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The Cult Dossier · No. 027 · Apocalyptic / Doomsday

Harmony Society

Harmonists; Rappites

1785/1805 – 1905 · Iptingen, Württemberg; then Harmony and Economy, Pennsylvania; New Harmony, Indiana

III. THE LONG NINETEENTH CENTURY

Fully religious — German Pietist separatist commune

Who led it

JOHANN GEORG RAPP (1757–1847), Father Rapp, a Lutheran-trained weaver who declared himself the prophet of Revelation 11. Adopted son and business manager FREDERICK REICHERT RAPP.

What it worshipped and taught

Imminent return of Christ, expected within Rapp's lifetime. Community of goods from 1805. CELIBACY adopted in 1807 after a revival — married couples continued to live together but ceased marital relations. Rapp taught that Adam was originally androgynous and that celibacy restored the divine form. Members signed over all property on entry, with no legal claim to return.

Who was in it

George Rapp; Frederick Rapp; Rapp's son Johannes, who died in 1812; Bernhard Müller, alias COUNT DE LEON, the rival prophet whose 1832 schism took a third of the membership; Robert Owen, who bought New Harmony in 1825.

How it ended, or where it stands

Extinguished by celibacy; assets liquidated in 1905.

The dead

—

Of note

One of the most commercially successful communes in American history — it owned oil wells, railroads and banks. Celibacy plus total property surrender is the pattern to note.

Its timeline

  1. 1785 Rapp separates from the Lutheran church at Iptingen.
  2. 1803–1804 Emigrates with about 800 followers to Pennsylvania.
  3. 15 February 1805 Articles of Association signed; property held in common.
  4. 1807 Celibacy adopted.
  5. 1814–1824 The society builds the town of Harmonie, Indiana; sells it to Robert Owen in 1825 for 150,000 dollars.
  6. 1825 Founds Economy, Pennsylvania.
  7. 1832 Count de Leon schism; roughly 250 members leave with a 105,000 dollar settlement.
  8. 7 August 1847 Rapp dies aged 89, still expecting Christ.
  9. 1905 Society formally dissolved with three members remaining; assets worth millions.

Its people

George Rapp

Father Rapp

Founder, the Harmony Society · 1 November 1757 – 7 August 1847 · active 1785–1847

A Württemberg weaver who separated from the Lutheran church and led about 800 followers to Pennsylvania. He held property in common from 1805 and imposed celibacy in 1807, teaching that Adam had been originally androgynous and that celibacy restored the divine form. Married couples continued living together but ceased relations. Members signed away all property on entry with no legal claim to recovery. The society became extraordinarily rich — it owned oil wells, railroads and banks — and Rapp died at 89 still expecting Christ imminently. His son Johannes died in 1812.

Before the law. None. Repeatedly sued by departing members over surrendered property; the society generally won.

Where things stand. Deceased 1847. Society formally dissolved 1905 with three members left.

  1. 1785 Separates from the Lutheran church at Iptingen.
  2. 1803–04 Emigrates with ~800 followers.
  3. 15 February 1805 Articles of Association: property held in common.
  4. 1807 Celibacy adopted.
  5. 1832 Count de Leon schism takes a third of the membership.
  6. 7 August 1847 Dies aged 89.

Checked 2026-08-24

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