Omaha daily bee., 1888-05-27
THE NYSTlcS ECONOMY
The Quaint Customs of a Strange
and Picturesque Sect.
A DAY OF PECULIAR soLEMNlTY.
They are Weakened With the Strains
of Sweetest Music and Spend
the Day Weaving Car
lends for Graves.
Harmonists, Memorial Day.

quaint customs and ceremonies prac-
ticed by the singular community of
German socialists and mystics, known
as harmonists or economies, who built
and W this peculiar village, where
they have observed the most absolute
communism and the most rigid cell
bacy for nearly seventy years, that
which possesses. the strongest interest
is the keeping of an annual memorial
or decoration day, upon which they
adorn the graves of all their dead with
flowers. This custom was not suggested
by the American usage Of decorating
the graves of the soldiers of the late
war. On the contrary, it has been
practiced by the harmonists or econo-
mites ever since their strange sect was
first organized at Harmony, in Butler
county, Pa, 1905.
The third Sunday in May is generally
chosen for the Economics Decor
alton day, as by that the flowers
in the society's beautiful public
garden are usually abundant,
but the selection of the date rests en-
tirely with Father Jacob Henrici, who
is the autocratic head of the community
its prophet, priest and king. Complete
submission to his will is regarded by
the Economics as one of the highest
and most imperative forms OF CHRISTIAN
duty. One good old Economic sister
told ne only yesterday that u blessing
could not fail to follow implicit obedi-
ence to the commands of Father Hen
rici, who is the dictator not only of all
the rules and regulations by which his
people are governed but of the miuutest
actions of their lives as well.
Ever since the HarmonistS settled
their organization they have been ac-
customed to bury their dead in the
orchard. Il large enclosure of many
acres, made beautiful by eXquisitely
kept velvety lawns and graceful peach
and pear trees. IA portion Of it has been
separated from the rest by "a neat fence
of white palings, within which Father
Rapp, the founder of the society, and
his many followers who have gone to
join him, calmly sleep their last sleep.i
The graves of the Harmonists are
wholly u~ndesignated by mark of any
kind, and there is no leans of distin-
gushing that of the great Father Rapp
from those of the humble brethren who
sleep around him. A: register and
ground plan of this primitive cemetery
are strictly kept, however. and the aged
Harmonist, of it can, from memory,
give the names and point out the graves
of every individual buried there.
Much that seems strange ill the faith
and practice ofthc harmonists is readily
accounted for when it isltaken into con-
sidcration that ever since the formation
of their society in 1905, they have daily
expected the visible, personal second
coming of the redeemer. The sun never
rises upon Il new day that they do not
expect to see in the heavens the signs
of His glorious advent and to read
there in the-to them-joyful news,
that the end of the world is at hand.
They hold all flowers in great enera
ton and invest them with Especial mys-
tic meaning, believing them to have
been designed by God as direct types of
the resurrection, regarding their rising
in the spring from the earth in which,
during the severe winter, they seem
to have been buried, as directly
typical of Christ rising from the
dead. 1t is for this reason that
flowers bear so prominent a part in all
their religious M social o~bservanCes
n that they are cast down upon the
coffin when it is lowered into the grave
and are annually placed upon the
graves themselves. In addition to
other gifts of prophecy. Father Henrici
possesses great skill in %fortelling the
weather and he generally selects forthe
annual decoration II day whose sky is
fair and clOudless. His choice is an
nounceG to his people the night before.
and the long hours of darkness which
follow are devoted to meditation and
prayer. The eve of their memorial day
is IL season of peculiar solemnity among
the simple-minded harmonists and is
regarded with feelings of veneration
,.l .,,, ALT, 10 tIa,a i,.niNA1 lv hnl -
week in Lent. The leaders or elders,
devote themselves to reconciling any
differences which may have arisen
among the members. so that all may
participate in the solemn observance of
decorating the graves of their lead in
true christian love and fellowship.
If any harmonists have INDUCED in
any gross sin or have any heavy burden
resting upon their conscience they are
urged to make Il private confession of it
to Elder Heinrich, their venerable reli-
gious leader, as well as TO God, for they
believe that without this confession to
their spiritual adviser they cannot ex-
pect that full forgiveness from Jehovah,
which will bring them true peace of
mind and enable them to perform the
decoration in the right spirit. There
is less of this confusion practised now,
however, than in former years, when,
being younger and less firmly estab-
lished in the Christian life, they
were more liable to yield to
temptation or besetting sins,
and especially during the lifetime
of Father Rapp, whom they %devoutly
reverenced as holding a direct commits
sion from God as his chosen minister.
With the dawn of their decoration
day, all gloomy meditation vanishes and
the same happiness and Joy that are SO
noticeable among them on Easter morn
ing sparkle in every eye and smile on
every lip, for as will have been gathered
from what has been already written, the
harmonists do not regard. death as a
thing of sadness, to be stunned and
dreaded. On the contrary they deem
it most desirable as a translation from
earthly sorrow and pain to endless
peace and Joy, and think that those who
die in the Lord are TO be felicited
rather han mourned for.
Just as the first rosy hues of dawn are
visible in the eastern: heavens
the excellent military band which
has always been maintained among
them, wakens the towns with