Utopia's Daughters

By JoEllen Conger

Our parents, escaping the throes of World War II, brought up their two young daughters in a world dedicated to the peace of mankind. Mankind United was an organization that began in the late 1800s, seeking a different way to live

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9781613092668

Book preview

Dedication

THIS BOOK, WRITTEN about how we grew up together in a Christian cult, I dedicate to my twin sister, who has passed away. It is going to be a long goodbye.

To the Remaining Few

This is not a make-believe fiction intended to simply entertain you with a pretend what if world. Utopia’s Daughters is the true life’s history of the Conger twins, now having reached living their eightysecond year. As children, they were brought up in a different way, in one of a number of American’s Christian cults.

Their parents, Fern and Dan Conger, joined the Mankind United organization in the early 1930s to meet the challenge of living what they believed: to harm none. It was their way of escaping the nightmare of WWII, or of being forced to go to war and die for someone else’s dream.

All the children of these followers of MU lived without hatred, fear, or malice. Christ’s Church of the Golden Rule still has its followers, braving the American prejudice against anything that is different. May they have the strength to carry on with their dream for a utopian existence.

JoEllen Conger

Acknowledgments

OUR GENUINE THANKS go out to all those who helped us research the social and political trends during the troubled years our parents suffered the indignities endured by many during the McCarthy witch hunts. We also thank those who located pictures, photographs, diaries, study notes, writings and articles created by the children who grew up in the Christian cluster cult lifestyle first known as Mankind United, then changed to Christ’s Church of the Golden Rule.

The story herein is of one such family, describing their fears, their hopes, and their dreams of building a better tomorrow. You be the judge if they actually threatened the fabric of our country. Decide for yourself if they were fairly treated in our free society, or if they truly deserved to be maligned as bigots and a dangerous influence.

Foreword

JOAN:

In 2012, we twins, Joyce and Joan Conger, began this manuscript under two separate titles: A Different Way to Go... (about our family’s experience in a California Christian cult) as well as Utopia’s Daughters, the story of two young girls growing up in pure utopia, without a worry in the world. It became an intimidating undertaking, and we stalled out.

Then I pictured other aspects to the Conger twins’ early life. Our parents, Dan and Fern Conger, introduced their daughters into this nonprofit organization during WWII, including the historical background of Mankind United, followed by the organization’s forced name change to Christ’s Church of the Golden Rule. This change turned our family saga in a new direction.

Christ’s Church of the Golden Rule

As reported by Novelguide.com Literary Analysis

Christ’s Church of the Golden Rule emerged in 1944 following conversations among a group of Christian men and women who shared their concerns about existing religious and economic practices and their perceived failure to meet the spiritual and material needs of humanity. These conversations were held in the context of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ, especially the Golden Rule and Jesus’ words, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (right-use-ness) and all these things will be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

These men and women concluded that these directions had not, to their knowledge, been followed since the days of the early Christian church described in Act 2:44 and Acts 4:32. They agreed that they should respond to Jesus’ words and actually attempt to live Jesus’ teachings and thus demonstrate to their contemporaries whether living such principles would overcome poverty, war, and insecurity and in the process make possible a worldwide brotherhood of humanity.

They investigated the manner to best structure their ideals and concluded that the formation of a church was the best way, both to modify their understanding in a community and meet the necessary legal requirements that would allow them the greatest freedom of action. They formed Christ’s Church of the Golden Rule in January 1944.

The church’s creed is the Golden Rule: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. (Matthew 7:12). The church understands the Rule as working in one direction; it never applies to the manner in which others treat you, but always the way you do to others. The church’s goal is stated in its vision: A World free from want, with liberty and justice for all, and with understanding love toward God and one another. This day’s work is dedicated to the end that we may prove that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that it is true that giving does not impoverish nor does withholding enrich.

The teachings of the church are summarized in its brief Declaration of Faith. It affirms belief in the one true God, conceived as Father-Mother, Jesus of Nazareth who came to reveal God to mankind and who was possessed of the eternal Christ (Truth); the authority of the Holy Bible, and salvation by repentance and regeneration through the Truth, the mind of God that is Jesus Christ. The church teaches that the essence of true religion is to love God and to do unto others as we should have them do unto us. It also teaches that equality in economic affairs is the only foundation upon which to build a humane world.

Through 1944 and 1945, some 850 people signed up as founding members of the church and gave up their personal wealth, family, and social ties and moved onto the church’s property. At the same time, some 100 pieces of property, primarily along the West Coast, were donated and a few additional pieces were purchased for church use. Resident training centers were established on these properties.

By 1945, the church’s property was valued at approximately three million dollars. That same year some of the founding members decided that they did not wish to remain church members. They withdrew and began legal proceedings to retrieve property they had donated. California’s attorney general joined that effort and moved to place the church into a receivership. The church responded by filing voluntary bankruptcy proceedings in federal court. The legal battle, which finally went in favor of the church, lasted for six years and was costly. Not only did many members leave, but much of the church’s property was sold during this period and its value reduced from three million to several hundred thousand dollars.

In 1951, the church had to rebuild the working model with which it had begun. In 1953, the church’s seminary in San Francisco, an important training center, was sold and property purchased near Bolinas, California. In the early 1960s, that property was included in a government plan to create the Point Reyes National Seashore Park. Thus in 1962, the church sold its property and moved to Mendocino County onto the large Ridgewood Ranch. Over the next few years, the church’s other centers, including those in Colorado and Wyoming, were closed and consolidated at the ranch. During the next two decades, the property was improved to house up to 100 residents. Private housing for students, a chapel, dining room complex, a social lounge, a food processing unit, business and accounting complex, a publications department, school building, and library were all erected. Facilities were made available to welcome people making inquiry about church membership and other visitors.

The Church of the Golden Rule was legally recognized as a church in 1964. It is directed by an Advisory Board of Elders. All resident members of the church live communally. No property or income can inure to any individual and all is used for the benefit of the church. No outside donations are solicited, though gifts are accepted for the spread of the church’s message, especially through its publications. The church operates a variety of business enterprises that have allowed the community to be largely self-supporting. Members of the church are active in the larger community. The church’s facilities are available to different religious, cultural and educational groups.

In 2002, the church reported approximately 65 members, most of whom reside at the ranch in Willits. Other adherents subscribe to the church’s teachings but reside elsewhere.

Joan C. Powell

Welcoming the Dawn

by Joan E. Conger

(Written during a poetry class at the San Francisco ministry)

Night gives way, and

The Eastern sky begins to glow.

Sunrise is near,

My eyes and my beating heart

Embrace the newborn day.

The flutes of the wind

Whisper a message to me:

"The goddess of the earth

Is my next of kin,

Father Sky my sire."

I am perfect in their sight.

My Soul and Spirit are as one

With the magick of Life;

Sadness and Joy are but expressions

Of the god and goddess within me.

Joe College and Toots, Daniel Keffer Conger & Fern Lois Nickell

Chapter One

AS THEY BURST INTO the eatery, the sound of their raucous laughter boiled in through the opening cafe doorway. Fern looked up, her order pad momentarily forgotten. With a quick smile and the toss of her short bob, she acknowledged the clutch of hooligans as the civil engineering students on class break.

Hi, Joe College, she called out. Your usual table is open. She waved her ordering pad toward a rear table in her section. Dan led the group past her, delivering a quick pat to her backside as he passed.

Fresh, she scolded as she whirled on her heel to avoid his groping touch, her short flapper length skirt swirling out behind her. Dang it! I hate it when he does that!

Thanks, Toots.

Hot mama, one of the students interjected, ogling Fern with appreciation. Dan grinned, mischief twinkling in his eyes.

She your honey? he was asked.

Working on it, Dan confided. She can really shake a leg. Says she used to dance in the movies when she lived in L.A.

I’ll just bet. Does she like jazz? Bring her down to the speako on Friday night. Let’s see if she really can dance. The college boys slid onto the booth’s benches, jockeying for position until they were all seated.

Fern flounced up to their table, order pad in hand. Same as usual? she asked, knowing full well they’d all order a hamburger with fries. How are the Mad Intellects this afternoon?

Hungry, as usual. Bring me a malted too, will you, Toots? Okay?

She nodded as she wrote. And a coke for you? she asked, pointing her pen at one of Dan’s companions. He nodded enthusiastically without uttering a word.

All on one ticket? she muttered to herself. She didn’t know why she even bothered to ask. It was the same routine each time they came in.

Dan simply wagged a finger to indicate she had it. Fern rolled her eyes. You’d think they would get tired of the same squabble each time of figuring out just who owes me how much. Perfectly ridiculous, if you ask me. Do they really think that’s the way to turn a girl’s head? And they are supposed to be the master mathematicians of the future!

Dan reached for her thigh, twiddling his fingers along her hemline, but she skillfully sidestepped his questing fingers and escaped their teasing to turn in their orders to the cook and return to her other tables. This wasn’t the time for flirts, no matter how good looking they all were, although it might have brought her better tips.

Returning with their food plates balanced along one arm, Fern doled out the orders around the table. Dan asked, You want to go dancing Friday night? He snatched a fry off his plate and winked.

Her heart fluttered. Maybe, she answered, hoping not to seem too eager. In truth, she’d be willing to follow him anywhere.

Will we see you there? he asked, his flashing eyes still flirting outrageously.

Why? You gonna be there? Is he really trying to ask me for a date...or just trying to impress his buddies?

Might be...could be...if I knew y’all were coming. He reached for her hand.

Fern blushed, and regretfully pulled her hand away. Well, Millie and I might stop by...dunno yet. What else is there to do in a small college town? Oh sure, I could stay home to wash my hair. Not likely.

Millie? Who is Millie? they chorused. A friend of yours?

Yeah, a student nurse...she’s my roommate.

You tell her we know how to show a lady a good time, one of the students promised. They all nodded like dog dolls on a dashboard.

Uh-huh. She whirled away from their table, her skimmer skirt swirling about her