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 3
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The monument is in Mt. Zion cemetery, about a half-mile north- west of the town, on a hill overlooking the place. The cemetery is not large, but contains many very old graves, and it has recently been cleared and repaired until it presents a fine appearance. The monument is situated near the centre of the plot, and can be seen for some distance in every direction. The monument cost $5,000, which money was appropriated by the State Legislature, but the other expenses, including the celebration, etc., was about $2,000 additional, which was raised by the trustees and people of Ephrata.
The monument was built, taken to Ephrata and erected by Thomas & Miller, of Quincy, Massachusetts. It is a beautiful granite shaft 39 feet high, polished from bottom to top, and is said to be one of the largest monuments of its kind in America. It is inscribed and bears bronze tablets in relief. The inscriptions are as follows :
North side: "Erected under the auspices of the Ephrata Monu- ment Association, which was duly chartered by the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania. Unveiled and dedicated on May I, 1902."
East side: "A grateful acknowledgment is here inscribed to the religious society of the Seventh Day Baptists for its devotion in administering to the wounds and comforts of the brave heroes."
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THE EPHRATA CLOISTER
South side: "Sacred to the memory of the patriotic soldiers of the American Revolution who fought in the battle of the Brandy- wine, September II, 1777. About five hundred of the sick and wounded were removed to Ephrata for treatment. Several hun- dred died who were buried in this consecrated ground."
"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori."
This inscription is surmounted by a bronze tablet of cross swords in relief.
West side: "More than a century the remains of these patriots rested in this hallowed spot without any commemoration except the following words on a plain board :
" 'Hier Ruhen die Gebeine von viel Soldaten.'"
(Here rest the remains of many soldiers.)
This inscription is surmounted by a bronze tablet of a Conti- nental soldier in reilef.
Around the base of the monument is an asphalt pavement, and at each corner are pyramids of cannon balls. Steps lead to the base of the monument, on either side of which is an old-fashioned cannon. The members of the Monument Association, through whose efforts this beautiful shaft was erected, are as follows : Jeremiah Mohler, president; Jacob Konigmacher, secretary and treasurer; Dr. J. F. Mentzer, J. L. Steinmetz, Joseph Zerfass, William Shimp and Dr. B. Rhine Hertz. The president was a charter member of the association, who had been working for years in behalf of the monument, and now had the pleasure of seeing it unveiled.
Poem by Mrs. Robinson on unveiling of Ephrata Monument :
Here under the silent moonlight, And under the sunshine's glow At rest 'neath the summer grasses, At rest 'neath the winter's snow, Deep hid in earth's vast bosom And lulled by the robin song, Lie the men who fought for freedom, Who died to right the wrong.
To-day we are come together To offer our meed of praise, To give to these silent heroes The shaft that o'er them we raise; We reap the fruit of their sowing, It sprang from each soldier's grave, And the baptism of our nation Was found in the blood they gave.
Through the pangs of their dissolution Came the throes of a nation's birth; And a grand new constellation Flashes forth 'mid the stars of Earth;
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Monument in Zion Hill Cemetery in Memory of Revolution Soldiers
Tower Clock made in 1735, still striking Time from 3rd floor Saron
Loom in Saron over 150 years old
Fracture Schriften in 2nd floor of Saron
Wooden block and bench in Saron on which occupants slept
Spinning wheel reels etc.
Water- baskets, bee hive, dough-tray etc.
The parsonage
Rev. S. C. Zerfass and family
UNVEILING THE MONUMENT
And the banner which binds our Union Was then to the winds unfurled, The banner of Truth, of Freedom, The banner to lead the world!
The blue of its field tells their honor, Where glisten its many stars; And pure as their love of country Is the white of its stainless bars. They gave their blood for its crimson And the shaft which it veils to-day, Is a tribute paid to the valor Of those who have passed away!
Oh! Land 'neath one flag united, The Flag of the Stripes and Stars! Oh! youngest amid the Nations, Unconquered in all thy wars! Go till the sun knows no setting O'er the land of a people free, And all men bend in loyal greeting, To the Flag of Liberty !
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CHAPTER IX
Mission Churches
Mark 16:15. Go into all the world-Preach the gospel
LOSELY affiliated and a direct child of the Ephrata Seventh Dayers is the German Seventh Day Baptist Church of Morrison's Cove, Bedford County, Pa. It was organized early in the nineteenth century. Regu- lar services were held at first in private residences and special services such as love-feasts or like occasions were often held in a barn. The exact date of the Seventh Day Baptist revival in Bedford County is not now definitely known but the first resident ministers of the denomination ordained in the Cove were John Snoeberger and Henry Boyer.
The commodious brick church now in use near Salemville, Bedford County, was erected in 1847, superintended by three members of the body ; viz : John Burger, Jacob Long and Ephraim Mentzer. The entire cost of the building at the time was $1713.00. It has since been covered with a slate roof at a cost of about $250.00 and the original furniture has been replaced with hard- wood pews of modern design costing $122.50. There is no par- sonage attached to the church building. The property rights of the church are held by a board of three trustees in connection with the regular ordained ministers. A beautifully located cemetery lies a short distance from the church; it is under the direction of an association, composed of the three regular trustees for property and two others elected by the body of the church for a term of three years, same as the church property trustees. Both church and cemetery are valued together at $3000.00 and are entirely free from debt. All services at this time are conducted in the English language. Resident ministers are: Jeremiah Fyock, of Salem- ville, and W. K. Bechtel, of Baker's Summit. All serve without pay. At present the male communicants number 44; female 57 ; total IOI. There were formerly two organizations in Somerset County ; one in Brother's Valley Township and another in Shade Township. The former has become extinct by death, removal, etc., and the remaining members at the latter place hold their membership with the Morrison's Cove Church at Salemville. There is a regular organized Sabbath School conducted here which meets every Seventh Day. It has ten officers and teachers and over a hundred scholars.
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MISSION CHURCHES
Frank King, the choritser of the church and leader of the Salemville Silver Cornet Band, has a splendid choir that fur- nishes excellent special music at church occasions. He, true to the old Seventh Day Baptists' idea, of Ephrata, is an excellent printer and does splendid work for a large trade established, be- sides doing all the printing for the denomination in Pennsylvania. His father, Christian L. King, has long been a leader of church affairs there besides being one of the most prominent grangers of Pennsylvania.
William King, a son of C. L. King, deals extensively in auto- mobiles throughout Bedford County and is another pillar of the Seventh Day Baptists.
At Nunnery, two and one-half miles north of Waynesboro, Franklin Co., Pa., is a very flourishing church as a result of Eph- rata mission work.
About one-fourth mile north of the main buildings on the northern extremity of the farm, consisting of one hundred and thirty acres of land, Nunnery, Franklin Co., Pa., is a graveyard used by the public. Here is found the grave of Peter Lehman, the supposed founder of the Snow Hill Institute. This place, commonly, is called the Nunnery. From whence the name orig- inated we have no account, but this much we know that about as soon as the place was occupied by ten or fifteen or more persons, and it became noted for religious meetings being held, the people commenced to call it the Nunnery.
One of the sisters who was born on the place, and lived there to the advanced age of seventy-three years, told the writer, that in the year 1775 meetings were held at their house, and that upon one occasion a difference of opinion took place, on doctrines of religion, and the preacher went off and did not stay for dinner. After that, meetings were held by other preachers, among the number was Peter Miller, of Ephrata, Lancaster County, Penn- sylvania.
A number of letters, in the hand writing of Peter Miller, are still here, which show that requests had been sent to have appoint- ments made and meetings held. These letters date along the period of 1780-90.
Conrad Beissel (By sel) of the religious institute of Ephrata, founded in about 1730, held meetings at the Antietam, in the southern portion of Franklin County, Pa., in the year 1764. At the time a school teacher and six children were killed by the In- dians near Greencastle.
There is a letter, written by Peter Miller near the close of his life, to Peter Lehman, in which he says it would be in accordance with his wishes, if he, Peter Lehman, would take charge of the affairs of the church at the Antietam.
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THE EPHRATA CLOISTER
The grave of Peter Lehman is found in the northern portion of the graveyard. There is a bluish marble stone about three feet high and twenty inches wide. On the one side is the following inscription in the German in English letter :
"Here rest the mortal remains of Peter Lehman .- Was born on the 24th of May 1757 and passed from time to eternity on the 4th of January 1823. Aged 65 years 7 months and II days."
On the opposite side of the stone is the following :
"Peter Lehman, upright in walk, righteous in life, just in faith, patient in hope, brings a blessed end.
Look at me, I have had for a short time toil and labor. And have found great comfort. For the Lord has appeared unto me from afar. For the weary souls he will revive, and the troubled souls he will comfort."
Peter Lehman came to the southern part of Franklin Co., Pa., in about 1795 or a few years earlier. He was a native of the Glades, Somerset County, Pa., and a descendant of the denomina- tion called Amish or Omish. He adopted the persuasion of the Ephrata Church, Lancaster County, Pa.
He became pastor of the Ephrata persuasion, at the Antietam. He had been at Ephrata, a religious institution in Lancaster County, Pa., and acquired a knowledge of the Ephrata church music, which he afterwards introduced at Snow Hill, and the probability seems to be, that he at once commenced making ar- rangements to found an institution like the one at Ephrata.
Now in about the year 1800 there were eight heirs to the Snow Hill farm, three sons and five daughters, and their parents were both living. Some three of the children had married and com- menced house-keeping. Two, as we suppose, married sometime afterwards. Two daughters and one son, Barbara, Elizabeth and John, remained at home, and favored the founding of an institu- tion.
At one time a valuation was put on the property, what it was we never learned, and it was agreed that the heirs who had left would sell their shares to those who had remained at home. Time passed on, the property increased in value and the heirs who had left, became dissatisfied and wanted more. Then another valua- tion was made; what it was we do not know, but the probability seems to be, that it was eight thousand dollars. At all events Elizabeth Snowberger, one of the heirs, said in just so many words, "we all got one thousand dollars."
We are nearly certain, that Peter Lehman and his friends did purchase of the heirs of Andrew Snowberger for the sum of eight thousand dollars all their interests in the Snow Hill farm.
Then further, Andrew Snowberger did agree to make a lawful deed to a Board of Trustees by taking a bond for the sum of six-
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MISSION CHURCHES
teen hundred and fifty dollars. He died in the year 1825, and the estate was finally settled in the year 1828. He made a will, and willed those sixteen hundred and fifty dollars to the heirs. This sum we suppose was included in the sum paid to the heirs.
The grist mill was built in the year 1807 with one pair of burrs and one pair of choppers. It was said it was built by Peter Leh- man. For a number of years, as we understand, it was run by Peter Lehman & Company. The merchants in Baltimore made inquiry of the teamsters, who it was that made such excellent flour. The mystery was this, only the best was taken out, and the balance the women fed to the cows, and made an abundance of butter.
John Snowberger and his family came from Switzerland in the year 1750.
The mill in 1830 rented for about three hundred dollars, in 1840 for about four hundred. It is a question whether Peter Lehman in money, land and labor did not pay three thousand dollars towards the founding of the Snow Hill institution. He died in 1823, aged 65 years, some months and days.
.
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CHAPTER X
Snow Hill Buildings-Music
Ps. 24:3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord
HE FIRST house ever erected on the grounds was a log house built about one-fourth mile south of where the buildings now stand. We suppose in about 1765. The land being purchased from the Proprietaries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, then under the British Government, in 1763.
The second was a two-story stone house of good size, erected where the first brick building at the west end now stands. It was built in 1793.
The first brick house erected on the grounds was built in 1814. It was said, it was built by Peter Lehman. It is the third house from the west end; forty feet long, thirty feet wide, two stories high, ten by twelve glass. At the east end, on the second floor, was a large room, set apart for meeting purposes.
Here meetings were held, small and large, as was customary in those days, until 1829 when the meeting-house was built.
The second house erected was built in 1835. It is the second one from the west end, and was put up between the old stone house and the brick house first built. It is thirty feet square, two stories high, for dining room purposes, and chapel above.
The third house erected was the first one at the west end, is forty feet long, thirty wide, two stories high, was built in 1838.
The fourth one erected is the one at the east end. Forty feet long, thirty wide, two stories high. Was built in 1843.
The meeting-house was built by the church. It was built by subscription by the church, and the public, at an expense of about fifteen hundred dollars.
We would perhaps not make the estimate too high, if we were to say, that in the course of one hundred and more years, hun- dreds and thousands of people have attended religious meetings on these Snow Hill grounds.
In years gone by, on a fine summer's morning, the people would drive in their carriages ten, twenty and thirty miles, to attend these large meetings. And in the afternoon get their dinner with- out charge, of good bread, butter, coffee, and a few other articles. We once heard a man say, he was among a company that had
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UNUSUAL SYSTEM OF MUSIC
come thirty miles, and he ate heartily, the bread and coffee he said was excellent. 1327030
But some people do not know how these meetings were held.
Well, the public has had a great deal to do with making them just what they were. The church would decide on a day for a meeting, at which arrangements would be made to entertain visi- tors from a distance. Then very soon the public would find it out. Presently you would hear that tailors and seamstresses round about were all busy getting up new styles for the young people to go to the large meeting.
The number of people generally in attendance at these meetings is variously estimated at from five hundred to a thousand.
The number of loaves of bread prepared on such occasions was from sixty to ninety. At times there would be some left, while at others it would be used up entirely. The size of the loaves was eight to one bushel.
Snow Hill Institute is one of the Literary Institutes of the whole church of the Ephrata persuasion, whose members chiefly reside in Lancaster, Franklin, Bedford and Somerset counties, Pennsylvania.
In about 1800 Peter Lehman and others began to devise a plan to found an Institute like the one at Ephrata.
Quite a number of books were obtained from Ephrata-music books and others. By 1820 the music became noted for excellence, and accounts written by those who heard it at the time found their way into periodicals and histories.
The music is chiefly composed in five parts, a few pieces in seven parts.
We turn to page 199 of the Choir music, published at Ephrata, 1754, composed by Conrad Beissel, (By sel) Gott ein Hersher aller Heiden. "God a ruler of all the nations." The piece is in seven parts, Major scale on D. The composition is arranged on the Treble pitch, or in other words, on the female voice. There is an upper bass and a lower bass, but the lower bass runs just as high as the upper. They are pitched an octave higher than the ordinary church music of the present day.
The scale upon which the music is arranged includes three whole octaves, bass, tenor and treble tones. There are used the lowest tones of the male voice, and the highest tones of the female voice. The leading part is sung by the best female voice.
Counting from below, the first part is lower bass, second upper bass, third female tenor, fourth female treble, fifth counter high female voice, sixth leading voice, seventh second leading voice.
The lower and upper bass have the F cleff on the fourth line. Third and fourth part have the C cleff on the fourth line. The
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THE EPHRATA CLOISTER
fifth part, the C cleff on the third line. The sixth and seventh part, the C cleff on the first line.
The book containing the music has the following in the German.
"PARADISE WONDERS"
"Which in these last times and ages, in these evening lands, and parts of the earth have come forth as an approaching sound of the new world."
"Consisting of a new and unusual system of music arranged after the manner of the angelic and heavenly choirs."
Ephrata print 1754.
The following is a translation of the words to the first piece of the work :
THE TREE OF LIFE
How deep within us hidden lies,
That noble branch and tree of life;
How many toils and cares arise, Until again that state we find, Wherein the branch is seen to glow, And opens Paradise again; He that is taught of God will know, His soul shall heavenly bread obtain.
And should the tree in beauty glow, And heavenly light be thrown around; And fruit upon its branches grow, Such as in Paradise are found, Still must the root remain to stand, Here in this world of sin and death, Where there is pain on every hand, Until the last expiring breath.
To look upward brings with it pain, To him who clings to things of earth. And though the branches beauty gain, And Life and strength is springing forth, Yet can the root no light shed forth, Since it is hidden out of sight; And should a dew moisten the earth, It still remains concealed from light.
When flesh and blood will roses break, It turns to earth the prize to find, Where curse and thorns it overtake, And pain torment the loving mind, Since man this does not fully know, That life blooms in eternity; And things of earth cannot bestow, A life divine from pain set free.
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UNUSUAL SYSTEM OF MUSIC
Hence, wisdom has contrived a plan, To send her glories down to earth; That long were hidden unto man, But now anew are breaking forth: And pressing on in streams of light, To plant a new and heavenly mind: Her path shall be our chief delight, So shall we full redemption find.
-Conrad Beissel.
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CHAPTER XI
Ephrata and Snow Hill Today
Ps. 1:3. Like a tree planted by the rivers of water
EV. JOHN A. PENTZ, Bishop of the Church in Pennsylvania, is the minister in charge of the Snow Hill congregation at present. Ninety-two communed there in June, 1917. Rev. Wm. A. Resser assists Rev. Pentz. The church also has preaching at Mt. Zion, four miles northwest of Nunnery, and at stated times at Tomstown, due north about same distance. New furnishing, fres- coing, an organ and choir were recently introduced.
George Walk, of Quincy, one mile northwest of Nunnery, has been treasurer for many years. His father, the venerable Rev. John Walk, was a former pastor of the Snow Hill congregation. He died about five years ago. George Walk is now retired after having led a very busy life as postmaster, teacher and farmer.
Miss Emma Mohn, a graduate of Lock Haven Normal School, is one of the active members here as well as the Recording Secre- tary of Pennsylvania Conference of German Seventh Day Bap- tists. Ulcie Pentz is the Nunnery farmer assisted by his father, Rev. John A. Pentz.
The Sunday School connected with Zion Reformed Church, Lincoln, Pa., one mile distant from Cloister, was organized in the Ephrata Academy building in 1844, by a Mr. E. A. Wiggins and some time thereafter moved to New Ephrata, now called Lincoln, with the late Albert Bowman of Ephrata as its superintendent, being known as the Lincoln Union Sunday School.
Superintendent Bowman was succeeded by Joseph M. Shenk and Mr. Shenk was succeeded by Hon. Christian W. Myers, Chief of Bureau of Collections from Public Officers, of Harrisbug, Pa., in Auditor General's Department, and Mr. Myers was suc- ceeded by L. E. Miller, Esq., who since 1876 has been its superin- tendent. Upon completion of the new Zion Reformed Church building in 1901, the school was removed from the Lutheran and Reformed church edifice to the new building and named Zion Reformed Sunday-School.
The fortieth anniversary of L. E. Miller as Sunday School superintendent became a matter of history when on Sunday, June 17, 1917, an appropriate service was held, namely: A. M., a ser- mon by Pastor Rev. M. W. Schweitzer. P. M., a community
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SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFSPRING OF CLOISTER
reunion service with opening prayer by Rev. C. F. Glessner, of Bethany Reformed Church, Ephrata. Historical address by L. E. Miller. Reminiscent addresses by A. K. Hostetter, Cashier Conestoga National Bank, Lancaster; Rev. S. G. Zerfass, Pastor at Cloister and Chaplain of House of Representatives at Harris- burg; John M. Fry, Editor Ephrata Reporter, recently deceased ; Rev. Thos. Hacker, of Wyomissing; and a presentation address by Rev. M. W. Schweitzer by which a fine Morris chair and flow- ers were presented to the honored superintendent, L. E. Miller, also teller in the Lincoln National Bank. The exercises were brought to a close in the evening with a sermon by Rev. Dr. F. J. Hacker, pastor of the Reformed Church at Wyomissing, also a Past State Pres., P. O. S. of A. of Virginia. Mrs. Andrew H. Garber rendered a splendid solo. The attendance throughout the day was large.
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L. E. Miller, Edwin Musser, Catharine Stuber Stephan, Sue Andes Reinhold, Lillie K. Eitnier, Mary Wolf Ditzler, Mary Mel- linger Serena Schaeffer Wissler, Martin W. Schweitzer, Henry M. Wolf and Henry B. Keller are the living Sunday School pupils of 1877, twenty-nine having passed to the great beyond. Most of the pupils were formerly enrolled in the old New Ephrata and Academy public schools, the latter of which being on the Cloister premises will be described later.
Extensive religious combinations to effect a political object are always dangerous. The combinations here, however, only worked for good, politics being forgotten in the promulgation of truth.
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CHAPTER XII John Conrad Beissel
Ps. 1:6. The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous
OHN CONRAD BEISSEL, the founder of the Sev- enth Day Baptists and the now prosperous borough of Ephrata, first saw the light of the world in 1690, at Eberbach, a village on the Neckar, belonging to a sub-bailiwick of the domain of Mossbach in the Palatinate. His father was a baker, but of such intemperate habits that he spent all his money and died soon after, leaving a poor widow with a numerous family, and Conrad his youngest son was born two months after his father's death, and was therefore a true opus postumum; by which orphan birth the Spirit indicated his future lone condition and as one preordained, he derived no com- fort from his natural kindred. His mother was a godly person and raised him until he was eight years old when she, too, died. From that time he led a sorry life until he was old enough to learn a trade. With his growth of years he displayed extraordi- nary natural gifts. He showed a wonderful facility for learning many things, without any instruction, merely with reflection, his brother frequently telling him that he (Conrad) would yet make a fool of himself. He was apprenticed to a baker who also taught him how to play the violin and as he frequently danced at weddings and carousals, it was all the more wonderful to have him become a Pietist.
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