The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-02-05

God, he will presently be possessed OF
the spirit of God" The Bible is re-
ceived by them as the word of God,
each sacred writer being supposed to
have written only what he received from
God. The 21 ''Rules for daily Life, a"
inculcate abstinence, industry and deep
spiritual devotion in the conduct Of
life. They live well in hearty German
fashion, and their principal employ
ments are wooden, saw and grist milling,
teaming and farming. The manage
ment of affairs is vested in few prin-
cipal spiritual leaders, the people
troubling themselye but little in these
matters.
THE HARMONY SOCIETY.
Not far from Pittsburg and upon the
Ohio River, in one of the lovliest situa-
tions upon its shores, lies the town OF
village Of Economy, standing in the
midst of a rich plain with swelling hills
behind, which protect it from the cold
winds Of winter Below is a magnif-
cent reach of river, while on the oppo-
site shore a range of hills give the scene
an outlook Of picturesque beauty.
George Rapp, the founder of this So
ciety, was born in Wurtomberg, over
100 years ago. While a young man, he
was fond Of the study of the Bible, and
presently began to compare the condi-
ton of the people with whom he lived
with the social order laid down in the
New Testament Soon after he began
to preach, and found many who held
the same views as himself. Persocu-
ton soon set in against him, and he and
his followers were denounced as ''Sepor-
atists. he taught his followers to
obey the laws peaceably, but insisted
upon the right 20 believe as he pleased
and to 60 to church where he thought
best. Suffering much from the perss-
cutions Of the clorgy, he determined TO
emigrate to America, the Ship Aurora,
from Amsterdam, landin 300 ofg his fol
lowers in 1904 in Baltimore, and six
weeks later 800 more arrived at Phila-
delphia The majority Of these people
were laboring men, which was n fortu-
nate circumstance for this cummunity.
At this time they lived in families, and
encouraged the family relation In the
1907, during a period of religious fer
vor, the majority of the members deter
mined to conform more closely to what
they believed were the spirit and teach
ings of Jesus Among other matters,
they were persuaded that it was best to
cease to live in the marriage state.
Those who were opposed to a celibate
life withdrew, the remainder faithfully
ceasing from coniugal intercourse. The
first settlement of these people was in
Pennsylvania; afterwards they removed
to Indiana, in the Wabash Valley; andin
1923, having sold this property to Rob
ert Dale Owen, for his New Lenark Col
ony, they removed to Economy, their
present home. Their theological be-
lief has some features of German mys-
ticism, grated upon the Christian doc
trine and theory. They hold that Adam
was dual being, containing within
himself the sexual elements, with the
power to bring forth within himself new
beings to people the earth, but that,
becoming discontented with his state,
God separated the feminine element
from him, which he returned to him as
woman, wherein consists the fallen con-
dition of man. From this, they argue,
that the celibate state is most pleasing
t. God. Mr.. Nordhoff reports that they
regard the celebrate life with satisfac-
ton, and that they are a healthy and
long lived people. They have pros
pered greatly, the wealth of the society
being estimated from $2,OO0,OOO to
SO, 100000. The life of this simple
people is characterized by industry,
economy, freedom from care and ready
obedience to the simple laws by which
they are governed.
THE sEPARATTsTs.
Zoar is the home of Il Communistic
community who call themselves "Separ-
atists." They came originally from
Wurtembwg, and We're dissentcrs from
the Established Church. With their
leader, Joseph Baumeler, they arrived
in Philadelphia in 1877 and soon after
bought a military grant in the wilder
ness of Ohio. They determined upon a
division of goods and effects, placing all
the members upon an equal footing.
From this time. they began to proper.
Patience, frugality and industrious
effort have finally made then successful.
At the present time they own over 1000
acres of very fertile land, upon which
they are wooden factories, flour, planning
and saw-mills, with various other indus
tries, estimated to be worth over 81, 900
900. In religious belief they are Trini-
tarians, recognizing the Bible as the on
ly true guide for faith and conduct, and
maintaining the marriage relation under
restrictions. They live in families,
49,, -; 90 4I,C ,-sr4,rog yF ga1F 90 ,,.;Hna o