LANCASTER COUNTY. 21? 



sisters; which consisted of a shirt, trowsers, and vest, 

 with a long white gown or cowl, of woolen web in 

 winter, and hnen in summer. That of the sisters 

 differed only in the substitution of petticoats for trowsers, 

 and some little peculiarity in the shape of the cowl. — 

 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 Beissel, 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 convent, 

 which were erected on the hill called JNIount 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 wliich, 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 



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