USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Ephrata > Souvenir book of the Ephrata cloister; complete history from its settlement in 1728 to the present time. Included is the organization of Ephrata borough connected with the cloister > Part 2
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The interior of the Saal has undergone some changes in the early days. Its interior furnishings are severely plain, the walls being wainscoted about halfway up the sides with unpainted boards stained with age, the remainder white washed and the ceil- ing of wide boards also stained looking like walnut.
There are no decorations except the unparalleled scriptural texts in quill writing known as Fracturscriften placed there over one hundred and fifty years ago. They are masterpieces of art showing patience and delicate lines and touch unequalled any- where. Surely education and art was characteristic of these, our early forefathers.
To the rear of the Saal is a general purpose room filled with tables, utensils, desk, etc., for baking, cooking and business meet- ings. Further back a stone cookery cauldron and fireplace.
The old benches and tables of the Saal are the same and ar- ranged as they always were. The method of lighting and venti- lating is poor indeed. The present pastor had electric lights in- troduced and holes made in the ceiling to bring in fresh air. On the ceiling are foot prints intensely interesting and shown to all visitors and that have been described as bloody footprints of the soldiers or the apostolic method of punishing the brethren. They can not be erased or washed off and the writer believes that some of the brethren (with feet greased to keep the skin from cracking whilst walking barefooted) accidentally walked over the unsea- soned timber before it was placed in the ceiling with the attendant results.
It was heated by an old Ephrata cannon stove that was just recently replaced by a more modern type. The Saal is regularly used as a meeting place by the German Seventh Day Baptist con- gregation who were chartered by the State Assembly in 1814. Rev. S. G. Zerfass, B. D., is the pastor in charge. A Sabbath School continues to meet every Sabbath (Saturday) afternoon. Mrs. Katie Ward being superintendent.
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CHAPTER IV
Industrial Features
Prov. 13:4. But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat
HE industrial and commercial features of Ephrata at one time promised to make it the greatest industrial community in this country.
At first the cultivation of the soil was the chief labor done in rather a primitive style, followed by a bakery that made no charge for baking for the poor and in the almonry the indigent were fed gratis.
A large orchard was set out and a vineyard was begun, several flour and grist mills, saw mill, oil mill, fulling mills, paper mill and a tannery were added. A pottery was operated and basket making was done by the sisters. Quarries were opened, bridges and roads were built and the Cloister was for a time a hive of industry, but the most important was the printery in which at least fifty different volumes were printed and bound, including the famous "Wunderspiel" of 1754; "Man's Fall" 1765; the first great hymnal of 1766; also a prayer book and a work of genealog- ical interest and the translation and reprinting of the "Mennonite Martyrs Mirror" which buried more than a dozen men over two and a half years and to say the least all the Ephrata printing was a splendid specimen of that art.
Great material prosperity followed and their products were sold at a good profit in Philadelphia, but they needed a personage of excellent executive and administrative ability and an intellect to control the opposing influences and there came a decline, and to cap the climax a calamity in the shape of fire destroyed some of their industrial buildings, soon to be rebuilt.
One of the printing presses is now in possession of the Penn- sylvania Historical Society at Philadelphia. The other is in the printing office of F. R. King, president of the Pennsylvania Con- ference of German Seventh Day Baptists, at Salemville, Bedford County, where church news, a publication in the interests of the society and general job printing of a most excellent kind is done.
In 1786 the Chronicon Ephruteuse gave a spiritual history of the community, was published and since translated by Rev. Dr. J. Max Hark of the Moravian Church.
Ludwig Hacker known as Obed was the pioneer of educational affairs at Cloister. Singing schools were organized, musical mel-
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Old Academy Building
Peter Miller House
EPHRATA PUBLICATIONS AND ACADEMY
odies and hymns composed and transcribed by hand and an Alphabet Book with five different types of ornamental work by quill was produced about 1750 with a title page as follows :
"De Christian A. B. C. Isht leiden, dulden, huffen, War dieses hadt galernt Dar hudt sein stiel gatroffen."
A TRANSLATION
"The Christian alphabet Is suffering, patience and hope. Whoever has learned these Has hit life's goal."
After the Revolutionary period the Ephrata Academy was established by the Seventh Day Baptists, the present building being put up in 1837. Hoecker's Ephrata Primer was published in 1786. The Academy was patronized by people from Philadel- phia, New York and Baltimore and later as a public school in charge of such extraordinary teachers of Young America as the late J. J. Yeager and D. B. Kraatz, Esq., produced many of the county's most successful business and professional men and not a few of national repute.
One of the first Sabbath School cards designed, printed and given to pupils of a Bible school were used in the Ephrata Sab- bath School, the organization of which antedates the Sunday School of Robert Raikes, of London, England, 1780, by a gen- eration as the Ephrata Bible School dates back to 1738.
Snow Hill or Nunnery, a child of the Ephrata Community, located about 21/2 miles north of Waynesboro in Franklin County, Pa., now numbers upwards of a hundred members and has made great endeavor to keep the famous Ephrata music alive, as all writers unite in speaking of the angelic quality of the Ephrata vocal selections rendered solemnly, in soft soul stirring melodies that seemed to transport one into the realms of spirits.
Regular daily duties occupied the Ephrata celibates. Seven to nine p. m. was spent in writing, reading and study as well as de- votional, then sleep until midnight, when they arose and had an hour of matin (song service), not mass as there were no priests. Then slept until 5 a. m. when another matin was observed to 6 a. m. Then work until 9 a. m. when the first meal ensued, then more bodily employment until 5 p. m. followed by the evening and final meal of the day.
Gossiping was frowned upon and loud laughter, even in the boyhood days of the writer, was forbidden and thought to be the work of a fool. Probationary and novitiate living in the church existed. The former is still practiced as a companion to religious
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1
THE EPHRATA CLOISTER
catechetical training of Seventh Day Baptists who are not emo- tional or of a high pressure religious type.
The Ephrata women were noted in their acts of charity, nurs- ing the sick, comforting the afflicted and attending to various forms and missions of mercy. Migrations of members to Ber- mudian, extreme northern part of York and Adams County, to Virginia and places remote from Ephrata began about 1745. Snow Hill and Antietam churches and later Salemville, Bedford County, followed as Seventh Day Baptist settlements.
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CHAPTER V
Music of a Superior Order
Acts 4:29. We ought to obey God rather than men
T THE Nunnery, the daily monastic life was but slightly different from that of Ephrata (whose off- spring they were) in a few minor details. Peter Leh- man was their first leader, succeeded by Dr. Andreas Fahnestock who later served in the pulpit at Ephrata and Snow Hill (Nunnery) alternately.
The Penn family were friendly to the Ephrata Community so that they held the Seventh Dayers in high esteem. Governor Penn and his staff frequently visited their meetings at Cloister. The governor sent for Peter Miller and other brethren and in- formed them that he had made them a grant of five thousand acres which he called the Seventh Day Baptist's Manor but these pietistic brethren declined the grant saying "it might make their purse rich and heart poor, and that it was against real pietism and their religion to become possessed of so large a portion of worldly possessions or real estate."
Surely with them there was no pride of possessions, only lofty . independence and meekness.
The decadence of the Ephrata monastic experiment may be due to no fixed discipline; the living in common which caused petty jealousies ; the inmates growing old with no membership to recruit from; the changed conditions in the surrounding country ; a num- ber of buildings being destroyed after being used for hospital purpose after the Revolutionary War and the unnatural demands of pietism and monastic life.
Above the door that enters from Sister House or Saron to the Saal hangs a German tablet on which is inscribed the following:
"The house is entered through this door By peaceful soul that dwell within; Those that have come will part no more, For God protects them here from sin; Their bliss is found in forms of love That springs from loving God above."
Over the pulpit in the Saal hangs another German motto mean- ing in English "God and the Immaculate abide with you ever throughout eternity." How appropriate for the ministers !
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THE EPHRATA CLOISTER
Music at Ephrata was highly cultivated and singing was carried to an extent quite beyond the ordinary attainments of that period and in many respects superior to the average attainment of the present day.
Beissel was an excellent musician and as a composer left over two hundred melodies whilst Sister Angus was quite a hymn writer.
The style of music was possibly fashioned after Nature, the tones of the Aeolian harp being his primary inspiration and stand- ard. This music was written in four, six and eight parts, all the parts except bass seemed to be sung by the women, there being two bass parts. The prevailing tone was evidently a soft falsetto, minor strains being very prominent. A writer in Rupp's history of Lancaster County describes the music by saying "That the whole is sung in falsetto voice, the singers not opening their mouths as singers do now, and apparently threw their voices to the ceiling which was not high and the tones, which seemed more than human, at least so far from common church singing, ap- peared to be entering from above and hovering over the heads of the assembly." Another writer says "The treble, tenor and bass were all sung by women with sweet shrill and small voices, but with truth and exactness in tune and intonation that was admir- able. It was impossible to describe the hearer's feelings. The singers sat with their heads reclined, countenances solemn and dejected, their faces pale, emaciated from their manner of living, their clothing white and picturesque and their musical rendition such as thrilled the very soul. Auditors would begin to think themselves in the world of spirits and that the objects before them were ethereal. The wonderful impression caused by this spiritual and harmonious music continued strong for many days."
Seventh Day Baptists were at times arrested for violating Sun- day laws, some of whom were brought to trial in New Jersey, which led to a campaign for religious liberty. After a struggle of some years, modifications of the ancient law secured comparative liberty and in 1846 this agitation reached the State Legislature of Pennsylvania, being discussed at length, but the oppressive fea- tures of the Pennsylvania laws were continued, in spite of all efforts to the contrary.
An extract from an Ephrata pamphlet says that "On the 2nd day of October, 1798, at New Mills, Burlington County, State of New Jersey, a Seventh Day Baptist being indicted before a Jus- tice of the Peace for working on Sunday and finally he appealed. During the trial at court an extract of a letter from General Washington was produced by the Judge in his charge to the jury which was an answer to a Committee of a Society in Virginia dated August 4, 1789, where Washington says, "If I had the least
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CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
idea of any difficulty resulting from the constitution adopted by the convention of which I had the honor to be President, when it was formed, so as to endanger the rights of any religious de- nomination, then I never should have attached my name to that instrument.
If I had any idea that the General Government was so admin- istered that the liberty of conscience was endangered, I pray you be assured that no man would be more willing than myself to revise and alter that part of it, so as to avoid all religious perse- cution.
You can without doubt remember that I have often expressed as my opinion that every man who conducts himself as a good citizen is accountable alone to God for his religious faith and should be protected in worshipping God according to the dictates of his conscience.
(Signed) GEORGE WASHINGTON."
The result was acquittal. I hereby certify that I saw the orig- inal English from which the above German pamphlet was trans- lated at Ephrata, Pa., A. D., 1800.
ANDREW FAHNESTOCK,
Pastor of the Society at Snow Hill, Franklin County, Pa.
The first amendment to the U. S. Constitution guarantees free- dom of religion. Section three of Article I of Pennsylvania Con- stitution gives man the right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience.
Thomas Jefferson says : "Almighty God hath created the mind free and the Author of religion chose not to propagate it by co- ercion."
James Madison : "Religion is not in the purview of human government and is distinct from government."
Gen. Grant : "Leave the matter of religion to the family, church and private school."
Historian Ridpath says: "Essential freedom is the right to differ and that right must be sacredly respected."
John Wesley says: "Never attempt to force a man into, even, truth."
Jesus said: "Render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's ; and unto God the things that are God's" means a separation of church and state. All which means limits to civil authority. Seventh Day Baptists ask for no laws but desire to be left alone. Surely the church at large proclaims her lack of love and divine power whenever she seeks to carry her work by coercion and the power of the state. Did Jesus ever ask for one law or ordinance to make man good ?
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CHAPTER VI
LEGEND OF EPHRATA by JOSEPH"HENRY DUBBS, D. D., Late of F. & M. College Copyright 1888
ETER MILLER was for many years Prior of the conventical life of the German Seventh Day Baptists of Ephrata. Though in some respects apparently fanatical his sincere piety was never questioned. The legend was actually related to Dr. Dubbs on a visit to Ephrata and is chronicled in print. It is further stated that the property of Michael Widman was confiscated by the government and sold in March, 1780.
This is the story I heard one day In the ancient cloister at Ephrata:
Miller was Prior here, you know, More than a hundred years ago.
Here at his summons, at dawn's early light,
Gathered the Brethren in garments of white, Singing their songs of devotion and praise,
Raising to heaven their rapturous lays, Ere to their labor, through cold and heat, Forth they wandered with naked feet.
Treasure of treasures, peace of mind! Where can the weary spirit find, After temptation, heavenly rest?
Where can the mourning soul be blest? Even within the convent's walls, Often a cloud of sorrow falls ; And the saint that is pure as driven snow
Can never escape from his ruthless foe,
But must feel the blows of the monster grim That is sent by Satan to buffet him.
Near the convent a tavern stood, Kept by a Tory, a man of blood, Michael Widman, whose dreaded name
Was known and hated for deeds of shame, Often he stood at the convent gate
Taunting the Brothers with words of hate Once he smote the Prior meek, Cruel blows on his aged cheek Adding the final deed of shame- A cruel insult I need not name- Which the soldiers wrought when they beat the knee On the fearful journey to Calvary.
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22
SAVING THE LIFE OF A FOE
Washington was at Valley Forge, Watching the army of old King George, But he sent one day a soldier band To seize the Tory that cursed the land; And Widman was borne away to die The shameful death of a British spy.
Some of the Brothers were glad to know The coming fate of their wicked foe; But the Prior said: "I can not stay !" And over the hills he took his way. His limbs were weary, his feet were sore, When he stood at last at the chieftain's door, And prayed aloud: "O, General, save The man, who has sinned, from a traitor's grave !"
"Pray," said the chieftain, "Tell me why You pled for the life of a British spy? Does your love to your country's foes extend? And why have you chosen this wicked friend?"
"Friend," said the Prior, "It is not so, The man I believe is my only foe, But I seek to do what the Scriptures tell And those that hate me, I love full well. Save him, save him! I humbly pray, As you hope to stand on the Judgment Day!"
The chieftain (Washington) mused: "Such love is rare And I can not deny your earnest prayer, I will save the life of the British spy; He must leave the country, but shall not die. You have taught a lesson that all should know, That a Christian prays for his vilest foe."
Thus a way was found and the way was best That led the Brothers to peace and rest; For the cruel Tories were seen no more, Gathered around the tavern door; And their wicked leader away was sent To the foe, in lifelong banishment.
But the Brothers sang with the rising sun, And patiently toiled till the day was done, Till the Lord at last gave their souls release, And took them home to the realms of peace.
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CHAPTER VII
The Ephrata Cloister
Prominent Personages
N THE old God's Acre by the parsonage are many historic graves, among them the grave of Conrad Beissel with a large flat sandstone monument, bearing the following inscription on it: "Here rests an out- growth of the spirit of God, Friedsam, a Solitary brother, afterward a leader, ruler and teacher of the Solitary and the Congregation of Christ in and around Ephrata. Born in Eberbach in the Palatinate, called Conrad Beissel, fell asleep July 6, 1768, in the fifty-second year of his spiritual life, but aged seventy-two years and four months in his natural life."
Beissel's successor as prior of the convent was Peter Miller, whose tombstone stands next to Beissel's with following epitaph: "Here lies buried Peter Miller, born in Oberant Lantern, Palati- nate, came as Reformed minister to America in 1730, was bap- tized into the congregation at Ephrata in 1735 and called Brother Jaebez, was afterward their teacher and leader to his end. Fell asleep September 1I, 1796."
Another stone reads: "Here rest the bones of an eminent Philosopher, Jacob Martin, born in Europe June, 1725, died a good Christian July 19, 1790." But this good Christian had been an astrologer and is not yet a sage, hence the ironical epitaph.
Henry Hostetter died in 1833 and the inscription on his stone states that he was honored with a seat in the State Assembly in 1828-29 fully eighty-eight years ago.
Joseph Konigmacher lies buried here. He built the Mountain Springs resort and entertained many prominent persons there, among them Pres. Buchanan, the Great Commoner, Hon. Thad- deus Stevens, and others. Jos. Konigmacher is geographically responsible for locating modern Ephrata, having been instru- mental in having the R. and C. R. R. route changed to pass through near the little villa of Ephrata then, rather than through "New Ephrata." (Lincoln now.)
Joseph Konigmacher was the first president of the Ephrata Monument Association, being elected in 1845. The next year he built the fine commodious hotel now known as the Mountain Springs. Joseph Konigmacher was prominent in politics, having been elected as a Representative to the State Assembly and later
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Saal Chapel, 1737 Present meeting room where regular services are held.
Gods Acre Cemetery - Very Historic. Almoury - Saal- Saron,in the background.
Saron. Second floor, Fire place for Probationers.
Loom over 100yrs. old in Saron for making carpets and linen
North View of Sprmn,
View of' Almoury, Saal, and Saron from Parsonage
Baskets made before the Revolution, by the sisterhood
West view of Pulpit in Saal
Saron stairway and antique utensils
East view of 1739 clock and Pulpit
Saron Fireplace 1740
Sabbath school room
à
Right side doorway 16" wide, second floor of Saron
Saal kitchen, sink and drain pipe
PROMINENT PERSONAGES
as a Senator. He was chairman of the Committee on Lunacy that gave a favorable report for the erection of a State Lunatic Asylum at Harrisburg. He was also a member of the Reform Convention called to amend the Pennsylvania State Constitution.
Edwin Konigmacher also lies buried here. His daughter Anna was the first wife of Gov. M. G. Brumbaugh. Mr. Konigmacher became a success as an old time storekeeper and druggist, being nicknamed "Dr. Peewee."
Wm. Konigmacher, who for many years took a prominent part in the affairs of the Seventh Dayers, was the pioneer millstone maker and dealer. He also furnished the stone for the present court house and jail at Lancaster. He died in 1881. His son Adam, a staple tanner and farmer, also lies buried in this ceme- tery.
Quite a number of prominent persons lie buried in Mt. Zion cemetery where the monument stands.
Quaint and intensely patriotic sentiments fired the hearts at Ephrata's first Fourth of July celebration in 1843, when a very eloquent oration was delivered by George W. McElroy, Esq., and it was proposed to build a monument if possible by public and private contributions. The sum deemed necessary was not to exceed two thousand dollars,
In January, 1845, an act to incorporate the Ephrata Monument Association was passed. Matters evidently drifted until 1855 when a supplement to the charter was enacted and approved. In 1863 Jerre Mohler was elected president to succeed Joseph Konigmacher who had died in 1861.
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CHAPTER VIII
Monument Unveiled
Josh. 4:6. What mean ye by these stones
N 1894 the Monument Association revived efforts to build the monument and finally the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appropriated five thousand dollars and the most handsome polished granite shaft, forty feet high, was erected and dedicated and unveiled May I, 1902, with impressive ceremonies in Mt. Zion cemetery on the ancient Cloister premises when upwards of twenty thousand peo- ple were present to view the military and civic parade and enjoy the exercises, where rest the remains of those who fought on the bloody fields of Brandywine.
Ex-Governor Robert E. Pattison delivered the principal ora- tion. Hon. J. A. Stober, then State Senator, delivered the his- torical address. The then Governor Wm. A. Stone presented the monument in behalf of the State. Jerre Mohler, president of the association, accepted it. Miss Jean Wilson, of Washington, D. C., read a poem written by Mrs. Mary N. Robinson, of Lancaster.
At one o'clock the big parade took place. It formed at the Square with the right resting on Main street. Harry C. Gem- perling, of Lancaster, who for years was a resident of Ephrata, was chief marshall of the parade, and his aides were: Dr. J. Mc- Caa, Dr. H. G. Reimensnyder, Dr. J. G. Leber, John M. Strohl, A. Lane and Martin G. Stamy. Among the organizations taking part in the parade were: Companies A and I, of Reading; Com- pany C, of Columbia, and Company K, of Lancaster, of the Penn- sylvania State National Guard, the battalion being in charge of Major E. B. Eckman, assisted by Hugh M. North, of Columbia ; Manheim Fencibles, Millersville Cadets, Mountain Springs Rifles, of Ephrata. The uniformed American Mechanics guards of Lancaster; George H. Thomas and Admiral Reynolds posts of the Grand Army, from Lancaster, as well as posts from Christi- ana, Manheim, Downingtown, Quarryville and Marietta. In ad- dition there were lodges of Odd Fellows from Terre Hill, New Holland, and camps of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America from Downingtown, Ephrata, Terre Hill and other places. There were a great many representatives from the following chapters of Daughters of the American Revolution; Donegal, of Lancaster; Witness Tree, of Columbia; Yorktown, of York; Harrisburg and
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MONUMENT UNVEILED
Marion, of Philadelphia. Some of the ladies took part in the parade.
In making up the line the Grand Army posts were given the right, and they were followed by the National Guard, and then the independent military companies of the county, including the Manheim Fencibles, Millersville Cadets, Mountain Springs Rifles and uniformed American Mechanics' guards, after which came the Patriotic Sons of America and other secret societies. The line of march was from the Square at Ephrata, to Washington avenue, to Locust street, to Lincoln avenue, to East Main street. In pass- ing Hotel Cocalico the parade was reviewed by Governor Stone, ex-Governor Pattison and other notables, who fell in line in car- riages. The line then moved to West Main street and thence to Mt. Zion's cemetery, which was soon crowded with people, while all the fields and roads in the immediate neighborhood were also filled. After music by the band, President Jere Mohler, of the Monument Association, opened the exercises, and there was an invocation by Rev. John S. King, a Seventh Day Baptist Bishop. A. F. Hostetter, of Lancaster, was announced as chairman of the meeting. Then followed the unveiling of the monument. At a given signal the flags were removed by Miss Helen Carter, great- great-granddaughter of Major William Wirth, a distinguished Lancaster county officer in the Continental army.
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