Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-31

lay before him. The results of celibacy were
very evident. should he do something to per-
petu.te the church and the state which he gov
erned? No children were born to take the
elders places; no stress Of persecution, or touch
OF fanaticism. or trial OF wilderness life, or any
other outside circumstances existed to draw
new members TO the hearts and homes Of the
stern, Woodworking enthusiastic Only hun
dred members remained in 1876 and in 1886
they counted scarcely twenty-five None had
applied for membership for many years, ana
the work Of the village was carried on by out
side assistance entirely. The old Harmonists
had earned . resting time and they had estab-
lisheda regular system. according to which such
work as was still necessary was carried on by
FAMILIES WHO WE'RE NO PART OF TIE coHHu-
NIFTY ITSELF,
yet are supplied with homes and food accord
ing to their needs. Vegetables and poultry
they must raise in their gardens. and in lieu Of
wages they are given % to els month for
each man according to his skill. Children are
supplied with clothes and schooling free, and
each boy at the age of twenty-ons receives e200
and begins to earn wages. The girls at eighteen
years are given 300 and receive 90 a week
thereafter, regardless Of working capacity. AL
OF these working people conform to rules such
a. never leaving Economy without express per-
Yet even the wealth Of their masters does not
tempt them to join the celibate sect.
NEW MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY,"
For 1t must be remembered that these five
hundred employees are no part Of the real COM
munity, which was fast dying. But the society
was not destined to 20 out like Pickering csn-
die after its long years Of existence for in 1886
the admission Of new members was begun. Six
women and four men that year and one woman
and one man the following year brought the
membership in 1888 to . total Of fourteen women
and twenty-one men. All but one or two Of the
new members were over forty years Of age, but
nevertheless it was fresh start and a move
ment that has gone on increasing The
census Of 1880 gives the membership Of
the society as $50, and 400 is the number
reported in February, 1892. In December.
1880, Gertrude Rapp, granddaughter of the
founder. died, followed in q few months by
Jonathan Lenz, the junior trustee. Several
other deaths reduced the membership below
mission OF several new members in February
following at the great annual feast Of the
Lords supper. John Duso, young man, was
elected to succeed Lenz and now at Heinrich
death on Christmas morning he has had new
Office created and is president of the Harmony
Society.
QUARREIrNG AMONG THEMsELvEs.
So far, well. But even on the next day smoth-
cred dissensions broke out, and at this moment
the new Harmonists are quarreling among
themselves. The old community exists no
more. The fate Of the new one that bears its
name and inherits its wealth now hangs in the
balance. Is it likely that love Of the strange
creed and the severe life is stronger in the
hearts Of the new members than is the love of
money! Is it likely, when that greatest of all
community crimes-di observation-disclosures out,
that Al will still go we'll? Time will tell
ANITA NEwcoMB MCGEE, NJ d.