William Rufus Perkins History of the Amana Society or Community of True Inspiration

Annotation

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The account of the Amana Society, or Community of True Inspiration, which is contained in the following pages is in tended to be a historical sketch of its origin and its develop ment up to the present time. It is viewed strictly from the, historical standpoint and not from the communistic. The latter phase of it has received only such attention as became necessary from its historical importance, for the full elabora tion of its communistic character belongs rather to the domain of Political Science. In order to obtain a full understanding of the true nature of the Society it has been thought necessary, and indeed it was indispensable, to enter briefly into the history of Mysticism and Pietism, the sources of its origin. This resume is followed by a history of the Society from its earliest beginnings to the year 1817, illustrated by accounts of the lives of its most prominent members. Then follows a sketch of the revival of 1817, then a history of the emigration to Ebenezer, New York, and finally of that to Iowa. Although the object of this monograph is strictly historical, brief statements have been added as to the nature of their communistic principles, their mode of life and their financial success. In the Appendixes will be found their constitution.