Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-05-01
TERMS: S1.5O A YEAR
NO. 40.

to render economy independent OF the out
side world as regards every thing worn,
eaten, or in any way used.
Harmonist opposition to marriage was
formerly so bitter that the society would
employ no married persons, but experience
has taught them that married men with
wives and children are the steadiest, most
industrious workmen, and they now hire
families rather than any other 'fhelp." To
each Of these families house and garden
is assigned rent free, and the streets Of this
long childless town are now overrun with
children. All these hired people are
''found" by the Harmonists in every thing
but clothes. The society's wagons 90
through the streets every morning gratui-
tously supplying each household with meat,
bread, milk, vegetables and groceries of
/ the best quality.
The government Of this little kingdom Is
strictly patriarchal. Elder Henrici, its alb
solute ruler, is a kind father to all. Save
in the matter of cehbacy every inhabitant
Of Economy must strictly conform to all the
rules of the society All are required to
attend church twice each Sabbath. Any
one found out OF bed after nine o'clock on
any night of the week is Immediately ban.
ished from the town, and all must rise at
that poetic and lyric hour, ssfive o'clock in
the morning." Besides three of the squarest
possible meals daily, q free luncheon is
| served to the whole community at nine a. m.
and three p. M, when q pint Of WINE is
| meted out to every man, woman and child
Though the Harmonists have come to toler-
ate married people, they are bitterly op-
| posed to having any courting done on their
land. They require all the fathers and
mothers IN their employ to keep strict
watch and ward over their sons and daugh-
ters that the sexes may be kept as far apart
as possible A young man and woman seen
out walking together, or jointly engaged in
any harmless pastime, would be immedi-
ately required to leave Economy.
| To render it impossible for young men and
women to walk together in the evening
without observation Elder Henrici placed a
lantern in every family and issued a decree
| that any female having occasion to go upon
| the street after dark should light and
carry it with her. The introduction of nat
ural gas has now rendered this unnecessary,
as it burns in great jets at every corner and
transforms night into day.
In a discourse which drew tears from all
present, Father Heinrich reviewed the
eighty four years of the society's existence
| and reiterated the firm belief which is one
of the fundamental doctrines of the Har-
| monists, that Christ's second coming will
take place before the last member of their
| society shall have passed away. He further
| stated that when that glorious event occurs
all the Harmonists' vast possessions will be
| laid at the feet of the Master to be dis
posed of as he shall deem best
1t is worthy Of note that this most singu-
| lar people firmly believe that at His second
| coming Christ Will establish upon Mount
Sinai, in Palestine, visible, personal King
dom, and that from His throne upon that
great mountain He will judge and rule the
world They keep complete supply of every
| requisite for the transportation of their
community to the Holy Land when Christ
shall come again