Exhibit 5.1

                   Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
                        One Logan Square
                      18th & Cherry Streets
                  Philadelphia, PA  19103-6996



May 17, 2000

Harleysville Group Inc.
355 Maple Avenue
Harleysville, Pennsylvania  19438

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Harleysville Group Inc. (the
"Company") in connection with the preparation and filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission of the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Registration Statement") relating to 50,000 shares of Common
Stock of the Company, par value $1.00 per share (the "Shares"),
issuable pursuant to its Excess Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan").

     In this capacity, we have reviewed originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation, its By-laws, resolutions
of its Board of Directors, the Plans, and such other documents
and corporate records as we have deemed appropriate for the
purpose of giving this opinion.

     Based upon the foregoing and consideration of such questions
of law as we have deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that the
issuance of the Shares by the Company pursuant to the Plan has
been duly authorized by the necessary corporate action on the
part of the Company and such Shares, when issued in accordance
with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable by the Company.

     The opinions expressed herein are limited to the Delaware
General Corporation Law.

     We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.  This does not constitute a consent under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 since we have not
certified any part of the Registration Statement and do not
otherwise come within the categories of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

                              Very truly yours,


                              /s/Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
                              DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP