Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-03-09
A QUAINT COMMUNITY.
Where Nobody Ever MarrieS
and Where Everybody is
Wealthy.

Cor. Philadelphia Press.
! Ia this most singular and absolute
ly unique village, built in 1925 by
that strange sect of communistic. cell
bate mystico-pietists known as the
Hsmonists or Economics, who, with
their great army of hired laborers,
, still comprise its only inhabitants.
witnessed recently procession and a
ceremony which for novelty and
quaintness it would be impossible to
parallel in all the length and breadth
of our great country. These observ-
snces were ia honor of the SD anui-
versary of the founding of the Har.
mony Society.
1t was on February Is, 1905, that
the late George Rspp and his 600 dis
ciples, who had fed with him to this
country to escape the religious perse-
cution in their German Faderland,
and to enjoy the privilege of worship
ping God in their own way, establish
ed in Butler county. near Pittsburg.
Pa, their socialistic, thoecratic COM
munity upon the principle of holding
all property in common. and gave it
the name of the Harmony Society
From that time To the present, among
all the vicissitudes through which
the society has passed-such as the
separation of husbands and wives,
and the abolition of marriage by the
adoption of the rigid practice of celib-
acy in 1907; the removal the com.
munity to Indiana in 1915, aud the
second removal to its present location
at Economy, Pal ls25-the l5of Feb
ruary has every year been sscredly
kep,. The Harmonists' town OF
Economy is one OF the most beautiful
and picturesque in the world.
cELIBAcY.
The scene presented to view on
Feb. 18th, in the quaint old sanc,u-
sry where Father Repp preached and
prayed for so many years aud where
the whole community FIRST assembled
at 8 O'Clock to offer thanks to God for
having preserved their society in
peace and prosperity for nearly Gen.
tury was q sad one The adoption
of cellbacy in 1907. two years after
their organization, checked, of course.
the natural growth of their commun-
ity, but for few years their number
was maintained and even increased
bv the reception of new members who
at frequent intervals came from Ger
many to join them. Many Of these
accessions were descendants are rela-
tives of the original founders. In the
fall of 1917 l3O such were received
into membership at one time. But
these additions gradually diminished.
and fually ceased all together. For
many decades no new members were
received, though the society has at all
times been willing and anxious. as il
still is, to accept as members any de-
sirable person who will subscribe to
their doctrines and conform to their
mode of life. For years past they
have had indentured to them by pa
rents many young German people ol
both sexes whom they would have
been very glad to receive into full
communion. but young Germany has
became young America, aud is not
disposed to submit to the want OF
personal property, personal liberty
and a wife or husband. even though
compensated by all the advantages
secured by membership in an enor.
mously wealthy communistic associa-
ton. Six new members were receiv.
ed last year. They were all men
ranging in age from 35 to 60 But
even with their addition the commu.
nifty now number only some twelve
or thirteen men and about fifteen wo
men, several of whom are bedridden
from sickness and old age, and it was
a melancholy sight to see gathered in
the church only those few remaining
aged members out Of the l,0U0 who
once ackno nowledged the firm but gen.
tie sway of dead and gone Father
Rapp. To cultivate the Harmonists
$500 acres of farming land. to develot
their rich oil aud natural gas territory
and to carry on the various handi
crafts necessary to make good the
wear and tear of sheets, clothing, wag
ons, harness, etc., in their community
q small army of working people is re
quired, and 400 of them are employed
by the Harmonlsts and live with
them in Economy.
Formerly the opposition Of the 80
ciety to marriage was SO strong tina
they would not have any married per
sons in their employ, but experience
has taught them that married mer
with their wives and children are th'
steadiest and most industrious class
of working people. Accordingly they
now hire families in preference to any
other kind OF "help." To each one o.
these families house and garder
have been assigned. Every habitable
house is occupied and the pavementt
are overrun with children Besidel
a peat house to live 10, rent free. al
these hired people are found" by the
society is everything but their clothes
while the meat, milk, bread, vegeta
bles and every thing else supplied Il
them are of the best quality. The
society's wagons 20 through the
streets and supply these things &c
each family according TO their need'
without money and without price
Save in the matter OF celibacy all per
sons in the employ Of the Harmonist'
are required to observe all the rules
of the society quite as rigidly AZ i
they were members Of il.
THE CHIEF or THE COMMUNITY
The government Of this little king
dom ia still, as it always has been
strictly patriarchal. Jacob Henricl
an active, able man despite his g.
winters, has filed Father Rapp'
place, as head of the community, TO
many years. He is it's prophet, prizes
and king In all matters his word !
law. 1t is enough for any one i
Economy to know that Father Hen
rici says it" to satisfy him or her o.
any subject whatever. He is tn
absolute dictator Of the place and it
people, but no is as fatherly in hi
l. q. ,.u.r;tr IT, npt