THE REGISTER FOR THE FIRST SOCIETY OF ADHERENTS TO DIVINE REVELATION, AT ORBISTON IN LANARKSHIRE, N. B. WITH A CIRCUMSTANTIAL ACCOUNT OF THE RISE AND THE FIRST BRITISH COMMUNITY, POUNDED ON THE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES OF CO-OPERATIVE, SELF-DIRECTED LABOUR, &c. PRINTED AT THE ORBISTON PRESS; SOLD IN GLASGOW BY W. R. M'phun, 86, trongATE, AND D. CAMPBELL, 43, AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. 1826. ADVERTISEMENT. This Journal reports the progress of the First Community that has been established in Great Britain, founded on the important Principles of Co-operative, Self-Directed Labour, &c. One of the inherent features and intrinsic properties of this plan of Combination, is, that it overthrows nothing. The only enemies it has to combat, and which it must inevitably destroy, are poyerty, wretchedness, ignorance, and vice. It leaves every one in possession of all he now has; and so far from diminishing, it will greatly add to the present private wealth, even of the most wealthy individuals. It proposes to enrich all-not by dispossessing the present wealthy classes of their riches, and distributing them amongst the poor,-but by placing all in a condition to create new wealth, for themselves, and for society at large. Violence is utterly repugnant to its spirit; and never can, by any possibility, attend its progress. It holds all existing institutions sacred-all rights undisputed-all forms unchanged. It engrafts itself upon the present state of the world without creating the slightest confusion ;-it takes its station among men, without forcibly displacing a single circumstance or arrangement of life. Whatever shall go to decay before it, will not have been destroyed by violence, but will have fallen to pieces from being no longer useful,-from becoming incapable of supporting itself,-and from there being none to think it worth the trouble of preservation. All that is really excellent will continue with it to become more and more extensively useful and valuable; and even usless systems and their idle appendages will continue to be respected, while there are any individuals remaining who take an interest in their existence. This plan, then, being adapted to the whole world-being founded on such universal principles that it can be adopted, and ultimately with equal sucess, by all mankind, under every present variety of circumstances;-and the state of the world, particularly of this country, being favourable to its introduction-what is there that can stand in the way of its being immediately carried into practice? Persons associating together for this purpose, will soon find themselves in possession of greater and more permanent advantages, for themselves and for their children, than they can even hope to acquire by their individual exertions. The principle of combination has been long acted upon, and its advantages recognized, in most of the concerns of life. In the modern systems of education,-in societies for the acquisition and diffusion of knowledge,-in all the arts of peace and of war,-in defence and in aggression, -in operations of labour,-in the economy of some of the inferior animals,—in the structure, even of inanimate machinery,-the beneficial consequences which arise from the skilful combination of various powers, have long been known and felt. And, shall mankind longer delay to apply this mighty principle to their most important concern, the acquisition of happiness If they are not yet prepared to combine for the attainment of happiness—surely they are ready to unite for the removal of wretchedness and want, misery and vice. |