Editing Harmony Society (section)

== Origins in Germany ==
[[Image:Johann Georg Rapp 1757 - 1847.jpg|thumb|Johann Georg Rapp ([[George Rapp]]) 1757–1847]]

[[George Rapp|Johann Georg Rapp]] (1757–1847), also known as George Rapp, was the founder of the religious sect called Harmonists, Harmonites, Rappites, or the Harmony Society. Born in [[Iptingen]], [[Duchy of Württemberg]], [[Germany]], Rapp was a "bright but stubborn boy" who was also deeply religious. His "strong personality" and religious convictions began to concern local church authorities when he refused to attend church services or take communion.<ref>Karl J. R. Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society, 1785–1847'' (Philadelphia: [[University of Pennsylvania]] Press, 1965), p. 17–18.</ref> Rapp and his group of believers began meeting in Iptengen and eventually emigrated to the United States, where they established three communities: [[Harmony, Pennsylvania|Harmony]], [[Butler County, Pennsylvania|Butler County]], [[Pennsylvania]]; [[New Harmony, Indiana|Harmony (later named New Harmony)]], [[Posey County, Indiana|Posey County]], [[Indiana]]; and [[Old Economy Village|Economy]], [[Beaver County, Pennsylvania]].

Rapp became inspired by the philosophies of [[Jakob Böhme]], [[Philipp Jakob Spener]], [[Johann Heinrich Jung]], and [[Emanuel Swedenborg]] among others, and later wrote ''Thoughts on the Destiny of Man'', published in German in 1824 and in English a year later, in which he outlined his ideas and philosophy.<ref>John Archibald Bole, ''The Harmony Society: A Chapter in German American Culture History'' (Philadelphia: Americana Germanica Press, 1904) p. 45, 65.</ref> Rapp lived out his remaining days in Economy, where he died on August 7, 1847, at the age of 89.<ref>Karl J. R. Arndt, ''George Rapp's Successors and Material Heirs, 1847–1916'' (Rutherford, NJ: [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]] Press, 1971), p. 17.</ref>

By the mid-1780s, Rapp had begun preaching to the Separatists, his followers in Iptengen, who met privately and refused to attend church services or take communion.<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 20.</ref> As their numbers increased, Rapp's group officially split with the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Church]] in 1785 and was banned from meeting. Despite warnings from local authorities, the group continued to meet privately and attract even more followers.<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 30.</ref>

By 1798 Rapp and his group of followers had already begun to distance themselves from mainstream society and intended to establish a new religious congregation of fellow believers. In the Lomersheimer declaration, written in 1798, these religious Separatists presented their statement of faith, based on Christian principles, to the Wurttemberg legislature.<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 35.</ref> Rapp's followers declared their desire to form a separate congregation who would meet in members' homes, free from Lutheran Church doctrines. The group supported the belief that baptism was not necessary until children could decide for themselves whether they wanted to become a Christian. They also believed that confirmation for youth was not necessary and communion and confession would only be held a few times a year. Although the Separatists supported civil government, the group refused to make a physical oath in its support, "for according to the Gospel not oath is allowed him who gives evidence of a righteous life as an upright man."<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 39.</ref> They also refused to serve in the military or attend Lutheran schools, choosing instead to teach their children at home.<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 38–39.</ref> This declaration of faith, along with some later additions, guided the Harmony Society's religious beliefs even after they had emigrated from Germany to the United States.<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 40.</ref>

In the 1790s, Rapp's followers continued to increase, reaching as many as 10,000 to 12,000 members.<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 46.</ref> The increasing numbers, which included followers outside of Rapp's village, continued to concern the government, who feared they might become rebellious and dangerous to the state.<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 49.</ref> Although no severe actions were initially taken to repress the Separatists, the group began to consider emigration to France or the United States. In 1803, when the government began to persecute Rapp's followers, he decided to move the entire group to the [[United States]]. Rapp and a small group of men left Iptingen in 1803 and traveled to America to find a new home.<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 49–50.</ref> On May 1, 1804, the first group of emigrants departed for the United States. The initial move scattered the followers and reduced Rapp's original group of 12,000 to just a few followers. Johan Frederich Reichert, who later agreed to become Rapp's adopted son and took the name of Frederick Reichert Rapp, reported in a letter dated February 25, 1804, that there were "at least 100 families or 500 persons actually ready to go" even if they had to sacrifice their property.<ref>Arndt, ''George Rapp's Harmony Society'', p. 54.</ref>

=== Encounter with the Haugeans ===
In September 1817 ''{{Ill|de Zee Ploeg|no|«de Zee Ploeg»|de|De Zee Ploeg}}'', a ship with 500 immigrants from Württemberg, including a number of Rappites, was forced to stop in Norway because of poor weather conditions. Staying in Bergen for about a year and provided with housing by the authorities, they were warmly accepted by the followers of the Pietistic [[Haugean movement]]. The two groups found much in common and held devotions together, with some of the Germans learning Norwegian during their stay. Samson Trae, a Haugean leader, noted that "It gave us extreme joy to realize that the foundation of your faith accords with the true word of God."<ref>Letter from Samson Traae, in the Manuscript Collection                     of The University Library, Oslo; letters from Kyllingen and                     Seglem in Haugean Letter-bank, manuscript in Norsk historisk                     kjeldeskriftinstitutt, Oslo.</ref> After Rapp's followers left to settle in the United States, the two groups remained in contact for at least some time. In one letter, the Rappites stated, "Our hearts have often longed for your loving and edifying company since we came to America. We have longed more for Bergen than for Germany because of the love with which you received us and re-freshed us in body and spirit."<ref>German emigrants to "Dear, beloved Brothers and                     Sisters of God’s Society in Bergen", May 14, 1819, in Haugean                     Letter-hook, manuscript in Norsk historisk kjeldeskriftinstitutt,                     Oslo.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Haanes |first=Vidar L. |url=https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110639476-011 |title=Tracing the Jerusalem Code |publisher=[[De Gruyter]] |year=2021 |isbn=9783110636567 |editor-last=Zorgati |editor-first=Ragnhild J. |volume=3: The Promised Land Christian Cultures in Modern Scandinavia (ca. 1750–ca. 1920) |location=Berlin, Boston |chapter=Chapter 10: In Search of the New Jerusalem: Millennial Hopes and Scandinavian Immigrants to America |pages=189–212 |doi=10.1515/9783110639476-011 |s2cid=233586435 |editor-last2=Bohlin |editor-first2=Anna |editor-last3=Sjøvoll |editor-first3=Therese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Semmingsen |first=Ingrid |date=2008-08-08 |others=Translated by C. A. Clausen |title=Haugeans, Rappites, and the Emigration of 1825 |url=http://www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume29/vol29_01.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808134640/http://www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume29/vol29_01.htm |archive-date=2008-08-08 |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=[[St. Olaf College]]}}</ref>