Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1889 — A NEW TEMPERANCE COLONY. [ARTICLE]

A NEW TEMPERANCE COLONY.

To Renew the Attempt to Found a Model and Happy Community. ” “I arrived here,” writes Mr. F. J. Spencer (the honorable Secretary of this movement) from British Columbia, “fifteen months ago, and I have explored Queen Charlotte, Vancouver, and the adjacent islands. I have selected Malcolm Island for the colony; it is about two miles wide by twelve miles long; *it has two good harbors. It is about 200 miles north of Victoria. The Lieutenant Governor - General signed the minute in council, reserving the island for us, on the 6th of June last. The Government has agreed to give eighty acres of land for every house we erect of the value of £IOO, and the settler is to be free from all taxes for twelve months. We have already commenced operations; those who can pay their expenses and keep themselves for the first twelve months are the pioneers. To meet the case of those who cannot do (his a public subscription has been opened. We are right in the center of the salmon industry. British Columbia will be a great manufacturing country. Any amount of coal and iron, timber, etc. The climate is preferable to England, and we hope to have the prettiest village upon the face of God’s earth.” It appears from a further communication sent us by Mr, Spencer that all members of the colony will be required to work eight hours per diem and four hours on Saturday. The committee, on behalf of the members of the commonwealth, will take all responsibility in providing work, medical attendance, food, and clothing for the member and his family, and also provide for the scholastic education of the children, and, in the event of the member being sick, still provide as though he were at "work, and if he dies to keep the widow and orphans, etc. Each and every member will have the same interest in the commonwealth. The land will be held in trust by the committee for and on behalf of the members, and clauses will be inserted preventing the manufacture and sale of any intoxicating drinks by any member of the C. T. C. C. A clause "will also be inserted preventing the trustees from selling or mortgaging the land or property of the commonwealth, and that there shall always be liberty of conscience; that no creed or dogma shall be insisted upon, the only “test” will be a willingness to conform to “the ten commandments and the sayings of Jesus.” The Board of Management will undertake and arrange with each member that every lad will learn some trade, and that every girl shall be instructed in household duties, family dressmaking, needlew'ork, nursing, cooking, singing, pianoforte, and etiquette. No girl will be considered a servant, but will fulfill her appointment as a learner. As soon as tke children of the members are old enough to perform the sacred duties of marriage, they will first give the Municipal Board three months’ notice of their intention, in order to give the board time to erect and furnish the house and to make all the necessary arrangements. All marriages will be contracted as by law established. Young men having learned their trade will be at liberty to leave the commonw'ealth and will be at liberty to return after fulfilling the conditions. No member will be called upon to work after the age of 55, but he may do it voluntarily.— Pall Ma i Gazette.