The House of David, founded in 1903 by Mary and Benjamin Purnell in Benton Harbor, Michigan, was a commune of Christian Israelites who believed in assembling the lost tribes of Israel in a new Jerusalem with a promise of immortality. Members practiced celibacy, renounced worldly possessions, and embraced a communal lifestyle. Despite financial and sexual scandals, as well as legal battles and negative press coverage, the commune thrived until the 1960s. Today, it remains a small, but enduring remnant of one of the longest lasting intentional communities in U.S. history.
Evelyn Sterne’s upcoming book, “The House of David: Salvation, Scandal and Survival in a Modern American Commune,” delves into the reasons behind the critics’ attempts to discredit the commune and what it signifies about religious toleration and the definition of religion in American society at that time. The commune, which embraced modern culture by running an amusement park and participating in musical groups and baseball teams, stood as a testament to a unique way of life in the face of societal norms and challenges.
To learn more about the House of David and its history, check out a recording of Evelyn Sterne’s talk on the subject available on the YouTube channel. The commune’s legacy lives on as a testament to the enduring spirit of communal living and religious devotion in American history.
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