222 HISTORY OP 



"A room was set apart for such purposes, called 

 « Das Sclireib Zimmer/' the writing room, and several 

 sisters devoted their whole attention to tliis labor, as 

 well as to transcribing the writings of the founder of the 

 society; thus multiplying copies for the wants of the 

 community, before they had a printing press. Two 

 sisters, named ^in?2astasia and Iphigenia, were the 

 principal ornamental writers. 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, surrounded 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 



gi'aver. 



'^ It was in contemplation, at one time, by the Ecker- 



k'ns, three brothers, one of whom was a 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 Germany, and had been brought up 

 Catholics. They conceived a project of erecting exten- 

 sive buildhigs, and connecting trades with it; and had 

 some preparations under way; the timber all hewn, as 

 all the buiklings are of wood, even the chimneys, which 

 remain in use at this day; and in readiness to erect a 

 tower, and had sent to Europe, where they had exten- 

 sive connexions, and got a chime of bells cast, unknown 

 to the society, until they arrived at Philadelphia, and the 



