; Mutual Guarantees; Honors Ac¬ 
 cording to Usefulness; Integral Education; Equitable Distribution; 
 Unity of Interests. These articles contained a popular exposition 
 of the science of society discovered by that gifted man, Charles 
 Fourier. 
 
 Here was a genius who had scanned the course of time and 
 made a chart of societary evolution, from Edenism to the close of 
 man’s career on the planet, distinguishing thirty-two periods. 
 
 He made an analysis exhibiting a comprehensive history of the 
 human race, condensed into formulae and tables, containing the 
 characteristics of each form of society from the first to modern 
 civilization, which ranks as the fifth, and through three succeeding 
 stages, as sixth, named Guarantism, (which is a system of Unitary 
 Insurance, including guaranty of the security of capital; guaran¬ 
 ty of remunerative employment to the laborer; the dismissal to 
 the ranks of the producers of useless middle men—in a single 
 phrase, it is a system of organized production and distribution 
 with mutual guaranties.) 
 
 The seventh, designated as Simple Association, or association 
 of classes, as farmers by themselves, artizans by themselves, man¬ 
 ufacturers by themselves, etc. 
 
 This form of society retains all the organic features of Guaran¬ 
 tism and, besides these, it includes the association of families and 
 the organization of domestic labor. 
 
 In this society, wage labor is fully abolished; the laborer is co- 
 prorietor, self-employed and shares proceeds. 
 
 The next term in the series, the first octave in the gamut of 
 

 2 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 societary evolution, he names Compound Association, or Harmon- 
 ism. 
 
 In it are associated all classes, all pursuits and all decrees of 
 fortune. 
 
 Every interest is provided for, by an organization which embraces 
 all details of production and distribution; and a system of natural 
 and integral education is instituted—that is, a complete system of 
 physical, mental and emotional development, intimately connect¬ 
 ed with daily pursuits, provided for; that art and the science 
 which underlies art may be taught together; that theory and prac¬ 
 tice may go hand in hand and that the individual may have the 
 command of his whole personal power and enjoy the conditions 
 of expressing it. 
 
 The industries, education and recreations are carried on by 
 series of groups freely formed, each group undertaking the con¬ 
 duct of some detail of production, distribution, education, elc. 
 
 Taste is regarded as an original endowment of the soul, hence 
 a permanent motor and an indication of capacity; taste or pref-* 
 erence, therefore, dominates in the selection of pursuits. A man 
 having himself on his own side works with more force, greater 
 skill and better effect than one who works against his inclinations. 
 The former is an harmonious unity; the latter is divided against 
 himself. 
 
 Each individual, in the course of a year, may take part in the 
 labors of a dozen, twenty or more different groups and in widely 
 separated series; and by this means of diversity of tastes and 
 change of occupation there is a complete interlocking of interests; 
 perfect provision for the performance of every function, and for 
 the healthful exercise of all the powers of the individual. 
 
 With the proper endowments, this organization, this education, 
 this unity of interests, counterpoised by this plenary develop¬ 
 ment of personality, is the frame-work or anatomy and the 
 physiology of society in full health, or social harmony. It is the 
 institution of the Divine Social Code, in the first or lowest degree. 
 
 The number necessary to maintain the full activity of all in¬ 
 terests, including education and amusements, and comprising a 
 scale of characters and every variety of tastes is about one thous¬ 
 and people of both sexes and all ages. 
 
 This is the societary and the political unit or township. There, 
 as this order should more and more prevail, would be grouped in 
 larger and still larger combinations to form complete counties, 
 states and nations, and the nations finally grouped under one 
 arbitrary administration of the whole globe. This will be the 
 universal institution of the Divine Social Code. 
 
 Thus there will be no more wars. Industrial armies will be 
 organized, to work under general plans, for the reclaimation of 
 earth’s waste places, such as irrigation of deserts and reclothing 
 them with verdure; the drainage of marshes and subjecting them 
 to cultivation and forestry. These measures will eradicate some 
 of the permanent scourges we are afflicted with, as cholera, plague, 
 typhus, yellow fever, etc. 
 
 These legions of industry—armies of construction—would also 
 steadily push cultivation toward the poles, and by planting belts 
 of timber about the globe, protect the people and their crops and 
 
i 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 3 
 
 cattle. This will enlarge the area of production and in some de¬ 
 cree modify climates. 
 
 Another unitary labor will be a comprehensive system for im¬ 
 proving the means of travel and transportation by water and rail, 
 to promote commerce and the free intercommunication of all peo¬ 
 ples. By these means man is to fulfil his function of overseer of 
 the globe, and to improve and maintain in its best condition every 
 part of it. 
 
 This was a new revelation. Here were ideas to work for. Here 
 were aims to inspire worthy ambitions. 
 
 Our civilization with its disorders is not the end, but only a 
 comparatively short stage in the growth of society; evil is not to 
 be eternal, but only a temporary incident of growth from germs 
 and due to the immaturity of globes and peoples. Man is to 
 study the laws of Divine Order and institute accordingly, the 
 same as he learns the laws of personal health and conforms to 
 them. 
 
 These ideas were food to the famishing, or as westerly breezes 
 and crystal waters to the fever smitten. A tide of enthusiasm 
 swept over the land and up rose association after association, in 
 the northern and westenn states during a period of about six 
 years. The energy of the impulse to organize new associations 
 subsided after 1848, but the interest in the great movement has 
 revived and is, perhaps, greater now than at any former period; 
 but is narrower in its scope, being limited mostly to co-operative 
 production and co-operative distribution. The association of fam¬ 
 ilies, the enfranchisement of women as well as the laborer, the 
 integral education, still await dieir institution. 
 
 Among the earlier associations organized was that of 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX , 
 
 Of Monmouth county, New Jersey. 
 
 A general prospectus was issued from the city of New York, in¬ 
 viting the formation of local organizations, and when a sufficient 
 number of subscribers should be obtained, they were to combine 
 numbers and means and begin practical operations. The pros¬ 
 pectus was signed by Albert Brisbane, Horace Greeley, Osborn 
 McDaniel, Edward Giley, J. T. Smith, Frederick Grain and oth¬ 
 ers. Persuant to this call The Albany Branch of The North 
 American Phalanx was organized in the summer of 1843. About 
 twenty families became interested in the movement, of whom 
 twelve subscribed the working constitution and joined the prac¬ 
 tical movement. The expectation was entertained that a number 
 of branch organizations would be formed and a large capital 
 would be subscribed. In this we were disappointed. The Albany 
 branch was the only branch formed under the New York call, 
 though families and individuals from other parts of the state, 
 some from the west and some from New England, joined the move¬ 
 ment; and when the original subscriptions to the capital stock 
 were all in, we had a little less than seven thousand dollars to 
 begin with. This was discouraging. With this small sum the 
 land could not be bought and endowed; debt would be incurred 
 and difficulties and hindrance in business would inevitably occur. 
 Debt was distasteful and contrary to our purpose. 
 
 
4 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 Nevertheless, the determination to go forward was not changed. 
 An estate of about seven hundred acres near Red Bank, in Mon¬ 
 mouth county, New Jersey, was purchased and taken possession of 
 in September, 1843. The price of the domain was 814,000, of 
 which sum 85,000 was paid down, and the remainder secured by a 
 mortgage. This left $2,000 for buildings, teams, implements and 
 working capital. 
 
 The soil had been exhausted by slave husbandry. It was, how¬ 
 ever, gradually renovated by the liberal application of the cele¬ 
 brated “green sand” which was abundant on the place. 
 
 Half a dozen families entered upon the domain in the autumn 
 of 1843, finding scant accommodation in the two houses on the 
 place; and during the winter they put up an additional building 
 for the remainder of the party coming the ensuing spring. Dur¬ 
 ing that year twenty families had assembled, making, with single 
 people, a population of over one hundred, subsequently increased 
 to an average of about one hundred and fifty, including children; 
 and made up of mechanics, merchants and professional men and 
 their families, with a fair proportion of single people of both sexes. 
 
 Most of the heads of families had a knowledge of farming, 
 which was important, as the land was the principal means of sup¬ 
 port during the earlier years. Subsequently mechanical pursuits 
 and some light manufactories for women were introduced, and a 
 mill was built which did custom work for the neighborhood and 
 plain and fancy milling for the city. 
 
 A fair proportion of the land was appropriated to fruit culture, 
 including the peach, apple,' pear, grape, quince, etc., and the apple 
 plantations are still among the finest orchards in the state. During 
 parts of the fifth and sixth year a commodious mansion and ware¬ 
 house were built and other improvements were made from time to 
 time as means were at command. 
 
 On taking possession of the new mansion a restaurant was es¬ 
 tablished. The fine saloon, 39x70x16 feet, was set with a row of 
 tables on each side, and families and associates, grouped accord-, 
 ing to their likings, could consult their tastes and their purses,’ 
 the number being sufficient to provide economically a great variety 
 of dishes. The average cost per capita of table, laundry and 
 room rent was about two dollars a week, sometimes less. 
 
 DIET AND REGIMEN 
 
 Took the place of medicine. After the first three years a doctor’s 
 medical prescription was an almost unknown occurrence. During 
 the thirteen years of associated life there were but nine deaths 
 from all causes, including accidents, in a population made up of 
 the usual proportion of all ages, from infancy to advanced years, 
 and in number from 120 to 150 people. It is the lowest death rate 
 I have seen recorded. 
 
 Pervading this social and industrial life was a closely graded 
 ORGANIZATION . 
 
 The form of it was that announced by Fourier as the mode of 
 distributing forms and forces throughout the universe, namely: 
 SERIES OF GROUPS. 
 
 Each department in the association was conducted by a serie 
 
5 
 
 THE NOETH AMEBIC AN PHALANX. 
 
 and each serie was constituted of as many groups as there were 
 divisions of functions in the department, so that each detail of 
 industry was the special charge of the group. 
 
 At the beginning of each year a general plan was agreed upon 
 of the kinds and extent of operations in the various departments 
 deemed desirable to carry on during the year. The plan was 
 posted on the bulletin board and the members wrote their names 
 under the titles of the industries they desired to engage in. If 
 any important function was not sufficiently provided for in the 
 first instance, volunteers were obtained so that nothing should be 
 neglected for want of a suitable provision of labor force. In 
 some cases men were hired to supplement the force of members. 
 Six to eight such were employed. This was the first step; the next 
 was for each group to elect its chief or manager, who was ac¬ 
 countable for the proper conduct of the detail undertaken by the 
 group, under the general direction of the council of the serie of 
 which he was a constituent. To illustrate: 
 
 The agricultural serie was subdivided into four principal groups, 
 as: 
 
 Farming, 
 
 Market gardening, 
 
 Orchard, , 
 
 Experimental. 
 
 Each group was constructed of three to seven or more members. 
 The chiefs of these groups constituted a council of the department 
 of agriculture. This council elected its chief, who was the gen¬ 
 eral manager of the department and presiding officer of the its 
 council. The other departments had the same constitution. There 
 were six principal departments and corresponding series, as: 
 
 1. The agricultural, described above. 
 
 2. The stock serie, having care of domestic animals, the teaming 
 establishment and the dairy. 
 
 3. The manufacturing serie, including the milling and mechani¬ 
 cal industries, the canning of fruits and vegetables, and the 
 household manufactures, the latter conducted principally by 
 women. 
 
 4. The domestic serie, including all labors in the preparation and 
 service of food, the laundry, dormitory, etc.; nine groups. 
 
 5. The educational serie, having care of the nursery, school, 
 classes engaged in special studies, and the library and reading 
 room. 
 
 6. The festal serie. Amusements as well as work were regarded 
 of sufficient importance to be provided for by methodical or¬ 
 ganization. Weekly entertainments of some sort were usually 
 given throughout the year; in summer concerts and an occasion¬ 
 al excursion to the sea-shore; later, dramatic representations, 
 dancing, debates on current public questions, school exhibitions, 
 etc. The amusements were free, participated in by old and 
 young and, with the exception of the excursion parties, were at 
 home. Our young people were not scouring the country on win¬ 
 ter nights in all weathers. 
 
 For unclassified functions three groups were formed. One such 
 looked after the scattering of rubbish and occasional displacement 
 of implements incident to pressure in shipping stuff and receiving 
 
6 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 goods, and oilier contingent work. It was named the Contingent 
 group. Another undertook the performance of repugnant func¬ 
 tions not otherwise provided for; and another detailed one or 
 more of its members to receive and care for visitors. 
 
 By means of this thorough organization responsibilities were 
 distributed and all work and business were provided for. Each 
 detail of labor was of sufficient magnitude to employ a group or 
 at least a functionary, and when the regular work was done the 
 laborer could come in, bathe, dress for supper and afterward 
 spend his evening in society, in the reading room or at study, the 
 chiefs only having to arrange for the next day’s work. 
 
 In this way the never-ending chores, which are the real burden 
 of farm life, more harrassing than the day’s work afield, were al¬ 
 most done away with. The sub-division of domestic work afforded 
 alike relief to women, where work, in the simjile family system, “is 
 never done.” 
 
 True, in the earlier periods of such movements, before organiza¬ 
 tion becomes well settled, or for lack of numbers to complete 
 organizations, gaps or breaks occur which require a steady eye 
 and hand and purpose to fill them or make connections; but with 
 a sufficient number of people some are usually found who have 
 the necessary devotion and diversity of gifts to supply deficiencies 
 and help the mechanical running. Most of the members be¬ 
 longed to a number of groups whose labors succeeded each other; 
 and in cases of emergency the forces of several series could be 
 concentrated upon one detail to save a crop or bring up an arrear 
 of work. 
 
 Every evening there was an assemblage of heads of departments, 
 named the Industrial Council, to arrange the distribution of forces 
 for the labor of the next day. If teams were wanted or addition¬ 
 al force required at any point the want was provided for; and the 
 labor bulletin, posted in the main hall, announced the arrangement. 
 
 The 
 
 POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION 
 
 • 
 
 Was interwoven with the Industrial Organization. As explained 
 above, each serie had its chief, who was its industrial manager 
 and president of its council. A late revision of the constitution, 
 or more properly by-laws, provided that each chief of a serie 
 should be, ex officio, a member of the central council. This body 
 was at once the legislature and the executive council of the as¬ 
 sociation. 
 
 The president, secretary and treasurer were elected by popular 
 vote. Constitutional questions were determined by the same vote. 
 
 By these means suffrage was universal, without distinction of 
 sex, and women necessarily held office because 'deemed by their 
 associates competent to manage a department of business and to 
 represent them in legislation and in the councils. 
 
 There was, therefore, a two-fold reason at the foundation of the 
 council, as each member of it was not only the representative 
 of a constituency, but also of some economic or social interest. 
 
 Suffrage for representation in the councils was regulated by the 
 serial order; each member of a group, if old enough to be a 
 regular working member, was a voter within the limits of the 
 
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 group, and the voters could not be otherwise than well informed 
 respecting the character and capacity of their representatives, for 
 constituent and representative were in daily association in daily 
 pursuits. 
 
 LABOR AND CAPITAL. 
 
 At the beginning of each year a primary award for labor and 
 for the use of capital was fixed upon as a basis of division of pro¬ 
 ceeds. Five per cent for the use of capital and a medium rate 
 of a dollar for a day of ten hours’ ordinary labor were the latest 
 rates. 
 
 The various kinds of labor were classified according to their 
 usefulness, attractiveness and repulsiveness, and corresponding 
 prices fixed for performing them. Works of usefulness occupied 
 the middle place; those which were necessarily exhausting or re¬ 
 pugnant were rated highest, and the light and the attractive 
 work stood lowest in price. 
 
 A scale of rates for individual performance ranged through two 
 octaves—that is, eight degrees above and eight degrees below the 
 medium rate of one dollar a day. The value of a degree was five 
 cents an hour; and each degree of variation from the standard 
 rate indicated a special, definite quality of performance—some ex¬ 
 cellence or the lack of it. 
 
 The decending scale ran down to rates for children, the as¬ 
 cending scale recognized executive capacity and skill. 
 
 Within the limits agreed upon, each group rated its own num¬ 
 bers. Performance, not sex or a'ge, was the reason of the rate; 
 and frequently the same person would receive different rates in 
 different groups, according to the character of his performance of 
 different labors. In case of dissatisfaction with the rating of the 
 group, an appeal to the council of the serie by the dissatisfied 
 member was the remedy. 
 
 At the end of the year the value of the year’s products was as¬ 
 certained and a final distribution of the proceeds was made to each 
 member ratably on his or her earnings at the rates of the primary 
 award, whether as laborer or capitalist, as most of them, to some 
 extent, were. 
 
 Five per cent as the basis of dividends was a reduced rate, but 
 was regarded as still too high. The late Edward Kellogg, author 
 of “A New Monetary System,” urged this point strongly, saying 
 that the rate of property increase in the state of New York, as 
 shown by the state register, for a period of ten years was less than 
 two per cent a year; that the association could not withdraw its 
 labors or products from the influence of the general laws which 
 regulate distribution, and that so high a rate as five per cent as a 
 basis of dividends would absorb the property. Probably he was 
 right. We should have more than doubled production, or lowered 
 the rate of dividends to prevent the absorbtion of the property by 
 vested capital. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVE MONEY . 
 
 A leading aim from the beginning was to make cash settlements 
 as fully as possible, and so abolish debt trade within the association. 
 This was not easy to accomplish until the association instituted 
 
8 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 a domestic currency. Many of the state bank notes, then in cir¬ 
 culation, were at a discount; and besides, the supply was inadequate 
 and irregular. After a few years of varying inconvenience a 
 currency was issued with which all domestic exchanges were made. 
 
 The labor, board and other supply accounts were settled and 
 balances were paid monthly, at the rates of the primary award. 
 
 The currency was of the ordinary size and general appearance 
 of a bank note, but was ornamented with special devices, the cen¬ 
 tral figure being Fourier’s symbol of universal unity. 
 
 It was not a promise to pay, for its text was the name of the 
 association and the denomination; besides these the number, date 
 and signatures of the three officers and the devices and mottoes 
 were all the bill contained; but it was an evidence of ownership 
 of so much of the property of the association as its face repre¬ 
 sented. It was Representative Money, issued only because value 
 had been produced; and it was receivable for ail claims against 
 the association; and it could be invested in the Capital Stock. 
 
 From the fact of prompt circulation, but more especially from 
 the fact that the office was a general clearing-house for the depart¬ 
 ments and individuals so that only balances were paid, less than 
 six dollars per capita or about one per cent of the value of the 
 property of the association, sufficed to liquidate all balances in 
 domestic exchange. 
 
 The association, as will have been noted, comprised in its pur¬ 
 pose and in its organization something more than joint stock 
 property, co-operative labor, equitable distribution of products and 
 and unity of property interests. It included these and it asso¬ 
 ciated families in social, industrial and educational enfranchisement 
 as well, for it purposed and provided in its organization for the 
 guaranty of a home, society, education and remunerative employ¬ 
 ment to all its members. It adopted the full octave of institutions 
 of the eighth period, which includes 
 
 THE UNITY OF ALL INTERESTS. 
 
 It was, in fact, a complete commonwealth, embracing all the 
 interests of the state, differing only in magnitude. Indeed, it 
 might be deemed a model state in miniature, especially in its po¬ 
 litical structure, its guarantees, its organization of labor in all 
 departments, its abolition of the hireling system and its represen¬ 
 tative money superseding debt in exchange. To suppose that 
 this organization of labor, this social order, with its system of 
 education, these quantities, were instituted and maintained with¬ 
 out patient, persistent effort, would be a mistake. 
 
 In ordinary industrial enterprises the projectors usually find full 
 employment for their best judgment and energies to accomplish 
 successful establishments. Here was not only an industry to 
 create, suited to markets, but industries—suitable employments 
 for a society. 
 
 Then the relation of laborers to each other, comprising men, 
 women and children, must be adjusted that each should have 
 equitable compensation for service rendered; and the vexed 
 question of the relation of capitalist and laborer must have an 
 acceptable settlement. 
 
 Then the delicate relations of members in the social state, em- 
 
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 9 
 
 bracing all the concerns of the individual, of the family and of 
 the society; how recognize the just and only the just claims of each 
 —social, moral, religious—and still manintain harmony? 
 
 The experiment, for certainly it was an experiment, was perhaps 
 hazardous. The members were from the ordinary walks of so¬ 
 ciety; none had experience in closer intimacy than ordinary family 
 and" business relations. They came together, self moved to insti¬ 
 tute anew, believing that man was made for society and that there 
 could not be a break in the chain of law, but that constantly with 
 the economic reasons in favor of combined action and with the 
 growing tendency toward organic forms in the larger interests of 
 man, and supreme in nature, social order must also depend finally 
 -upon association. 
 
 OPPOSITION . 
 
 Friends since attached to the old dispensation expressed their 
 fears that such attempts would end in disappointment and loss of 
 time, means and position. The press, secular and religious, had . 
 little to say in favor of the social movement, but much against it. 
 
 Those engaged in it were denounced as destructrives, infidels, free- 
 lovers, lunatics; the tendency if not the purpose of the movement 
 itself was to undermine the foundations of religious, social and 
 moral order. 
 
 The Shakers of Waterlet, N.Y., whom we visited to observe 
 their economic devices and processes in domestic affairs and to 
 receive such suggestions respecting social administration as they 
 might be willing to communicate, predicted our early dissolution. 
 
 - The family sentiment, if nothing else, would break it up. The wo¬ 
 men would have irreconcilable differences about their children. 
 
 The people of the neighborhood were distrustful and stood aloof 
 for several years. * 
 
 INTERNAL AFFAIRS. 
 
 This extreme pressure did not shake our purpose or dampen 
 our ardor, nor did it prevent the development of faction within. 
 
 After taking possession of the domain, three months had not 
 expired before the president and his associate directors came to 
 a dead-lock respecting the business administration. 
 
 The constitution provided that the president should have the 
 general superintendence of the affairs of the association. This 
 the president, Mr. Allen Worden, construed to mean a grant of 
 authority. In this view he was sustained by his friend, Dr. Otis 
 Jenks, a director. The other directors on the ground, Messrs. 
 
 Bucklin, Starlls and Dwelle, supposed that consultations would It A ft v< S' 
 be orderly, and that a common agreement should determine ques¬ 
 tions of administration. 
 
 With these differences of judgment as to measures, and differ¬ 
 ences of ^opinions respecting the distribution of administrative 
 powers, business, other than daily routine, stopped. Fortunately 
 this occurred in the winter when little could be done beyond pro¬ 
 vision for daily wants. Beside producing social discomfort, it only 
 postponed consideration of plans for the coming year. 
 
 An appeal was made to the directors remaining in Albany, and 
 in a general meeting, called to consider the matter, a delegation of 
 
10 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 two directors was appointed to visit tlie domain and, if possible, 
 effect a reconciliation of differences and settle plans of business. 
 
 This was about the beginning of the year 1844. The delegates 
 went immediately to the domain and heard the full statements of 
 all parties; and the end of the second day after their arrival, they 
 called a general meeting and submitted "the outline of the serial 
 organization, as the true method of order. This was discussed 
 quite fully. Questions were asked bearing on all points of this 
 form of organization and as to its practical operation under ex¬ 
 isting circumstances. The explanations were satisfactory and the 
 method was adopted. 
 
 The number on the place had increased to about forty, and 
 three series were organized at once. The chiefs of groups and 
 series met from time to time, until they matured a plan of opera¬ 
 tions for the year; and then met every evening to distribute forces* 
 for the next day; and from that time forward there w r as no break 
 nor discord in the administration. Each department was repre¬ 
 sented in the Executive council; the wants of all of them were 
 known and were considered in the light of existing resources and 
 of a common interest. 
 
 As business expanded new series were formed and existing 
 series added new groups and enlarged old ones, so as to maintain 
 methodical provision for growing interests. 
 
 These measures displeased our strict constructionist president. 
 He said they were instituted to take power out of his hands. Ap¬ 
 parently he had not entertained a conception of the serial method, 
 nor of the real meaning and purpose of the association. He neg¬ 
 lected attendance of council meetings, and within the year 
 withdrew, predicting that the association would dissolve and 
 scatter in a twelvemonth. 
 
 His friend, Dr. Jenks, went out the next yea?; on invitation; the 
 only instance in which a member was requested to leave. 
 
 Time books were prepared for each group, and each member re¬ 
 corded his or her time of labor every evening, under its proper 
 division. These books were kept in the office and open to inspec- 
 ©v£/s- tion. No difficulty occurred from our change of time. If any 
 
 £h y\9Z*& were disposed to overcharge, the members of his group would 
 know it directly. 
 
 In this matter, as well as in the general affairs of life in the as¬ 
 sociation, if in any case other incentive to rectitude were wanting, 
 publicity and public sentiment were the sufficient correctives. 
 
 THE TABLES . 
 
 During the first two or three years a rigid economy was neces¬ 
 sary. We had a common table and the bill of fare was rather 
 scanty. We had dietarians of various stripes—those who simply 
 wanted a supply of substantial food; others who were delicate and 
 required fruits, vegetarians proper, Christians, members of a 
 small sect in England who, from religious scruples, avoided the 
 use of everything which cost the sacrifice of life. 
 
 Under the circumstances a satisfactory provision for these varied 
 tastes could not be made. The Christians and straight vegeta¬ 
 rians formed a coalition and demanded provision for their use of 
 fruits, eggs and cream as an equivalent for the animal food pro- 
 
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 11 
 
 vided for the flesh-eaters; and they made quite a disturbance for 
 some weeks. The Christians said nothing of their peculiar views 
 before joining the association, but afterward the chief spokesman 
 was active in propagating them. At the end of one of his ha¬ 
 rangues in the public hall one evening, in which he denounced the 
 barbarism and brutality of slaughtering animals and eating their 
 carcasses, someone said: “I observe that you wear a fur hat; you 
 hare on a suit of woolen clothing; you wear leather boots; and on 
 frosty mornings I have seen buckskin gloves on your hands. How 
 do you reconcile your wearing of these with your religious scru¬ 
 ples against the use of anything which costs the sacrifice of life?" 
 
 As a conclusion he was treated with the story of the Indian 
 prince who was horrified on discovering the world of life on a 
 dried fig, revealed by the microscope. This sally undermined the 
 position of the malcontents and they ultimately concluded they, 
 as well as some of the rest, must suffer some privations until the 
 circumstances of the association should improve. 
 
 Another unhandsome feature was developed, also attributable 
 to the fact of a common table; for it existed after supplies became 
 more abundant. The children grew reckless in appropriating food 
 beyond their want and wasting it to a degree that was offensive; 
 much the same as occurs at boarding schools, notwithstanding 
 careful supervision. 
 
 All these questions—specal diet, of orderly behavior at the table, 
 of economy in the use of food—were completely settled by insti¬ 
 tuting the 
 
 RESTAURANT . 
 
 Each then selected the food that suited him best and paid for 
 only what he ordered. When brought to consider their needs the 
 people selected their food with more care. This observance of 
 actual requirements was perhaps as potent an agency as any in 
 maintaining health. Waste was reduced to a minimum—less than 
 that of most ordinary families. 
 
 With the full supply of vegetables and fruits, which the asso¬ 
 ciation produced as soon as they could be matured, the consump¬ 
 tion of animal food diminished relatively; pork dropped out of 
 use almost entirely. 
 
 RELATIVE RATES FOR LABOR. 
 
 In 1853 the mechanics made formal complaint that the rates of 
 award for their labor were less than current rates outside, and not 
 more than farm labor; and that besides being unjust, the higher 
 outside rates were a premium offered to skilled mechanics to leave 
 the association, and also prevented such from joining it. 
 
 The matter was referred to a #ommittee to consider. 
 
 In their report the committee admit that the wages of skilled 
 mechanics outside were higher than rates of award within; and 
 claimed that the association adopted a different rule of awards 
 from that current in society at large; that this was done with de¬ 
 liberation and from conviction that the compensations outside were 
 not equitable; and especially the discriminations against women, 
 which did not exist in the association; that these things had been 
 stated in the beginning as reasons for adopting a different rule 
 
 t 
 
12 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 more equitable; that the action of the association had uniformly 
 been accordant with this declaration and conviction; that skill 
 in agriculture was quite as important as skill in the mechanic 
 arts, and that it costs as much to attain, and deserved equal rec¬ 
 ognition; that wages outside were simply wages , of the hireling, 
 and covered all the guaranties the mechanic could claim, and were 
 held to be a full equivalent for higher cost of living, loss of time 
 anu misfortunes; whereas, in the association the rates were a basis 
 of award for sharing proceeds as co-operator, and covered guar¬ 
 anties of remunerative employment, a desirable home, good society, 
 education, franchises, some of them not attainable elsewhere at 
 any price. 
 
 ANOTHER ASSOCIATION . 
 
 About this time one of the wealthier stockholders, living in the 
 city of Brooklyn, projected an association near Perth Amboy, in 
 New Jersey, intended more especially as a select society of literary 
 people, artists and people of means and leisure. Relatives of the 
 projector, living at the Phalanx, joined the new movement, taking 
 with them some of the disaffected mechanics and some others, 
 some of whom found employment in preparing the grounds and 
 building the edifice. A handsome brown stone structure, over¬ 
 looking the river Raritan, was erected; the grounds were tastefully 
 laid out, and industries were to be connected with the social estab¬ 
 lishment. 
 
 This attempt demonstrated nothing in the way of social indus¬ 
 trial organization, except the desire for them. The people attracted 
 to the movement were too few in number to sustain the cost; and 
 the effort to found industries was unsuccessful. After a couple 
 of years the main buildings were occupied as a school under the 
 management of Theodore D. Weld; later as a military accademy, 
 later still as a summer boarding-house. The place was named 
 Eagles wood. 
 
 \ SECTARIANISM. 
 
 The religious views of a majority of the association might be 
 characterized as liberal; and although there were some who ad¬ 
 hered to orthodox forms of worship, yet, with sufficient numbers, 
 the associated life tended greatly to modify the asperities of 
 sectarian bigotry. As now remembered, the following named 
 denominations were represented: Universalist,Unitarian, Sweden- 
 borgian, or New Church, Baptist, Presbyterian, Jewish, Quaker, 
 Episcopalian, Christian, Shaker and Skeptics. 
 
 The bible and its teachings were topics of common discussion, 
 and always in a spirit of tolerance; but sectarian doctrines were 
 rarely .urged; and never provoked heated debate, until as late as 
 1853, after the association had existed ten years. 
 
 Then a somewhat prominent man who, in addition to other pro¬ 
 fessional duties, ministered to a small sectarian congregation in 
 the vicinity of New York, with some friends of his and a brother 
 recently received into the association, undertook to make the as¬ 
 sociation a basis of missionary enterprise. This party planned 
 the movement and attempted to execute it, apparently with the 
 undoubted expectation that the association would accept them as 
 
 t 
 
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 13 
 
 its religious teachers. This assumption was offensive to many of 
 the members, especially to the radicals; and at the first meeting 
 some of the latter catechised the preacher with such plainness 
 that he delivered only a part of his message. Ill-feeling was en¬ 
 gendered in both sides; and the missionary party retired. Some 
 sharp correspondence ensued, from which the following extracts 
 will show the position of the association respecting religious ques¬ 
 tions : 
 
 “I received the enclosed letter from Marcus Spring, who re¬ 
 quested me to co-operate with himself and others at the two 
 phalanxes in sustaining a preacher. * * * I shall 
 
 write to Mr. Spring that it is not my opinion that religious culture 
 or teaching will be allowed, certainly at one of the associations; 
 and I would advise all persons who have any regard for the re¬ 
 ligion of the bible and who do not wish to have their feelings 
 outraged by a total want of common courtesy, to keep entirely 
 away—at least from the North American.” [From the letter of E. 
 Parmly.] 
 
 From the reply: * * “Universal unity—that is to say, the 
 unity of man with God, or religious unity; the unity of man with 
 man, or social unity; the unity of man with nature, or material 
 unity * * that, through the agency of such institutes, 
 
 (see formulae of eight institutes on p. 1) man will become fully 
 enfranchised and endowed with the primary conditions of attain¬ 
 ing to any possible growth. 
 
 “For presenting these formulae and urging the organization of 
 society in a practical way, in conformity with the dictates of hu¬ 
 manity and common wisdom, the advocates of association have 
 been denounced by the press of professedly religious bodies and 
 other advocates of conservatism, as destructives who would sap 
 the foundations of morals and overthrow institutions and rela¬ 
 tions held among men as most sacred. * * * Our 
 
 silence before the public respecting ourselves secured us in a 
 measure from public calumniation, or specific discourtesy, but did 
 not quite suffice to protect us from the customary officiousness of 
 busy sectaries, who professed not to understand how a people could 
 associate without adopting some sectarian profession of religious 
 faith—some partisan form of religious observance. 
 
 “In vain we urge that our institutions were, religious; that here, 
 before their eyes, was made real and practical in daily life, and 
 established as a fixed societary feature, a fraternity which the 
 church in all times has held as an ideal; that here the rule: “Do 
 unto others as ye would they should do unto you,” is made possible 
 in the only way, namely: by organization and social guaranties 
 which uphold the just claims of every member. 
 
 “In vain we showed that in the matter of private belief we did 
 not propose to interfere, but in this respect held the same relation 
 of a body to its constituent members that the state does to its 
 citizens; that tolerance was our proper course and must continue 
 to be; that to allow our organization to be taken possession of as 
 an agency to push sectarian constructive doctrine would be an im¬ 
 possible descent for us; and that from time to time various parties 
 have urged their private views upon us and whenever they wished, 
 have, by an arrangement, had the use of room and such audience 
 
14 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 as they could attract. But never until the past summer has there 
 been such persistent effort to press upon us private observance as 
 to excite much attention; and for the first time in our history 
 there arose, through a reprehensible effort, a public discussion of 
 religious dogmas, and to our regret and annoyance the usual un- 
 cliaritableness was exhibited and has since been expressed to us.” 
 
 After the subsidence of this irruption the association resumed 
 its usual quietude of unsectarianism. 
 
 DISCIPLINE—CRITICISM. 
 
 Soon after assembling, the people manifested the spirit of criti¬ 
 cism. The usual neighborhood gossip was intensified. A story or 
 hint derogatory to personal character or conduct had prompt cir¬ 
 culation and, because of closer conte jt, come home sooner to the 
 originator. 
 
 This at one time became quite annoying, so much so that it in¬ 
 vited grave consideration. 
 
 In discussing the matter it was suggested that a “prohibitory 
 tariff” against criticism be enacted, or that “free trade” in it be 
 allowed—let it do its perfect work and cure itself. 
 
 To prohibit criticism would have been impossible — except, per¬ 
 haps, under authoritative religious denomination. Nor, if practica¬ 
 ble, would prohibition be desirable, for criticism is a means of 
 refinement, which cannot be dispensed with, in induces care in 
 the cultivation of manners; research for improved methods, pro¬ 
 cesses, devices. Its shafts are leveled against imperfections; and 
 the only question is whether it shall be simply destructive, or shall 
 promote improvement. 
 
 This will depend upon the character of the people. If they 
 have not rectitude and humanity enough to establish and maintain 
 a wholesome public opinion criticism will destroy the association. 
 
 The conclusion arrived at was to accept 
 
 FREE CRITICISM AND PERSONAL LIBERTY . 
 
 The destructive phase lasted something like two years, during 
 which time there occurred several quarrels. These, however, were 
 quietly settled. With two or three exceptions, criticism was never 
 malignant, but searching and purgative. It tested the temper of 
 the members and determined their motives. Those who were con¬ 
 tent to accept their good through the good of the commonwealth 
 proved to be a majority; and those in whom personal considera¬ 
 tions w#re foremost, those who were not robust enough to open 
 their daily life to public observation, gradually worked out. 
 
 After this sifting process, the association entered upon what 
 may properly be deemed the 
 
 HARMONIC PHASE OF CRITICISM . 
 
 A tone of courtesy pervaded intercourse and criticism was usual¬ 
 ly implied in some pleasantry rather than directly in the form of 
 censure or complaint. It was usually prompt to the occasion and 
 without reserve—a light raillery which probed a weakness and 
 left no permanent sting, but rather stimulated effort to gain 
 strength; a delinquency in performance, a breach of courtesy ex¬ 
 posed—perhaps caricatured, but in good temper, and dropped 
 
THE NOETH AMEEICAN PHALANX. 
 
 15 
 
 with the occasion. Pretense, shams, were short lived in that 
 frank atmosphere. The result was manifested in increasing at¬ 
 tention to every detail of industry, in devising improved processes 
 and iu the refinement of manners; and, notwithstanding the indul¬ 
 gence of great freedom of speech, no resentments were cherished. 
 
 A sound, safe public opinion was established and proved to be a 
 sufficient discipline. Indeed, this was potential from the begin¬ 
 ning, otherwise the association would have dissolved in its early 
 stage; but it was less apparent until the more incongruous charac¬ 
 ters were eliminated. The prediction of the Shakers that the 
 family sentiment would break up the association was not verified. 
 The current proverb that “no home is large enough for two fam¬ 
 ilies,” did not hold true of larger numbers. After the first two 
 years and when the association got into good working order, there 
 was less domestic discord than occurs in most ordinary households,, 
 although there were more than twenty families, and part of the 
 time between thirty and forty children. 
 
 The nursery and school, together with more or less remunerative 
 employment for the larger children, relieved the family of most of 
 the care of the young. 
 
 Besides this, the youngsters formed their own corporations to 
 execute tlieir own enterprises, especially in the way of amuse¬ 
 ments, as expeditions to forest and stream, experiments in wood¬ 
 craft, camp life, etc. They were strong enough in point of num¬ 
 bers to assert, in some measure, the proper life of childhood and 
 youth; and it was only necessary to recognize this fact, by allow¬ 
 ing them the fullest liberty consistent with order and good 
 behavior, to secure their good-will and hearty co-operation in 
 measures tending to these ends. They in good degree, like the 
 association, maintained discipline by their own organization and 
 criticism; and the frank recognition of their rights in the labor 
 groups inspired them with self-respect and respect for the as¬ 
 sociation. 
 
 They were growing up with a wider knowledge and a larger ex¬ 
 perience of life and character; of the ways and means of business' 
 of economic uses and the adaptation of means to ends in all the 
 departments of industry and exchange than is attainable under 
 other conditions. They acquired a knowledge of accounts a& 
 they did of the daily routine of business; as part of the duty of 
 each member each day was to enter his time of labor in the ap- 
 projjriate book, knowing that his entry for himself was part of 
 the cost of carrying on a department; and also, that what he re¬ 
 ceived was a charge against himself and a credit to a department' 
 and that the current results of business to each member and in 
 each department was stated monthly. 
 
 They acquired a repose of manner, a facility of expression, a 
 courteous bearing, not attainable except by large and constant 
 social intercourse. 
 
 Indeed, to all the members, a term in the association was worth 
 more as a means of education than a university course. There 
 were always some inveterate readers who gathered up and dissem¬ 
 inated items of news, information of inventions, politics, foreign 
 affairs, etc. These were canvassed in the labor groups, as well as 
 in the evening gatherings, and an item of information or an idea, 
 
 V 
 
16 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 from whatever source, soon became public property. From the 
 beginning we had many visitors. They came from other asso¬ 
 ciations and from all parts of the country. 
 
 The celebrated Robert Owen spent several days with us. The 
 sublime confidence of the humane, heroic old man was a study. 
 He would live to see his Community system established and igno¬ 
 rance and poverty done away with. The Shakers made us friendly 
 visits; the Oneida Community sent delegations on different oc¬ 
 casions to observe our forms of organizations and note their 
 working. 
 
 To many of the people who visited us from the cities and the 
 watering places near us, the style of life and relations they saw 
 was a revelation. 
 
 Laboring people, producers, working harmoniously together, 
 enjoying a table, appointments, society and privileges, some of 
 them not common among the wealthy and most of them beyond 
 the reach of the ordinary family life, taught observers the value 
 of the combined mode of living, as books and sermons could not 
 teach. 
 
 The. dominant idea of Personal Enfranchisemen by means of 
 social and industrial guaranties, was well established and main¬ 
 tained in organic institutions; and in all administrative measures, 
 and in daily intercourse and usage, the invasion of personality or 
 jmvate right was avoided—carefully at first, afterward uncon¬ 
 sciously, or at least instinctively. 
 
 With domestic harmony, entirely friendly relations with our 
 neighbors and increasing production, the association had a prom¬ 
 ising future, except for its debt. This was the weight which, in 
 time of misfortune, might sink us. 
 
 The disaster came. A fire destroyed the mill and its contents. 
 No insurance was recovered, as the company holding the risk 
 failed. 
 
 This loss involved the association in debt to the extent of $30,- 
 000. With so greatly diminished resources the members did not 
 dare undertake to carry the burden and make up the loss. 
 
 A dissolution was voted and the property sold for something 
 over $80,000. The debts and expenses of sale was paid and the 
 remainder was divided to the stockholders. The associate exist¬ 
 ence closed in 1855-6. Inasmuch as various causes have been 
 assigned for the dissolution of the association, some of which ap¬ 
 peared in print, I append in the form of a note the following 
 exposition, published in the American Socialist of May 22, 1879. 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 CORRECTION OF AN ERROR. 
 
 The North American Phalanx*, of New Jersey, did not die, as we may be¬ 
 lieve the testimony of the obituary notices that have been published, because 
 it did not pay* nor because it could not replace the mill destroyed by fire, (for 
 Horace Grreeley offered to loan $12,000 for this purpose) but because there was 
 not sufficient power of agreement. We judge from the accounts we have read 
 that its financial prospects were really better when the members concluded to 
 dissolve than at any previous period of its history. Profitable branches of 
 industry had been established, for the products of which there was an in¬ 
 creasing market; the land was rising in value; and the debts of the Phalanx 
 were no longer a source of embarrassment. 
 
 I copy the foregoing from the article: “Paying Communities not 
 
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 17 
 
 always Successful,” in the American Socialist of April 5th, and 
 am called upon to publish a correction of the error contained in 
 the statements respecting the pecuniary condition of the Phalanx, 
 and which I have underlined. * 
 
 It is true that the industries and markets of the Phalanx were 
 expanding and that the prospect of future growth and prosperity 
 was generally encouraging; and it is but truth to say that, with only 
 one exception, the Phalanx was a self-supporting commonwealth 
 and accomplished positive results of good—social, economical and 
 political—not attainable out of association. 
 
 It had abolished law suits within the society; it furnished no 
 criminals nor paupers to tax the public; it had no children grow¬ 
 ing up without literary education, or ignorant of the ways and 
 means of life; and the death-rate, taken for a period of thirteen 
 years, was less than that of the Shakers. 
 
 As an experiment in compact, closely graded industrial and so¬ 
 cial organization, extended to agricultural and domestic labor, as 
 well as to manufactures, education and amusements, it was suc¬ 
 cessful. 
 
 As an experiment in societary relations, including the intimate 
 association of families and the making equal to both sexes alike, 
 all the industrial, social and political franchises, it was successful. 
 
 As a means of education and social culture, transcending any 
 known out association, it was successful; and against the strongest 
 prejudices it had won the confidence and respect of its neighbors 
 and a tolerably large public. It was a complete commonwealth 
 in itself; had ail the interests and relations, all the questions of 
 personal and public rights, of domestic and external affairs to 
 consider and administer that any commonwealth has; and not¬ 
 withstanding the dissolution of the corporate existence, an aroma 
 of the old life still lingers about the old place, and pleasant mem¬ 
 ories of it will be cherished by the members and many others as 
 long as they live. 
 
 In dealing with such questions as the relations of capitalist and 
 laborer, including the rightful power attaching to non-resident 
 ownership of stock, the basis of suffrage, the extent to which 
 guaranty of support could be maintained, there was earnest and 
 prolonged discussion; but within the first three years these ques¬ 
 tions were mostly settled. The basis of wages and dividends was 
 revised yearly, and rates were modified to some extent from time 
 to time; but I believe I am safe in saying that none of the con¬ 
 clusions determined on these questions, nor all of them together, 
 would have been sufficient to break up the association. 
 
 Why, then, did the members deliberately vote a dissolution? I 
 answer: Because of debt. 
 
 * NOTE.—At first the property was held by three trustees for the benefit of 
 the association and new successions; subsequently by the general law of the 
 state, authorizing the formation of corporations for manufacturing and 
 other purposes, was amended to include agriculture. The association then 
 filed articles of incorporation, and the trustees conveyed the property to the 
 corporation. 
 
 Applications for membership were admitted by general ballot, after a pro¬ 
 bationary term of one year, during which time they received the primary 
 award for labor, and living at cost, the same as members, but did not share 
 profit and loss. 
 
 i 
 
18 
 
 THE NORTH AMERICAN PHALANX. 
 
 The exception stated above is that the association had not the 
 control of its financial destiny; it never had. 
 
 The Phalanx started with less than $7,000 cash capital; there 
 remained unpaid $9,000 of the original mortgage; a new engine 
 and boiler had been put into the mill; and the mill was filled full 
 of grain, mostly wheat, purchased on a credit of three months. In 
 a few hours one Sunday morning, late in 1855, most of this prop¬ 
 erty was reduced to ashes; leaving us with a debt of $30,000 to 
 provide for, and with almost no resources except agriculture to 
 meet early maturing obligations; for in the mill was centered our 
 working capital, and the orchards, except the peach, had not yet 
 borne fruit. The mill was partially insured, but who insures the 
 underwriters? The company holding the risk failed, and so the 
 loss was total, except a damaged engine and boiler. 
 
 A strenuous effort was made to borrow money for rebuilding 
 the mill. To the Shakers at New Lebanon we made two proposi¬ 
 tions, one of which was tor a loan for a term of years; the other 
 was to sell them about half our land. Both propositions were 
 declined. Brother Evans will remember the event. 
 
 If the debt could have been reduced about one half by the sale 
 of half the domain, we might possibly have gone on in a crippled 
 condition for an indefinite period. If a loan for rebuilding the 
 mill had been effected, the debt would have been increased to 
 $42,000. To pay installments off so large a debt and yearly 
 interest of $2,500 would have been beyond our ability. Our re¬ 
 sources could not be made to justify the undertaking. But we 
 had not even this option, for a large part of the debt was due to 
 the farmers of the neighborhood and required provision for pay¬ 
 ment at intervals during the next three months. 
 
 So, after exhaustive efforts to avoid breaking up and exhaustive - 
 discussion of possibilities, the final measure of a dissolution of the 
 association and division of the projjerty was carried by a vote of 
 the members. 
 
 We raised on mortgage bonds, mostly in our county, a loan of 
 $20,000, discharged the floating debt; mapped the domain into 
 parcels of various sizes, from 150-acre farms to lots of five acres; 
 sold out the entire estate, fixed and movable, at auction; paid all 
 debts and the expenses of sale and settlement, and divided to the 
 stockholders 57% per cent of their investments. 
 
 It is true, also, that a non-resident stock-holding interest used 
 the stress of the occasion to urge the measure of dissolution. In 
 the ordinary course of affairs this interest could have been con¬ 
 trolled as it had been; but in view of the insufficient resources to 
 carry the burden of so large a debt, the stoutest yielded to the 
 inevitable, although voting against dissolution to the last. 
 
 To many of the members, probably to most of them, the sur¬ 
 render of the organization and the life it housed, was one of the 
 capital trials of life. CHARLES SEARS. 
 
 Silkville, Kansas, May. 10, 1879. 
 
 Sir