The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-26
FATHER HENRIGI,
lrbe Head Of the nomite socisty,
Dies atjEconomy.
TALK ABOUT HlS SUCCESSOR.

John Duss Likely to DO chosen he is
a Young Man-A BFief History OF
the Peculiae Sect which IS Famed
Throughout che Iyorld Fears That
Complications win Arise asa Result
ofthc Leaders Death.
PtrrsBuReu, Pa, Dec. s25. The bells
Of Economy, which were tohave rung
out glad Christmas chimes this morn-
inv, told instead Of the passing away Of.
Jacob Henrlci; first trusteeot the Har2
monist Society. Although looked for.
during the past month the death was
tad tidings tothe members Of the so.
ciety. Father Hehrici, as he.waa gem
orally known, was eighty-nine yearsof
age. Last June the press Of years be-
gan to tell upon him and his feeble con.
dltiOn compelled him toiseek rest. Els.
condition grew worse and at different
times his death was expected, Els.
many pious followers did everything
possible to restore theiraged leader or
prolong his life, but q paralytic str oke
on Thursday hastened the end and at
4o'clock this morning he breathed his
last. .,s
The deceased was born on q aiiarul in
Gross, Karlheck, Bavaria, on January
Is. 1903, and came to this country when
ho was twenty years OF age and shortly
after connected himself with the Har-
monist Society. He was received with
open arms and when Father Rapp, the
founder Of the sect, died in il he
succeeded him and has since been the,
governing spirit. The news OF the
death Of the well. known EconomiteS
leader quickly spread and the quiet
little village all owned by the society
yas at once shrouded With; gloom. It.
had an important meaning 70 the ,mem-
bers Of the society in addition 10 the
sorrow communicated. x
The members have depended solely
upon Father Henriciss judgment and
dlsregarded business matters entirely,
and now that his demise has occurred
they will be compelled to think for
themselves until q Succession is ap-i
pointed. In allprobability thisw will3be
John Duss, the second trustee, who
Joined the society six years ago. Heis q
ayoung man but 81 years Of age and
Before entering the society was q school
teacher at Economy. In an interview
tonight he said that he would be
chosen and that it was quite likely the
position now held by him would be-
abolished. In that event he would have
entire control OF the vast interests of
the society. Duss came to sPt tsburgh.
from Kansas City, where he formerly
Taught school.
The Harmoniat Society was founded
in Wurtemburg by George Rapp about
the year 1900. Bapp believed that he
had o divine call and was charged with
the restoration Of the Christian religion
itoits original purity, and the commu-
nifty was founded on this basis on the
model Of the primitive church; with
goods in common. AZ difficulty with the
. government in regard to worship im-i
PEELED Rapp to transplant his commits
nifty in 1903 from Wurtemb burg to the;
United States, They first settled near
hlienople, Butler county. this state,
where they founded the village sof Har-,
mony. There We're over 100 families in
Aesociety, and they employed them
selves in agriculture and manufactures
lnlS24 theg sold their property and
moved to Reaver county, where they.
founded the village Of Economy. On
account Of the peculiar religious beliefs
olthe society, which keeps them from
marrying, itsmenb bers have gradually
decreased until they are q mere hand-
tul as compared to what they We're for-
mery.
AZ their most prosperous period,
Which was about sixty years ago. there
wore fully 800 persons who acknoyl-
edged allegiance to the beliefs held by /.
this society. Trouble came in1 s82 and
about one-thirdsof their members left
the original society and formed ID new
organization of their own. The spill
EAs the result of their beliefs on mar
nAges and aslto the amount OF lworlS,t to-
% done by the different members. By
tthe death Of Father Henrtei many :be-l
!!ieVetho future success Of 1.-THE society viii
Do endangered, though Others strongly
maintain that it will go on as usual
'Sna With little change in its affairs.
What leads many Of its most devoted
members to have iears for the society
luture Is It's small memba barship. Its 4
members are becoming less each year,
and there are only atew who make
lStnal application for membe berghip.
me society owns and controls about
800 acres Of ground in a high stateiot
cultivation. Besides this, numerous
ether Industries are operated by (.
y a there are factories and tacillt ties
iet supplying all their needs. Thoy
sa exist almost inde pendently Of ont
Nge Influences, az IL has been the eir aim
.See q communicate community, and
Mey have succeeded in the past The
Eealth Of the COMMUNITY is said TO be
Soout thirty millions dollars, though IT.
Ss ess frequently been claimed twas near
A900O0,000.
Father Henfici,s funeral viii take
pace on Tuesday afternoon. The re-
mans will be hurled il the soniety's
cemetery at Economy.
nr. Nieeenesai pyiae.
StNo Sfy0 ~, " Ihs o5 Of ffhnfv