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In this entry in a diary by a Shaker elder, we get a chance to see the Harmony Society through the eyes of a man from a similar society. He was evidently sent on an inspection tour of western Shaker communities in 1853 and stopped at Economy, which would have been a safe place for a Shaker elder to stay.
His description, from a letter, shows the Society in its vigorous old age. They are no longer manufacturing anything but are raising stock and agricultural produce. One can say that the Society is in retirement. No one would be able to imagine that it was to survive another fifty-two years and was, at this time, just beginning a new career.
Elder Blinn's diary, titled "A Journey to Mount Lebanon (and Hannah, Kentucky) in a Carriage, 1853," is in the Shaker Museum, Old Chatham, New York. We are indebted to Robert Meader, the Curator, for bringing it to our attention. It was printed in the Harmonie Herald (November, 1966).
We extract from a letter written at Union Village, Ohio, the following account of a Society of Rappites who reside in the town of Economy in the state of Penn. Their possessions consist of 3000 acres. Some of the land is too rich for wheat but is very good for corn, and bears immense crops. Other parts are more adapted for wheat. Their fields are well fenced with stones or boards of from 15 to 20 acres each. They have one orchard of 30 acres of nice grafted fruit. They cultivate largely the grape and the common currant of which they make wine. Their Village is large and covers some 20 acres and their buildings are mostly of brick. The horse and cow stables are public. The milkers carry the milk to one place and from this it is apportioned to the needs of the families by some one appointed for that purpose. The women do the indoor work and attend to the gardens which are located near the houses and are filled with vegetables and flowers. These are arranged with taste and kept quite neatly. The men are engaged in agriculture and stock raising pursuits. They were formerly engaged extensively in the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods, but their numbers are too small and either too old or too young to carry on these branches. They are very fond of music and have in their community an excellent band of musicians. The Society commenced at the close of the last century in one of the German states. They refused to pay taxes and to support a secular government. This brought on the vengence (sic) of the authorities by these they were severely persecuted. They appoint plain unlettered men to be their priests.
George Rapp and others came to the U.S. to purchase a tract of land. After the Society moved into this country, Geo. Rapp was appointed the high Priest, to whom all were to look for counsel. Subsequently it was thought proper to appoint a woman in a subordinate position, to whom the Sisters might acknowledge the errors of their ways. But matters arising in which both men and women were implicated, it was necessary for the parties to come before one witness or judge that both stories might be heard. For this reason, the women gradually made choice of the man as a leader among the Sisters, and the leader among the Sisters just dwindled away. Their number at the present time is about 300 and are continually growing less. When they came to this country in 1807 they numbered 700.
Their reason for not uniting with the Shakers was that all the little places on the earth where purity is the object are like so many flowers, though of different hues, yet all are beautiful in the sight of the heavenly Father. And that they were one of these flowers in the great boquet (sic) and if this was made of all white, all yellow, all blue or any other color it would not be so pretty as though it was variegated. Their meeting was 1- 1/2 hours and the sermon delivered in the German language. Their music was good, both vocal and instrumental. The men and women occupied opposite sides of the room during worship. In five minutes after the bell rang they were all in the house and ready to commence the services.