THE EMERGENCE OF A CITY Six thousand years ago, the Brotherhoods knew the important part the city of Stelle was to play in Their Great Plan. Thirty-three years ago, a twelve -year-old boy named Richard was told by Dr. White of the role he would play as founder of the community which would be the base from which would spring the Nation of God. It has been within only the past five years or so that many of the individuals comprising The Stelle Group have learned of the Brotherhoods and the Great Plan. But the past six months have seen the physical evidence of the emergence of the city of Stelle. For many members of The Stelle Group this past summer has meant spending many hours doing the thing we have all come here to do -- building the city of Stelle. For those who hold jobs in Chicago, it has meant driving to the construction site on weekends, holidays, and vacations; it became a regular pattern to spend the weekend working at construction projects in the warm summer weather, and during the week to work in air-conditioned buildings in the city. For those living in the site area, it has meant seven days a week, often late into the night, working at projects trying to meet the deadlines of a construction timetable. And although the pace of construction sometimes seemed slow, a great deal has been accomplished. The first building of the city, a factory designed and built almost entirely by Stelle Group members, has been brought close to completion. It is this building, standing out in geometric solitude against the gentle rolling fields of corn and soybeans, which has consumed the bulk of man hours of both those who have been responsible for design and those doing the actual construction work for Stelle Construction Go. The factory has been brought close to the point of readiness for October occupancy by Stelle Woodworking Corp. which will be moving in from its Chicago location, and for E.E.E. Co., which is moving in from its Kentucky location. Many other construction projects are in various stages of completion. Water has been located and wells drilled at several locations. A dust collection system for the factory has been installed. Culverts have been laid and a half-mile-long 36-inch diameter storm sewer is being completed. The foundation for the first home in Stelle has been laid with work proceeding on the remainder of the house. Part of a sewage treatment plant has been installed and a water treatment plant is being built. Continuing throughout all of these projects are the efforts of the survey crew to mark out exact locations and elevations for the various operations. Of absolute necessity for the carrying out of construction is the preliminary design work to which some members devote most of their free time. With the physical activity taking place has come a shift in emphasis within The Stelle Group. Prior to this year, Stelle Group activities have mostly been those of planning and discussion. But now the work is taking place of bringing into effect what has been planned for so long. With this shift have come challenges to members -- a challenge to give up free time to help complete needed tasks, a challenge to learn new skills mostly while on the job, and a challenge to achieve smooth working relationships so that jobs get completed efficiently. Meeting these challenges has produced real character growth. It becomes increasingly obvious to those involved that as necessary as the actual building projects are to bringing Stelle into being, the real crux of what is happening here is the personal growth which members are achieving by involving themselves in the Brotherhoods’ Work. ∆
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