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Original Document
Harmonist Society, Articles of Association, 1847.

Articles of Association: February 15, 1805:

Be it hereby known to all who need to know it, that the following agreement has this day been made and concluded between us, the subscribers of the one part, and George Rapp and his Society of the other part. Firstly. We, the subscribers, on our part and on the part of our heirs and descendants, deliver up, renounce, and transfer all our estate and property consisting of cash, land, cattle, or whatever else it may be, to George Rapp and his Society in Harmony, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as a free gift or donation, for the benefit and use of the congregation there, and bind ourselves on our part, as well as on the part of our heirs and descendants, to make free renunciation thereof, and to leave the same at the disposal of the superintendents of the congregation, as if we never had not possessed same.

Secondly. We do pledge ourselves jointly and severally to submit to the laws and regulations of the congregation, and to show due and ready obedience toward those who are appointed and chosen by the congregation as superintendents in such a manner that not only we ourselves endeavor, by the work of our hands, to promote the good and interest of the congregation, but also to hold our children and families to do the same.

Thirdly. If, contrary to our expectations, the case should happen that we jointly or severally could not endure in the congregation and would within a few years or more abstain from our promises and withdraw from the community, for whatever cause it may be, we will never demand any reward, either for ourselves or our children or those belonging to us, for work or services rendered, but whatever we jointly and severally have done or shall do, we will have done as a voluntary service for our brethren.

On the other hand, George Rapp and his Society adopt the subscribers jointly and severally as members of the congregation whereby each of them obtains the privilege to attend all religious meetings, not only they themselves, but also their children and families, shall and will receive the necessary instruction in church and school which is needed and requisite for temporal and eternal felicity.

Secondly, George Rapp and his Society promise to supply the subscribers jointly and severally with all the necessities of life, as lodging, meat, drink, and clothing, etc., and not only during their healthful days, but also when one or several of them should become sick or otherwise unfit for labor, they shall have and enjoy the same care and maintenance as before; and if, after a short or long period, the father or mother of a family should die, or be otherwise separated from the community and leave a family behind, none of those left behind shall be left widows or orphans, but receive and enjoy the same rights and care as long as they live or remain in the congregation, as well in sick as healthful days, the same as before, or as their circumstances or needs may require.

Thirdly. And if, as stated above, the case should happen that one of several of the subscribers after a short or long period should abstain from their promise and could or would not submit to the laws and regulations of the church or congregation, and for this or another cause would leave the Harmonie, George Rapp and his society promise to refund him or them, the property brought into the Harmonie without interest, and that in one, two or three annual installments, as the sum may be, large or small; and if one or more of them was poor and brought nothing into the congregation, they shall, provided they depart openly and orderly, receive a donation in cash, according to their conduct while here, or as their circumstances and needs may require, which George Rapp and his Society shall determine at his or their departure.

In confirmation whereof, both parties have signed their names.

So done, Harmonie, February 15, 1805.



The Articles of Association were later amended.

Whereas, by the favor of Divine Providence, an association of community has been formed by George Rapp and many others, upon the basis of Christian fellowship, the principles of which, being faithfully derived from the sacred Scriptures, include the government of the patriarchal age, united to the community of property, adopted in the days of the apostles, and wherein the simple objects sought, is to approximate, so far as human imperfections may allow, to the fulfillment of the will of God, by the exercise of those affections, and the practice of those virtues which are essential to the happiness of man in time and throughout eternity. ...

Article 1st. We, the undersigned, for ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, do hereby give, grant, and forever convey to the said George Rapp and his associates, and to their heirs and assigns, all our property, real, personal and mixed, whether it be lands and tenements, goods and chattels, money or debts due to us, jointly or severally in possession, in remainder, or in reversion or expectancy, whatsoever and wheresoever, without evasion qualification or reserve, as a free gift or donation, for the benefit and use of the said association, or community, and we do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, to do all such other acts as may be necessary to vest a perfect title to the same in the said association, and to place the said property at the full disposal of the superintendent of the said community without delay.

Article 2d. We do further covenant and agree to and with the said George Rapp and his associates, that we will severally submit faithfully to the laws and regulations of the said community, and will at all times manifest a ready and cheerful obedience toward those who are or may be appointed as superintendents and thereof, holding ourselves bound to promote the interests and welfare of the said community, not only by the labor of our own hands, but also by that of our children, our families, and all others who now are, or hereafter may be, under our control.

Article a. If contrary to our expectation it should so happen that we could not render the faithful obedience aforesaid, and should be induced from that, or any other cause, to withdraw from the said association, then and in such case we do expressly covenant and agree to and with the said George Rapp and his associates, that we never will claim or demand, either for ourselves, our children, or for any one belonging to us, directly or indirectly, any compensation, wages or reward whatever for our or their labor or services rendered to the said community, or to any member thereof, but whatever we or our families jointly or severally shall or may do, all shall be held and considered as a voluntary service for our brethren.

Article 4th. In consideration of the premises, the said George Rapp and his associates do, by these presents, adopt the undersigned jointly and severally, as members of the said community, whereby each of them obtains the privilege of being present at every religious meeting, and of receiving not only for themselves but also for their children and families, all such instructions in church and school, as may be reasonably required, both for their temporal good, and for their eternal felicity.

Article 5th. The said George Rapp and his associates further agree to supply the undersigned severally with all the necessities of life, as clothing, meat, drink, lodging, &c., for themselves and their families. And this provision is not limited to their days of health and strength; but when any of them shall become sick, infirm, or otherwise unfit for labor, the same support and maintenance shall be allowed as before, together with such medicine, care, attendance, and consolation, as their situation may reasonably demand. And if at any time after they have become members of the association, the father or mother of a family should die or be otherwise separated from the community, and should leave their family behind, such family shall not be left orphans or destitute, but shall partake of the same rights and maintenance as before, so long as they remain in the association, as well in sickness as in health, and to such extent as their circumstances may require.

Article 6th. And if it should so happen as above mentioned, that any of the undersigned should violate his or their agreement, and would or could not submit to the laws and regulations of the church or the community, and for that or any other cause should withdraw from the association, then the said George Rapp and his associates agree to refund to him or them, the value of all such property as he or they may have brought into the community, in compliance with the first article of this agreement, the said value to be refunded without interest, in one, two,, or three annual installments, as the said George Rapp and his associates shall determine, And if the person or persons so withdrawing themselves were poor, and brought nothing into the community, notwithstanding they depart openly and regularly, they shall receive a donation in money,, according to the length of their stay, and to their conduct, and to such amount as their necessities may require, in the judgment of the superintendents of the association.

In witness whereof, and in testimony that the undersigned have become members of the said community upon the conditions aforesaid, they have hereunto severally and each for himself, set their hands and seals, on the ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven.

In presence of John H. Hopkins and Charles S. Voltz.


(Whole society signed this again upon G. Rapp's death Aug. 7, 1847.)


"The provision in regard to refunding property to seceders was abrogated in 1836 by the unanimous adoption of the following additional articles:

1st. The said sixth article is entirely annulled and made void, as if it had never existed, all others to remain in full force as heretofore. 2d. All the property of the Society, real personal and mixed, in law or equity, and howsoever contributed or acquired, shall be deemed now and forever joint and indivisible stock. Each individual is to be considered to have finally and irrevocably parted with all his former contributions, whether in lands, goods, money or labor, and the same rule shall apply to all future contributions, whatever they may be. 3d. Should any individual withdraw from the Society, or depart this life, neither he in the one case, nor his representatives in the other, shall be entitled to demand an account of said contributions, or to claim any thing from the Society as a matter of right; but it shall be left altogether to the discretion of the superintendent to decide whether any, and if any, what allowance shall be made to such member, or his representatives, as to donation.

3-A taken from Kring, pp. 24-26.
3-B found in Appendix D of The Harmony Society at Economy, Pennsylvania, by Aaron Williams, D.D., (Pittsburgh: W.S. Haven, Cor. Wood and Third Sts, 1866), pp. 129-131.
3-C taken from p. 167. American Communities (William Alfred Hinds)

Credit: Rev. John M'Clintock and James Strong Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. 8 (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1879), 912-13.
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