The Indianapolis journal., 1891-02-20
ECONOMIES CELEBRATE.
The Annual Feast of the Sect Whoa Watch
ing for the Second Advent

ECONOMY, Pa, Feb. 19.-The society of
Harmonites at this place celebrated the
one hundred and twenty-first anniversary
of It's organization on Sunday. When
the society was founded Jacob Henrici,
its present president, was just one year
old. With tottering step and
trembling hand this patriarch of the Har-
monites conducted the rites that have be-
come an annual occurrence in the Economy
settlement. Where the society fifty years
ago had one hundred members it now has
but one. Sunday John Riethmiller was ad-
mitted as a novitiate, and will become
fuli-fedged member nextyear. This makes
the number of members forty nine. al
though the village of Economy contains
over five hundred souls. who are in one
capacity or another connected with the
society.
village gathered in the old-fashioned
church. AS usual. the men and women
were separated from each other. Mr.. Hen
rici sat on platform facing the remaining
members of the council on the opposite
side. After the opening hymn John Reith-
miller was brought in and took the obliga-
tions: The services then closed with SER
mon by Mr.. Henrici, In which he expressed
some of his well-known ideas in regard to
the second coming of the Savior. He said
that. while the Harmonites had kept them
selves in godliness and peace. the rest of
the world was running into evil ways, and
that with both of these conditions it could
not be otherwise than that Jesus Christ
would como to earth soon to take up his
abode among the Harmonites for second
stay on earth. The belief of the Harmon
ties on this subject grows stronger every
Aou md h. &c h. L,,t
In which the old members of the council
live, is kept ready az all times, as if in ex-
pectation of the divine visitor.
When the church services were over the
ngregation assembled in the big dining
room of the society, where they partake of
feast three times each year. OF these,
the anniversary feast is the first and most
important of the three. At noon the long
dining hall began to fill. On the right sat
the women and on the left the men. The
long narrow tables were covered with
snowy linen and the hard, wood benches,
without backs, on which several genera
tions of Economics have feasted, stood on
each side. At every plate were placed q
pitcher of water and one of catawba wine.
The center dishes contained huge sections
of boiled beef and roasted veal. These
were set off by equally ponderous dishes of
saur kraut. potatoes and other German
PREPARATIONS. Here and there along the
table loaf of rye bread was placed. I'M
mediately before the stage and facing the
people who were dining sat the members of
the council ranged ut special table but
eating of the same food rs that placed be-
fore the others. Mr.. Henrici read few
verses from the Bible, and the Economics
plunged into their feast. At intervals q
mixed choir gave musical selections. Be-
tween the first and second courses Mr.. Hem
rici presided at communion table for the
members. A large number of women.
some old out hearty, others young and
blooming in their unique Suabian head
dress, inherited from the first female Har-
monItes, took of the bread as it was passed
to them. Only seventeen men arose to par
take of the communion. and but one or two
loaves of a big basketful were used at the
ceremony. After having been at table four
hours the gathering dispersed after bene-
diction by Mr.. Heinrich, who first read sew
eral German poems dedicated to the cele-
bratiOn.
At o'clock the Harmonites convened
again in the big dining hall, and together
partook of the evening meal Music and
feasting were kept up for several hours.
but here and there Mr.. Heprici brought in
the religious character of the society.
which kept everything within the bonds Of
the veriest decorum.