On the death of "Father" Rapp, Aug. 7. 1847, the articles were re-signed by the whole society, and two trustees and seven elders were put in office to perform all the duties and assume all the authority which their founder had relinquished with his life.
Under this simple constitution the Harmon}' Society has flourished for sixty-nine years; nor has its life been threatened by disagreements, except in the case of the count de Leon's intrigue. It has suffered three or four lawsuits from members who had left it, but in every case the courts have decided for the society, after elab- orate, and in some cases long-continued trials. It has always lived in peace and friendship with its neighbors.
Its real estate and other property was, from the foun- dation until his death in 1834, held in the name of Frederick (Reichert) Rapp, who was an excellent busi- ness man, and conducted all its dealings with the out- side world, and had charge of its temporalities gener- ally, the elder Rapp himself avoiding all general business. Upon Frederick's death the society formally and unani- mously imposed upon father Rapp the care of the tem- poral as well as the spiritual affairs of the little common- wealth, placing in his name the title to all their property. But, as he did not wish to let temporal concerns interfere with his spiritual functions, and as, besides, he was then growing old, being in 1834 seventy-seven years of age, he appointed as his helpers and subagents two members, R. L. Biiker and J. Henrici, the latter of whom is still, with Mr. Jonathan Lenz, the head of the society, Mr. Biiker having died several years ago.
The theological belief of the Harmony Society natu- rally crystallized under the preaching and during the life of father Rapp. It has some features of German mysticism, grafted upon a practical application of the Christian doctrine and theory. At the foundation of all lies a strong determination to make the preparation of their souls or spirits for the future life the pre-emi- nent business of life, and to obey in the strictest and most literal manner what they believe to be the will of God as revealed and declared by Jesus Christ. In the following paragraphs is given a brief summary of what may be called their creed :
1. They hold that Adam was created " in the likeness of God ;" that he was a dual being, containing within his own person both the sexual elements, reading literally, in confirmation of this, the text (Gen. i, 20, 27), "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, aud let them have dominion ;" and, " So God created man in his owu image, iu the image of God created he him ; male and female created he them;" which they hold to
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denote that both the Creator and the first created were of this dual nature. They believe that had Adam been content to remain in his original state, he would have in- creased without the help of a female, bringing forth new beings like himself to replenish the earth.
2. But Adam fell into discontent, and God separated from his body the female part, and gave it him according to his desire, and therein they believe consisted the fall of man.
3. From this they deduce that the celibate state is more pleasing to God; that in the renewed world man will be restored to the dual Godlike and Adamic condition; and,
4. They hold that the coming of Christ aud the renova- tion of tiie world are near at hand. This uearness of the millennium is a cardinal point of doctrine with them; aud father Rapp firmly believed that he would live to see- the wished-for reappearance of Christ in the heavens, and that he would be permitted to present his company of believers to the Saviour whom they endeavored to please with their lives. So vivid was this belief in him that it led some of his followers to fondly fancy that father Rapp would not die before Christ's coming; and there is a touching story of the old man that when he felt death upon him, at the age of ninety, he said, "If I did not know that the dear Lord meant I should present you all to him, I should think my last moments come." These were indeed his last words. To be in constant readiness for the reappearance of Christ is one of the aims of the society; nor have its members ever faltered in the faith that this great event is near at hand.
5. Jesus they hold to have been born "iu the likeness of the Father-" that is to say, a dual being, as Adam be- fore the fall.
6. They hold that Jesus taught and commanded a com- munity of goods, aud refer to the example of the early Christians as proof.
7. They believe in the ultimate redemption and salva- tion of all mankind ; but hold that only those who follow the celibate life, and otherwise conform to what they un- derstand to be the commandments of Jesus, will come at once into the bright and glorious company of Christ aud his companions; that offenders will undergo a probation for purification.
8. They reject and detest what is commonly called "Spiritualism."