The Harmony Society was a Christian theosophy and pietist society founded in Iptingen, Germany, in 1785.
As their numbers increased, Rapp's group officially split with the Lutheran Church in 1785 and was banned from meeting.
This declaration of faith, along with some later additions, guided the Harmony Society's religious beliefs even after they had emigrated from Germany to the United States. In the 1790s, Rapp's followers continued to increase, reaching as many as 10,000 to 12, 000 members.
The American Bridge Company had already acquired other parts of the Society's land in 1902 to build the town of Ambridge. == Characteristics == === Religious views === In 1791 George Rapp said, "I am a prophet, and I am called to be one" in front of the civil affairs official in Maulbronn, Germany, who promptly had him imprisoned for two days and threatened with exile if he did not cease preaching.
Despite warnings from local authorities, the group continued to meet privately and attract even more followers. By 1798 Rapp and his group of followers had already begun to distance themselves from mainstream society and intended to establish a new religious congregation of fellow believers.
In the Lomersheimer declaration, written in 1798, these religious Separatists presented their statement of faith, based on Christian principles, to the Wurttemberg legislature.
By 1802 the Separatists had grown in number to about 12,000 and the Württemberg government decided that they were a dangerous threat to social order.
In 1803, when the government began to persecute Rapp's followers, he decided to move the entire group to the United States.
Rapp and a small group of men left Iptingen in 1803 and traveled to America to find a new home.
When released in 1803, from a brief time in prison, Rapp told his followers to pool their assets and follow him on a journey for safety to the "land of Israel" in the United States, and soon over 800 people were living with him there. The Harmonites were Christian pietist Separatists who split from the Lutheran Church in the late 18th century.
Under the leadership of George Rapp, the group left Württemberg, Germany, and came to the United States in 1803.
On May 1, 1804, the first group of emigrants departed for the United States.
Rapp was able to secure a large tract of land in Pennsylvania and started his first commune, known as Harmonie or Harmony, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where the Society existed from 1804 to 1815.
They first settled and built the town of Harmony, Pennsylvania, in 1804, and established the Harmony Society in 1805 as a religious commune.
On February 15, 1805, the group of approximately 400 followers formally organized the Harmony Society, placing all their goods in common. Under its founder and spiritual leader, Johann Georg Rapp (1757–1847); Frederick (Reichert) Rapp (1775–1834), his adopted son who managed its business affairs; and their associates, the Society existed for one hundred years, roughly from 1805 until 1905.
The Harmonists lived in Economy until the Society was dissolved in 1905. ===Articles of association=== On February 15, 1805, the settlers at Harmony, Pennsylvania, signed articles of association to formally establish the Harmony Society in the United States.
Here they built the town of Harmony, a small community that had, in 1805, nearly 50 log houses, a large barn, a gristmill, and more than 150 acres of cleared land to grow crops. Because the climate was not well suited for growing grapes and nearby property was not available to expand their landholdings, the Harmonists submitted a petition to the U.S.
They first settled and built the town of Harmony, Pennsylvania, in 1804, and established the Harmony Society in 1805 as a religious commune.
In January 1806 Rapp traveled to Washington, D.C.
In addition, during a period of religious zeal in 1807 and 1808, most, but not all, of the Harmonists adopted the practice of celibacy and there were also few marriages among the members.
Rapp's son, Johannes, was married in 1807; and it was the last marriage on record until 1817.
In 1807, celibacy was advocated as the preferred custom of the community in an attempt to purify themselves for the coming Millennium.
In addition, during a period of religious zeal in 1807 and 1808, most, but not all, of the Harmonists adopted the practice of celibacy and there were also few marriages among the members.
By 1810 the town's population reached approximately 700, with about 130 houses.
Although Rapp did not entirely bar sex initially, it gradually became a custom and there were few births in later years. In 1811 Harmony's population rose to around 800 persons involved in farming and various trades.
By 1814 Butler County's growing population and rising land prices made it difficult for the Society to expand, causing the group's leaders to look for more land elsewhere.
In 1814 the Harmonites sold their first settlement to Abraham Ziegler, a Mennonite, for $100,000 and moved west to make a new life for themselves in the Indiana Territory. ===Second settlement: Harmony, Indiana=== In 1814 the Harmony Society moved to the Indiana Territory, where it initially acquired approximately of land along the Wabash River in Posey County and later acquired more.
When the Harmonists advertised their Indiana property for sale in 1824, they had acquired of land, of which was under cultivation. During the summer and fall of 1814, many Harmonists fell sick from fever (malaria) and work on the new town nearly ceased.
In 1814, the Society sold their first town in Pennsylvania and moved to the Indiana Territory, where they built their second town.
Rapp was able to secure a large tract of land in Pennsylvania and started his first commune, known as Harmonie or Harmony, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where the Society existed from 1804 to 1815.
Ten years later, the town was sold and the Harmonists moved westward to the Indiana Territory, where they established the town of Harmony, now called New Harmony, Indiana, and remained there from 1815 to 1825.
In 1816 meetings between the Shakers and Harmonists considered a possible union of the two societies, but religious differences between the two groups halted the union.
Rapp's son, Johannes, was married in 1807; and it was the last marriage on record until 1817.
By 1819 the Harmonites had built 150 log homes, a church, a community storehouse, barns, stables, and a tavern, along with thriving shops and mills, and cleared land for farming.
In 1819 the town had a steam-operated wool carding and spinning factory, a brewery, distillery, vineyards, and a winery, but not all visitors were impressed with the growing communist town on the frontier.
George Rapp's daughter and others lived for a time at the Shaker settlement in West Union, Indiana, where the Shakers helped a number of Harmonites learn the English language. The Harmonist community continued to thrive during the 1820s.
(The town's name was changed to New Harmony after the Harmonists left in 1824.) The Harmonists entered into agriculture and manufacture on a larger scale than they had done in Pennsylvania.
When the Harmonists advertised their Indiana property for sale in 1824, they had acquired of land, of which was under cultivation. During the summer and fall of 1814, many Harmonists fell sick from fever (malaria) and work on the new town nearly ceased.
By 1824 the decision had been made to sell their property in Indiana and search for land to the east. On January 3, 1825, the Harmonists and Robert Owen, a Welsh-born industrialist and social reformer, came to a final agreement for the sale of the Society's land and buildings in Indiana for $150,000.
Owen named the town New Harmony, and by May, the last of the Harmony Society's remaining members returned to Pennsylvania. ===Third settlement: Economy, Pennsylvania=== In 1824 Frederick Rapp initially purchased along the Ohio River, northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for $10,000, and later bought an additional for $33,445, giving the Society more than to develop into a new community.
In 1824, they decided it was time to leave Indiana, sold their land and town in Indiana, and moved to their final settlement in Western Pennsylvania. The Harmonites were Millennialists, in that they believed Jesus Christ was coming to earth in their lifetime to help usher in a thousand-year kingdom of peace on earth.
Ten years later, the town was sold and the Harmonists moved westward to the Indiana Territory, where they established the town of Harmony, now called New Harmony, Indiana, and remained there from 1815 to 1825.
By 1824 the decision had been made to sell their property in Indiana and search for land to the east. On January 3, 1825, the Harmonists and Robert Owen, a Welsh-born industrialist and social reformer, came to a final agreement for the sale of the Society's land and buildings in Indiana for $150,000.
By 1826 the Harmonists had woolen and cotton mills in operation as well as a steam-operated grain mill.
Rapp's granddaughter, Gertrude, began the silk production in Economy on a small scale from 1826 to 1828, and later expanded.
Rapp's granddaughter, Gertrude, began the silk production in Economy on a small scale from 1826 to 1828, and later expanded.
Here, under the business acumen and efficient management of Frederick Rapp, they enjoyed such prosperity that by 1829 they dominated trade and the markets of Pittsburgh and down the Ohio River.
According to this view, when the female portion of Adam separated to form Eve, disharmony followed, but one could attempt to regain harmony through celibacy. George Rapp predicted that on September 15, 1829, the three and one half years of the Sun Woman would end and Christ would begin his reign on earth.
By 1830 they had amassed a 360-volume library. In 1832 the Society suffered a serious division.
By 1830 they had amassed a 360-volume library. In 1832 the Society suffered a serious division.
In March 1832, one third of the group left the Society and some began following Bernhard Müller, who claimed to be the Lion of Judah.
Nevertheless, the Society remained prosperous in business investments for many more years to come. After Frederick Rapp's death in 1834, George Rapp appointed Romelius Baker and Jacob Henrici as trustees to manage the Society's business affairs.
Rapp lived out his remaining days in Economy, where he died on August 7, 1847, at the age of 89. By the mid-1780s, Rapp had begun preaching to the Separatists, his followers in Iptengen, who met privately and refused to attend church services or take communion.
After George Rapp's death in 1847, the Society reorganized.
While a board of elders was elected for the enforcement of the Society's rules and regulations, business management passed to its trustees: Baker and Henrici, 1847–68; Henrici and Jonathan Lenz, 1869–90; Henrici and Wolfel, 1890; Henrici and John S.
Nevertheless, most of the group stayed and Rapp continued to lead them until he died on August 7, 1847.
By the close of Baker's administration in 1868, The Society's wealth was probably $2 million.
While a board of elders was elected for the enforcement of the Society's rules and regulations, business management passed to its trustees: Baker and Henrici, 1847–68; Henrici and Jonathan Lenz, 1869–90; Henrici and Wolfel, 1890; Henrici and John S.
While a board of elders was elected for the enforcement of the Society's rules and regulations, business management passed to its trustees: Baker and Henrici, 1847–68; Henrici and Jonathan Lenz, 1869–90; Henrici and Wolfel, 1890; Henrici and John S.
Duss, 1890–1892; Duss and Seiber, 1892–1893; Duss and Reithmuller, 1893–1897;Duss, 1897–1903; and finally to Suzanna (Susie) C.
By 1890, however, the Society was in debt and on the verge of bankruptcy with a depleted and aged membership.
Duss, 1890–1892; Duss and Seiber, 1892–1893; Duss and Reithmuller, 1893–1897;Duss, 1897–1903; and finally to Suzanna (Susie) C.
Duss, 1890–1892; Duss and Seiber, 1892–1893; Duss and Reithmuller, 1893–1897;Duss, 1897–1903; and finally to Suzanna (Susie) C.
Duss, 1890–1892; Duss and Seiber, 1892–1893; Duss and Reithmuller, 1893–1897;Duss, 1897–1903; and finally to Suzanna (Susie) C.
The American Bridge Company had already acquired other parts of the Society's land in 1902 to build the town of Ambridge. == Characteristics == === Religious views === In 1791 George Rapp said, "I am a prophet, and I am called to be one" in front of the civil affairs official in Maulbronn, Germany, who promptly had him imprisoned for two days and threatened with exile if he did not cease preaching.
The great strain which he had undergone at this time undermined his health and he resigned his trusteeship in 1903.
On February 15, 1805, the group of approximately 400 followers formally organized the Harmony Society, placing all their goods in common. Under its founder and spiritual leader, Johann Georg Rapp (1757–1847); Frederick (Reichert) Rapp (1775–1834), his adopted son who managed its business affairs; and their associates, the Society existed for one hundred years, roughly from 1805 until 1905.
The Harmonists lived in Economy until the Society was dissolved in 1905. ===Articles of association=== On February 15, 1805, the settlers at Harmony, Pennsylvania, signed articles of association to formally establish the Harmony Society in the United States.
By 1905 membership had dwindled to just three members and the Society was dissolved. The settlements at Economy remained economically successful until the late 19th century, producing many goods in their cotton and woolen factories, sawmill, tannery, and from their vineyards and distillery.
With only a few members left, the remaining land and assets were sold under the leadership of Duss's wife, Susanna (Susie), and the Society was formally dissolved in 1905.
At the time of the Society's dissolution, its net worth was $1.2 million. In 1916 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acquired and 17 buildings of Economy, which became the Old Economy Village historic site.
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