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994 Mt}t '&$&1lit* {Saturday ,
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Social Reform. "Notes Of A Social, Ckcon...
" 2 . That man is compelled by his original constitution to receive his feelings and his convictions independently of his will . " 3 . That his feelings and his convictions , or both of them united , create the motive to action called the will , which stimulates him to act , and decides his actions . " 4 . That the organization of no two human beings is ever precisely similar at birth ; nor can ait subsequently form any two individuals , from infancy to maturity , to be precisely similar . constitution of
" 5 . That , nevertheless , the every infant , except in case of organic disease , is capable of being formed into a very inferior or very superior being , according to the qualities of the external circumstances allowed to influence that constitution from birth . " Human nature , therefore , is a compound of animal propensities , intellectual faculties , and moral qualities , united in different proportions in each individual , by a power unknown to him , and consequently without his consent . He comes into existence within certain external circumstances ;
and the influence of these external circumstances is modified , in a particular manner , by his peculiar , individual organization . He may be made to receive either true ideas , derived from a knowledge of facts , or false notions , derived from the imagination , in opposition to facts : he may be trained to acquire injurious or beneficial habits , or a mixture of both . Now , for the first time in the progress of human affairs a direct and open conflict has commenced , between moral falsehood and truth ; between false
and real virtue ; between force , fraud , and oppression , and kindness , honesty , and justice ; between individual riches and luxury , and great poverty and destitution ; between War and Peace ; between the superstitious prostration of , the mental faculties and mental liberty ; in fine , between misery and happiness ; and a period of universal virtue and happiness shall arrive , when knowledge shall make charity and love extend over the earth , and peace shall be universal .
Now , a small portion of the population , with the aid of scientific power , can supply the wants of a very large population ; and this is the first step towards the attainment of the . promised " Millenium . " For , by the aid of this new power , a superabundant provision for all the wants of man , without slaver // , or servitude , may be provided ; the only inequality of condition to be the natural one of age and experience , which will preserve order and harmony in society . The second preparatory step is , the improvement of the character of the human race : which can be
cilected only by an entire change m the formation of the character of each individual from birth through life . "At present , there is not one educational establishment known , that is calculated to train individuals from birth to become rational men and women . " But , the science of human nature " has been discovered , " and must lead to the practice of forming a superior moral , physical , mental , and practical character for every individual .
The third step can be attained only by the " Science of Society , " which will enable man to dissect it into its elementary parts ; to separate them ; to ascertain their pant and present incongruities ; and to know how to recombine them in their proper proportions , so as to form a new and more perfect state of society . The fourth . step is , the gradual ceasing of the necessity for any of the professions . Peace on earth can never be attained : ¦ — 1 st . So long as priests teach their opposing doctrines of faith and mysteries as opposed to a belief bused solely upon demonstrable facts .
' 2 nd . So long as any necessity shall exist for the profession of the law ; human law as opposed to Nature ' s everlasting law . . ( id . So long as physical and mental disease shall exist . The discovery of the . means , and the adoption of the practice , to prevent disease of body 3 iii ( l mind , are necessary : the means have been already discovered , to a great extent . The , proper mode of pr even tiny disease is to exercise , at the proper period of life , all the natural faculties , propensities , and powers , up to the point of tkmi-k-UA v , . . . The causes of disease being chiefly hvc religious perplexities ; disappointment of the aflectioiis- pecuniary difiieulties ; anxiety for our
oll-Hprillg ; INTKMI ' ICIUNCKThe ' fifth Htep , is tli « abandonment of the principles winch lead to Wak . The talk of War and morality—Wah and religion—War and
justiceor War and peace and goodwill to mankind— - existing at the same time in the mind and conduct of the same individual , is a proof how irrational
men are . . The sixth step will be the destruction of the immoral system of buying cheap and selling dear , for a money profit *; a practice by which characters are formed in an inferior mould . The seventh step will be the abandonment of paying money wages by one part of society to another , for their mental or physical services ( science having also rendered severe and unhealthy human labour unnecessary)—a practice which has led to greater injustice , degradation , crime , and misery , than when slavery was general . For it was the interest
of the owner that his slave should not be overworked , but be healthy and in good working condition . " But the lowest stage of humanity is experienced when the individual must labour for a small pittance of wages ; when he is not suffered to have land , from which , by his own labour , he may produce the necessaries of life ; and when he must find employment , even to obtain this small pittance , or be degraded to a workhouse , or steal , or murder , or starve . " The eighth step will be to terminate idleness and uselessness . It being impossible to calculate the extent of evil that men and women , who are
maintained in idleness , inflict upon the population within their influence . The temperate exercise of the physical and mental faculties being a continual source of health and enjoyment . The ninth step will be to form the external arrangements around every one , from birth ; to insure to him the best physical , moral , and intellectual education , that his constitution , or natural faculties , when born , will admit .
The tenth step will be to terminate the distinction of rich and poor . The existence of great wealth and extreme poverty , within the same nation or district . For one family to be wallowing in luxury to such an extent as to cause loss of health and real enjoyment , while a neighbouring family is suffering every privation until its members pine away and are gradually starved to death , and that without exciting feelings of horror and astonishment , indicates a degraded state of human existence , Avhich cannot much longer be permitted to continue upon the earth , to disgrace the conduct of human beings having the presumption to call themselves rational and religious .
The eleventh step will be to infuse into each heart and mind I he genuine spirit of charity for the varied opinions , feelings , and conduct of the human race , until all shall think , feel , and act as much alike upon all matters essential to the permanent happiness of mankind , as those well instructed in the science of mathematics now think , feel , and act alike on all things appertaining to that science .
The twelfth and last step , the chief cornerstone of the social cdilice , is the abandonment of the principles from which all falsehood proceeds , and the adoption of principles that will establish truth from birth to death , in the word , look , and action of every individual ; the declining reverence for the priesthood over the world ; their dissensions in opposition to each other , and their presumption over their more enlightened fellowinen ; ihe progress of the Tkmi'kkance societies in ( ireat Britain and America ; the advance of scientific discoveries ; the passion for educating the masses ; the disinclination for Waii even
among warlike nations ; the easy and rapid communication between the most distant countries ; the adoption of scientific power to supersede severe or injurious manual service , slavery ; the friendly union of hitherto hostile Governments ; with many other events ; indicate with certainty thai a great change is coining over the nations of the earth ; and that man shall now be put in I lie right jtath , to become good , and wise , and happy ; " and every obstacle in the way of his progress to this advent of his existence ( the victory of rational over irrational principles ) shall prove unavailing and powerless . "
" A rational ( Joverninent will attend solely to the happiness of the governed . " It will ascertain what are the laws of human organization and existence , from birth to death ; what is necessary for the happiness of a being so formed ; and what are the best means for securing them permanently . Kveiy one shall have e <| ual and full liberty * legitimate profit ia the fair wugc ( or gatjo ) paid for thdabour , talent , and capital employed in oouwnurce , and in tho buolneiw of distribution . —VV . C .
of conscience on religious and all other subjects No one shall have any other power than fair argument to control the opinions of others . _ N praise or blame , no merit or demerit , no rewadr or punishment , shall be awarded for any opinions or belief . But all , of every religion , shall have equal right to express their opinions respecting the Power which moves the atom and controls the universe , and to worship that Power in anv manner agreeable to their , consciences , and not interfering with the equal rights of others . Every one shall be educated from infancy to maturity , in the best manner known , and pass
through the same general routine of education . AU children from their birth , shall be under the especial care of the community ; their parents to have free access to them at all times . Both sexes shall have equal education , rights , privileges and personal liberty ; and their marriages will arise from the general sympathies of their nature , uninfluenced by artificial distinctions . Society shall then be composed of communities , or associations , of men , women , and children , in the usual proportions , from 300 to 2000 . * Each community shall possess , around it , land sufficient for the support of its members .
Each community shall be governed in its home department l > y a general council , composed of all its members between the ages of thirty and forty ; and in its foreign department by all its members from forty to sixty years of age .
CONCLUSIONS . That the period for introducing the Rational System of society is near at hand (?) j and that no human power can resist the change . That the Governments ( the Peoples ?) of the world will soon be compelled , in self defence to adopt this system , to prevent their being involved in anarchy , war , and ruin j and that this change
will destroy the old vicious system of ignorance , poverty , and individual competition . But that there must be a sufficient number of individuals imbued with the spirit of genuine charity , affection , and philanthropy , and instructed in the best mode of applying it to practice : they must , likewise , possess patience and perseverance , to overcome all obstacles ; and , above all , they must be united , have full confidence in each other , and be directed
by one heart and one mind . Under the past and present Irrational Systemdevised in opposition to Nature—nineteen out of twenty of the external circumstances formed by man around society , are of an inferior and vicious character ; under the Rational System now proposed , all the circumstances under human control will be of a superior and virtuous character . Under the existing religious , political , commercial , and domestic arrangements of Great Britain , 250 individuals cannot be supported in comfort on a square mile of land ; while under the jpioposed system , with less labour and capital than are now employed , 500 may be supported in abundance . Rational
Such is the difference between a system , f formed in accordance with Nature , an Irrational system founded in opposition to it . William Coningham . * Estimate of the Cost of one of tho superior Home Colonies , or Family Clubs : — Two thousand acres of average land , at £ 70 per nm acre ( including timber ) . • *"" » " Seventy-two dwelling houses , at £ 3 /» , 000 each ^ - "" Four colleges for education ,-at £ 4000 . - 10 > uw Four central buildings , one on each aido of square , for adulta , ut £ 8001 ) each . •"» """ Four culinary and refectory arrangements , at £ ( 5000 each . . . ¦ ~ < U Furnishing houses , colleges , public build- ,. w >()() ingn , etc . . . . • ' Water , gas , and heating apparatus , for public ^ and private buildings . - - ' Four farmhouses and farms of 800 acres each , ( &< :., at £ 4000 each . \ c ( W Stocking the above , at £ 4000 each . - w > IJiiths , gymnasia , and cloititcru / or each side of (>()() Hquare , £ 0000 each . •_() < W ' Drainage , laying out ho , nan ; and terraoo - ' Four toxvern for chimueyB and other purpose " , ^ (>()() « t £ /)()<) 0 each . - ' % () ' o ( K ) Contingencies . ______ — £ 700 , <> ()() "" "liSS £ 700 , 000 at /> per cent . . lO , 0 <) 0 Annual repair * - _______ £ 46 , Annual coHt - - . t jl ( l A proviHioiml form of government to bo adopted firat , or trimnitiun , tttate . . .. ^ t " I cunnider the virtuo of an action to 0 O * Bl ? J '" tic « being in harmony with the dictates of all me » acting in harmonioun combination , and duly « o enfid * '—ne Dtttio * of Man , by Qbouuk CooMUB-
994 Mt}T '&$&1lit* {Saturday ,
994 Mt } t ' & $ & 1 lit * { Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 18, 1851, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18101851/page/14/
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