National Republican., 1888-05-06
THE zOARITE COMMUNITY.
THE STRANGE. MYSTICAL GER
MAN SOCIETY or ONO.
How II Was Founded-Its Prophet,
Priest, and Knights Church service
aud Funeral Ceremonies -. Nothing
Distinctive in Their Dress.
Copyright lSss, by Gcof'rcy Wnll,ton Chris

copyright iSss. by Gcoffrcy Wnll,ton Chris.
time.
IoAR Ohio, May 2.-No more patriarchd
system Of government than that by which
the mystical German communists VINO own
and occupy this primitive village are CON
trollcd has ever prevailed among any body
of men. During the lifetime Of Joseph NJ,
Bimcler, their founder. he was the absolute
civil aud religious head Of this cOmmunistic
soclcty-its prophet priest, aud king. lie
dictated all IT, rules and regulations and
was the supreme Nrbitcr Of all questions that
arose. His word was law. II was cnou gh
for any one In XOar 10 know that "Fathcr
Bimclcr says IT, to satisfy him or her ON
any subject whatever
All this power was never administered
,elfshly or tyrunucally, hut In II truly pa
triarchal spirit, with single eye to the
temporal and spiritual welfare Of his pco-
pie, who loved aud rcvcrcnccd him rs
father. and never thought Of questioning
his right to all the authority lie claimed
But he was as parental toward his people In
his kindness IL IN hi, severity. lie regarded
them rs his children. lie sympathiEcd with
them In their trials, COusDlCd them IN their
gricf~. patiently instructed them In the
truths of religion, and sought IN every way
To make them happy. While all were cN-
pcctCd to he busy, none were allowed to be-
burcned with work.
Bimclcr thoroughly understood the in
| flueucc of music over large bodies Of men,
aud lc cuscd great attention To he paid 10
| the cultivation Of that art 10y all the mem
| bcfs of his community. Music has, there
| fore, always held Il most prominent place in
| all their social and religious ObscWaces.
| BinclCr himself organized the excellent
| military band and orchestra which are still
| heard in Ioar on all important occasions.
| Beloved and respected by his people, he
| lived and ruled among them until
| 1853. when he died at the advanced are of
| more than 80 years. lie and his immediate
| family Jared no better than the rest of the
| community in their dress or style Of living,
| except that for the honor of the society lie
was expected to live In n larger aud better
| house. where friends and guests might re-.
| ceiNc hospitality.
That house. standing on the main street,
| is still the most imposing structure To be
| seen in Ioar II is of brick, with a large
| stone porch supported by massive pillars of
| the same material-over the door, which is
| located in the center This porch is entirely
encased in glass. and the whole effect is
unique and handsome. 1t is now occupied
| by the families of two members, who are in
no way connected with the government Of
| the community.
| Bimeler never accumulated any private
| property for himself or family. Everything
| belonged to the society. lie was remark
able man and performed remarkable
work. Had he been propagandist and
| lived in different age aud country he
| might have been known rs the founder Of a
new sect or nation. But lie had no Other
thought than the welfare of the small body
of people who had followed him from Ger
many to worship God in their own way.
After his simple funeral rites were over
Tie members of the society assembled in
the church to consider what was to he done
They were like u family of children bcrcft
Of its head. They felt that they had no
one who could fill Father Bmcer's place,
but they still approved Of the principles on
ciety, and they determined to carry them
out. With great unanimty they resolved
that the affairs of the community should
hencefortll be managed by board of three
trustees elected for three years and standing
committee of five, elected for five years. the
| members Of both bodies to he eligible for an
| unlimited number of reflections, while the
trustees We're to be responsible to the stan,l-
ing committee for all their acts, and were to
| give to that body report of their steward
ship whenever desired. They then pro-
ceeded to choose by ballot trustees and
committeeman from among themselves, and
by the form Of government then adopted the
society has been controlled down to the
| present time.
Their elections are of the most quiet and
orderly character. When vacancies are To
he filed in the board of trustees or the stand
ing committee, all the members Of the
society assemble in the church, the women
being allowed an equal vote with the men.
Slips of paper are provided, aud upon these
| each member writes the name
Of the person or persons Of his
or her choice. These slips are folded mp 50
that no one knows how Others vote, and are
placed by the voters themselves in ballot
boxes prepared for the purpose. Upon
counting these ballots, members having II
plurality are declared elected.
The present trustees of the society are
| Jacob Ackcrmann, n venerable man, who
retains all his faculties despite his 81 years
of life: Simon Better, who, though over 20,
looks not more than 80, and John Sturnl,
the youngest of the three, who is about 40,
and is the sOn-m-law of Trustee Ackermann
These men are in no way distinguishablt
from the other members Of the society
There Is no difference whatever IN theii
houses, food, or clothes. All members OF
the Ioar Society are upon strict democratic
equality.
NotlIing better shows the alleclonate re
membrance in which Bimcler Is held by hi,
people than the fact that they still listen
every Sunday TO the sermons which he
preached to them throughout so many years
They We're written down during his liictmC
hy devoted admrer, and after his death
the society published them in several vol
umcs. From those books Trustee Better
who now otllciatcs as the clergyman Of Tho
society, reads u selection twice each Sab
bath
Tie church service of the Ioarites differs
IN no material respect from that of Pro
tcstant seCts in general. The singing OF
hymns, the Offering of prayer, and the de
livery of discourse comprise their simple
ritual The singing occupies more time
than is usually allotted to it, aud is sus
tanned by the accompaniment of a large PIPE
organ.
The church itself is very primitive. 1t /,
a One-story building, containing but on,
apartment, and having seating capacity O
about 400. Access to it Is gained by tw,
doors in the rear, on either side OF the pul
pit, so that late cOmerS must enter and wall
10 their seats in full view of the conSregl
tion, who are spared the trouble of tunin
their heads TO look at them. One side q
the auditorium Is reserved for men, tn
other for women, and each sex must ente
by the door pertaining to its own side
The floor is covered with rag carpet and til
! seats or pews are Old-fashsned woode
settees made softer by homemade
calco-covcred cushions The pulp
} | ,,,lr cam. fam ,r for