Utopian/Commune Ephemera - 'The Journal' of the Institute of Cultural Affairs/Order: Ecumenical, Two Volumes - Chicago Religious offers Commune

The Journal. Circa 1978. The Institute for Cultural Affairs. Chicago.

Red paperback binding with printed covers, showing two prominent symbols of the Order: Ecumenical - the 'Congolese Cross' and the 'Wedge-Blade'. Good, some creasing and bending at corners, paperback bindings cracked, intact and tight otherwise. Some small notations in pen and ink, primarily noting dates.

This unusual pair of publications serve as daily calendars of affirmations for members of the Order: Ecumenical. Published by the Order's nonprofit wing, the Institute for Cultural Affairs (the logo of which is printed inside one of the volumes), these books advocate for 'profound humanness,' and include helpful charts for analyzing the self.

The Order: Ecumenical was a religious, nominally Christian sect based out of the Uptown neighborhood in Chicago. They were primarily focused on personal betterment and offers performing good works. While the Institute for Cultural Affairs still exists, with branches worldwide (http://www.ica-international.org/about-us/our-history/), the commune at its heart was dissolved in the 1980s.

These volumes contain some notations throughout, implying they were functional for their original owner.

A first-person story from a young girl who grew up in the commune at this time can be read here: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/March-2018/Growing-Up-in-the-Order/

Terms and Conditions: Please see our shop policies for full shipping information. SHIPPING UPGRADES AVAILABLE - choose during checkout. Processing time (between purchase and shipping) is typically 5 business days.