German Order of Harugari

The order was established on March 9, 1847, by Philipp Merkle, Fredrich Germann, Peter Schnatz, T. Rodrian, J. Deger, I. Germann, W. Schwartz, A. Glahn, V. Denzer, and S. Merz. The objectives were mutual protection in a time of high German immigration and anti-German sentiment in the U.S., and preservation of German language and culture. The order forbade discussion of religion, politics, or social issues. The word harugari refers to worshipers in a sacred grove, or haruc, and demonstrates the founders' inspiration in Germanic paganism. The order grew slowly but steadily, being introduced successively into Pennsylvania, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland and Ohio. In 1860 there was a split between two competing sections of the order, the Independent Order of Harugari and the Ancient German Order of Harugari. These merged in January 1869 into Der Deutsche Orden der Harugari. There was also a German Order of the Harugari of Illinois, organized in 1869 and incorporated independently in that state. A Harugari Cemetery was established in 1877 in Manchester, Missouri. == Organization and membership ==

The order had a three-tier structure, with local subordinate lodges under the direction of grand lodges, which in turn were controlled by the Grand Lodge of the United States. By 1896 there were 30,000 members in 300 lodges in 27 states. but in 1994 there were reportedly 90 members. Supreme officers were called "Bards" and members "Bretheren." In 1870 the head of the order described its membership as belonging to "the workers' estate." There were three membership degrees. The order's motto was "Friendship, Love, and Humanity." Although it was considered altruistic, its critics accused it of being antagonistic to the Catholic Church. == Cultural activities ==

Harugari promoted German-language singing; in 1887 there were 20,000 members in Harugari Singing Societies, ==References==