, 1888-11-08
A Little-Known Religious Sect
In Pennsylvania.
Attempt to Duplicate the Feast
of the Passover.
Scene to Initiate the Entertainment of
the savior the Last Time on Earth
Enmity Eliminated.
st, Louis Post Dispatch.


that 1t seems to have been transported
bodily from provincial Germany-wher
its strange inhabitants bold their peculiar
annual observance of ceremony which
for more than 1900 years has exerted upon
the minds of vast multitude of man.
kind, an influence greater, probably, than
OF any other social or religious usage in
the worlds history-the Feast of the
Passover, as it was observed in Jerusalem
for the last time by Christ and his dis.
ciples, when 1t was transformed into the
Lords Supper Of the Christian church.
Everyone has heard of the Harmonists
or Economics. Their fame is world
The story of how, to escape religious per.
secution, they fled from their German
Faderland to this country and established
here, in 1905, theocratic. communistic
religious society upon the principle of
holding all things in common, is fami-
lar tale. Their adoption In lS07-wholy
from religious motives of the rigid prac.
tice of celibacy, which they have strictly
observed down to the present time, has
had wide notoriety, and has even been
commemorated in one of the poems of
Lord Byron. But of all the many writers
who have attempted to tell the story of
this most singular people, no one has as
yet been able to give any account of what
they regard as their most private and sac.
red social and religious customs.
A close intimacy with their religious
leaders and a residence of many years in
their immediate vicinity has given me
n Mi l,a al,
of these things. The frequent misrepre-
sentations of them by newspaper and
magazine correspondents have aroused In
the breast OF the Harmonist leaders a de-
sire that they shall be truthfully stated.
1t is owing to this combination of circum.
stances that | am able to give correct
account of the manner in which the Har-
monists celebrate that most sacred of all
religious usaRes-the Lords Supper.
These singular people partake of this
Sacrament but once year. They believe
that as it was intended to replace an
annual obseryance-the Feast of the Pass.
over--it was our Lords intention that it
should be celebrated but once in twelve
month, and that it is direct violation of
his wish and will to keep it oftener. 1t is
the only Sacrament they recognize. Even
that Of baptism they entirely reject.
When questioned on this subject they say
that the command, "Believe and be bap.
tized referred only to figureative bap.
tism of the spirit. and not to literal one
with water.
But to the Sacrament of the Lords
Supper there is no sect or religious society
in existence which attaches more import.
ance. sacredness and mystery than do the
Harmonists. They believe that ut the
Lords table the true body and blood of
Jesue Christ are verify present in the ex.
ternal symbols Of bread and wine, and
that they are there communicated and re-
ceived. They attach unusual Importance
to the spiritual saying that damnation
the revised version substitutes "condem-
nation J shall be the portion of him who
eats and drinks unworthily.
The wOrthiness which they deem essen.
tial includes not merely change of heart.
No one must approach the Lords table
with feelings of enmity in his heart to-
ward any of his brethern. Before coming
to communion they are careful to first pri
vately sand then publicly reconcile all va
rance which may have arisen among any
OF their members, so that they may all
participate in true Christian love and fel-
lowship. They claim that this practic is
strictly eDjoined by our Savior IN his Ser
mon on the Mount, as recorded by st.
Mathew v: 1929: Therefore If thou
bring thy gift to the altar. and there re.
memberest that thy brother hath ought
against thee, leave there thy gift before
the altar, and 90 thy way; first be recon-
ciled to thy brother and then come and
offer thy gift"
But notwith standing the very sacred and
mystic character with which they invest it,
the Harmonists' celebration OF the Lords
supper is largely u social as well us re-
ligious observance. lt is an occasion of
joy, not of sadness or gloom. Every dis,
pute having been amicably settled and
every sin atoned for so far as lies within
The power of the transgressor, and the
of this singular community are
at peace with each other and with them
selves. Music plays most important
part in the celebration of the sacrament as
In all their other social ard religious OBJ
servances. Father George Rapp, the
founder of the Harmony Society, was a
great lover of music, and thoroughly un.
ierstood Its influence over large bodies of
men. He caused great attention to be paid
10 its cultivation by all members of his
and in the paimy days of the
,0ciety's history-when its membership
numbered nearly one thousand--there "
not Harmonist possessing any musical
,alent whatever who could not play upon
ome musical instrument.
Father Rapp organized among his peo-
pie large military band and complete
orchestra, both OF which we're maintained
Imong them until few years ago, when
yes too dim to sac notes aud fingers too
eeble to control valves and strings CON-
,elled the aged barmonists TO reliuauish
'orns and hdales to younger and less skill
a. nands.
Even now, when the 1000 people who
nee acknowledged the firm but gentle
way of dead and gone Father Rapp have
lwindled to less than twenty-five aged
men and women; the military band is still
amouR their work people. for
! ot ~ ba aaA ~ g..