ONEIDA COMMUNITY. A communistic settlement at Oneida, Aladison County, N. Y., founded in 1847 by John Humphrey Noyes It had a religious origin, Noyes having been led by his New Testament studies to believe in the possibility of Christians living a sinless life, and in other doctrines at variance with those of the established churches. In 1838 a small settle ment of his disciples was formed in Putney, Vt., the home of his father's family, where it existed till its removal in 1847-45 to Oneida, N. Y. For the first ten years the Oneida Community was not financially successful, but after 1557 was prosperous, largely through the manufacture of the (Meida trap. There was no formally chosen leader, as it was believed that the most fit would naturally control, and Noyes remained the lead ing spirit. The distinguishing feature of the social life was the system of 'complex marriage.' Marriage was not permanent, but license did not prevail, as the marital relations were carefully regulated, and the Community assumed respon sibility for the support and education of the children. A novel feature of the life was the plan of 'mutual criticism,' which is said to have successfully taken the place of ordinary means of government in the society. Outside opposition to
this system, especially on the part of the church es, led to its abandonment in 1579, and the volun tary dissolution of the Community and re-organ ization into a joint-stock company took place January 1, 1851; hut while communism of prop erty and the distinctive social life were given up, a common dining-room, laundry, library, and assembly-hall and other cooperative features are still retained. At the time of the dissolution of the Community it had about 23S members, with 45 others at a branch at Wallingford, Conn., owned 650 acres of land, with numerous manu facturing establishments and other buildings, the total property being valued at $000.000. It has since largely increased its property and business, having manufactories at Kellwood, Sherrill, and Niagara Falls. N. Y.. and Niagara Falls: Ont. Consult: Noyes, The Jierean (Putney, 15471: id., History of American Socialisms (Philadel phia, 1570) : Nordhoff. Communistic of the United States (New York, 1575) ; Hinds, Coinmunities (Chicago. 1902). See Comm UNISII.