USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Ephrata > Chronicon ephratense : a history of the community of Seventh Day Baptists at Ephrata, Lancaster County, Penn'a. > Part 17
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you for God's sake, Brethren, receive mne again, for I cannot be separated from you in time and eternity." But no one had an answer for him, for everyone understood that he wished to regain his office. But in order to satisfy his entreaties, they held a council in the presence of the Su- perintendent, in which it was agreed that he should leave the Settlement for a time, and manage the business in the fulling-mill. The Brotherhood should meanwhile be reformned and as soon as everything stood on a proper footing again he should have the choice, either to again live with them, though only as a common Brother, or if this did not please him, that a small house should be built for him in the Settle- ment and he be cared for there as long as he lived. When this resolution was communicated to him, he by no means objected, but promised to move next day into the fulling-mill, and was greatly rejoiced, because he perceived that the severe judgment, which was the result of his administration, would soon reach its end. But, good God! it was a short joy, for when his oldest brother, to whose advice he had always paid more obedience than to that of his faithful spiritual Father, came home and heard the resolve of his brother, he said to him: "It is time again to turn to a hermit's life;" that he should escape with him into the desert, and leave misfortune to the Brethren; they would not carry on matters for any length of time, for they had not intelligence enough to con- duct a household. This proposition pleased the Prior, there- fore he left the Settlement on the following. day, September 4th, 1745, with his above-mentioned brother Jephune, and another, Timotheus by name, and moved towards the wilder- ness, after having administered the office of Prior among the Brethren for not much longer than four years. They fled about 400 English iniles, towards the setting of the sun, as if some one were chasing them, for justice pursued them on account of the spiritual debts which they had contracted in the Settle- ment, until, beyond all Christian governments, they had reached a stream which runs towards the Mississippi, New River by name. Here they settled, in the midst of a pack of nothing but raggamuffins, the dregs of human society, who
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spent their time in murdering wild beasts. These they had to take into their companionship instead of the Brethren they had left behind. But how incomprehensible, O Lord, our God! are Thy counsels, for those who dishonored Thee to stumble and fall, because they followed their own under- standing more than the guidance of Thy cross; therefore they were despised; but Thou who scatteredst Israel wilt gather it again, for Thou canst not repent of Thy gifts and calling; Thou wast our God in our great inisery, therefore build us up again and mend our faults for we are Thy people and the flock of Thy pasture.
It was necessary to give a clear record of these inatters, because nearly everyone had the suspicion that the Superin- tendent had persecuted the Prior and his brothers; and no one can be blamed for it, because inany in the Com- inunity were not cognizant of the condition of the house- hold in the Settlement. The rock of offence3 and the stone of stumbling were erected in the Settlement, and this was the cause why hypocrisy did not thrive, for everyone's secret was brought to light.
The first who stumbled over this rock was the Superin- tendent himself. But his trial was between God and him-
3 Of this he sings in the large hymn book, page 227, thus:
This hardest priest's condition Scarce hath aught to deplore, Since he's God's near relation Such things he must endure: In the end Peace is sent E'en to those despising Things of God's devising.
Such task to me is hardest, Too hard for words to tell, Which Thou, O God, demandest Of me to learn full well; That e'en they Who to-day Treat God with derision, May have his salvation.
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self, and therefore all the inore weighty, as he sings in a. hymn:
"Now all vexation it is still, God, he himself avenged it ; That rock, so hard, has crushed my will And all to pieces broke it ; Because I took offense thereat Which no one else escaped had."
To his successors, however, he was a source of offence. At least it appears from the Superintendent's testimony that he bore this condition for them, and most likely carried it with him to eternity, where only such hard states are resolved.
Since the time of the Superintendent's flight into the wil- derness where Ephrata now stands, which happened in October, 1732, to the flight of the Prior into the wilderness, which happened September 4th, 1745, a period of thirteen years intervenes. Let this be the end of this chapter.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE BROTHERHOOD RECOVERS AGAIN FROM THE VARIOUS TRIBULATIONS CAUSED BY THIS SEPARATION. NEW CHURCH- WORK TAKES PLACE IN PHILADELPHIA, BESIDES AN AWAKEN- ING AMONG THE ENGLISH PEOPLE.
While the vengeance kindled in the Brotherhood of Zion ferociously raged, it looked as if each Brother were about to turn out the others, and as if no deliverer were at hand who could control the conflagration. For when judgment had driven one Brother out of the Settlement it soon took hold of another, so that even the oldest Brethren were in danger of becoming victims of vengeance. As soon as the office of Prior had become vacant by the departure of the Prior, his youngest brother Jothamn successfully worked himself into the position, for the Eckerlins had the delusion that the office was hereditary in their family, so that the Prior was once heard to say: "The Community is mine," to which his brother Jothanı answered: "Then the Brotherhood belongs to me," which the third, Elimelech, heard and replied: "By God, brothers, both of you are mistaken," for in his opinion both belonged to him! It is strange that men who were already divorced from the wife of the world were still thus extraordinarily tempted by the false priest-spirit; and it seems that this was harder to overcome than the attractions of a mortal wife. Even Aaron's priesthood availed no more than for the reconciliation of Aaron's murderous church, where- fore it was overthrown when the true Priest appeared from heaven. Soon after Brother Jotham assumed the office the spirits of judgment, which had overthrown his Brother, took possession of him also, for he began arbitrary reformns. There were several Brethren of the household whom he would have mustered out of the Settlement if the Superintendent had not opposed it. He also had various plans of his own, and did not know that this had been the cause of his brother's downfall. The Brethren, however, did not allow him to get
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warm in his seat before they declared against him; they did not want again to have an Eckerlin as their Prior; they wanted him to move into the house which the Eckerlins had in the Settlement, and to let them reform the Brotherhood; after that he might again dwell with the Brethren. He, however, did not wait that long, for in the winter following his brother Jephune came for him and took him to the New River. Thus all the Eckerlins lost their right in the inheritance of the Lord, for which they had to thank their carnal connection alone, which had helped them to bring everything, even the Superintendent, under their sway. But the scandal of this schism spread through the whole country, and just as for- merly this small Community had by its harmony brought everything close together so did this disunion now dissolve everything. The merchants of Philadelphia, who had traded with them, were displeased at this loss. They had expected to find indulgence for their worldly life from these supposed saints, and if the government had been able to interfere the affair would have been brought before the courts; but the sins were not against the government, but against God. Every- body wished thein well, for it was hoped they would discover a nearer road to the kingdom of God than the one the Soli- tary in the Settlement thus far had walked in. The pious of the country were the most beguiled by this deception towards God; the friends of the Separation in Germantown were all ready to follow them, but were prevented by the subsequent Indian war; for nothing is sweeter in the world than to again desert God after having lived for some time nearer to Him. It is this that does more harm to the kingdom of heaven than ten Neros. A man of note wrote from Frankford: "The flight of the Eckerlins into the wilderness is a great marvel, let me know the result of it." And now a pilgrimage was under- taken to those regions, for whoever became troubled about his salvation took refuge with them, and they understood how to cure hin. Others hoped to find out some of the sins and infa- inies which, as was supposed, were carried on in the Settle- ment. A famous doctor was most likely induced thereby to undertake his long journey to them. A young Brother in the Settlement, Henry Zinn by name, also longed at last for
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such a life of license; he begged the Brethren to accompany him thither, and promised in return to love them all his life long. He and the whole family of Bingeman were there killed by the Indians.
When judgment blazed so fiercely to sift the Brotherhood in Zion, the Superintendent gave his assistance to the same, as a test, whether their work were of God or not; therefore he said he would not desist from tearing down, so long as one stone was yet resting on the other in the household of Zion. And because he knew that several Brethren were but outwardly captured by the power of God's testimony, and that they did not internally live a life of mortifying their carnal senses, he made known by one of the Brethren, that whatever Brother were inclined to leave the Settlement, should at once make use of his liberty. The fence was thus completely torn down; some left in the day time, others secretly at night ; some asked for their wages, otliers de- inanded again what they had contributed. About this time the printer in Germantown, urged by a hidden authority, proclaimed in the paper, that any who had contributed any- thing to Ephrata, should make application for it at that place, and it would be restored. Some in the Sisters' House also took their leave, and followed this licentious life, which gave rise to marriages and other forbidden deeds. It was observed that very few of them met with success. This disorderly crowd of people turned towards the New River. Several of the Community also followed thein, for there they found an altar erected for flesh and blood, and the number of disorderly persons increased so fast among these Solitary that they sent a request to the Settlement not to send any more people to them. Although they tried to establish divine ser- vice, they could not accomplish anything with people who had stepped beyond God and trodden his testimony under their feet. At last they were dispersed through all countries. The last who left the Settlement was Beno, and therewith the judgment against the Brethren ended. When about 100 miles distant from the Settlement, the Spirit told him to stop, and he turned back, and was again received in the Settle- ment after much supplication. He ended his life there.
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Thus the household of the Brotherhood in Zion, after a short but lamentable period of time came to a sorrowful end; all of which the Superintendent had predicted. It is remarkable that by this schismn the whole was divided into three parts, according to the three principles, for some fell into possession of the empire of the outer world, and again become through marriage, citizens of it. The Eckerlins and others permitted themselves to be captured by the dark magic, and consumed their time in judging and calumniat- ing their innocent Brethren, from whom they had wickedly separated. The remnant was a small, poor and despised crowd. The Superintendent remembered this business at times with sadness, and said: He was the cause of this mis- fortune, because he had put too much into the hands of inexperienced men, and if he had not been too weak he might have prevented it all, but thus he had exposed him- self to the danger of falling. The Eckerlins did not possess the least degree of learning before their conversion, but because they were the first of the civil world who joined the Community, they revived secular life therein, tore the Superintendent away from the supposed holy simplicity of the Mennonites, and invested him again in his former secular way of living. And as they endeavored to gain his favor by various acts of goodness, they at last brought him under their influence, and thereby they became important men. However, after they had left the Settlement, and the Su- perintendent had suffered enough for the good he had accepted of them as long as he stood under their sway, he commenced an important work, namely, to deprive them again of the benefits which they had secured through church-robbery, and again to withdraw his fellowship from them, for he was one of the mnagi of light to a high degree. At this time he was always to be seen on his feet, and after he was done with his work in the spirit, his good which they had taken from him, returned to him, and there was nothing left them but their own good; and because they had possessed this in selfishness, they became a laughing- stock to the tempter in their hermitage; for God is not opposed to himself. Therefore they could not remain there
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any length of time, but returned again in order to commit a new church-robbery, which will be mentioned at the proper place. Besides all this, it must be said to their credit, that they did a great deal of good to the Brethren by the strictness of their rule in Zion, and that those who bore their yoke in patience had a great advantage over others in subsequent times.
Of the reform undertaken in the Settlement and of its suc- cess, the following is in a few words to be mentioned. A Brother of Zion visited the Superintendent and disclosed to him his wish, namely: That it was his intention to renew his covenant with God by a repetition of his baptism. The Superintendent agreed to his request, but asked him to wait yet awhile, as he expected some more work of the same kind. And he was not deceived, for on the follow- ing day two other Brethren came to the Superintendent for the same cause; in consequence of which the 27th day of September, 1745, was chosen for this festival, on which day ten Brethren renewed their covenant with God by baptism, as a tribute of gratitude, because his mercy had sustained them in their adversities. These were at another time suc- ceeded by fourteen other Brethren; the others stood back. The Superintendent himself performed the act, and gave his sorely wounded heart to the Brethren who had been spared by the sword. After baptism the customary hair-cutting was performed, to which the Superintendent also submitted; the tonsure, however, was omitted, in order to avoid offence. The following day a breaking of bread was held in Zion, at which the venerable Sisters were also present. That was a day of great joy, since not only those expelled from Israel were again assembled together, but also because the Super- intendent was again installed in his office, after having been a fugitive for one year, six months, and one day, on account of his wicked son Absalom, during which time he had to flee out of one house into another in the Settlement. O, how blessed he, who in dark days, does not depart from the guid- ance of his God, and does not take offence when the cup of affliction is filled for him! Oh, how richly does God reward all those who have been steadfast in the faith even unto the
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sweating of blood! This edifying act of the Brethren mnoved the Sisters so that all of them were re-baptized by the Super- intendent in two days, namely, October 3d and 15tl1, 1745. Afterwards it was proposed, that in memory of this time, this day should be celebrated every year, and that all members of the Order should submit to re-baptisin; but the necessary harmony was wanting. The reader can see from this, that re-baptism was rather a church-rite in the Settlement, than that it originated in hatred towards other Communities. When the last of the Brethren were baptized, as above mentioned, another breaking of bread was hield in Zion, which also was the last held there; it lasted till two o'clock after midnight. The cause of its long duration was because there still lay a ban upon the Brethren which the Superin- tendent felt in his spirit, and which impelled him to speak so long and ardently, until three Bretliren went off, there- upon the bread-breaking was considered as blessed.
Soon another just as important work presented itself. The Brethren represented to the Superintendent that this convent was built under the direction of the Eckerlins, and therefore, these would have a riglit over them, as long as they lived in it. Therefore they had a mind to leave the lill and build a new convent near him in the plain, to which plan he gave his consent. This undertaking produced inany changes in the Settlement, for the widowers and widows who at that time inliabited the convent Kedar, which belonged to the Sisters, inade room there for the Brethren and moved into Zion, which the Brethren had left empty. Tlie 22d of October, 1745, was the memorable day on which the Brethren moved down the hill out of their convent Zion, and landed this over to the Congregation for its poor. The first Brethren moved into Zion in October, Anno 1738, thir- teen in number, and from that time on for seven years the Brethren had lived in Zion. The rest of the Brethren followed thein August 13th, 1740, as has already been men- tioned. September 21st, 1740, they held there the first Night Watchies, and the last on August 4th, 1745. Since the death of Brother Agonius, when the government caine completely into the hands of the Prior, the latter had ruled four
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years, two months and nineteen days. The number of Breth- ren who left Zion at that time was thirty-four. On December 27th, 1745, the Brethren commenced to abolish their Baby- lonian bell-trash; they sold their clocks and bells to the Re- formed and Lutheran congregations in Lancaster, but tore down the spire in great zeal. And because it became known that young people used the cominon wash-house at night for courting purposes, the same was burnt down. At this time a pretty large bell arrived in Philadelphia from England, which the Eckerlins were said to have ordered. The follow- ing was inscribed around it: Sub Auspicio V'iri Venerandi Onesimi Societatis Ephratensis Praepositi. Having received intelligence of this a council was held in presence of the Superintendent, which resulted very unfavorably to the bell, namely, that it should be knocked to pieces and buried in the ground. But how to pay for it nobody could tell, for its cost was £80. The next morning the Superintendent appeared again in the council and said he had considered about it. Because the Brethren were poor, the bell should be pardoned, and that is how it became the property of the Lutheran church in Lancaster, as mentioned above. But the following incident sounds still stranger. The Eckerlins had laid out an orchard of 1,000 trees near their convent. The Superin- tendent once passed by it with several Brethren, and the question being asked, what to do with so much fruit, one Brother said: "Cut them down." The Superintendent agreed to it, for he had received the charge front God to lay open the inner man. This orchard, therefore, was rooted up during the night, to the great chagrin of the whole country; and when the originators announced it to the Superintendent, he asked them whether they had done right? But they could not answer him. These were cases of judgment such as are common over the whole world, namely, that one nation sweeps away the other.
After the building of a new convent for the Brethren was agreed upon in the council, the choice of the place became the common consideration, and this fell upon a fine orchard, which was speedly rooted out. But after a considerable time objections were raised against this spot by the Superin- 0
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tendent, and they looked in common for another. The Su- perintendent always tried to have it near the Sisters' convent, but the Brethren checked him, for they would have preferred to have a high mountain separate these two convents. At last the site for this new building was placed so near the Sisters' House, that conversation could be carried on from one to the other. The Brethren, in retaliation, afterwards played the Superintendent a trick ; for when a new dwel- ling house was to be built for him, they selected the space between the Brethren's and the Sisters' convents, at which some of the Sisters were not well pleased, and said it had exactly the appearance as if the Sisters could not live with- out the Superintendent. About the same time the Mother, accompanied by some of the oldest Sisters, most likely in company with the Superintendent, paid a visit to the Breth- ren. It was a very edifying and blessed one. May God recompense them on the day of judgment; for they needed consolation, especially since their church-body was still bleeding from those many wounds which they had received in their strife with the Prince of Wrath. After the Night Watches had been omitted for three months and twenty days, dating from the Prior's flight, they were again commenced December 24th, 1745, by the Brethren in Kedar, where they lived for the time being, and December 25th following, a morning and evening service was added.
On March 23d the office which Brothier Jethro held since the time when the Eckerlins left, was again taken from himn and given to another Brother, called Jabez, after the former had been in charge of it for four months. There were always candidates enough whenever the Prior's place was empty, but as soon as it was again filled the Brethren either submitted in blind obedience, as they had done to the Eckerlins, or they abstained from all fellowship with him. Therefore the post of Prior was always a dangerous one ; but the Superin- tendent had learnt to sail with all kinds of wind, and was careful not to infuse his own will into any act. During the administration of this Prior the building of the convent was. commenced, March 31st, 1746. This house met with strange changes. At first it was intended as a wing to the Zion con-
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vent, large enough to accommodate about 100 Solitary. The foundation had already been laid for this purpose, and a sur- prising mass of lumber procured for it by the Eckerlins, all of which the Brethren mnade use of. And because heaven was again open for the poor Brethren their work progressed in a blessed and quick manner, especially since one of their Brethren, Sealthiel, was an experienced carpenter. The house was so durably joined together by posts, beams and joists that you will hardly find its equal in North America. All this carpenter work was finished in thirty-five days. On May IIth it was raised, which took three days, at which danger- ous task Providence took care of the work, so that nobody was hurt. Then they resolved to build a chapel, for which the remaining timber was used. They raised it in November, 1746, after having worked at it for five weeks. This was a stately building, contained a meeting-hall for the Community, specially ornamented with Gothic letters, besides galleries and halls for the love-feasts. After these extensive buildings had been so well completed under the blessing of God, the Breth- ren moved into their new convent, called Betliany, where their different domiciles were distributed to them by lot.
September 5th, 1746, Brother Jabez again lost his office, and Brother Jethro was installed the second time; and this was the way it happened. It was the custom of the other Priors to try to establish themselves firmly in their office by gaining the favor of the Brethren; he on the contrary never cultivated any fellowship with any of the Brethren, which indeed was one cause of his early fall. With this lie also came into too close intimacy with the Superintendent, whereby he was more heavily burdened with the weight of his spirit than his human nature could bear. For some time it ap- peared as if he might lose his senses; wherefore some of tlie Sisters entreated the Superintendent to set him free, lest he might break down under his hands. But the Superintendent had no intention to do so, and said nobody need think that the Prior had lost his senses, there were other causes. Yea, verily, other causes; for it was a mnost melancholy wed- lock; the Superintendent was too great and too small for the Prior, so that he could neither put him down, nor gain
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