"Article 1. We, the undersigned, for ourselves, onr heirs, executors, and administrators, do hereby give, grant, and forever convey to the said George Rapp ami his associate-, and to their heirs and assigns, all our prop- erly, l eal. personal, and mixed, whether it he lands and
tenements, goods and chattels, money or debts due to us, jointly or severally, in possession, in remainder, or in re- version or expectancy, whatsoever and wheresoever, with- out evasion, qualification, or reserve, as a free gift or do- nation, for the benefit and use ofthe said association or community; and we do hereby hind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators, to do all Buch 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 2. We do further covenant and agree to ami with the said George Rapp and hi- associates that we will severally submit faithfully to the laws and regula- tions of said community, and will at all times manifest a ready and cheerful obedience towards those who are or may be appointed as superintendents thereof, holding ourselves hound to promote the interest and welfare ot tin- said community, not only by the labor of our own hands, but also by that of our children, our fain all others who now are or hereafter may be under our control.
"Article 3. 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 associati then and in
such c ase 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 chil- dren, or for any one belonging to us, directly or indirect- ly, any compensation, wages, or reward whatever for our or their labor Or sen ices rendered to the said community, Or to any member thereof; hut whatever we or our fami- lies jointly or severally shall or may do, all shall he held and considered as a voluntary service for our brethren.
'•Article 4. In consideration of the premises, the said George Rapp and his associates do. by these presents, ado),! the undersigned jointly and severally as members ofthe said community, Whereby each of them obtains the privilege of being present at every religious meeting, and of receiving not only for themselves, bnt also for their children and families, all such instructions in church and school as may be reasonably required, both for their tem- poral good and for their eternal felicity.
"Article 5. The said George Rapp and his associates further agree to supply the undersigned severally with all
the :essaries ot life, as clothing, meat, drink, lodging,
etc, for themselves and their families. And this provi- sion is not limited to their days of health and Btrength; but when any of them shall become sick, infirm, or other- wise unlit for labor, the same support and maintenance
shall be allowed as before, together with bucd medicine, care, attendance, and consolation as their situation may reasonably demand. And If at any time after they have become members ofthe association, the father or mother
of a family should die or he Otherwise Separated from the Community, and should leave their family behind, such
familj -had not be leil orphan- or destitute, but shall partake ofthe 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 6. And if it should so happen, as above men- tioned, that any of the undersigned should violate his or their agreement, and would or could not Bubmil to the laws ami regulations of the Chnrch or the community, and for that or any other cause should withdraw from the nssol iation, then the said George Rapp and his associates agree to refund to him or them the value of all Buch prop- erty a- he 01 they may haw brought into the community,
RAPPISTS
91!
RASHBA
i'n compliance with the first nrticle of this agreement, the said value to be refunded without interest, in one, two, or three annual instalments, as the said George Rapp and his associates shall determine. And if the person or per- sons so withdrawing themselves were poor, and brought nothing into the community, notwithstanding they de- part 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 re- quire, in the judgment of the superintendents of the asso- ciation."
In 1818 a book in which was recorded the amount of property contributed by each member to the general fund was destroyed. In 1836 a change was made in the formal constitution or agreement above quoted, in the following words :
"1. The sixth article [in regard to refunding] is entirely annulled and made void, as if it had never existed ; all others to remain in full force as heretofore. 2. All the property of the society', real, personal, and mixed, in law or equity, aud howsoever contributed or acquired, shall be deemed, now and forever, joint aud indivisible stock. Each individual is to be considered to have finally and ir- revocably parted with all his former contributions, wheth- er in lands, goods, money, or labor; and the same rule shall apply to all future contributions, whatever they may be. 3. Should any individual withdraw from the society or depart this life, neither he, in the one case, nor his rep- resentatives, in the other, shall be entitled to demand an account of said contributions, or to claim anything from the society as a matter of right. But it shall be left alto- gether to the discretion of the superintendent to decide whether any, aud, if any, what allowance shall be made to such member or his representatives as a donation."