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78 GU I D E to Y E L L OW S P R I NG S | 2O22 – 2O23 sick frail of cure for want of our treatment, it is Horace Mann who had hindered them. If any die who might have come to us and lived, he is their murderer.” With the help from endorsements by noted spirit medium J.B. Conklin, his tactics worked. In July 1856, local anti- Nichols sentiment subsided enough that Memnonia finally opened for busi- ness, and by the fall Mann appeared quite alone in his opposition. The Memnonia Institute turned out to exhibit few aspects of free love. Its guiding principle, the “Law of Progression in Harmony,” stated that a period of rigor- ous education and self-dis- cipline — particularly sexual abstinence — was a critical step toward the Harmonic society espoused by Charles Fourier, a colorful and enigmatic French utopian theorist. Fourier thought harmony, a state of per - fectly balanced “passions, or natural impulses,” developed gradually and instinctively within a free love collective. Once achieved, harmony produced “attractive indus- try,” a kind of spontaneous communal labor. Memnonians took strict vows of chastity, and pledged themselves to “care- ful industry” and conten- tious rest.” They observed a vegetarian diet and drank only water. The Nichols referred to themselves as the “pro- visional despots” of the community with Mrs. Nichols as chief spiritualist and disciplinarian. She led weekly seances called “circles” and daily t-group style sessions in which members’ failings were exposed and penance assigned. Dr. Nichols basked in his victory over Mann, criticizing the college’s strict code of conduct in Nichols’ Monthly and boldly predict- ing that as a school Mem- nonia would soon outshine Antioch. He also published an eloquent defense writ- ten by Jared Gage, a young Antioch student Mann had dismissed for residing at Memnonia. The institute itself did not exactly flourish, how - ever, and never attracted more than 20 followers. Many others frequently in residence were actu- ally water cure patients Dr. Nichols treated on the side to defray Memnonia’s cost. The rigorous lifestyle the Nichols demanded probably kept membership low, as well as the somewhat high $150 enrollment fee. The Nichols’ ever-deepening spiritual beliefs gradually led them and their few remain- ing students to convert to Roman Catholicism, ending their stay in Yellow Springs in March 1857. ♦ IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS Police Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911 Police Non-Emergency & Utility Emergency . .937-767-7206 General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 937-767-3402 ext . 0 Clerk of Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-9126 Utility Billing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 937-767-7202 ext . 221 Public Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-8649 Water & Wastewater Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-7208 Parks & Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-7209 Gaunt Park Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-9172 Mayor’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-3400 Village Mediation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-605-8754 Public Access TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-7803 Village Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-1279 Economic Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-1702 Zoning & Code Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-1702 Bryan Center Room Scheduling . . . . . . . . . . . .937-767-7209 TO REgISTER TO vOTE, cAll Greene County Board of Elections, 937-562-7470 We urge you to vote The village of Yellow SpringS WelcomesYou POPULATION: 3,610 ARE YOU SEEKING A NEW SPIRITUAL HOME? The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Yellow Springs is a progressive, inclusive, supportive congregation for people with diverse beliefs, committed to social justice and a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. YOU MAY BE A UU AND DON'T KNOW IT! Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Phone: 937-372-5613 Website: www.UUF-YS.org Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UUFYS Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. at the Meeting House, 2884 Rt. 68.