In Pursuit of Religious Freedom: Bishop Martin Stephan's Journey
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Only his Herr colleagues in office and the members of the board will be granted immediate and free access to the primate—on ship also the cabin passengers, and otherwise those to whom he expressly grants it. All other members of the Gesellschaft shall appear before him only after previous announcement.
Par. 7. Business of the Clerk
The minutes of the sessions of the board and all secretarial work necessary for the board shall be attended to by a clerk to be appointed by the board.
Par. 8. Procedure in Disputes among the Members of the “Gesellschaft”
All misunderstandings occurring between members of the Gesellschaft, if they cannot be settled by the individual subsupervisors and board members, shall be brought before the meeting of the board, which may, as it sees fit, summon the parties before it and have them deal with each other.
The parties are to be satisfied with the decision of the board, which shall be rendered according to God’s Word and Christian fairness.
Par. 9. Assessment of Penalties
Transgressions of God’s Commandments and of these Traveling Regulations, recalcitrance against the order of the primate, the board members, and the subsupervisors shall be punished the first time with a reprimand, in recurring cases with a sharper reprimand before the assembled board, and, if even this does no good, with confinement or with separation from the Gesellschaft for a certain period of time.
A sentence of complete expulsion of a person from the Gesellschaft can be imposed only by the primate.
Par.10. Special Arrangements for the Voyage
On the ship (where there are three places to accommodate the Gesellschaft, cabin, steerage, and deck) the following arrangements will be made. In the cabin the primate shall exercise the highest supervision directly. In steerage where the other members of the Gesellschaft are accommodated, at least one member of the board must remain at all times to exercise supervision. Likewise on the deck, to which all ship passengers have access at their pleasure, a member of the board is always to be present. The members of the board are to exercise this office of high supervision in steerage and on the deck in rotation.
Par.11. Supervision of the Women
Since the women in steerage sleep together, separate from the men, supervision is necessary here for the duration of the night, especially in emergencies. The board shall therefore, with the approval of the primate, select several older, experienced women, who will exercise supervision at nighttime and assist in emergencies.
Par. 12. Supervision of the Children
Children as well as parents are under the supervision of the inspectors and members of the board, and the parents are responsible for their children [and they are responsible to the parents for their children]. This, however, does not exclude the parents from immediate supervision, so long as the children are in their company. During the voyage the children shall receive necessary instruction. During such instruction, and when they are playing together in the absence of their parents, they are under the sole supervision of the Herrn candidates, and the latter are responsible for them.
Par. 13. Care of the Sick
Immediately when someone is taken ill, the subsupervisors shall notify the board, which will endeavor to provide the necessary medical attention. Separate nurses shall be appointed for men and women, and will receive adequate compensation for their services. However, if the patient has relatives and friends, he may have himself attended by these.
Care is to be taken that as far as possible the sick enjoy the requisite rest.
Par. 14. Conduct toward the Captain and Crew
The captain shall be treated with Christian modesty and deference. Since he has free and unlimited power in whatever pertains to the piloting of the ship, willing obedience shall be rendered to all his orders pertaining to such piloting of the ship.
In order to avoid quarrels, and also because it is disagreeable to every captain if passengers converse with the sailors, absolutely no one is to associate with the crew.
Par. 15. Conduct in a Storm
Should a storm strike the Gesellschaft on its crossing to America (which God forbid!), its most active and fit men, especially the young people, who are to be selected for this purpose in advance, shall place themselves at the disposal of the captain in order to assist him according to his direction, which is to be followed implicitly. The remaining, weaker members of the company, the women and the children, are to be kept separate. They are to call upon God for gracious deliverance, as befits Christians, and avoid as much as possible that disturbance and confusion should result from their outcries and running about.
Par. 16. Care of Baggage
For his immediate use every passenger has permission to have the necessary things (small trunks, carpetbags, and traveling bags) with him; but in order not to further diminish the narrow space in the ship’s quarters, [he is] to keep them together and in order as much as possible. The bulk of the baggage (trunks and chests) will be stored in the hold. A special overseer, with several assistants to aid him, shall be placed in charge of this baggage. He is to exercise the necessary supervision especially in loading and unloading.
Par. 17. Journal of the Voyage
A journal of the entire voyage, beginning with the time when the Gesellschaft has gathered, is to be kept on each ship by two persons to be appointed by the primate.
Par. 18. Arrival in New Orleans
In New Orleans, where with God’s help the Gesellschaft will land, a few days will be spent in order to rent the steamboats necessary for the journey on the Mississippi and in order to make the necessary purchases. According to the contract made with the captain, living on the ship and meals on it will still be free for three days; the latter, meals, will also be available for a brief additional time at a low cost. Whoever wishes to live in the city and take his meals there, must do this at his own expense. At a specified time all shall put in their appearance promptly for the journey on the Mississippi.
Par. 19. Journey on the Mississippi
The same arrangements as for the ocean voyage apply to the trip on the Mississippi.
Par. 20. Arrival and Sojourn in St. Louis
In order to enjoy the necessary rest from the hardships of the voyage, the Gesellschaft will remain in St. Louis for a time, living in houses, some of which will be rented and some of which will be selected by the friends from Berlin, who have gone ahead.
Par. 21. Excursions into the Vicinity
After the maps of government land in the land office have been examined, excursions into the surrounding territory shall be made as soon as possible by groups of three, five, or ten men, as may be expedient, in order to purchase the land necessary for a settlement. In this matter the preliminary surveys of the Berlin friends will serve as a guide. Those sent out for the purchase of Land will be provided by the board with special instructions and full power to act.
Par. 22. Division of the “Gesellschaft”
The other members of the Gesellschaft, who do not participate in these excursions, will partly (insofar as the craftsmen are concerned) try to support themselves by the practice of their trade in St. Louis; partly (insofar as those skilled in agriculture are concerned) try to rent land in the neighborhood or find employment with the farmers in the immediate vicinity; partly (so far as the more well-to-do are concerned) live in St. Louis at their own expense.
Par. 23. Support of Those Incapable of Working and the Unemployed
Those indigent members of the Gesellschaft who are incapable of working, as well as those who are unable to find employment, will receive the necessary support advanced from the Credit Fund and will be quartered in St. Louis or the vicinity.
Par. 24. Counsel for the People Living Outside of St. Louis
In order that the people who leave St. Louis will not be left entirely without association and counsel, the greatest possible care is to be taken that the members of the Gesellschaft shall not take up their residence in complete isolation, too far either from one
another or from the city of St. Louis. The individual groups of people leaving St. Louis to seek work will be conducted by leaders, to be appointed by the board. After those whom they are conducting are provided for, these leaders shall rent land, or hire themselves out, or return to St. Louis, if their presence is required there.
Par. 25. First Arrangements on the Site of the Settlement after Purchase of the Land Is Completed
As soon as the contiguous tract of land to be purchased by the Gesellschaft has been bought, all able-bodied men housed in St. Louis up to that time, as well as all those who have been scattered in the country, shall go at once to the site of the settlement under the leadership of one or more members of the board, in order to put up the necessary buildings and prepare for the cultivation of the land.
Par. 26. Departure of the Entire “Gesellschaft” for the Site of the Settlement and the Expiration of These Regulations
When the most necessary dwellings and all preliminary work necessary for receiving the entire Gesellschaft have been completed, the departure of all members of the Gesellschaft for the site of the settlement will take place. As soon as they have moved in, the Community Code goes into effect, and these present Regulations cease to be operative.
Appendix D
Regulations for Settlement of the Lutheran “Gesellschaft” Emigrating with Herr Pastor Stephan to the United States of North America
CHAPTER I. REGULATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE AND DIVISION OF LAND
Par. 1. Maximum Land Holdings
In order to leave room for those who will follow later, and also to prevent any inordinately great and oppressive ownership of land from developing in the Christian-civil community to be established, a maximum will be set for the amount of real estate which an independent member of the Gesellschaft, who has attained his majority (twenty-five years), may acquire in the contiguous tract of land to be purchased. This amount shall be [the area seeded by] 120 to 160 Dresden Scheffel [82.3 to 109.73 acres].
Par. 2 a. Minimum Land Holding
On the other hand, to prevent the danger of impoverishment, a minimum amount of real estate will be fixed, which every adult and independent member of the Gesellschaft, especially every craftsman, must own in order to keep a few cows and pigs and a garden, so that in an emergency he can earn his bread even if he is entirely alone—also to have a meager subsistence in case of feebleness and in old age. This amount shall be 10 to 20 Dresden Scheffel [6.84 to 13.68 acres].
Par. 2b.
Besides this maximum and minimum, two classes of fields of medium size at 70 to 80 and 20 to 30 Scheffel [47.86 to 54.7 and 13.68 to 20.51 acres] shall be laid out and distributed.
Par. 3. Distribution of the Land
The distribution of the land shall be made by lot under the guidance of a board of eight persons, half of whom shall be elected from well-to-do members of the Gesellschaft (the contributors to the Credit Fund), and half from those without means. The election is to be conducted by the primate, who is also to exercise general supervision. In the case of a tie he shall cast the deciding vote.
Par. 4. Choice of Land in the Distribution
In order to permit everyone to get equally good land, care shall be taken that no one receives all good or all poor ground, but that the proper proportion be observed. Therefore plots which are separated, not immediately adjacent, must be accepted.
Par. 5. Claim to the Maximum
The amount of the real estate which may be acquired in [that part of?] the contiguous tract of land purchased which will constitute the area of the city, is conditioned by the size of the contribution to the Credit Fund. Only those can receive the maximum who pay at least 1,000 thaler into this fund, and pay it, furthermore, under the condition that this money remain at the full and free disposal of the fund for the purpose of transporting those without means, because Christian fairness and justice demand that he who sows shall reap, and that he who bears the greatest burdens shall also enjoy the greatest fair advantages.
Par. 6. Claim to Land Nearby
Those who are received into full citizenship in the community (see Par. 2 of the Code for the Civil Community) acquire the right to have the greater portion of their land assigned to them in the immediate vicinity of the projected city, whereas the associates and those who are subsequently received into the community must be satisfied with the more distant land.
Par. 7. Portions to be Reserved
a. Main church in the area of the community
Before proceeding with the distribution of the land among the individual members of the Gesellschaft, those portions are to be set aside which will become the property of the main church, as well as those which will be owned jointly by the entire community.
Par. 8. Continuation
b. Four branch churches
To provide for the event that it should please God to let his people increase, additional portions of land will be reserved for four other churches, which shall be located at a suitable distance from the main church.
Par. 9. Continuation
c. Public buildings, streets, canals, mills, etc.
Furthermore, the space necessary for the common purposes of the community, public buildings, streets, canals, etc., shall be determined as accurately as possible in advance. Likewise on the river where the settlement is to take place, the necessary space for building mills at regular intervals shall be reserved.
Par. 10. Communal Woodlands
The communal woodlands for the lumber and fuel necessary for the community shall be bought outside the limits of the city, in order that the space within the city limits for those who will follow will not be lost.
CHAPTER II. PLAN OF THE CITY
Par. 1. Nature of this Plan
On the site of the settlement a city will be laid out, but not with immediately adjacent houses, rather with gardens between them, so that there shall be a garden for each home.
Par. 2. Public Buildings
A church shall be the first of the public buildings constructed, thereafter a town hall and the seminary together with the school. The other buildings of the church, the various educational institutions, a combined poorhouse, hospital, and orphanage, and a retreat for widows without relatives, the aged, etc., will be built in the course of time, and as conditions and means permit.
Par. 3. Lecture Hall and Recreational Center
As soon as practicable a public lecture hall and recreational center with many rooms and extensive gardens shall be established, for recreation, whenever desired, and for maintaining community spirit.
Par. 4. Playgrounds
For the children, especially for those of parents from the working classes, public playgrounds shall be constructed, where old and otherwise incapacitated men and women will exercise supervision in the absence of the parents. These grounds shall be laid out in such a manner that they provide shelter from the heat of the sun, can be heated in winter, and in moderate temperature provide open rooms. The arrangement shall be such that the children who cannot yet walk, those attending school, and the adults can stay in separate rooms.
Par. 5. Cemeteries
The cemeteries shall be laid out next to the churches.
Par. 6. Height and Specifications of the Houses
The houses may not be built over two stories high and must be as spacious, dry, and light as possible. The windows may not be too low nor the roofs of straw. All refuse will be removed at the rear.
Par. 7. Streets
The streets will be laid out twenty to one hundred paces broad, provided with parkways, and interrupted by squares.
CHAPTER III. MEANS OF SUSTENANCE AND OCCUPATION
Par. 1. Agriculture and Stock Raising
The colony to be founded shall be based chiefly upon agriculture and stock raising, but in addition to these, truck gardening and arboriculture, flax raising, silk culture, the production of oil, and vine culture shall also be carried on. Attention shall also be given to the cultivation of medicinal herbs (rhubarb, opium, c
astor-oil plants, etc.), and botanical gardens shall be laid out for that purpose.
Par. 2. The Arts and Crafts
The arts and crafts shall be pursued as comprehensively as possible, however, without reintroducing the European excess, and with consideration chiefly for necessity and utility.
Par. 3. Inadmissibility of Factories
Factories may absolutely not be established. On the other hand, large-scale production in the crafts is permitted within certain limits, which are to be fixed by regulation.