OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 359 



and principles, but only as peculiarities. I cannot, hero, go into an exposition of the 

 peculiar views of this people, nor enter into the minutiie of (he manner of perfonnin« 

 all the ceremonies and ordinances. I would merely remark in regard to their regular 

 worship, that they commence with a hymn, tlien prayers, (kneeling) and after a second 

 hymn, the minister requests one of the brethren (any one) lo read a chaiUor out of the 

 Scriptures, which they are at liberty to choose from any part of tlie IJible— he then 

 expounds the chapter; tracing its bearings and historical connection witli the propliets 

 and the New Testament; after which the Exhorters enforce the duties it inculcates, and 

 .should any member, brother or single sister be able to improve the subject still fartljer, 

 or have a;iy remarks relative to the topic, to make, is at perfect freedom to express 

 them. Prayer and singing, with the reading of a psalm, instead of a benediction, con- 

 cludes the service. At another time, and in another })lace, I may enter into a full ex- 

 position of the Principles and Ordinances of this Society, and exhibit at length their 

 doctrines, and the grounds on which tliey are predicated. 



It is not one of their customs to wear long beards, as is fre(piently said of them: this 

 is more the case with the Dunkers and Mennonites. They are often reiiresented as liv- 

 ing on vegetables, the rules of the Society forbidding meats, for tlie purpose of mortify- 

 ing the natural appetite, and also as lying on wooden benches, with billets of wood for 

 pillows, as an act of penance. The true reason and explanation of this matter is, that 

 both were done from considerations of economy. Tlieir circumstances were very 

 restricted, and their undertaking great. They studied the strictest simjjlicity and 

 economy in all their arrangements: wooden flagons, wooden goblets, turned wooden 

 trays, were used in administering the communion; and the .same goblets are still inu.so, 

 though they have been preseyited with more costly ones. Even the plates oil" which they 

 ate, were octangular pieces of thin poplar boards; i\\ch' fnrkst and candlesticks were of 

 wood, and also every other article that could be made of that material, was used by the 

 whole community. After they wei'e relieved from the pressure of their expensive en- 

 terprise in providing such extensive accommodations, they enjoyed the cot for repo.se, 

 and many other of the good things of life; though temperance in eating and drinking 

 was scrupulously regarded. And it may be well to remark, that there was not any 

 ardent spirits used in the building of the whole village; the timber of which was 

 hewn, and all the boards sawed by hand during the winter months. The society w:is a 

 social community, and not a cold, repulsive, bigoted compact; being .sometimes rejire- 

 sented as reserved and distant, and even not giving an answer wiien addres.sed on the 

 road. Morgan Edwards, in his '' Mater iaU Towards a History of the American Bap- 

 tists,'' (published in 1770), bears a dilferent testimony; he says "From the uncouth 

 dress, the recluse and ascetic life of these people, .sour aspects and rougli manners 

 might be expected; but on the contrary, a smiling innocence and meekness grace their 

 countenances, and a softness of tone and accent adorn their conversation, and make 

 their deportment gentle and obliging. Their singing is charming; partly owing to the 

 pleasan ness of their voices, the variety of parts they carry on together, and the devout 

 manner of performance." And of Beisski, he gives the following character, which ho 

 says he bad from one who knew him well. "He was very strict in his morals, and 

 practised .self-denial to an uncommon degree. Enthusiastic and whimsical he certainly 

 was, but an apparent devoutness and sincerity ran through all hisoddities. He wasnot 

 an adept in any of the liberal arts and sciences, except nuisic, in which he excelled. He 

 composed and set to music (in three, four, six and eight parts) a folio volume of hynnis 

 and another of anthems. He published a dissertation on the fall of man, in the mys- 

 terious strain; also a volume of letters. He left behind him several books in manu- 

 script, curiously written and embellished." One writer has made a remark as invidious 

 as it is unfounded on the sisterhood in stating that, "the si.stei-s it would .seem. to<.k 

 little delight in their state of single blessedness, and two only (aged and ill-favored ones. 

 we may suppose) continued steadfast in renunciation of mairiages." They never had 



