The Plan for Redemption of Nations from monarchical and other
oppressive speculations and for the introduction of the promised
New Era of Harmony, Truth and Righteousness on the whole globe.
We write the following pages only for those who have studied all the
preceding pages of this book, and concentrate the subject of what would
require volumes, on few pages, to be gradually developed in our
Periodical. On the title-page of this book our Mission is expressed, and
the four preceding Treatises contain superabundance of credentials or
testimonials of our mission as well as the great truth, that the social,
political and ecclesiastical relations of mankind are rotten and
corrupt, the whole structure is a Babylon, confusion and delusion, which
is to be abolished and on its place truth and justice, harmony and peace
are to be established by virtue of our mission.
Readers of this book know that I speak as medium of messengers from the
Heavenly Congress who have the commission to introduce the New Era, and
as representative of messengers by whom nations are to be moved for
action to escape from the plagues which continue in the ruins of Babylon
till people come out and establish the New Jerusalem, the new order of
things, in which persons of both sexes will receive such development of
their intellectual and moral faculties and of their physical skill and
strength as they will be qualified to receive, to enjoy themselves in
their mortal bodies as well as after their departure such happiness as
their persons will be capable of enjoying while they themselves will
contribute, each member his or her share to the common welfare of
mankind, that the whole society will progress as far as circumstances
will allow.
This development demands time. It could not take place in a moment, but
means which have been in preparation and prepared through the course of
ages may be concentrated, and when thus concentrated they may be
usefully applied in accelerating the true and right education of
degraded humanity, and in a few years that may be effected, which past
centuries did not effect. But with all the knowledge which we have
acquired for promoting the true happiness of mankind, we can do nothing
for them, if they are not reached and aroused from their lethargy. If
they will be redeemed from their present miserable and wretched
condition, they must begin to comprehend where they are and to what
point of intellectual and moral perfection with corresponding happiness
and health and strength of body and mind they could arrive, if they
would apply their energy and the means which are prepared by nature as
well as by human skill, art and science to be used in bringing mankind
from their present Babylon or from the existing confusion and delusion
into the new Jerusalem, into the New Era, into the new order of things,
which is usually called the Millennium, about which there are many false
and wrong notions, but which will be the universal republic in which
truth and righteousness will reign and all nations will be united in the
great brotherhood in which they will enjoy perpetual peace. We have
received the commission and the credentials of the Mission to introduce
this state of things.
To commence with power the grand work which is to be accomplished by
co-operation of men and women, who are associated amongst themselves and
united with Heavenly messengers who are commissioned to prepare for the
promised New Era, we unite and form an Association which we call
Peace-Union (Friedens-Verein), a union of co-operation for establishing
peace. Real, perpetual peace comprehends the restoration of human
rights. Our co-operation for this purpose needs a centre, a place on
which we concentrate the means to attain our object. Hence, we according
to our mission, invite all who are able to contribute their share,
either in money or property or any kind of mental and physical labor for
the realization of the object, that they might co-operate with us to
establish first a centre of our work, and according to the pattern of
the centre as many other settlements as may be required for
accommodation of all who would enter into the New Era.
The first centre should be a provisional centre, that is, a place for
concentrating our co-operation so long as may be necessary, till for the
same purpose a more suitable place be furnished. But not all who are
invited to co-operate can have accommodation on the first central
station, nor would all be ready at once, who might so desire, if
buildings and other necessary conveniences were provided, which,
however, is primarely to be attended to. We need co-operators everywhere
to arouse as many as can be aroused for co-operation with us in these
days of Noah, at the approach of the flood of tribulations. In my former
publications as well as in this book and in my manuscripts a
superabundance of credentials are exhibited, that those men and women,
who are united with us in Christ's spirit, that is, in the spirit of
truth and righteousness, and are living in accordance with what is
required by that Spirit, and are spreading the glorious news made
manifest by our instrumentality for redemption of oppressed humanity,
are true messengers of Christ; but those clergymen who, instead of
co-operating with us, are keeping people in shackles of their sects and
despising our message of peace, are messengers of the deluding and
destroying spirit and supporting the Beast or monarchy which receives
its power from the dragon, the deluding and destroying serpent which is
the image of that spirit, Revelation xiii: 2. We expect they will
comprehend this book and commence to act with all their strength as our
fellow-laborers, and become with us partakers of the blessings which
will originate from our co-operation.
After this preparation we ask, whether according to the common stock
association or according to a true community of goods the centre and
other settlements of our Peace-Union should be established. I wrote many
years ago a plan according to a common stock association, according to
which members of the Peace-Union should have prepared themselves and
others for a true community of goods, but within seven years an exact
accouut of labor furnished and of its worth as well as of other property
should have been kept, and at the expiration of that period the division
of profits according to the shares of labor furnished and other property
invested should have taken place, and during the period of seven years
all the members should have been prepared for the great community or
true republic, into which mankind will finally associate, that those who
would not be sufficiently prepared before the expiration of seven years
to commence a true community, might at least, in seven years be prepared
for it. At the end of that plan is the paragraph a portion of which we
copy here as preparatory to what follows:
"I have mentioned only some of the many points which are to be mentioned
in more suitable times, or in the periodical; because that which has
been mentioned may suffice to move those who are culled and chosen to be
the first champions in starting the centre of our action. They may
easily comprehend, why we are compelled to commence on so low a station,
on which continuous accounts and calculations as well as many other
inconveniences will make much trouble. If we would expect good success
on a higher ground, we would commence on that ground. But this
generation is found in such a degradation and corruption, that also the
proposed plan to draw mankind from lower to higher stations, will
probably not find directly sufficient support of what we need to bring
mankind quickly and powerfully into the New Era, which in its splendor
and glory will be the great community of goods, based on true republican
principles, &c."
This paragraph was to be copied, because we must give some explanation
of the matter, that mankind were to be prepared in manifold ways, to
become gragually ready to enter into the right order of things. Readers
of this book know, that from A.D. 1838 till 1842 my five German volumes
containing "Memorable Events" developing the dreadful social,
ecclesiastical and political state of mankind and testifying our mission
to introduce the promised New Era, have been published. During and after
the publication of those volumes it was evident, that our duty was to
make known to those who have read or heard somewhat regarding our
mission, that for a powerful co-operation we would need a centre of our
action. Adolph Etzler published that time a book entitled: "The New
World or Mechanical System to Perform Labour of Man and Beast by
Inanimate Powers." I have read it and found the principles correct, and
that although all that he proposed, would not be practicable, some of
his propositions could be put in practice. And when I saw that Germans
were so chained either by materialism or sectarianism, that instead of
studying those my five German volumes and of acting accordingly they
followed rather after their sectarian and materialistic leaders who have
published all kinds of delusion against my books, and spoke also in a
like manner publicly and privately against them, my directors moved me
to tell to those who took more or less interest in the contents of my
books and were skilful mechanics, that they should study Etzler's book,
and if they would find his propositions practicable, they should try to
awaken Germans with Etzler's machine to study my German volumes. The
best mechanic among them, after having studied Etzler's book, and having
seen the draughts of all parts of Etzler's machine and heard Etzler's
explanation of all its parts, has assured me in words and in writing
that he gave all his property as security, that he would put Etzler's
machine in operation. But a seeress who belonged to our association, and
gave amongst all women the strongest testimony to our mission, although
she did not see the pattern of the machine, received in a vision its
whole structure and described exactly the portions which she saw in the
vision, that they broke. She received that vision a considerable time
before those who were expecting certain success, commenced to build
Etzlers machine. I was certain that the prophetical vision would be
fulfilled, but I expected that afterwards would be shown how Etzler's
mistakes should be repaired, and that great lessons would be given to
nations by the trial of that machine, the inventor of which was a great
materialist, not knowing that he himself was a strong medium of spirits
of a similar character as spirits of Napoleon I. were, to subdue the
world by physical means, while I considered that machine as the means of
peculiar spirit manifestations to awaken nations from their materialism
to our message of peace containing the true spiritualism. The machine
was built under Etzler's direction in Warren County, Pa., the trial was
made, and the pieces broke which have been foreseen and foretold as
breaking.
There was a great jubilee of those who have been deluded by priestcraft,
that they thought when Christ was killed, that he would arise no more,
When Etzler as well as the man who has given me in words and in writing
the pledge with his whole property that he would put the machine in
operation, have left the place I said to those who have remained on the
place, that in the next night would be revealed to one of them, how the
mistakes made by Etzler, should be corrected and the machine should be
put in operation. George Karle, a young lame shoemaker, a sincere seeker
after truth and firm believer in our mission, was the man to whom the
mystery was revealed, and he has explained at our meeting the matter in
such a manner, that also those who were most opposed, have at length
been convinced, after having heard his explanation how Etzler's mistakes
should be repaired, that he had received a true revelation, and agreed
that he should be the director in rebuilding Etzler's machine, to make a
new trial. But before this has been done, he was brought into the
Allegheny River and drowned by the instrumentality of the departed
Mormon Prophet Joe Smith, not directly but indirectly by the
instrumentality of a cow. But a week after that, on the 30th of July,
1844, the same destroying spirit Joe Smith was allowed to attack me
directly, to show how he would be able to kill a man in a minute, if he
would be permitted. But he was seized by my guardian and cast into a
combustible matter which was by his infernal electricity instantly
kindled. George Karle was permitted to be drowned, because the time for
establishing our centre had not yet arrived, and Karle had an important
mission in the spirit world, and in that great mission he continues to
be engaged.
It is to be understood that the given hints regarding Joe Smith would
need a peculiar treatise. I did not know him personally in his mortal
body, but urged preachers of his sect to move him to meet me either in a
written correspondence or personally, to learn to know his dreadful
delusion. The same I published in "The one thing needful," and urged his
Elders, to send to him an English copy of that volume, which as readers
of this book know, has been translated from the German into English. But
in that year matters did not yet arrive to maturity for the conversion
of Mormon Apostles and Elders. Their infernal President had to show, how
his army had the power to prevent my starting the centre of our
operation. But that my meeting with the departed Joe Smith occasioned
my meeting with the mortal Brigham Young, while he was yet in Nauvoo,
but although I preached to him and his disciples the judgment
dipensation, they were not yet mature to be converted, and my
manuscripts in which dreadful mysteries of the Mormon Spiritualism are
developed, must wait to be published, when nations will be prepared to
read so important disclosures.
I have given here some hints of my experience at and after the trial of
Etzler's machine, by the means of which so much regarding the inner life
of man and the spirit world and the dreadful condition of mankind has
been disclosed, that volumes would be needed to explain it. That
experience is testifying, that time did not yet arrive for establishing
the centre. People were ridiculing me and reproaching the machine, not
knowing that I have only occasioned its building, and that I warned
those who undertook to build it, that they should reflect upon the
point, that at its first trial the pieces foretold by the seeres would
break, although they would be repaired and the mistake of the inventor
corrected, if they would persevere in the work of the Lord. But the wife
of the man who undertook the work and gave the pledge, was instigated by
Jesuites and their agents and made him blind in the work in which he had
to persevere, that by our experience it became at length manifest, that
the trial of the machine was made for great instruction of nations.
People were deluded by the blind leaders of the blind and would not hear
us, when we invited them after the trial for co-operation to establish a
centre without trying any machine, but only using machines which have
been tried by others and found to be useful. But when we will be in all
directions secured with abundant means, we will support inventions for
the common welfare.
Here is no room for further explanations, that wherever I endeavoured to
start a centre of our co-operation on the plan of the common stock
association, great spirit manifestations showing the dreadful condition
in the existing Babylon took place, and the inner life of man was more
and more developed and all our sufferings have been abundantly rewarded
with imperishable treasures. We give here some hints on one case the
full explanation of which would need as large a volume as this volume
is. During the building of Etzler's machine George Karle found John
Zeigler in a hermitage in which he employed one half of his time to
chopping wood and the other to studying the Bible and to prepare for a
happy home in the spirit world. Karle gave him some instructions
regarding our mission and some of my books. Zeigler discovered soon that
by studying my books he would receive light which he could not obtain in
other ways, and then he studied them deeper than any other mortal man,
and whenever his presence was required, he came to give us assistance,
and then he returned to his hermitage. In the latter part of 1849 and
the commencement of 1850 I was preparing in Indiana and Illinois and
especially near the line of both states people for our message and for
co-operation to establish on the grand prairie our centre. When I
thought to have found the best location for it, I found soon a man of
property who paid for the land according to our plan. Then I wrote to J.
G. Zeigler who was from his hermitage preparing people by letters for
our message, that he should come, and then we would write together to
such as we would invite to come as pioneers. He wrote, that he was ready
to start directly. He started, but he was pushed into the Ohio River in
the night of the 10th of April, 1850, between 11 and 12 o'clock by a
papist instigated by the power of darkness. The whole conspiracy was
then detected to us; but we committed the murderer to the Judgment of
the Heavenly Court, and Zeigler continues to work with us amongst the
departed. He was an American well versed in English and in German, and
his work is extensive. The spirit language by numbers should be known in
a certain measure to biblical students; although the most celebrated
amongst them know very little about it. But those who comprehend this
book, may easily find out, why I met with the departed Napoleon I. in
the 20th line of the 20th page, and why the spirit directed me to repeat
this important fact with additional circumstances on the 39th page, and
why I meet with Napoleon in the 39th line on the 39th page in this book.
Readers in looking into these mysteries should keep in mind, that the
battle of Solferino was fought on the same day in the year 1859, on
which day I met with Napoleon A.D. 1839. If you understand this book,
you will easily comprehend also, why the spirit was pleased to prepare
on the same 39th page before the departed Napoleon the departed
President Taylor and Buchanan in the Presidential administration, who
appears to live although he is yet dead. But his friends should awaken
him to study this book and to co-operate with us, that he might escape
the judgment in which President Taylor was executed, and John George
Zeigler was sent by the Heavenly Congress to give orders to destroying
spirits to carry Zach. Taylor into their infernal regions. "Zeigler was
the angel of the Lord," mentioned in the first line of the 37th page of
this book. He has shown to Zach. Taylor, when he entered from his mortal
body into his inner life, my handwriting testifying, that he had
neglected to fulfil his highest duty. And I have mentioned in this
connexion of things this incident, that you might do what your
predecessors have neglected to do.
When by the departure of our martyr John George Zeigler was shown, that
the Grand Prairie was not the place for starting our centre, I wrote to
the man who has bought and paid for the land, that he was at liberty
either to keep that land for his use or to sell it, and then I was
preparing in other States people for our message, showing them also the
necessity for starting a centre of our co-operation. At lenght at the
end of February and at the commencement of March of this year, 1859, was
in peculiar manner made manifest, that we should start the "_Centre of
our Community_" or the Centre for establishing the True Republic, which,
as has been made manifest, will be a true Community of Goods, and a true
matrimony of one man with one woman, as has been prophesied by the first
Christians at Jerusalem, but could not be accomplished in practice till
the dispensation of the fulness of times, Ephes. 1: 10. or the New
Jerusalem, will be introduced by messengers whom I represent. If we
should find before finishing the last of the 24 pages of the 8th sheet
some space, we will give hints on the wonders and signs by which it has
been shown, but explanation of these matters must be delayed, till we
establish a Printing office at the Centre of our Peace Union Community.
"And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by
the Apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things
common. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all
men, as every man had need." Acts ii: 43, 44, & 45. "And the multitude
of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul, neither said
any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but
they had all things common. Neither was there any among them that
lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and
brought the prices of all things that were sold, and laid them down at
the Apostles feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as
he had need." Acts iv: 32, 34, & 35.
This was not the commencement of the Community in the Jewish Church, but
of the great conversion of those who have been attached to the sects of
the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Besides these two sects there was a
third sect, called the Esseni or Therapeutes. They understood that the
letter of the Jewish Bible kills and that there was in those prophetical
books a deeper, a spiritual sense of what was to come, and they retired
into the deserts of Egypt, and were acting from thence to convert the
world to their community principles. From that association the Christian
Religion originated. Jesus Christ was the descendant or offspring of the
Therapeutes or Healers, who were powerful in healing diseases of
demoniac influence. Their spirittual power came from their strictly
moral life, they did not abuse the procreative powers, but those who
were married, used them only for obtaining children in the right season,
and many of them lived in celibacy in the strictest continence all their
life time. Such was the life of the Therapeute Monk Eli or Heli, the
Father of Jesus Christ, Luke 1:23. He, while living in the strictest
celibacy arrived to an advanced age, and when the time arrived for the
procreation of the Messiah of the Jews, he became the medium of the
spirit who was selected by the Heavenly Congress to seize him and to
procreate by his instrumentality the Messiah. And when the departed
spirit called Gabriel or the power of God, was operating through Eli
that is "My God," Mary was seized by her guardian and submitted, that
the offspring was not the origin of a carnal co-operation, but the work
of a Holy Spirit, so that Jesus Christ was the concentration of the
spiritual power of the highest association amongst the Jews as well as
of the prophecy of the Jewish Nation. In one of my former writings I
have given more disclosure regarding this mystery, but when we will have
our own Printing office, I will give a more complete explanation of the
mystery, as well as of my generation, because if you comprehend this
book, you know that we have superabundance of signs according to
prophecies, by virtue of which I appear as the first born son of Jesus
Christ for the introduction of his peaceable reign on earth or the great
Community or Republic, for which we must prepare by establishing a
centre of our co-operatian.
Here is to be mentioned that regarding the community great abuse was
made of the above quoted verses from the above quoted and other biblical
passages in monasteries and nunneries as well as in other associations.
Christ says to the Angel of the church of Ephesus: "But this thou hast,
that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate."
Revelation, ii: 6. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos he
reproaches: "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the
Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate." Rev. ii: 15. Nicolaitanes in the
Revelation are the same who are in our days known as Free-lovers. Some
called them Dr. Nichol's people. But that Doctor was at length converted
to Romanism, lecturing for the Roman Catholic Church, and the day before
yesterday or on the 14th of August, I read the advertisement of his
lecturing here in New York. We expect, that he will get this book,
comprehend our spiritualism and draw many Roman Catholics into the true
Catholic Church, or what is the same, into our Peace Union. Man must be
restored to his true condition. A chaste, pure life in celibacy, and a
true matrimony in which carnal copulation is usued only for obtaining
children when sound reason or true christian spirit requires it, this
is the true condition of man for his true happiness in this and in the
future life. All excess in this respect is injurious to body and soul of
parents and children. As long as mankind are not reduced to the right
order in this respect, they remain in their degradation and misery. How
they will be brought lo the right order in the true community as the
only refuge for the restoration of the human race will be explained in
our Periodical for the common use and particularly to those who will
come to our Peace Union, here not being room except to give hints on
many points the full explanation of which requires large treatises. Here
we give the following hints.
In the present Babylon dollars and cents as the means in this state of
affairs used for what man needs to support his mortal life and for
committing all kinds of sins and crimes against his fellow men, occupy
in so dreadful a manner the minds of men and women in general in their
present degraded condition, that the one thing needful, their spiritual
progress is so neglected, that probably if some few comprehend this book
so far as to apply all their energy to spread it, they will have a hard
task to move the public in general to study it so as it should be
studied and comprehended. Reader should recollect, that when I came the
first time in my present charge before the public, the passage Luke
viii: from the 4th to the 15th verse, was prepared for my use. Besides
dollars and cents there are especially the sexual disorders which ruin
mankind so, that they appear as dead to the truly spiritual things, for
which they will get the right taste, when in the community they
comprehend, that mankind belongs to two houses. Americans are quite
accustomed to two Houses in the Capitol of Washington; but in the true
community they will learn to be accustomed to the two Houses, or two
departments in one and the same house, to which mankind belong, when
they arrive to the higher perfect order, so that males belong to their
own House or department and females to their own, although each husband
has his own wife, and each wife her own husband; but they do not meet
together for carnal copulation, except in the right season for the only
object to get a child, with due preparation to transfuse a holy spirit
into the child. Nothing is more injurious to the parents and to the
child than the act of procreation without due preparation, which is in
this present Babylon generally neglected. Besides this in this present
abominable situation of mankind, the act of carnal copulation is
oftentimes repeated during the pregnancy and before the child is weaned.
All this has a very injurious effect upon the child and degrades and
ruins also the parents. Here is no room to explain the hints showing the
origin of the hereditary sins, which will be abolished, when the true
community will be flourishing, and the whole House of males as well as
the whole House of females will support every individual belonging to
the House, as well as the whole community in their common meetings will
support each other in the progression towards perfection.
These hints may appear quite strange to many readers. But if they will
come out from the existing corruption, they may be assured, that they
will comprehend me, when I give in a long dissertation a complete
explanation of the given hints, in the supposition that those who have
comprehended this book know our mission, and that we have received the
knowledge which is required to our mission to bring nations out of their
present corruption which kills many when they arrive to manhood and
womanhood; and many more before that age, and not a small portion of
them before or soon after they are born. And all this originates from
the corrupt state introduced by the follies of men. When these follies
will be removed, mankind in general will commence, within few
generations, to become old and will enter into the spirit world with
great imperishable riches.
We read: "Verily I say unto you, there is no man that has left house, or
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or
lands, for my sake and the gospel's, but he shall receive a hundredfold
now in this time, houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and
children and lands, 'after persecution,' and in the world to come
eternal life." Mark x: 29, 30. According to our reading in the Greek
text we translate: "after persecution." When the persecution is
abolished, the promised great advantages will be made manifest in the
true community. There will not be plurality of wives, but each husband
will have his own wife. Now father, mother, wife or children might
resist to the determination of a person to join with the true community.
Those who comprehend, that this will be the true life in the true reign
of Christ, in his Peace-Union, will co-operate with us for its
introduction without regard to any opposition of their nearest
relatives. Every one who forsakes all and acts with us as much as he
can, for establishing the Peace-Union, will when persecution ceases and
the Peace-Union flourishes, consider those, who are old, as his fathers
and mothers, those of equal age as brothers and sisters, and those who
are younger as his children, and all the property belonging to the
Peace-Union as ours, and we will truly pray to God: "Our Father."
Not being yet in this happy condition but endeavoring to arouse a
general turn towards it, we must make some provisions to support the
feeble in their turn, and those who turn towards our Peace-Union that
they might easier settle matters with those who belong to their family
and will not turn into our Peace-Union.
Every individual who determines to enter into our community, brings all
his property into it, after having settled all his business in the
world. This property, according to our principles will be taken in
possession by the community; and if it is not money but other property,
it will be valued according to a very moderate price, and its value and
the amount of money if he brings any, will be put into the ledger of the
community, and a receipt will be given to him or her under the
provisions mentioned as follows: In the possible but not probable case,
that he or she should return to the former fashion, the value of the
property would be returned, although not directly, but when the
community would find easy to do so. In the mean time they would exchange
the receipt which he or she received at the delivery of their property,
with a note containing the amount of money and the time when the
community promise to pay according to the value or course of money at
the time received and at the time in which it would be paid to him. For
instance, if a dollar received would have at the time in which it would
be paid, only the value of ten cents, ten cents would be paid to him or
her instead of a dollar, without any interest; because the step should
be made after earnest reflection and determination, and with this
provision we must deter hypocrites from joining our Peace-Union; but to
those who would be feeble, all possible assistance would be given to
strenghten them in the work which they would commence. In the true
community when it will flourish, everybody will enjoy as much of its
riches as is required for his bodily strength and for such an
intellectual and moral improvement as to enrich as much his spirit as
his faculties will be prepared to receive, that after his departure he
or she enters into a happy abode of our Peace Union.
I and other pioneers, who are preparing for the happy state which the
Peace-Union community when flourishing will enjoy, must suffer many
privations. But the spiritual treasures which during our great struggle
with the opposition we acquire, we carry with us at our departure, and
where our community will flourish, we will rejoice with them who will
partake of the fruits of our labor, so that I will not be less happy
than the happiest who will be born in our Peace-Union thousands of years
after my departure. With this consolation every reader should follow my
example and act with us for the introduction of the New Era.
After these hints some rules must be mentioned regarding the economy and
management of affairs for the introduction and maintenance of the
Peace-Union to realize what in Christ's peaceable reign on earth is
expected.
As soon as circumstances will admit, a printing-office will be
established on the place on which we commence our provisional
Peace-Union centre, and a Periodical based on and directed by the
principle of free discussion will be published, as the nature of the
case, reason and arguments for the restoration of human rights demand.
And previous steps, made before we are enabled to publish the
Periodical, are subject to be criticized in the Periodical, and we
undertake such enterprises or actions as we are ready to support before
the tribunal of truth and righteousness.
This rule contains all that a sensible man or woman using his or her
intellectual and moral faculties may demand. If we had used our whole
book to develop our plan, we would not have finished our work, if the
volume had been much larger than it is. But the points belonging to our
plan, must be gradually developed in our Periodical, and those who
comprehend this book and our mission, superabundance of credentials of
which are contained here, will not tarry for a moment to co-operate with
all their strength with us, and to draw their mortal and their departed
friends into our Peace-Union.
Members of the Peace-Union agree to support whatever may be shown by
free discussion through our Periodical to be suitable, practicable and
necessary to promote the common welfare of the Peace-Union, which is the
welfare of mankind. Those who would refuse to support it, had to show
the contrary in the same Periodical, that it might be discussed,
otherwise they would be disturbers, and if they could be by no means
corrected, they would deserve to be excluded, and the Peace-Union, after
having exhausted the means to bring them to the right order, would be
compelled to declare them to be separated, and to give them the note or
the certificate of their claim according to the rule above, and they
return the receipt which they have obtained when they have brought their
property into the Peace-Union.
We illustrate the point with an example. I have given, for instance,
some hints regarding the two departments of males separately and females
separately, notwithstanding the true matrimony of one husband with one
wife. When there is the right time for them to procreate a child, they
will have a convenient place for the performance of the most responsible
duty. This my hint, when sufficiently explained, will satisfy every
friend of progression into truth, righteousness and happiness, and will
give to the human affairs quite a new turn, and deliver both sexes from
temptations, in which until now the whole human race succumbed and
descended much under the degree of the nobler classes of brutes, and
parents depraved and ruined themselves and children. From all the
strange and unexpected things disclosed in this book readers may expect
that I have also regarding the true matrimony and the restitution of
mankind in such a condition in which they will be truly happy, a
glorious message and such truths which when sufficiently explained, will
satisfy all lovers of progression into the true happiness. But there may
join with our Peace-Union some self-conceited person who would not give
up what would be shown by us as necessary to be removed for the
restoration of mankind to their true happiness, and what he would not be
able to refute, and notwithstanding this he would remain in his bad
habit. In this case he would compel us to remove him. At his removal he
receives the note or certificate, while he returns the receipt which he
had obtained for what he had put into the Peace-Union, as is explained
above. But we have to add here, that if those who would be separated,
had damaged the whole Peace-Union or some individual, the damage is to
be deducted from their claim. And it is to be repeated, that nobody who
joins with the Peace-Union, has any claim to any pay or reward for the
labor performed in the Peace-Union, into which all men and women are
invited to come and to remain in it in this mortal body and in all
eternity, and to partake for him or her and their families of all
riches, spiritual and physical in exchange for what they furnish. But
what they brought in at their joining, is returned to them, with
deduction of the damages, if they have caused any at their turn into
enemies of the Peace-Union, or which originated by their fault, although
it could not be proved, that they had a malicious intention in causing
damages. This point is here to be remarked, that children before they
acquire the legal age, if by whatever means they would be withdrawn from
the Peace-Union, while their parents are living there or did not depart,
should not receive the portion of the property brought for them into the
Peace-Union, till they arrive at the legal age in which they have the
right according to the laws of the country to depart from their parents;
because the Peace-Union have the parental duties towards children who
are received with their parents into the Peace-Union. Also this is to be
mentioned, that no others except who come with their parents or with
their children into the Peace-Union, have any claim to the property
which they bring into it. They settle their business with all others,
when they join with the Peace-Union, and in the same time they make
their will, how much they themselves if they would leave the Peace-Union
and some of their children would remain in it, and how much each of the
children when in full legal age, would receive, if he or she would leave
the Peace-Union.
We thought proper to concede so much to the feebleness of those who are
desirous to join with the Peace Union, but imagine the possible case,
that they might be turned out and lose their property. For them their
property is secured, althought without interest, and their possible case
is rather imagination, and they would become gradually so strong as to
give good example to others. But we have mentioned a point which must
terrify hypocrites to join to our Peace Union; because their hypocrisy
would become in due time manifest, and then they could not stand and
would be turned out with demand to repair damages. Therefore they should
remain in Babylon till they have a sincere desire to join with us for
their true conversion to our principles and corresponding acting with
us. When they are determined to act for this purpose they should not be
afraid to join the Peace Union on account of the possibility of being
separated; because no person will be separated except such as deserves
in consequence of immoral acts or gross omissions of what is absolutely
necessary for obtaining the object of our association, after having been
sufficiently instructed and exhorted that their toleration would ruin
the Peace Union. A separate person, if he or she would think there was
not sufficient cause for separation, will be permitted to publish in our
Periodical the reason or reasons of his or her complaint. By doing so,
however, he gives occasion for members of the Peace Union to publish
their remarks on his reasons, that truth might be made manifest; because
the object of the Peace Union is the restoration of human rights, and
therefore her members engage and promise to correct any mistake, when it
is shown and it is proven.
The nature and object of the Peace Union is, that science or knowledge
in every department and every branch of enterprise directs and governs
the work. Therefore the man or woman who is found to be most skilful in
any art, business or work, is to be elected as foreman, and continues to
act as such, till some one more skilful is found. And then to him the
place is to be given, however, not before it is shown, that by
exchanging the place sufficient advantage will accrue to the community.
The member who thinks he is able to show this, may assemble members
belonging to the branch of that business, or if the case is a general
case, members in general, the body of females having their votes as well
as the body of males in general affairs; in particular branches the body
decide who belong to that branch. Whoever calls members together, shows
them the case, and if the majority find his reasons to be sufficient,
the person proposed obtains the office. But before votes are taken,
those who are assembled, must also hear the objections. But if there is
any member who thinks, that the decision was not made according to
justice, he may announce the matter to the assembled, showing them their
mistake and his duty that if they will not correct their mistake, he
will make known the reasons of his complaint against the decision in the
Periodical of the Peace Union. And the assembled, if they see that he is
right, are bound to receive thankfully that which is right, but if they
see that he is wrong, they are bound to show him this. But if he,
notwithstanding this, publishes his reasons, those who do not agree with
him, are bound to show in their replies that he will riot act according
to sound reasons, but is disposed to make disturbance, deserving to be
expelled. In this case if he continues to be obstinate against evidence,
he should be expelled peaceably.
In the first place we need a centre. And according to the pattern of the
centre as many settlements on other places will be established as will
be needed to accommodate all who will find best to move from their
present situation to a settlement of our Peace Union. But everywhere
persons of our principles will be needed to instruct and strengthen the
neighbours. The hints given here will be so modified to their situation
as their circumstances will require.
In the centre is to be concentrated, what is to be spread everywhere, to
benefit in the first place members of the Peace Union and by their
instrumentality as many others as can be reached. Therefore co-operation
and support from all who comprehend this book and their application to
others is necessary to raise means, for establishing what is required in
the centre. Although all who contribute for the centre, will not have
chance to reside there, they will have a chance to send some of their
children or relations to the institutions of the University for the New
Era, which will be established there, according to our plan, according
to which a great change will take place in studies, that all
intellectual and moral faculties of students will be harmoniously
developed, and much time will be gained for learning every day for some
hours in the school and for some hours in the shops and elsewhere that
to learn which each will be most qualified and inclined. Wherefore those
who afford money and other property for the centre and what is needed
there, acquire the right to reside there, when needed as teachers, or
for mechanical branches, arts, sciences, for agriculture, horticulture,
&c. What mankind need for the New Era, should be shown there to students
theoretically and practically. Therefore all who have superabundant
means, if they comprehend this book, will send such an amount as they
can spare, as donations, which will become spiritual treasures to the
donors. When the institutions which according to our plan should be at
our centre, will be established, there will be such competition of
students, that there will not be room for accommodation of all. All that
is given as donation for raising our institutions, will be put in our
ledger for the benefit of the donors, so that, when all students could
not be accommodated at our centre, those recommended by the donors would
be prefered to others, the case excepted, that others be found more
useful in our mission, if they study the branches.
Those who have no superabundance of means to give a donation, are
invited to invest for establishing the centre as much as their
cicumstances permit, to be invested for their benefit, as belonging to
them, although without any interest in money, but with the advantage,
that when all students could not be accommodated at our centre, their
sons and daughters would have the preference before such as have done
nothing towards the foundation of the centre. And if any have land, who
are desirous that on their land a settlement might be started according
to our plan for the New Era, by their furnishing means for starting the
centre they acquire the claim and right that their land shall be taken
for that purpose rather than the land of another who had done nothing
for the centre, when circumstances would not require the preference of
the land of other for a new settlement of our Peace Union.
From what has been mentioned, the following general rule may be derived:
Without having a centre of our communities we cannot accomplish our
work. Therefore all who comprehend us, are solemnly entreated to
contribute without delay what their circumstances allow. If they cannot
send a donation, they are entreated to send what will be regarded as
theirs without bearing interests, but bearing to them all the advantages
to which according to the circumstances they are qualified, to come,
when all will be prepared, to the centre, if they can be employed there;
otherwise they may be useful to our community on the place which they
now occupy, or they may join with an other place of our community. In
this case the centre settles with that community in reference to what
they have advanced to the centre, to be sent, when the centre is able to
do so, to that community for them, if they should not prefer to leave it
in the centre to be consumed there by such students as they would send
to the University in the centre of our Peace Union, where all the
knowledge and wisdom which can be obtained, will be concentrated to
bring mankind into that situation which is promised and mankind are able
to attain by the right application of their intellectual and moral
faculties and their physical strength, and the proper use and right
application of all the knowledge which has been propagated through the
course of centuries and improved in our age.
No money or other property can or will be taken into the Peace Union,
settlements to be put into their ledger for the benefit of the person
who invests it, to be returned in the case that the person or one of his
or her family should leave the Peace Union, except money that has been
acquired in an honest manner. By the term _honest_ we mean a manner
which is not only justifiable according to the laws of the country, but
also according to the moral laws attributable to the person who invests
it, at least so far, that no person or society is known to whom it
should be restored. We do not mean the severest scrutiny, but the usual
course of affairs; because according to our plan by those who will join
the Peace Union, the way will be opened for a final restoration of all
human affairs into the right order. To this point we must gradually
proceed.
By what we have remarked in regard to money as the root of all evil, if
it is not managed for the commom welfere, it is a necessary evil as far
as business is done with those who do not belong to our Peace Union, and
we are compelled to make use of many evils which are yet in existence,
to bring nations out of the evil into the New Era. We must make such use
of money as to promote the welfere of the Peace Union which encloses the
welfere of all nations, which would not he promoted, if we would take
any amount of money from those who enter into our Peace Union under the
condition to return it in case, they would leave the Peace Union. Under
this condition we could take no more than one thousand dollars, so that,
if any man or woman would come with his or her family, and bring more
than one thousand dollars for each person belonging to his or her
family, after having settled all matters of business with others, we
could not take more than the mentioned sum under the mentioned
condition, to wit, if husband and wife with parents and children, would
join, for each of them one thousand dollars: the surplus they had to
give as donation, if they would not accept the advice which is given
below.
Also this is to be mentioned, that if a family comes on the place of the
Peace Union and they invest for each member of the family a certain sum,
and some of the family would be taken into the spirit world, and the
others would leave the Peace Union, in this case only that has been
invested for them, would belong to them. What was given for the
departed, remains in the Peace Union. Also in the case, that a father
would come with a large or with a small family and give for each
individual a certain sum, and then the others would remain, but he
himself would become a backslider, his claim would be only to the money
which he had invested for his own person. The same priciple is to be
applied in every case, in which somebody invests a certain sum for
himself, and besides also sums for others.
To those who have greater riches than one thousand dollars for each
individual of their family, is to be said, that they are only
administrators of that property to make the poor rich and the rich truly
happy. And whereas the Peace Union undertakes this great work, a rich
person should be instructed and enlightened, that this will not take
place in any other way than by a true community, for which we have given
this sketch, only in this point deviating from the course which we would
pursue if we would have to deal with perfect persons, that we found
proper to concede, that if any body should leave the Peace-Union
settlement, he should receive in due time the sum invested not exceeding
one thousand dollars. But those whose property reaches higher, will go
the safest way according to Christ's direction: "Go thy way, sell
whatever thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
Heaven; and come and take up thy cross and follow me." Mark x: 21. This
man to whom Christ gave that advice "had great possessions." And we give
to those who have great riches the same advice, but with a different
application. Jesus Christ, the Father of the New Era which is to be
introduced by our mission, had not the chance in Palestine, which we
have in the United States. He advised as he could in his circumstances,
and we give in our circumstances to the rich who have great possessions
the following advice and the best for them to be saved: "Give as a
donation as much into our Peace-Union centre as you are able to do for
raising our institutions as the best means for the redemption of the
poor and degraded people from the existing misery and distress, and come
and learn how to administer your possessions for the poor, and we will
send with you to your possessions[AB] a man to commence there with you a
community for the poor only, and you may call poor people of your choice
together. And you should superintend, and our administrator should
assist you and labor with you to educate the poor so as to make them
truly rich and happy. And you, while you would have enriched our centre
as much as would be possible without selling your possessions, would be
the presiding elder at the community of the poor made rich by your
possessions, and when you would be pleased to stop with those in the
centre, you would be received as one of the founders, and you would have
treasure in Heaven."
What I say to one I say to all rich men and women. If they receive our
advice they will become very rich and happy; but now they are "wretched
and miserable and poor and blind and naked," Revelation iii: 17. They
are the Heads in Laodicea, which means the judgment of the people, whom
they are preparing for destruction, and for themselves the hell. Luke
xvi: 23. From them is more required to be saved than from those who have
only a small property in comparison with the great possessions of the
rich, and their small property they have earned with hard labor. But it
would be too troublesome to reckon, how they had acquired their riches.
But instead of a long reckoning or a general confession of their sins
and crimes we show them the shortest and surest way to Heaven.
We must say also to those who invest property not exceeding one thousand
dollars for each member of their family into our Peace-Union with the
reserve that if they leave the Peace-Union, that property should be
returned to them in equivalent without any interest, and at a time in
which the Peace-Union can easily do this without hurting their own
business, that this reserve will continue only until the time in which
they will be sufficiently strengthened in the principles of the true
community, and convinced that this is the only way for redemption of
oppressed humanity. When they will advance so far, they will sign the
covenant of the New Era, they themselves and those of their family who
are of age and with them united in the Spirit; and they will transfer
the property which is their portion to the community, which secures
their rights to the provisions for their body and their spirit to enjoy
such happiness as the Peace-Union will be able to afford to prepare them
for the society of blessed spirits.
From these hints you see, that the true community consists of members
who give all their property, without any reserve, and receive all the
advantages which a mutual co-operation in the true brotherly spirit
affords. At the commencement they must be tried. On the title-page of
this book we have mentioned, that it is published at the "Peace-Union
Centre." We intended to give explanation of the matter in this plan. We
are starting there the Peace-Union Centre. About five hundred acres of
land, with farmhouse, barn, orchard &c. belong to that property, on a
beautiful very healthy hill, with excellent springs of soft water,
romantic locations for buildings, and all kinds of institutions for the
New Era. The soil as far as may be cleared, is good for raising all
kinds of fruits, and as much as we will need of vegetables. But our
centre will be for literary institutions, surrounded with all kinds of
the best mechanics and artists, from whom students will learn all kinds
of work. Therefore the largest portion of grain will be obtained from
other settlements to which productions at the centre will be sent in
exchange. About one hundred acres of the land are cleared and much more
can be cleared and used for different purposes, but the largest portion
of that land is Toscarora mountain, producing wood, timber, stone for
building, and is good for different other purposes, for instance, the
top of the mountain for our observatory, &c.
Spring Hill in Racoon Valley belonged to Abraham, the oldest of the
twelve sons of my departed friend Christian Long. Christian was one of
the students of my German books, and strong witness of our mission; but
his son Abraham preaching water baptism was not prepared to receive his
testimony. But Christian and others in his company amongst the departed,
were operating and preparing this place, while we thought that we had
already succeeded in taking another place in possession, seventeen miles
from this place, and we have been in quite an unexpected manner
instructed that Springhill is the place in which we should start the
Peace-Union Centre, and we have received the place as cheap as the worth
of its improvements may be valued. This is according to our principles,
according to which the land belongs to the whole human family, and to
the improvements only each individual may claim as much right as he has
consumed labor to produce them. But it is evident also that labor never
can be exactly valued, and I had to write a very large volume to expose
the manifold forms of labor, in which time is wasted, to corrupt and
ruin human society. All the hints given in this book, may convince any
investigating mind, that there is no redemption of the degraded and
wretched condition of mankind except in the community in which men will
be brought gradually into the true happy state in this life and in the
spirit world, and will draw their departed friends into higher spheres.
Being compelled by circumstances to take away manuscript containing the
spirit battle by which not only this, that we have to start our
Peace-Union as a community and in Springhill, but also many other
important points have been disclosed, which although they were known to
us long time before that, may arouse the attention of those who would
not hear us otherwise, except when they hear extraordinary spirit
manifestations, which in connexion with starting our Peace-Union Centre
on this place may be published another time. But here we must mention
that by quite an unexpected vision against the wishes of the medium and
his wife our doctrine has been illustrated, to wit, that those who make
a covenant with our Peace-Union community, separate so from those who
remain in Babylon, that if of those who are married, one partner would
make such a covenant, but the other would remain in Babylon, we would do
all in our power to draw also that partner into our community. But if he
or she would remain obstinate despiser of our Heavenly message, we
according to Divine law would consider the person who made the covenant
with our Peace-Union as perfectly free to marry a person belonging to
our community, and labor at the same time to convert the Government to
acknowledge our mission and the Divine law made manifest by our
mediumship. "What God hath joined together let no man put asunder."
Matth. xix: 6. "What the devil has joined together, God puts asunder."
If we have the mission expressed on the title-page, and confirmed by all
signs and wonders which have been mentioned in this book, and with which
hundreds of volumes could be filled, then it is evident that the devil
has joined those together or the devil will keep them together, when one
understands our mission and advances so far that he or she makes the
covenant with our community and the other resists and will keep him or
her in Babylon, when he or she starts to come out of her not to be
partaker of her sins. The partner, may be he or she, who remains
obstinate, remains in the great whore of the 17th chapter of the
Revelation, is an adulterer or adulteress in the spiritual sense, and
certainly with whoredom or other abominations he or she became so
endarkened, that when the partner progressed so far, as to comprehend
our Heavenly message, the destroying devil will detain him or her from
the truth made manifest in our message. Those who have comprehended this
book to this point, know that our case is just the contrary to the so
called Free Love, diametrically opposed to it. A chaste husband or wife
will comprehend us, but those who will continue in their fornication and
adultery, will cry against us and misrepresent truth for their
destruction. Here is no room for explanation of a point, on which I will
write an extraordinary treatise, in which I will report and explain also
the mentioned vision, when the diseased stomachs will be ready to digest
our most wholesome medicine.
In this compression is also to be remembered, that the promise given on
the 45th page in regard to the four in Baltimore executed in connexion
with my visit to President Buchanan appears in a more dreadful shape in
the portion of the 4th treatise which will appear in the second edition
of this book if that edition shall be demanded, than I would have
expected, when I mentioned that case. When President Buchanan, Governor
Hicks and other Grandees of Washington and Maryland were not prepared to
afford money for buying Springhill for our Peace Union Centre and for
publishing this book, we read on the 42d page: "The same time a great
sign was given so that I was sent speedily from Baltimore to the Western
Reserve of Ohio." A.D. 1854 we commenced to prepare Brother Robert D.
Eldrige in Baltimore for our mission. Then happened many wonders and
signs in connexion with him, till at length a sign was given in
Baltimore. But the principal of the four executed in Baltimore was
brought before me in the Western Reserve of Ohio, and you will hear of
strange spectacles in the next edition regarding that manifestation in
connexion with the four Presidents Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce and
Buchanan. After having performed the trials of spirits in the Western
Reserve of Ohio, Eldrige started with me, and after having tried spirits
in different places during our travelling, we arrived at length at
Abraham Long's, and I showed to Brother Eldrige some of the secret
treasures on the premises of Springhill, where Heavenly Wisdom[AC]
prepared a great variety of most beautiful sceneries, magnificent
fairviews on a number of sites very suitable for excellent buildings,
and to all those places excellent springs of soft water may be derived
by few rods of pipes, and excellent stone for buildings and
superabundance of wood is most handy. We took then the deeds in the name
of our Peace Union Community[AD], and we appear as Trustees, I by virtue
of my mission, in duty bound to communicate the spirit who has sent me
for the fulfilment of the most glorious promises to mankind, with those
who will receive this spirit and will be drawn from Babylon into the New
Jerusalem, and Robert D. Eldrige by virtue of his mission, who came with
money and paid for the place with the rights which are given in this
plan to those who invest money, and with the duty of superintendency for
a good success. In those our duties all are bound to support us, who
join with the Peace Union.
On the 11th day of July, 1859, my Document, entitled: "Great News for
the Friends of Progression in Truth and Righteousness towards the
promised New Era of Harmony and Peace amongst all nations" was set in
type, the proof-sheet corrected by me, and a portion of copies struck
off on the same day. We were preparing readers for the first convention
which will be held in the New Hall on the Peace Union settlement in the
latter part of the next month, and requesting Editors to publish that
Document. But I think that the warlike spirit of destruction kept most
of them in the servitude of monarchs. But that document was to be set in
type and printed on the same day, on which Napoleon and Francis Joseph
made their treaty of peace at Villafranca for an important testimony,
that spirits from our sphere have controlled the affairs also there, so
that if you hurry to do what is required in this book, you will prevent
immense destruction of human life and property in this country,
otherwise you should know that I have done more than from a mortal man
could be expected, to move you for action. But when men become such
beasts that they have no sense for spiritual things, destruction is a
necessary consequence. At the commencement of the first treatise page 6
you see that Mr. Belly gave occasion to that treatise. Last month he
came again to Paris and remains there according to newspapers until the
20th of the next month; and I proposed that on the same day our first
convention should commence in the New Hall. We quote from said document
in which the title of this book is copied, the close as follows: "The
book with the above copied title will be published by Robert D. Eldrige
in our Convention, and then copies will be sent by him to those who send
to him the money (50 cents fur one copy, twenty dollars for 50 copies,
35 dollars for 100 copies) either before or after or at the Convention.
He being a man of property and known as our trusty fellow labourer for
improving the condition of mankind, has charge of the business
department at our Peace Union, while, I the writer of this book and of
this article am bound to devote my precious time to spiritual objects
for Harmony and Peace of Nations, requesting to direct letters which do
not belong particularly to my sphere, to him under the direction: Robert
D. Eldrige, Donnally's Mill, Perry Co: Pa." This book appears small for
this price; but remember the contents of page 169, and collect
subscribers, and as soon as we print the second edition, we will send a
large pamphlet as supplement without additional charge. In the mean time
we assure you that also this small book contains so large an amount of
most important points for you, that the oftener you study it, the more
you will learn to appreciate its value; and the enormous labour for
obtaining all the parts contained in this book cannot be paid with
money, and my labour never was paid.
On the 11th of this month, August, 1859, there came many people to
Springhill. An extraordinary medium who had been in England an Elder
amongst the Baptisers wrote on the 13th Instant to me: "I came on foot
to Springhill, Peace Union Centre, a long walk of about 17 miles in hot
weather. We raised the frame work of the Large Hall. The day (11th
inst.) was fine, and all things went on well, and the work that is done,
looks well and in good order. All kinds of rumors and talk: What the
house is for? What they will do? Why did they not build so as the Hall
could be seen? Some one thing, some, other things, &c."
The Periodical, entitled: "Peace Union Message." Conventions at the
Peace Union Centre in Springhill Toscarora Township, Perry Co: Pa.
6 miles west of Millerstown, the stopping place for the Cars.
Our Periodical, spoken of in the plan, will be published as soon, as
there will be a sufficient number of subscribers. In the expectation
that those who are versed in English, will comprehend us first, we will
publish it first in English, in Quarto, to be preserved in books and
translated in as many other languages as needed; because it will contain
social, ecclesiastical and political matters and movements of nations
and daily news of importance, considered from our position, to draw
nations from the existing confusion and degradation into the new order
of things. All that will improve the condition of mankind, and what is
hurtful for them, as far as we will have opportunity[AE] to reach it,
will be examined from our position. But there not being room in this
book, we will publish in the first number which will issue, when we are
secured by subscriptions, what we will find proper to draw those amongst
all nations who have somewhat new for improving mankind, to send it for
publication in our Periodical. Every one who sends somewhat of this
kind, will add his full direction and occupation. If his or her
communication is found by those whom we find to be competent judges in
that branch, to be such as required, it will be published when room will
be for it in our Periodical. But if it is not found such as to be
published, the writer will be named and the reason given, why it cannot
be published. If the writer should think to have been injured, our
Periodical would be open to publish his complaint with the preliminary
requisites which will be made known in our first number as quite
reasonable to save time to him and us and to the readers as well as to
the printers and others. I quoted purposely some passages from the
letter of our friend Peter assuring that he is ours truly "in bonds for
truth waiting for deliverance." If the talkers of nonsense had asked
those to whom we told, why we selected that place for that building,
near the farm house and the springs, they had received information. The
basement of the new building is a large cellar, the first story a large
Hall, having in the midst a partition, which we remove when we use the
whole Hall, but the second story has a partition which cannot be removed
and each department has its own stairs. The farm house and the new
building are in a cove. The first story of the building will be
provisionally[AF] used for our Conventions, till the substantial edifice
within the most magnificent fairview will be established. With this
fairview we entreat most earnestly every reader to collect as many
subscribers for this book as well as for the Periodical, as he or she is
able to collect. The book is to be paid for at the delivery, and the
Periodical will cost $2 a year, money to be paid for half a year or a
year at the delivery of the first number.
Whoever secures us five subscribers receives six copies. And those who
will act as agents, after having comprehended by studying this book our
plan and adopt it, are regarded as our fellow-laborers, when they show
practically that they belong to our Peace-Union. If the expected
exertions are made, we may be able to publish the first number of our
Periodical at the commencement of the year 1860.
Our first Convention next month at the Peace Union Centre is announced
in our Circular. But readers of this book are requested to proclaim,
that on the first day of November 1859, the second Convention will
commence and continue for two weeks, and that only those persons of both
sexes are invited to attend, who after having comprehended our mission
are ready to act as missionaries or to support with their means our
enterprises to establish what is needed at the Centre. And for this
purpose we intend to hold successively a number of Conventions. The
second could be attended by those who belong to the Cabinet and the
Congress of Washington, or to any legislature. Each Convention will last
one or two weeks. Those who comprehend this book will tell or write to
those with whom they are acquainted, that although the contents of this
book are of importance for any body, those who belong to the Government
need most to understand them. This book will be taken as the text-book,
but also those who may have read it before many times, will receive in
the Convention new light to understand it better and to hear many things
which are not mentioned in the book. There may be so many aroused to
attend the Convention that all could not be accommodated. Therefore
whoever and whenever he determines to attend one of our Conventions, he
is requested to write directly, and to give an exact direction, and put
a letter stamp into his letter, and we will answer it, and tell, whether
he could be accommodated in that or in any of the following Conventions.
Boarding is to be had as moderately as we can afford it. The rule is to
be observed also afterwards in this and in the next year, that whoever
wishes to attend our Convention, is requested to write directly, and he
will receive an answer when he could be accommodated. Answer may come
sooner or later, because it may depend upon circumstances, when after
the receipt of his or her letter our next Convention would be held.
Probably there is in this last "form" no room, to say more than that our
Post-Office address is on the title-page and also three or four pages
before this. It has been said that the stopping place for the cars is
Millerstown, Perry Co.: Pa. I desire nothing more than to draw you into
the sphere of our Heavenly abode as your sincere brother.