Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-16
FERVEKT PRAYER AND FEASTING.
The Banquet Board GrOans Under the
Weight of Good Things, and the Wine
Bowl Circles Gaily.
MEN WORTH MILLIONS OF MONEY.
No New Members Joined During the Year, ard Now Only
40 Of Thsm Are Left.

tomary with young men out for a jollifica-
tion, or on a par with the fun a baseball um-
pire enjoys when his decision is disputed by
both sides.
The Harmonites celebrated the eighty
sixth anniversary of the foundation OF their
society in the manner which has been Gus
romary with them for many years. For the
information of those who know not Of this
organization, it NAV be stated that it COM
prises about 40 persons, who are religious
and economic power unto themselves, own
ing several thousand acres of land, 81, ,OOO,-
600 worth of property and giving employ
ment to about 800 people, who form the con-
comitants of the industrial village of Econ
omy, in Beaver county, some is miles from
PIttsburg.
As to the history of the society, 1t Will be
sufficient to say that it was founded by one
Jacob Rapp, a native of Germany, who ar
rived in this country with ideas born of the
revolutionary times which struck Germany
about the commencement of the century, and
who sought to form an establishment after
his manner of thought, in the neighborhood
of Zelienople.
Complete Success of the Undertaking.
In this he was partially successful. Sub
seouently the more favorable site of the
present location was purchased, and the
Harmonic Society established at Economy.
That the society thrived is evidenced by the
value of its property to-day.
The general tenets of the organization are
of an essentially communistic turn, the
principles of the society claiming equal
rights for all in its property, and that the
property of one should be the property of
all.
The present chief of the society is Jacob
Henrici, who is well known in this city as
puncIual in his business engagements, and
as man who is thoroughly honest and
straightforward in his purposes. His figure
is not an unfamiliar one, and he bears the
weight of his 81 years with uncommon
vigor. Mr.. Henrici is the chief trustee of
two, annually elected by the society to look
after its interests. The other is John S.
Duss, much younger man ana one of the
few natiYe-born Americans in the society,
which, it may be said. is German in COM
position and thought. The council COM
prises nine members, including the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Henrici, and in their hands is
vested the execution of affairs.
A German Hamlet Near Pfttsburg.
The stranger who gets off at Economy
station and ascends the gradually ascend
ing roadway leading to the level stretch of
country on which the village is situated
may easily, if he has an acquaintance with
Europe, imagine himself in some German
hamlet, such resemblance does the architec-
ture of the two-storIed red brick dwellings,
with their porches and enclosures bear to
that of many villages in the Vaterland.
And the similarity is rendered the more
complete, should it happen to be week
day, from the dress of the busy housewives
and their help, as they pursue their ayoca-
tions with MANY interjections in the Tueton
tongue. Throughout, nothing but German
is heard.
Yesterday was a day of rest and celebra-
tion of the annual recurrence of the founda-
tiou of the society. The place was quiet in
the extreme, owing to the cessation of all
business but when the community had as
sembled in the church at noon, under the
presidency of Mr.. Henrici, one might have
imagined himself in a city of the dead, so
absent were all indication OF human sur
roundinCs Even the very children-left
within for some reason or other-spoke with
bated breath, and a solemn air of serious
ness that was almost oppressive, seemed to
pervade the whole place.
The anniversary Exercises.
President Henrici, from raised desk on
one side of the church, spoke rather length
lily on the day in opening the exercises, and
the choir, composed OF some Is or 20 male
and female voices, sang a hymn. The
church contained nothing to indicate its
sacred purposes. and the congregation-the
men on one side, the women on the other
was as simply attired as the edifice was bare
of ornament.
At the conclusion of the services Mr..
Henrici gave signal, and the women re-
tired bv one door, while the men, when the
former had departed, left by another After
the church services interest centered in the
feast, to be given in the Town Hall.
For half an hour or so women
were busy in bearing the dishes from the
kitchen, in building adjoining, to the
hall, and a member of the Harmony police
occupied himself in rounding up everyone
who came in sight Women, attired much
as their sisters in the Fatherland, were seen
passing from the hall, carrying pals of soup
and dinner to such of the community as
were unable to attend, through sickness.
Finally the church bell rang out warn
ing note, and the community assembled
within the hall for the feast of the day.
How the Feast Was Enjoyed
Through the courtesy of Mr. Henrici, Mr..
Duss and Mr.. Fischer, THE DISPATCH re-
porter was invited to be present. Six tables,
ranged along the hall, accommodated the
community, the men being seated at one
,side the women at the other. At the upper
end was platform and band stand, with
table set crosswise in 'front.' When every
one had been seated for some minutes, dur
ing which not a whisper could be heard in
the hall, NJ. Henrici, followed by the eight
Couucilmen, entered and walked down the
hall to their table, the band, meanwhile,
plaviug a strain in welcome.
This accomplished, the President said
grace, and at signal from him the assem-
blage began an onslaught on the feast. This
consisted OF plentiful supply of cold NUT
ton, veal rice soap, sauerkraut, rye bread,
dried apples, Catawba wine and water.
When the soup and mutton had been dis
posed Of there followed an intermission of
an hour, during which the band, composed
mainly of brass and reed instruments, rem
dered some excellent music, and the choir
sang several hymns. Mr.. Duss then cut up
loaf of rye bread into thin pieces, and
Mr. Henrici invited the members of the So
cietv to advance and break bread with him.
The men, going forward, did so, Mr.. Henrici
extending the bread and each man breaking
of piece and eating l.. The women fol-
Loved, doing likewise. In all about 40 peo-
fle broke bread, signifying that they were
in accord with the principles of the society,
Resumption OF the Feasting.
During this stage of the proceedings there
IL