15. IN: SUPER THE EPHRATA COMMUNITY

BY JULIUS F. SACRAL,

Continued from page 212)

gently analy

155, he 6th J dịp,

Vattor F.ie Asam (E1).— Dad in the press of me, 'ritual Children, as he tarewell made qua in the Lord Jail wleep, in the you It's age was 77 Year,-4 Monti -6 hour of the day after noon." cupation of the spirit, and ba

1

v. In the sth

doings, and de

cuffered, 2

laboured, the Lord's Sare, the ae of b Life, by By and Night. He who his wi'ning

searches, can find in what kini of al, L. fc pecin the 52 years.

[John Conrad beissel,—“ Vatter Frie leam Gottrechy,”--born Mu 169), O.S, at Erbach, Germany, arrived in Pennsylvania 'n became the founder of the Fphrata Community. As & flees? Try's preacher, organizer, leader, and composer he ranks high amontuje ter ligious lead rs of his time. His fureral is said to have been at indeg by over six hundred mourners The funeral sermon was proɛ tee 1. Brother Jabez trom tie text, lieb. xiii. 7 and 17, and was followed by addresses by Brothers Phileomen and Obed.j

Brother Agonius (B 2.-Was a venerable Co-056156 and Vorsteber in the Community at Ephratha: He asleep the 20th May in Year 1741; his Age 54 You Month, his actions and Conduct was serious, in puni h was he severe, in admonishing kindly, and at the sam a Crossbearer of Jesu Christi, until his End

1 The blog,aphical ann utors to these records are man ly drawr Ephratense and 1' e re et 23 1 osted manuscript, *Curonicon Saron," and have beu, further milled by researches in the a. munity. According to the man et "Chronicon," the sister seven cla-50%. Each cind a special line of duces, and hi which the cells of the sters opchou. Each cl. had its own vax re-polile only to the priores.

THE REGISTERS OF THE EPHRATA COMMUNITY.

BY JULIUS F. SACHSE.

(Continued from page 312.)

Vatter Friedsam (B 1).-Did in the presence of his spiritual Children, as he his farewell made quite gently and quietly in the Lord fall asleep, in the year 1768, the 6th July. His age was 77 Year,-4 Month-6 Day. In the 8th hour of the day after noon.1 What his doings, and occupation of the spirit, and how much he suffered, and laboured, for the Lord's Sake, the time of his Life, by Day and Night. He who his writings diligently reads, and searches, can find in what kind of labour, his life passed in the 52 years.

[John Conrad Beissel,-" Vatter Friedsam Gottrecht,"-born March 1, 1690, O.S., at Eberbach, Germany, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1720, and became the founder of the Ephrata Community. As a theosophist, preacher, organizer, leader, and composer he ranks high among the religious leaders of his time. His funeral is said to have been attended by over six hundred mourners. The funeral sermon was preached by Brother Jabez from the text, Heb. xiii. 7 and 17, and was followed by addresses by Brothers Phileomen and Obed.]

Brother Agonius (B 2).-Was a venerable Co-Overseer and Vorsteher in the Community at Ephratha: He fell asleep the 20th May in Year 1741; his Age 54 Year 5 Month, his actions and Conduct was serious, in punishment was he severe, in admonishing kindly, and at the same time a Crossbearer of Jesu Christi, until his End.

1 The biographical annotations to these records are mainly drawn from the Chronicon Ephratense and the recently-discovered manuscript, "Chronicon of the Sisterhood of Saron," and have been further amplified by researches in the archives of the Community. According to the manuscript " Chronicon," the Sisterhood was divided into seven classes. Each class had a special line of duties, and had a general room into which the cells of the sisters opened. Each class had its own superintendent, who was responsible only to the prioress.

[Michael Wohlfarth, born 1687, in Memel, on the Baltic, was the first to join with Beissel in preaching the Sabbatarian doctrine. In 1737 he published "Die Weissheit Gottes schreiende und ruffende den Sohnen und Töchtern der Menschen zur Buse Seyende dass Wort des Herren von Michael Wohlfarth." He was buried in the old graveyard in the meadow between the Saal and Brotherhouse, not a vestige of which remains at the present day.]

Now Follow the Brotherly Society in Bethania.

[The Monastic Society formed after the dissolution of the "Zionitische Brüderschaft," in 1745.]

Brother Martin Bremmer (B 3)-Was a peculiar Spiritual Person; He was a Tailor in his Handicraft, did also our Habits or clothes, help to procure that we Now wear. Fell asleep in the Lord 1738.

[Martin Bremmer joined the Community in 1729, and together with Jacob Gast ("Jethro") and Samuel Eckerling ("Jephune") followed Beissel to the Cocalico, and in the winter of 1732 built the second cabin where Ephrata now stands. As the Community tailor, he designed the habits for both orders. He was one of the six Brethren who were imprisoned in Lancaster jail for refusing to pay their taxes in 1736. He died on the third or fourth day of First Month (March), 1738. His was the first death among the Solitary on the Cocalico.]

Brother William Witt (B 4).-Was a very quiet and reserved person who fell asleep in the Lord 1740.

Brother Benedict Juchlie (B 5).—Was already in the Schweitz awakened, as he however from our Community heard drew him soon over into this Land, came soon towards Ephrata, bought however firstly a Blandasche1 up in the Swamp for the Brethren, for he was wealthy, the Brethren poor; subsequently sold he his piece of Land again, and bought the grinding Mill for Ephrata, after this would he to Germany journey, there his inheritance to obtain. (He) wanted also the Brethren to Book-printing (to) assist; which was interfered with, for he did suddenly die, and was immediately buried in Year 1741 in November.

1 Plantation.

2 The valley or swampy meadows west of the present "Rhineold Station," on the Lancaster and Columbia Railroad, three miles north of Ephrata. Well-founded local traditions state that the timbers of which Peniel or the Saal was built were all given by Brother Benedict, and cut on his plantation.

[Benedict Juchlie was of a well-to-do Swiss family, and was one of the thirteen who formed the Brotherhood of Zion in 1738. Finding the rules too strict, he concluded to return to Switzerland for his patrimony. The Brotherhood advanced him the necessary funds, and in return he promised to purchase a printing outfit for them, and made a will appointing the Community his heir, in case he died before his return. Three days later, on his arrival in Philadelphia, he suddenly died.]

The Young Brother Lewie (B 6).-Did also in the Lord fall asleep 1742.

Brother Isai (B 7).—In the year 1738 towards Ephratha came: In year 1742 came the Herrn-Hutter here, into these parts-he permitted himself to be prejudiced by them, and they took him away, yet in the same year to Herrn-Haag: and in year 1744 took he his Journey again to this Land As he however on the Ocean was, became he sick, what was there to be done, the anguish of his Heart was so great, that he thusly daily exclaimed: O! Ephratha! Ephratha! you lovely Ephratha! O! my dear Mother! and my beloved Sister! in such Misery did he die, and so was the Ocean his Grave. His age did he bring, up to 29 year, 6 month. [Isai Lässle was one of the original "Zionitische Brüderschaft."]

Brother Jacob Thome (B 8).-Did in the Lord fall asleep, 1745: he was already in the Schweitz awakened.

[Another Brother from Switzerland, and member of the "Zionitische Brüderschaft," whose two sisters also entered the order of Spiritual Virgins.]

The young Brother Jacob Zinn (B 9).-Did in the Lord fall asleep, 1749: he was a Son of the Marcari Zinn.

Brother Joel (B 10).-Did in the Lord fall asleep 1748 : his age was 52 year. He led in his doings and Life, a lowly, retired fervent Course of Life; what he experienced, gave he never unto Day-his death was also as if he only his outer shell had Cast off.

[Johann Heinrich Kalckgläser was one of the important Brethren in the Community. He originally settled in Germantown, but came to Ephrata at an early day, and became one of the Zionitic Brotherhood.]