OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 357 



A room was set apart for such pui-poses, called the meriting room, and several sisters 

 devoted their ^Yhole attention to this lahor, as well as to transcribing the writ iiif^s of the 

 Founder of the Society; thus multiplying copies for the wants of the community, hcforo 

 they had a printing press. Two sisters named Anastasia and IrniOENiA, were tho 

 principal ornamental wiiters. They left a large folio volume of sample alphabets, of 

 various sizes and style; which are both elegant and curious, exhibiting the most patient 

 application. The letters of the first alphabet are twelve inches long, surrounde<l by a 

 deep border, in imitation of copper plate engraving — each one of which is different in 

 the filling up. It was finished in the year 1750, and is still preserved in the hands of 

 the trustees. There was another transcribing room appropriated exclusively to copying 

 music — hundreds of volumes, each containing five or six hundred pieces, were trans- 

 ferred from book to book, with as much accuracy, and almost as much neatness as if 

 done with a graver. 



It was in contemplation, at one time, by the Eckerlins, three brothers, one of whom 

 was Prior, and had the superintendence of the secular concerns, to make it a place of 

 more importance than a mere religious refuge. They were from Gennany, and had 

 been brought up Cathohcs. They conceived a project of erecting extensive buildings, 

 aud connecting trade with it; and had some preparations under way — the timber all 

 hewn, as all the buildings are of wood, even the chimneys which remain in use at this 

 (lay—and in readiness to erect a tower, and had sent to Europe, where they had exten- 

 sive connections, and got a chime of bells cast, unknown to the Society, until they 

 arrived at Philadelphia, and the bill for payment was forwarded to them. The Society 

 resolved not to receive them, but had them sold and paid the loss. One of these bells 

 having upon it, Ephrata— Israel Eckerlin, Prior, was purchased, and is now on 

 one of the churches in Lancaster. This transaction led to the discovery of a conspiracy 

 of the Eckerlins to possess themselves of the title of the property, which was much 

 more extensive and valuable than now, and which tenninated in his expulsion (Israel) 

 from the office of Prior. They afterwards removed to Virginia, where they obtained 

 some notoriety in connection with the Indian aftairs. The Society was wedded to Apos- 

 tolic simplicity— they desired no toicer— no bells. They refused to have a bell to call 

 them to meeting, even the midnight meeting, which was regularly held at twelve ox-lock: 

 Friedsam contending that the spirit of devotion ought to be sufficient to make them 

 punctual to the hour, which generally proved to be adequate. 



The community was a republic, in which all stood upon perfect equality and freedom. 

 No monastic vows were taken, neither had they any written covenant, as is common in 

 the Baptist churches. The New Testament was their confession of faith, their code ot 

 laws, and their church discipline. The property which belonged to the Society, by 

 donatioir, and the labor of the single brethren and sisters, was common stock, but none 

 were obliged to throw in their own property or give up any of their possessions 1 he 

 Society was supported by the income of the farm, gnst mill, paper mill, oil null, tulhng 

 mill, and the labor of the brethren and sisters in the Cloister. 



The principles of the Seventh Day Baptist Society of Ephrata, which no writer that 

 we have encountered seems to understand, though they have been published in the 

 Gennan language, with full explanations aud commentaries, seventy or eighty years 

 ao-o, may be summed up in a few words, viz: , , <• i <•^^ 



1 They receive the Bible as the only rule of Faith, covenant and code o laws for 

 church government. They do not admit the least license with the ^^ ^^^^ 

 the scn^tures, and especially the New Testament-do dot allow «- .^f ^ "^^^^.^J^ 

 added or rejected in the administration of the ordinances, but practice them pucisely 

 as they are instituted and made an example by Jesus Christ m his Word. 



3. They believe in the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and ^^'^ /' " " ^'° 

 Godhead having unfurled this distinctive banner on the first page of a >'>• m book 

 whSi ;y h d printed for the Society as early as 1739, viz: -Tkere arc three that bear 



