COMMUNISM. 225 COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY. ness, and secure general tlirift and plenty by moderate cooperative labor and a complete iden- tity of interests." No more fair and judicial view of communism has been presented than John Stuart Mill gives in his I'riiwiples of I'olitical Economy. Mill recognizes the evils of private property and the desirability of icniedying them. He notices the difficulties of communism, that men would evade work, that it woidd l>e hard to akc a fair distribution of worU. He raises the question as to whether connnunisni gives greater freedom and liberty to the individual. The statement is summed up in: "It is yet to be ascertained whether the communistic scheme would be consistent with that multiform development of human nature, those manifold unlikenesses, that diversity of lasks and talents and variety of intellectual views which not only form a great jiart of the interest of human life, but by bringing intellects into a stimulating collision, and by presenting to each innumerable notions that he would not have conceived of Iiimself, are the mainspring of mental and moral progression." The experience of the last century is of great alue. The social and economic fruits endure though the individual communities have gone. The questions of Mill liavc not all licen answered in the affirmative nor yet in the negative. Most of the features of many of the experiments to which exception is taken — free love, celibacy, and the like — are not essential features. Private property has its evils, but it has been a powerful incentive to progress. Will communism give an equal incentive without the evils? The tendency to-day is away from the formation of isolated groups. In the middle of the last century many able and intelligent men thovight to reform the world in a few years. Caliet allowed fifty years for a preparation — then complete communism. Such dreams have largely vanished. The settle- ments have seemed to furnish little 'scope for ambition, and ambition is one of the chief traits of mankind.' The socialists and all Avho may hope for communism are now seeking it by the way of gradual political reform. In summing up American communism. Professor Ely says: "It has accomplished much gooil and little harm. Its leaders have been actuated by noble motives, have many times been m?n far above their fellows in moral stature, even in intellectual stature, and have desired only to benefit their kind. Its aim has been to elevate man and its ays have been ways of peaci'." BiBUor.K.4.ri[Y : Consult: Kautsky, Communism in Centra! Europe at the 7'inie of the Refor- mation (London. 18071 : Kleiniicliter. Die Staats- romnnc (Vienna, 1891): Stammhammer. Biblio- graphic dcs i^oHalismun und Kommunismus (Jena. 1993-991 ; Stegman-Hugo, Handhuch des ^oziiilismus (Zurich, 1897): Ely, French and (lerman iSocialism (New York, 1883) : Nordhoft'. Tlw Communistic f^ocietirs of the Zhiited States (New York. 1875) ; Ely. The Labor Morcmmt in America (2d ed. New York. 1890) : Noyes. nistorti of Amerieati Socialism (Philadelphia, 1809):' Shaw, Icaria (New York, 18841. See Soci.Lisir. COMMUNISTIC SOCIETIES. Social, and. freqiicntly, religious associations based on the general principle of each member contributing all his possessions, labor, and earnings to a com- mon stock, in which all members share alike. As is pointed out more fully in the article Commu- nism (q.v.), such expedients have been adopted lor the benefit of groups of individuals through- out the entire course of history. In central Europe, during the Heformation, numerous com- munistic organizations sjjrang up. notably the Taborites (q.v.) and their successors, the Mora- vians (q.v.). Later the teachings of Fourier and Saint-Simon on the Continent anil Kingsley and Hughes in England stimulated like move- ments. During the past century the United States has been the scene of nearly all comnuinis- tic organizations, a new country furnishing the best field. The.y characterize that stage in social evolution during which men are forced to group together into comnnniities in order to provide for their mutual wants, and disappear with the appearance of more complex division of labor
- uid more advanced social conditions. The more
important modern communistic societies are treated elsewhere under separate titles. See KORESIIAN ECCLESIA : Sep.r.ti.st.s ; Shakeks : 1'erfrctionists, etc. Of the lesser communistic societies may be mentioned: (1) The Adonai Sliomo. This so- ciety was organized and incorporated in Peters- ham. Mass., in 1876. Its religious principles are like those of the Adventists, among whom the movement originated. The communistic system is added, with recognition of an equal voice to men and women in the management. The society ceased to exist in 1897. (2) The Altruists. This society is non-seetarian and does not interfere Avith marriage or the family affairs of its mem- bers, or with their opinions. Men and women are accorded eqvial rights, and the governing body is chosen by the vote of the majority. (3) The Aniuna Community, or True Inspiration Con- fjregalion. The first members of this society came from Germany, led by Christian Metz, of Strassburg, and founded the Community of Eben-Ezer. near Buflalo, N. Y., in 1842. Be- tween 1855 and 1865 they gradually removed to their present location, near Davenport, Iowa. They have no creed but the Bible, believing in its entire inspiration, that God still inspires His people and that their leaders for the time being are possessed by this gift. They hold the doc- trines of the Trinity, justification by faith, the resurrection of the dead, and purification of the wicked by fire, but not that of eternal punish- ment; are non-resistants, and approve of mar- riage, lyiembers are classified as of the highest, middle, and children's orders, to the last of which those of the higher orders who fail are dropped till they amend. An examination of the spiritiuil condition of all the members is held at least once a }-ear. Their regular religious .ser- vices include singing, reading from the Bible and the inspired book, praj'er, and exhortation. Temporal affairs are administered by a board of trustees chosen by the members, to which women are not elected. ■ COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY. In law, a condition under which property is held, having its origin in the civil law, whereby a sort of partnership or common ownershiji of property is created between husband .and wife. It covers all personal property owned by either party before marriage or acquired during marriage, all realty and all profits and rents acquired or accruing during marriage. Property given to either by deed of gift in which the donor spe-
