OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 355 



pie. This state of things contiiiuiug, many learned men of the diftereut Universities left 

 Europe, and emigrated^to America, whilst others remained and persevered in tlic i)ro- 

 secution of the work they had commenced with so muoli diligence. In the year 1708, 

 Alexander Mack, of Schriesheim, and seven others in Schwartzenau, Germanv met 

 together, regularly, to examine, carefully and impartially, the doctrines of the 'ncw 

 Testament, and to ascertain, what are the obligations it imjioses on jjrofessiu"- Chi-is- 

 tians; determining to lay aside all preconceived opinions and traditional observances. 

 The result of their inquiries terminated in the formation of the Society now called the 

 Duukers, or First Day German Baptists. IMceting with much ])ersecution as they 

 grew into some importance, as all did who had independence enough to difter from the 

 popular church, some were driven into Holland, some to Creyfeld in the Duchy of 

 Cleves, and the mother church voluntarily removed to Serustervin, in Friesland; and 

 from thence emigrated to America in 1710, and dispersed to diftereut i)arts— to Ger- 

 mantown, Skippeck, Oley, Conestoga, and elsewhere. They formed a church at Ger- 

 mantown in 1723, under the charge of Peter Becker. The church grew rapidly in thi.s 

 country, receiving members from the banks of the Wissahickon and from Lancaster 

 county; and soon after a church was established at Muehlbach, (;Mill Creek) in this 

 county. Of this community was one Conrad Beissel, a native of Germany. lie had 

 been a Presbyterian, and tied from the persecutions of that period. Wholly intent 

 upon seeking out the true obligations of the word of God, and the proper obsei'vance 

 of the rites and ceremonies it imposes, stripped of human authority, he conceived that 

 there was an error among the Duukers, in the observance of the day for the Sabbath — 

 that the Seventh day was the command of the Lord God, and that that day being estab- 

 lished and mnctified, by the Great Jehovah, forever! and no change, nor authority for 

 change ever having been announced to man, by any power sufticient to set aside tlie 

 solemn decree of the Almighty— a decree which he declared that he had sanctified for- 

 ever! — he felt it to be his duty to contend for the observance of that day. About the 

 year 172.^, he published a tract entering into a di.scussion of this point, which created 

 some excitement aud/listurbance in the Society at Mill Creek, upon whiih he retired 

 from the settlement, and went, secretly, to a cell on the banks of the Cocalico, which 

 had previously been occupied by one Elimelich, an hemiit. Ilis place of retu-emeut 

 was unknown for a long time 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 observance of the Sabbath, settled around him, in solitary cottages. They 

 adopted the original Sabbath — the Seventh d«?/— for public worshi]), in the year 1728; 

 which has ever since been observed by their descendants, even unto the i)resent day. 



In the year 1732, the sohtary life was changed into a conventicle one, and a ]^[onastic 

 Society was established as soon as the tirst buildings erected for that puri>ose were 

 tinished— May 1733. The habit of the Capuchins, or White Friars, was adopted by 

 both the brethren and sisters; which consisted of a shirt, trow.sers and vest, witli a 

 long white gown and cowl, of woolen web in winter, and linen in summer. That of 

 the sisters differed only in the siiTj<stitution of petticoats for trowsers, and some little 

 peculiaiity 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 FatherspmUv.d father— was bestowed by the 

 Society, upon Beissel, wliose monastic name was Fricdsam: to which tli.' brctiieni 

 afterwards added, Gottrecht— imi)lying, together, Pcaceahle, God-rir/ht. In the year 

 1 740, there were thirty-six single brethren in the cloister, and thirty-tive sisters: and at one 

 time, the Society, including the members living in the neighboihood, nundiered nearly 

 three hundred. 



The first buildings of the Society, of any consequence, were Kedar and Zimi— a 

 meeting house and convent, which were erected on the hill called Mount Zion. They 

 afterwards built larger accommodations, in the meadow below, comprising a Sister's 



