The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-14
A REVOLUTION AT HARMONY.
An Old Communicate Settlement of Cell
bates Indulging In Matrimony.
(From the New York Sum-

bates INDUCING In Matrimony..
From the New York SUM-
Since John Duss became senior trustee
OF the Harmony society, and, as such, the
ruler of the old village of Economy in
pennsylvania, he has been slowly reyolu-
tionizing one of the Oldest and most con-
sentative communistic societies in this
country. The best proof Of this is that
he is leading his people to reject one OF
the chief tenets of the ancient society, the
principle of celibacy. He is not doing
this by direct attacks upon the old princi-
pie laid down by Father Rapp, who
founded the society, and enjoined by
Father Heinrich, his successor, but by
neglecting it entirely in all his preaching
and teaching.
The father of the present leader of the
society was volunteer in the civil war,
and not in any way connected with the
Harmony society. Mrs. Duss joined the
society after the death of her hus band,
sand her two-years-old son grew up.awith
the quiet, staid descendants of the old
OooAOho' HASh AZ Sblo VI ds5O hO WCAU W
the soldiers orphans school at Philips
burg, and when he was graduated he re-
turned to Economy imbued with modern
ideas. He showed lack of respect for som
of the old institutions of the society by
falling in love at once with Susanna
Creese one of the girls of the village, and
moreover determined to marry her. 1t
was out of the question to do this in
Economy, and so one day he left the viii
lage and entered the Mount Union college
in Ohio, and sought higher education.
He received an offer shortly afterward of
an appointment at the state reform school
in Topeka, Kan. He accepted this offer
and married Susanna Creese.
OF course all this caused talk in Econ
omy, but as the young couple were no
longer members Of the society, they were
had established local reputation for ac-
tivity and leadership. In time it was
considered by the more progressive ele-
ent of Economy that his presence in the
community might strengthen its mem
bership. Inducements were offered to
him, and he returned to the village,
united with the society, and took place
in the village school; He rose from one
office to another, and when Jacob Henric
NAANNA y
trustee.
This office is the highest in the gift of
the Harmonites. The holder of it is
practically the financial and spiritual
leader of the community. The way Duss
has filled the Office has astonished the old
members and gladdened the young, pro-
gressive people. He breaches two sermons
on Sunday, delivers all the funeral ora
tions, and attends to the sick and dying.
These are his spiritual duties as head of
the society. His secular ones are labori-
Gus and engrossing. At present the So
ciety is in continual litigation, as some
of the dissatisfied members are trying to
break it up and secure control of some of
the property. Duss has SO far succeeded
in defeating all the attempts to dissolve
it. When Duss succeeded to the leader
ship things were in a pretty middle. The
town was in debt and there was no way
to pay off the indebtedness. Today the
community is free from debt.
There are about 300 inhabitants in
Economy today, and the senior trustee
of the Harmony society practically owns
every house in which they live. 1t is
community society, in which all the
goods and property are owned by the So
ciety, and, as senior trustee, Duss con-
trolls everything. The society own 1900
acres Of land on the Ohio river, 10 miles
below Pittsburg. and the old town is
lOCdUtl Ou d D6t1uUllul q15U6tQ ~ 1S6G
above the river. The houses are quaint
and old-fashioned, surrounded with
paling fences. There are brick pave
ments throughout the village, and the
streets are lined with cherry trees. The
members of the society derive their chief
income from the farm, and the women as
we'll as the men labor in the fields in the
summer.
The result of Duss's example in getting
married has already become apparent.
Weddings have not actually taken place
| in Economy, but members Of the society
| have gone elsewhere to get married and
| their Membership has not been forfeited.
This is really the. beginning of the
change. Some of the old conservative
| beliefs and practices as the sure sign of
coming dissolution.
The old town is to be practically desert
ed in time. The plans and specifications
are drawn up for new Economy. The
new town will be built upon modern
ideas of what q town or city should be-.
A new style of architecture will replace
the old quaint Dutch houses. The old
town is not to be torn down. Old mem
| bers can reside in the houses their ances-
| tors built if they prefer; but it is expect
ed that there will be a gradual exodus
from the old to the new. The present
reader OF the society expects to attract
OuCSlQorS TO Ine community. ne DelleVe6
| that there will be many worthy people
who will Join the society as soon as they
see that it is to be run upon business
principles. The society is today possessed
| of considerable land wealth, and accord
| ing to the system Of community of goods
no poverty or suffering is experienced
| by any of the members. Any new mem
Der receives the same share in the goods
as an old one, but in order to join 1t is
necessary to accept the beliefs Of the So
ciety and to show a good reason for
change Of life.
Real Estate Tr.-A,sfers.
The following transfers of real estate
h this county have been recorded In
| the Registry OF Deeds:
| James P. Baxter to Harrison Leadbet-
for yea1 actat 70 in Daa,,ipr