Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-02-17
THE ECONOMlTE SOCIETY
A QUAINT SECT RICHER IN MILL.
IONS THAN IN MEMBERS.
The Qneer Society that George Rap
Established in Pennsylvania
Their History and Habits.

Fort Wayne Railroad, eighteen miles be-
low Pittsburg, yet it is rs unlike al
American town as If it belonged to an
other part of the globe. Neither the
hustle of the near by city nor the railroad
and steamboat lines ever penetrate the
heart Of the sleepy town. 1t is the home
of the Economics, asociety founded by
George Rapp in Germany many, many
yelrs ago. What all their beliefs were
is mole than any outsider can ever tell.
Their chief aim was to live as the eafli.
est Christians did, as portrayed IN the
writings of the apostles. Driven from
Germany by religious prosecutions, they
emigrated to America in 1905 and settled
in Pennsy ylvania.
They bought land and built village
which they called Harmony. They dubbed
themselves Harmontes, and gave what
earthly goods they possessed TO their
founder and leader, George Rapp, who
was their father, banker, adviser and
preacher.
George Rapp decided that it would be
more in conformity with the teachings of
the disciples to live life of cclibacy.
Several of the members who had wives
ard sweethearts rebelled against this.
Those who were true to lapp moved
with him to indiana, where another
Harmony was founded. Disease attacked
tie new village and redaced the number
of its inhabitants so greatly that the
remaining ones fed back to Pennsyl-
vana. In 1922 they bought ,, 800 acres
of land in most beautiful valley near
Pittsburg. Here they settled and here
those of them who are still alive, live
to-day. The misfortunes that befell
them in the two Harmony settlements
caused them to change the name. They
called their new home Economy and
themselves Economics. The members
who deserted the Harmonites either died
out or became as othr citizens of the
globe Many of their descendants are
weIl-known people in and around
Allegheny City. About one thousand
members first settled in Economy, but as
their number was never increased by
birth or by adoption, and as death
occ aSionally invaded their homes, there
remain at the present time not more
than eighteen members, the youngest of
whom is sixty-two years d. When
they first took vows OF celibacy they be-
lieved that the world was nearing its end,
and so they lived simple lives, preparing
for the mysterious hereafter. George
Rapp, Just before he died, told the
Others the world would surely end before
;he last member died They believe it.
On entering the village one sees plain
houses, wide, well-kept streets, lined on
either side with large shade trees and
,hickens-nothing else.
The houses are all alike. They are all
built with the gable end towards the
street, an / cannot be entered except
through the yards.
Everything in Economy is run by rule
and regulation much as at boarding
school, At o'clock in the morning the
bell on the one church rings, and every
one in the village rises. At o'clock
every dweller sits down TO breakfast, aud
what is eaten in one house is eaten in all.
There is day for milk soup" and one
for "wine soup" and for every other dish
peculiar to the place The bell rings
again at ! O'Clock for all to go to work;
at . it brings them back to lunch, at 12
to dinner, at 8 to luuch again, at to
supper, and at 8 it rings for e cry one to
put out his light and go to bed. No
member ever rebels or disobeys.
There is a wine cellar in Economy ia
nous for its old liquors, but it is never
sold except to inval:dS. None of the
Economics drink wafer, and their en-
ployes are given wine and cider.
The only paper published in Economy
is novel one on wheels. 1t is the side
of the milk wagon which carries to each
dweller, as we'll as the milk, the work to
be done "The apples will be gathered
tomorrow" "The cherries will be gath
cred tomorrow, or "Such field will be
reaped," is inscribed on the wagon
side, so that when all are supplied with
their daily portion of milk they know
what labor awaits them.
No family names are used among the
members. Jacob and Gamma" and
dorothy" are sufficient. If there are
two of name, they distinguish them by
the locality where they live. Thus, there
are Dorothy near the mill" and a
dorothy near the orchard"
On Sunday no excuse is accepted for
absence from church. 1t is quaint lit
tie chapel painted blue and white, and
in keeping with the people who gather
in it to worship according to their belief.
Miss Gertrude Rapp, the granddaugh-
ter of the founder, although at least
eighty years old, still plays the organ
and leads the singing twice every Sum
day. She is yet pretty woman, rather
petite, has large blue eyes and the
whitest of white hair, which tucked un-
der her quaint little blue Normandy
cap, makes her a perfect picture OF ye
olden days. She occupies the Rapp
House-the White House of Economy.
1t contains many costly, beautiful and
curious relics.
When an Economic dies he is
wrapped in q winding sheet and buried
in the white graveyard near the orchard.
No tombstone ever marks his resting
place. In the centre of the orchard j,
mound where the Indians buried theiI
fallen after battle with the French.
The Economy Hotel las many visitors,
One large room is always reserved fci
tramps. They are always treated just
the same as the citizens. They are kept
over night and after being given some
money in the morning, are started on
their way. No one ever leaves Economy
hungry.
People often wonder what will become
of their wealth, for they are very
wealthy. Everything they engage in
prospers, and it has become saying that
an Economic is always wealthy.
The world does not seem nearer its
end than it did when George Rapp
founded his quaint society, yet his fol.
lowers are firm in their faith that their
last member will see its end 1t will not