The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-10
GEORGE RAPP'S FOLLOWERS
A Quaint Village, Where Dwells Sect
with More Millions than Members.
Only Eighteen Left of the Thousand Who Fol-
lowed George Rapp to America-Their
Quiet and Simple Life in Economy.

Economy is the quaintest village in the United
| States. Il is situated on the Fort Wayne rail
/ road, eighteen miles below Pittsburg. yet it is
as unlike American town if it belonged to
another part of the globe. Neither the hustle
of the nearby city the railrod and steam
boat lines ever penetrate the heart of the sleepy
town. It is the home of the Economics, a So
ciety founded by George Rapp. in Germany,
many. many years ago. What all their beliefs
| were is more than any outsider can ever tell.
Their chief aim was to live as the earliest
| Christians did, as portrayed in the writings of
the apostles Driven from Germany by relig-
| ious persecution. they emigrated to America in
| 1905. and settled in Pennsylvania.
| They bought land and built village which
| they called Harmony. They dubbed themselves
Harmonites. and gave what earthly goods they
possessed to their founder and leader. George
Rapp. who was their father, banker, adviser
and preacher.
At first the members married with the under
standing that they only to live together
for few months every seven years. After
eral had broken this law and among them
Rapp's own son. John, George Rapp decided
that It would be more in conformity with the
teachings of the disciples live life of cell
bacy. Several of the members who had wives
and sweethearts rebelled against this. They
were all formally ordered to appear before their
leader, where they were told to give up
their love and their wives or to re-
nounce the society. Those who were true
to Rapp mo we'd with him Indiana, where
other Harmony was founded. Disease attacked
the new village aud reduced the number of its
inhabitants greatly that the remaining ones
fed back to Pennsylvania. In 1925 they bought
$500 acres of land in most beautiful valley
near Pittsburg. Hero 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 Econo-
my and themselves Economics. The members
who deserted the Harmonites either died out or
became other citizens of the globe. Many of
their descendants are well-known people in and
around Allegheny City.
Economy, but their number never in
creased by birth by adoption, and as death
occasionally invaded their homes there remain
at the present time not moro than eighteen
bers, the youngest of whom is sixtytwo
years old When they first took vows of cell
bacy they believed that the world was nearing
its end, and they lived simple lives, preparing
for the mysterious hereafter. George Rapp,
just before he died, told the others the world
would surely end before the last member died.
On entering the village plain houses.
wide well-kept streets lined on either side with
large shade trees and Understanding else. 1t
is most unusual sight to see any people on the
streets. The thrifty appearance alone prevents
a visitor from thinking II deserted village or
IMAGINING that the inhabitants were awaiting
the Princes arrival to awake them from CEN
fury long sleep. The houses are all alike. They
all built with the gable end toward the street,
and cannot be entered except through the yards.
There are no front stoops to fall over In Econ
omv. Grapsvines are trained to cover the street
side of all the houses but they are pruned so
not to interfere with the light of the windows:
Imagine it would be pleasant to sit at one Of
those windows during grape seasons.
The house-k keepers, and SO are the
They never minee, not even at work
The dress of one is the dress of all. Everything
is on equality. The men wear blue broad
cloth long tailed coats, wide trousers and broad
a. LII -
cloth is exchanged for blue silk attire. The
women wear straight. full skirts gathered a
plain waist of blue flannel. Bingham or silk.
Their heads, indoor aud out, are always pictur-
esquely attired in bright blue silken Normandy
caps.
vania still remem Der and speak of the wonder
ful broadcloths, fannels, blankets, Economy
whisky and wine they obtained from the Econo-
mites. The factories are all silent and de-
serted now. and the members have long since
grown feeble for hard labor. 1t in
Economy that silk culture and manufacture on
large scae were first begun In the United
States
Everything in Economy is run by rule and
regulation much at boarding school At 3
o'clock in the morning the bell on the one church
rings and every one ID the village rises. At
o'clock every dweler sits down to breakfast,
and what is eaten in one house is eaten in ALL
There is day for ''milk SOUP" and for
..wne 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
at to supper, and at it rings for every one to
put out his light and go to bed. No one ever
rebels or disobeys.
There is wine cellar in Economy famous for
its old liquors. but it is never sold except to in
valids None of the Economics drink water,
aud their employees given wine and cider.
Visitors all cordially helped to wine and
cake, matter how short their call.
The only paper published in Economy is a nov
ell one wheels. It is the side OF the milk wag
which carries to each dweier, well as the
milk. the work to be done. THE apples will be
gathered tomorrow" 1.-THE cherries will be
gathered tomorrow" or such field will be
reaped," is inscribed the wagons side that
when all supplied with their daily portion of
milk they know what labor awaits them.
The store. postofice hotel church. town hall
and Rapp mansion are all situated near the CEN
ter of the village. The store is a strange look
ing place. with Httle.else than needles, thread
and few dishes for sale. Everything is bought
and divided just the same in a large family,
even the carpet in one house is like those in all
the others
No family names are used among the mem
bers. Jacob" and ANNA" and dorothy"
sufficient. If there 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"
One laundry does the washing for the entire
town. All the work is done now by employees,
as the members have grown too feeble. The
workers obliged to obey every rule of the
village. No man is allowed to smoke. chew
be intoxicated within town limits, and not
inhabitant is permitted to leave the village
without first having obtained consent from their
leader.
On Sunday excuse is accepted for absence
from church. It is q quaint little chapel painted |
blue and white. aud in keeping with the people |
who gather in it to worship according to their |
belief. There is chance to forget prayers |
there while trying to see what others wear. |
Straight uncushioned benches answer for pews. |
The men sit side of the church and the |
women the other. Their leader, at present Mr.. |
Heinrich, selects q text from the Bible, and, sit |
ting in high backed chair tells his little band
how they should live. He never writes out any |
long and eloquent sermon, but speaks as his |
heart believes, in a very simple but impressive I
manner. In the center of the church is a clear |
space with one lone bench. 1t is the 'bench of |
punishment" If any one should be so unwise |
as to nod over the sermon or act otherwise than |
he should. Mr.. Heinrich calls him out to the
punishment BENCH" where ne must sit until
service 10 over.
Miss Gertrude Rapp. the granddaughter of