John Humphrey Noyes’s Home Talks

This chapter focuses on John Humphrey Noyes' frequent informal talks to Oneida residents about spiritual and social matters. It recounts how the Oneida community dubbed Noyes' teachings as “home talks” and published many of them in a book based on notes taken by residents, which were reviewed by Noyes himself for accuracy. It also cites home talks as examples of the type of teachings Oneida community members heard from their leader. The chapter describes one of Noyes' home talks, wherein he philosophized on the organization and function of families and the binding role of love in what he termed “family communism.” It covers Noyes' discussion of the need of individuals to identify their personal faults in order to correct them.