Fate of the Original Oahspe Colony

By Leon Barda

Dear Ray Palmer:

I chanced upon an old second hand copy of the 1891 edition of Oahspe (an enormous book, like an old fashion Bible). Pasted on the inside front cover was a clipping from a newspaper which I have taken the trouble of copying for your benefit. There is no date to the clipping but it is very old, as evidenced by its brown color and crumbling condition. It must have been printed just after the breakup of the old Shalam Colony, but before it had been completely taken over by outsiders . . As you can see it was not destroyed by a flood, but rather by a "drought" - the drying up of the supply of money which kept it going.

Now what will you do with this clipping? Anything you wish. You may wish to publish it all, or part of it. You may wish to file it in the "round file". In any case it is yours, and welcome to it. Quote: OLD SHALAM COLONY GONE

New Mexico Utopia broken up and land will be sold

New Yorker who wrote an inspired volume and established a Colony on its teachings - his home for vagrant children of large cities. (Printed in the San Antonio Express, Las Cruces, New Mexico)

Tucked far away from the great busy world, guarded by bleak old Picacho and lulled to sleep by the rolling Rio Grande, lies the beautiful Shalam Colony. But yesterday this colony, its buildings and ground was, probably, one of the most beautiful spots in the Southwest and was the home of one of the most unique band of people in the world.

Located as it is, one mile west of Dona Ana, six miles north of Las Cruces, in the famous Mesilla valley, this strangely wonderful ranch is only forty-six miles North of El Paso. It is situated one mile through the brush from the railroad and consequently is not visible from the train, nor from the main traveled wagon road. It lies in a bend of the river, over next to the Picacho mountains on the west side of the valley.

This colony, once the home of a new religious sect, and established for the care and attention of vagrant children from large cities, the site of a "prophet" who, Dowie-like, issued a Bible of his own and attempted to found a new religion, has just passed into other hands and will be cut up and sold in small farms as homes. It was the fond hope of the founder to establish a colony of vegetarians, where he expected to raise children from the slums of the large cities and bring them up to become useful men and women. The promoter thought by the elimination of meat eating he could eliminate all that was bad in life and the basis of his new religion was founded on a vegetarian diet. He also thought the modern clothes were at fault in the development of human minds and bodies, and pajamas, day and night, formed the attire for the boys and girls of the college; also for the superintendents and employees.

The founder claimed to have had a revelation and his Bible was the outcome. The colony followed and in the colony he attempted to prove the truth of his revelations, but he failed, and the Bible and colony passed into history. After sinking a fortune of over a million dollars, the promoter sold the land for a few thousand and the financial backer, still clinging to the original belief and costume, will pass the last few years of his life in the California sun, where pajamas are more suitable to the climate than that of New Mexico.

A pretty location. The general view from the buildings of Shalam is grand. To the east fifteen miles are the towering Organs, to the north-east are the Dona Ana mountains, and to the north and south stretches the Mesilla valley.

Away back in the early '80s there lived in New York City a wealthy dentist, Dr. J. B. Newbrough. He became interested in spiritualism. He began to study the science and believed there must be some higher spirits than those generally present at the ordinary seances. Finally one day a spirit appeared to him and told him to get a typewriter and learn to operate it. This he did, and in the due course of time the spirit came again and told him that on every morning at thirty minutes before daylight a spirit would appear before him and direct him to use the typewriter for half an hour. He was told to lay the writings away and not look at them until he had finished, and then he should have them published in book form. For about a year he was at the typewriter at the appointed time and the spirit directed his fingers to do the writing.

When the book was completed Dr Newbrough was instructed to have 3,000 copies published and to name the book "Oahspe", a Paneric word, meaning "earth", "Sky", "Spirit". The book contained many strange and unheard of words. They were written under the direction of the spirit. Many of the words were from what the book calls the Paneric language, or the language of the continent of Pan, which was once a continent larger than the Eastern continent, and lying between Japan and North America, extending from Australia to the Bering Sea.

This continent was submerged by a great flood 24,000 years ago. This language is dead, and only known to the spirit world, the author claimed. Many words in the Oahspe are taken from the Chinese, Japanase and other languages, he says.

The principal teachings of the Oahspe are that the earth was created by a Creator or Jehovih, who directs everything in all worlds. The believers in the faith are called Faithists, as distinguished from Christians, Buddhists, Pagans, etc. The Oahspe teaches that all modern astronomy, physics, and philosophy are in error. The earth and moon revolves in a vortex, which whirls within a larger vortex, composed of all the planets, each planet having a vortex of its own. This larger vortex, which is but a part of a still larger vortex, revolves around the North Star, which itself is but a larger sun.

Non-flesh eating. The Oahspe teaches its followers to be non-flesh eaters, living entirely on vegetables; anti-warring, believing and practicing eternal peace. There shall be no preachers. The Faithists shall believe and live perfectly free. Government is not necessary. Legislation, tariffs, etc., are all relics of barbarism. There shall be no poor. Everyone shall be equal in wealth. In other words, the life of the Faithists should be one continual round of pleasure.

Dr Newbrough issued his first edition in 1882, 3,000 copies, and in 1884 he issued another edition of 3,000 copies. The first edition was all sold and 2,000 of the second edition were sold. Many of the books were sold in England. In the preface of his second edition he states that since the first edition many people had quit eating meat and many preachers had gone into active lines of business; therefore when the teachings of Oahspe became known the world over they would be universally followed.

One of the chapters of Oahspe teaches that especial care should be taken of poor homeless children. In 1884 Dr Newbrough had a spirit come to him and tell him to go and find a location for a home for homeless children. He left New York under the direction of a spirit and travelled and travelled until he finally reached the present site of Shalam. He was then told to buy the land and found a home for poor children and such adults as cared to devote their lives to the cause of taking care of and teaching the waifs to be good men and women.

For some time Shalam flourished. At one time there were forty-seven people living there. About this time Dr Newbrough was stricken with la grippe and died. After a while funds began to run short and those who had promised to help to maintain the institution failed to make remittances. On account of lack of funds the home idea was abandoned, and the children were found private homes and adopted.

Mrs Newbrough later married Mr Howland, and with her daughter and three of the orphans, one boy and two girls, they have been living quietly at Shalam. The buildings have been kept up, but the lands have been allowed to grow up in weeds. Some time ago Mr Howland went into court and had the land deeded back to him.

About a month ago the entire Shalam colony of 930 acres, together with all the buildings, were sold to Bird R. Birdwell of Las Cruces, Mr Lucius of Shreveport, La., and John Ginpas of Alexandria, La. These gentlemen will improve the land, planting most of it to alfalfa. The buildings will probably be used for a boys school or a winter hotel. They are admirably adapted for either.

Thus passes from existence an institution which, while it may have had as its foundation a religion not acceptable to most people, was, nevertheless, noble in purpose.

Mr and Mrs Howland and her daughter, Miss Newbrough, will move to the Pacific coast soon and will make their future home at San Diego, California.

End of quote.