USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 15
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
hermit. His place of retirement was unknown for sometime to the people he had left, and when discovered, many of the society at Mill creek, who had become convinced of the truth of his proposition for the observ- ance of the Sabbath, settled around him, in solitary cottages. They adopted the original Sabbath-the seventh day-for public worship, in the year 1728; which has ever since been observed by their descendants, even unto the present day.
In the year 1732, the solitary life was changed into a conventicle one, and a monastic society was established as soon as the first buildings erected for that purpose were finished, May, 1733. The habit of the Capuchins, or White Friars,t was adopted by both the brethren and
* Cocalico, called by the Delaware Indians, Koch-Halekung, Germanicè, Schlangenhoehle, Serpents den; from the abun- dance of serpents along the stream .- Chron. Eph. 52.
¡Capuziner, eine Abart des Franciscaner Ordens, welche gegen das Jahr 1525, ihren Anfang nahm. Sie tragen eine lange spitz zulaufende capuze und einen langen Bart; die Verfassung des ordens ist streng und zeichnet sich durch Enthaltsamkeit aus.
-
.217
LANCASTER COUNTY.
visters; which consisted of a shirt, trowsers, and vest, with a long white gown or cowl, of woolen web in winter, and linen in summer. That of the sisters differed only in the substitution of petticoats for trowsers, and some little peculiarity in the shape of the cow] .- Monastic names were given to all who entered the cloister. Onesimus (Israel Eckerlin) was constituted Prior, who was succeeded by Jaebez (Peter Miller) and . the title of Father-spiritual father-was bestowed by the society, upon Beisel, whose monastic name was Friedsam; to which the brethren afterwards added Gottrecht ; implying, together, Peaceable, Godright. In the year 1740, there were thirty-six single brethren in the cloister, and thirty-five sisters; and at one time, the society, including the members living in the neighbor- hood, numbered nearly three hundred.
- The first buildings of the society of any consequence, were Kedar and Zion; a meeting house and a convent, which were, crected on the hill called Mount Zion .- They afterwards built larger accommodations, in the meadow, below, comprising a sister's house, called Saron, to which is attached a large chapel and "Saal " for the purpose of holding Agapas, or Love Feasts. A brother's house, called Bethania, with which is con- nected the large meeting room, with galleries, in which the whole society assembled, for public worship, in the days of their prosperity, and which are still standing, surrounded by smaller buildings, that were occupied as printing-office, bake-house, school-house, almonry, and others, for different purposes; on one of which, a one story house, the town clock is erected .*
-
*One of the buildings having been erected thirty eight years, was converted into a Hospital in the American Revolution, and afterwards occupied as a school house. The house stands
19
218
HISTORY OF
"The buildings are singular, and of very ancient architecture; all the outwalls being covered with shin- gles, or clapboards. The two houses, for the brethren and sisters, are very large, being three and four stories high : each has a chapel for their night meetings, and the main buildings are divided into small apartments, each containing between fifty and sixty, so that six dormitories, which are barely large enough to contain a cot (in early days a bench, and a billet of wood for the head) a closet and an hour glass surrounded a common room, in which each subdivision pursued their respec-
no more ; the spot it occupied is still pointed out to the casual visitor, by the courteous inhabitants of Ephrata.
A few days after the battle of Brandywine had been fought, September 11, 1777, four or five hundred of the wounded soldiers were taken to Ephrata, and placed in the Hospital .- Doctors Yerkel, Scott and Harrison, were the attending surgeons and physicians. The wounds and camp fever, baffled their skill : one hundred and fifty of the soldiers died here ; they were principally from the Eastern States, and Pennsylvania, and a few British, who had deserted and joined the American Army. "The first of them that died here, was buried by the honors of war; a funeral sermon, preached by one of their own number, appointed for that purpose. This practice was continued for some time, till they began to drop off too rapidly to ailow time for the performance of the cere- mony, when every thing of the kind was dispensed with."
The place where they rest, is enclosed ; and for many years, a board, with this inscription :
"pier Ruhen die Hebeine Wieler Soldaten,"
was placed over the gate of the enclosure. The board, wiib the inscription, is no more. Measures are now, upon sugges- tion of Joseph Konigmacher, Esq., and many of his fellow citizens, taken to place a plain and durable monument, to rescue from oblivion, and perpetuate the memories of the entombed soldiers, who were wounded at Brandywine, and died at Ephrata.
219
LANCASTER COUNTY.
tive avocations. On entering these silent cells, and traversing the long narrow passages, visitors can scarcely divest themselves of the feeling of walking the tortuous windings of some old castle, and breathing in the hidden recesses of romance. The ceilings have an elevation of but seven feet; the passages leading to the cells, or kammers, as they are styled, and through the different parts of both convents, are barely wide enough to admit one person, for when meeting a second, he has always to retreat. The dens of the kammers are but five feet high, and twenty inches wide, and the window, for each has but one, is only eighteen by twenty-four inches; the largest windows affording light to the meeting rooms ; the chapels, the saals, and even the kammers, or dormitories, are hung and nearly covered with large sheets of elegant penmanship, or ink paint- ings ; many of which are texts from the scriptures, exe- cuted in a very handsome manner, in ornamented Gothic letters, called in German, Fractur-Schrifter. They are done on large sheets of paper, manufactured for the purpose at their own mill, some of which are put into frames, and which admonish the resident, as well as the casual visiter, which ever way they may turn the head. There are some very curious ones: two of which still remain in the chapel attached to Saron .- One represents the narrow and crooked way, done on a sheet of about three feet square, which it would be difficult to describe; it is very curious and ingenious : the whole of the road is filled up with texts of scripture, adverting the disciples of their duties, and the obliga- tions their profession imposes upon them. Another represents the three Heavens. In the first, CHRIST, the Shepherd, is represented gathering his flock together ; in the second, which occupies one foot in height, and is
220
HISTORY OF
three feet wide, three hundred figures in Capuchin dress, can be counted, with harps in their hands, with heads of. an innumerable host; and in the third is seen the Throne surrounded by two hundred Arch-Angels. Many of these Fractur-Schriften express their own enthusiastic sentiments on the subject of Celibacy, and the virtue of a recluse life, whilst others are devotional pieces. The following are from two found in the chapel of the sisters' convent. We copy the sentiment, but cannot convey an idea of their style.
Die Leib its unsre kron und heller tugund spiegel. Die Weisheit unsre Lust, und reines Gottes Siegel ; Das Lamm ist unser schatz wir uns an vertrauen, Und folgen seinem Gang alst reinste Jungfrauen.
Unsre Kronen die wir tragen in dieser sterblichkeit, Werden uns in Truebsals-tagen durch viel Leid zubereit, Da muss unsre Hoffnung bluehen und der Glaube wachsen auf Wan sich Welt und Fleisch bemuechen uns zu schwaechem im Lauf,
O. wol dan ! weil wir gezaehlet zu der reinen Laemmer Heerd, Die dem keuschen Lamm vermaehlet, und erkauft von der Erd. Bleibet schon alhier verborgen, unser Ehren Schmuck und, Kron,
Wird us doch an jenem Morgen Kroenen, Iesus Gottes Sohn.
Above the door, as you enter from the sister house in the saal, is one which we copied while on a visit to the place.
Die Thuer zum eingang in das haus Wo die vereinte Seclen wohnen Laesst keines mehr, von da hinaus Wiel Gott thut selber unter ihnen thronen Ibr Glueck blueht in vereinten Liebes Flammen, Wiel sie aus Gott und seiner Lieb hertstammen.
Immediately to the right of this is another which,
221
LANCASTER COUNTY.
by the aid of Schwester Barbara, we were able to copy.
So lebet dann die reine Schaar Im innern Tempel hier biesamen, Entrissen aller Welt-Gefahr In heiss verliebten Liebes-Flammen ; Und lebet dann in Hoffning hin, Nach der beglueckten Freiheit die dort oben ; Da sie nach dem verliebten Sınn Ihn ohne zeit und end wird loben.
Another on the same wall, which, as we have been informed, was a favorite Reim in their more prosperous days.
So steht der Tempel da erfuellt mit reinen Seelen, Die sich das keusche Lamm zu eigen thut vermaehlen : Es gehet vor uns her, wir folgen treulich nach, Und nehmen mit auf uns sein Kreuz und Ungemach. Bleiben wir so in ihm so ist das Ziel getroffen ; Und haben dorten einst das wahre Gut zu hoffen : Bleiben ihm gespart, bis es sich wird vermaehlen, Und wir in jener Welt, ewig sein Lob erzaehlen. Die Lieb ist unsere kron und heiliger Tugendspeigel : Die Weisheit unsere Lust und reines Gottes Seigel, Das Lamm ist unser Schatz dem wir uns anvertrauen, Und folgen seinem Gang als reinst : Jungf auen.
In the rooms which any sister has occupied, and is departed, a piece, which is framed in imitation of a tablet, is put up expressive of the character and virtues of the deceased, or some feeling memorial of love is inscribed. The following was found in the kammer which had been occupied by Zenobia, a very beautiful, lovely and devout sister :
ZENOBIA.
" Wird greunen und Gedeyen ihre Arbeit wird nicht vergel- lich, noch anch ihre Hoffnung, verlohren seyn, ihr Erbe bluehet mitten unter den Heiligen."
19*
222
HISTORY OF
"A room was set apart for such purposes, called " Das Schreib Zimmer," the writing room, and several sisters devoted their whole attention to this labor, as well as to transcribing the writings of the founder of the society ; thus multiplying copies for the wants of the community, before they had a printing press. Two sisters, named Annastasia and Iphigenia, were the principal ornamental writers. They left a large folio volume of sample alphabets, of various sizes and style ; which are both elegant and curious, exhibiting the most patient application. The letters of the first alphabet are twelve inches long, surrounded by a deep border, in imitation of copper-plate engraving ; each one of which is different in the filling up. It was finished in the year 1750, and is still preserved in the hands of the trustees. There was another transcribing room appropriated exclusively to copying music. Hundreds of volumes, each containing five or six hundred pieces, were trans- ferred from book to book, with as much accuracy, and almost as much neatness, as if done with a graver.
"It was in contemplation, at one time, by the Ecker- lins, three brothers, one of whom was a prior, and had the superintendence of the secular concerns, to make it a place of more importance than a mere religious refuge. They were from Germany, and had been brought up Catholics. They conceived a project of erecting exten- sive buildings, and connecting trades with it; and had some preparations under way; the timber all hewn, as all the buildings are of wood, even the chimneys, which remain in usè at this day ; and in readiness to erect a tower, and had sent to Europe, where they had exten- sive connexions, and got a chime of bells cast, unknown to the society, until they arrived at Philadelphia, and the
.223
LANCASTER COUNTY.
Bill for payment was forwarded to them. The society. resolved not to receive them, but had them sold and paid the loss. One of these bells having upon it, " Ephrata- Israel Eckerlin, Prior,"* was purchased, and is now on one of the churches in Lancaster.
"This transaction led to the discovery of a conspiracy of the Eckerlins to possess themselves of the titles of the property, which was much more extensive and valuable than now, and which terminated in the expul? sion of Israel from the office of Prior. The Eckerlins
*Israel Eckerlin, Prior; this is given on the authority of W. A. Fahnestock, M. D., to whom we are indebted for much of this article. We believe the bell alluded to, is the one on the Lutheran church. If it is, it has this inscription : Sub auspicio viri venerandi Onesimi Societ. Ephrat. Praepositi, A. O. MDCCXLV. Which we translated: "Under the auspices of the venerable man, Onesimus, placed over the society at Ephrata, A. D. 1745.
NOTE .- At a church council held at Ephrata, Biessel, and his associates, had determined to break the bell and inter the fragments ; however, on a night's reflection, it was resolved to dispose of it differently : the bell was pardoned from its de- creed fate, and sold to the Lutherans, at Lancaster. We quote the Chomican Ephratense : " Um diesselbe zeit, 1745, kam die ansehnliche Glocke in Philadelphia an von England, welche di, Eckerlin sollen bestellt haben, folgendes motto war um dieselbe gegossen : Suh auspicio viri venerandi Onesimi Socie- tasis Ephratensis Praepositi : Auf diese empfangene Nachricht ward Rath gehalten in des Vorstehers Gegenwart, welcher fur die Glocke sehr enguenstig ausfiel: das sie solte in stuecken zerschlagen, und unter die erde vergraben werden ; abor wie sie solte bezahlt werden, wusste niemand, dan sie kostete 80 pfund. Des andern Morgens erschein der Vorstcher abermahl im Rath, und sagte : Er haette nachgedacht, weil die Brueder arm waeren, solte die Glocke pardonirt werden, und also ist sie an die Lutherische Kirche, in Lancaster kommen .-... Chron. Eph. p. 164.
1
HISTORY OF
224.
afterwards moved to Virginia, where they obtained some notoriety in connection with some Indian affairs .-- The society was wedded to apostolic simplicity; they desired no tower-no bells. They refused to have a bell to call them to meeting, even the midnight meeting, which was regularly held at twelve o'clock : Friedsam contending that the spirit of devotion ought to be suffi- cient to make them punctual to the hour, which generally proved to be adequate.
"The community was a republic, in which all stood upon perfect equality and freedom. No monastic vows were taken, neither had they any written covenants, as is common in the Baptist churches. The New Testa- ment was their confession of faith, their code of laws, and church discipline. The property which belonged to the society, by donation, and the labor of the single brethren and sisters, was common stock; but none was obliged to throw in his own property, or give up any possessions. The society was supported by the income of the farm and grist mill, paper mill, oil mill, fulling mill, and the labor of the brethren and sisters, in the cloister.
Many of the male members were men of education, and the school which they had established, attracted attention abroad; young men from Baltimore and of Philadelphia, were sent to this place to be educated .- Ludwig Hacker, the teacher of the common school, projected the plan of holding a school in the afternoons of the Sabbath, or Saturday, and who, in connexion with some of the brethren, commenced it, to give instruc- tion to the indigent children who were kept from regular school by employments which their necessities obliged them to be engaged at during the week, as well as to give religious instruction to those of better. circum-
225
LANCASTER COUNTY.
stances. The precise time when this school was estab- lished, is not known ; it was after 1739.
The society, after an existence of fifty years, began to decline, from some cause, which we have not been able to learn. Some say that Biessel's successor, Peter Miller, wanted vigor of mind. This, says Dr. Fahnestock, is not, he believes, the cause; for he assured us, in a conversation with him on this subject, in 1836, so far as he could learn, Peter Miller was a man of much greater powers of mind than Biessel, and that he had the management of the establishment during Biessel's time ;* and to whose energy and perseverence is mainly attributable the great prosperity of the institution in its early days.
That Miller was a man of more than ordinary powers of mind, is evident from the testimony of the Rev. Jedediah Andrews, an alumnus of Harvard College, of the class of 1695. Andrews Speaking of Miller, in a letter, dated Philadelphia, 8th, 14th, 1730.
" There is lately come over a Palatine candidate of the ministry, who having applied to us at the Synod (Scotch Synod) for ordination, 'tis left to three ministers, (these were Tenant, Andrews and Boyd), to do it. He is an extraordinary person for sense and learning. We gave him a question to discuss about Justification, and he answered it, in a whole sheet of paper, in a very notable manner. His name is John Peter Miller, and speaks Latin as readily as we do our vernacular tongue, and so does the other, Mr. Weiss."t
*Biessel died July 6th, 1768, aged 77 years and 4 months .- He was a native of Oberbach, in the Palatinate.
¡George Michael Weiss, was born at Stebbeck, in Necker- thal, Germany. Mr. Miller and he were fellow students at Heidelberg. Weiss came to America, some years before
226
HISTORY OF
At an carly period, they established a German printing office, which enabled them to distribute tracts and hymns, and afterwards to print several large works, in which the views of the founder are fully explained .- Many of these books have been lost and destroyed. In the Revolutionary war, just before the battle of Ger- mantown, three wagon loads of books, in sheets, were siezed and taken away for cartriges. They came to the paper mill to get paper, and not finding any there, they pressed the books in sheets. The printing press, used then, is now in possession of R. R. Heitler, Esq., at Ephrata.
" Music was much cultivated. Biessel was a first rate musician and composer. In composing sacred music he took his style from the Music of Nature, and the whole comprising several large volumes are founded on the tones of the Aeolian harp; the singing is the Aeolian harp harmonized; it is very peculiar in its style and concords, and in its execution. The tones issuing from the choir imitate very soft instrumental music; convey- ing a softness and devotion almost super-human to, the
Miller finished his studies. Before Miller's ordination. Weiss had been Pastor of the German Reformed congregation, in Philadelphia, and about that time, in company with an Elder, named Reif, visited Holland, and other parts of Europe, fur the purpose of making collections in aid of the feeble congre- gation's, in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Miller, Weiss, and John Bartholomew Rieger, fellow students, were on terms of intimacy, at home and in America. Rieger was a native of Oberingelheim, Palatinate. He studied at Basel and Heidelberg, arrived in America, in 1731, and afterwards settled in Lancaster county ; he had charge of several German Reformed congregations in this county. He died at Lancaster, March 14, 1769, aged 62 years, 2 months and 4 days ; buried in the German Reformed church grave- yard.
227
LANCASTER COUNTY.
attditor. Their music'is set in four, six, and eight parts. All the parts, save the bass, are led and sung exclusive- ly by females, the men being confined to the bass, which is set in two parts, the high and the low bass-the latter resembling the deep tones of the organ, and the first, in combination with one of the female parts, is an excellent imitation of the concert horn. The whole is sung on the falsetto voice, the singers scarcely opening their mouths, or moving their lips, which throws the voice up to the cieling, which is not high, and the tones, which seem to be more than human, at least so far from common church singing appears to be entering from above, and hovering over the heads of the assembly.".
The reader may form some idea of their music from the following extract of a letter written by a tourist during the proprietary administration of Governor Penn : " The counter, treble, tenor, and bass, were all sung by women, with sweet, shrill, and small voices, but with a truth and exactness in time and intonation, that was admirable. It is impossible to describe to your · Lordship, my feelings upon this occasion. The per- formers sat with their heads reclined, their countenances solemn and dejected, their faces pale and emaciated from their manner of living, the clothing exceeding white and quite picturesque, and their music such as thrilled to the very soul ; I almost began to think myself in the world of spirits, and that the objects before me were ethereal. In short, the impression this scene made upon my mind, continued strong for many days, and I believe will never be wholly obliterated."
This music is lost, entirely now, at Ephrata; not the music books, but the style of singing; they never attempt it any more. It is, however, still preserved and finely executed, though in a faint degree, at Snow hill,
228
HISTORY OF
1
in Franklin county, where there is a branch of the society, and which is now the principal settlement of the Seventh day Baptists .*
This society attracted considerable attention. Men of . various rank and standing visited the place.
George Thomas, formerly an Antigua planter, ap- pointed in 1737, Governor of the province of Pennsyl- vania, visited Ephrata, in 1741. He came, says Peter Miller, accompanied by a retinue of twenty horses, and a large number of distinguished gentlemen from Maryland and Virginia ; they were all honorably received by the brethren. The Governor said he was much gratified to see such an institution. He spoke very favorably of their religions and economical arrangements. The motives of visit, it is believed, were sinister. Without doubt, he gained the object of his visit more easily by adulation than he would have otherwise. At this time, the talented, and active Conrad Weiser, was a member of the association. It was the Governor's object, if possible, to secure once more the services of this man in a capacity, for which he seems to have been felicitiously suited, that of an Indian interpreter. He tendered him the appointment of justice of the peace, which he accepted. Weiser frequently presided at court, as chief justice, with his beard.t He was afterwards apppointed provincial interpreter, in which capacity he rendered his country essential services for many years .---. Governor William Denny, spent some time here, in
*The leading religious tenets of this society, may be seen in a work, entitled " HE PASA ECCLESIA," published by Rupp, Clyde & Williams, Octavo, 900 pages, 1843.
1 tMan hat ihn, C. W. auf der Court als oberste' chter gesehen unter Krone sitzen mit seinem gewoelich Chron. Eph., 68.
229
LANCASTER COUNTY.
1756, and through an interpreter, had a long conversa- with Beissel, touching the condition of the country.
Peter Miller was a native of Oberant Lautern, came to America in 1730 ; soon after his arrival, was ordained by a Scotch Synod, at Philadelphia; received as a mem- ber of the Society at Ephrata, by being baptized in 1735, and remained sixty-one years, to the day of his death, September 25, 1796, a member thereof .- His remains rest in the grave yard at that place.
He was well known in the religious and literary world. It is said, he translated the Declaration of Inde- pendence into seven languages. His correspondence was extensive ; he was visited by hundreds: General Lee, David Rittenhouse, Count Zinzendorf, and several noble- men of Europe, have been the guests of the establishment. We have space to insert a few of his correspondents' communications. The first is from a female; the other is " a rhymic effusion," by a young gentleman of Phila- delphia, written many years ago, in consequence of a visit he made Peter Miller, and to whom he dedicated the Poem.
September 29th, 1774.
SIR :- Your very respectable character would make me ashamed to addres you with words merely of form .- I hope, therefore, you will not suspect me of using any such, when I assure you, I received the favor of your let- ter with great pleasure. And permit me, sir, to join the thanks I owe to those worthy women, the holy sisters at Ephrata, with those I now present to you, for the good opinion you and they may have of me. I claim only that of respecting merit, when I find it; and of wishing an increase in the world, of that piety to the Almighty, and peace to our fellow-creatures, that I am convinced is in your hearts ; and, therefore, do me the justice to
20
230
HISTORY OF
believe, you have my wishes of prosperity here, and happiness hereafter.
I did not receive the precious stone, you were so good to send me, until yesterday. I am most extremely obliged to you for it. It deserves to be particularly distinguished, on its own, as well as the giver's account. I shall keep it with grateful remembrance of my obliga- tions to you.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.