68 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[May 



to the monastery of the "Woman in the Wil- 

 derness" ou tlie Wissahickon, and the some- 

 what similar institution founded by the Laba- 

 dists at Bohemia Manor, in Maryland. These 

 things were indeed in strict accordance with 

 the general spirit of a movement whose rally- 

 ing cry was, ''Come ye forth out of Babylon!" 

 It is our present intention to consider, es- 

 pecially, the literary activity developed at 

 Ephrata, and to this subject we must limit 

 ourselves, however fascinating it might be to 

 pursue a more general theme. Of course, the 

 Monks of Ephrata labored principally for the 

 propagation of their peculiar doctrines, but 

 in pursuance of this object they toiled with 

 a degree of energy and perseverance which ig 

 unexampled in the history of literature. 



It is stated in the ^'Clironicon Ephratense''^ 

 that in 172S Conrad Beisel publisiied a book 

 entitled "Neun uiid Zwanzig Sprueche," and 

 soon afterwards a small volume on the "Sab- 

 bath. Where these books were printed is un- 

 known, and not a single copy of either of 

 them is known to exist. If any one could 

 bring specimens to light, he would furnish a 

 real contribution to the history of American 

 literature. 



The earliest volumes printed for the Ephrata 

 society, of which there are extant examples, 

 were issued from the press of Benjamin 

 Franklin. As there was at that time no font 

 of German type in America, the characters 

 employed were Roman. The titles of these 

 books were long, and according to the pecu- 

 liar taste of the age, were in many instances 

 rhyming or alliterative, so that we can only 

 give enough of the title to insure the recogni- 

 tion of the book. The first of these Franklin 

 imprints is dated 1730, and is entitled, "Goet- 

 tlichfi Liebes und Lobes Gethoene," or, in 

 English, "Divine Melodies of Love and 

 Praise. " The only copy of this book of which 

 wo have any knowledge is in the celebrated 

 liTjrary of jSlr. Abraham Cassel. The second 

 book "of this series is dated in 1732, and is 

 called "Vorspielder Neuen Welt" ["Overture 

 of the New World."] In 1736 still another 

 volume was issued from the same press, enti- 

 tled "Jacob's Kampfl und Ritter Platz" 

 [Jacob's Scene of Conflict and Knighthood.] 

 These volumes are all hymn-books, consisting 

 principally of original hymns, which are in the 

 highest degree mystical. Many of these hymns 

 are addressed to "Sophia, " a term which signi- 

 fies the wisdom of God, and which is here per- 

 sonified as a female personage possessed of the 

 most extraordinary graces. In 1739 a larger 

 volume of a similar character was published 

 for the Ephrata Society by Christopher Sauer 

 of Germantown. It was the first book issued 

 by that celebrated publisher, and, indeed, the 

 first book printed in America in German char- 

 acters. Its title is "Zionitischer Weyrauch's 

 Huegel;'oder Myrrhen Berg." ["Zion's Hill 

 of Incense or Slountain of Myrrh."] It is a 

 well printed 12 mo. of 792 pp., not including the 

 preface and index, and includes 691 hynms, 

 most of which are evidently original. The 

 book is dedicated to "all the .solitary turtle 

 doves that coo in the wilderness," and the 

 turtle doves of Ephrata certainly themselves 

 kept up a billing and cooing that made the 

 forests ring. 



In 1737 appeared, in German and English, 

 the "Wisdom of God," being a testimony of 

 Michael Welfare, delivered in Philadelphia 

 Market, September, 17.34. It is mentioned in 

 Thomas' "History of Printing," but the 

 name of the publisher is not given. It was, 

 however, probably printed by Benjamin 

 Franklin. Michael Wohlfarth, who called 

 himself "Welfare" in English, was promi- 

 nent among the Monks of Ephrata, and ex- 

 erted considerable influence outside of his 

 cloister. He died in 1741. 



In 1742 the Society at Ephrata obtained a 

 press, and now began the publication of a 

 long series of volumes bearing the Ephrata 

 imprint. The first book printed was by Israel 

 Eckerlin, and was directed against the :Mora- 

 vians; but as Eckerlin was declared a traitor, 

 his book was burned by order of the Society, 

 and not a single copy is known to exist. 



Several other books by Eckerlin are also men- 

 tioned in the records of the Society, but they 

 too have entirely disappeared. 



It will probably best serve our present pur- 

 pose to present a list of the older Ephrata 

 publications, arranged according to the year 

 of their publication. We give the German 

 title in an abbreviated form; then add a free 

 translation enclosed in brackets, and in some 

 instances add a few remarks concerning the 

 character of the volume. It is possible that 

 some Ephrata books are extant which are not 

 included in this list, but, if so, we would be 

 very gl id to be informed of their existence : 

 174.5: "Urstaendliche und Erfahrungsvolle 

 Hohe Zeugnuesse," &c. [Testimonies of Spir- 

 itual Life] 4 to., pp. 294. This book contains 

 the testimonies of Conrad Beissel, and is for 

 that reason interesting and important. It 

 tells us about "the joys of virginity" and "the 

 raptures of silence." It renders it certain 

 that the Ephrata doctrine was directly derived 

 from the theosophy of Jacob Boehme, "the 

 Inspired shoemaker of Gorlitz." 



1745 : "Gueldene Aepfel in Silbernen 

 Schalen," [Apples of Gold in Caskets of 

 Silver,] 12 mo., pp. 519. This book is said to 

 have been printed for the Mennonltes. It 

 contains extracts from the writings of Thomas 

 von Imbroich and other martyrs. 



1745 : "Die ernstliafle Christenpflicht," 

 [The earnest Duty of Cliristiaus,] 12 mo., pp. 

 120. Contains the lives of several Baptist 

 martyrs. 



1747: "Das Gesang der Einsamen und Ver- 

 lassenen Turtel-taube, " [The song of the soli- 

 itary and forsaken Turtle-dove,] 4 to., pp. 

 359. Here we have some additional "cooing." 

 It is a curious question what the Brethren at 

 Ephrata can have wanted with so many vari- 

 ous hymn-books. 



1748 : "Der Blutige Schauplatz oder Maer- 

 tyrer Geschichte der Taufgesinnten," [The 

 Bloody Scaffold or Baptist Martyrology, " 

 folio, pp. 1514. This immen.se folio, of which 

 copies are still occasionally seen, was a re- 

 print of a work first published in Europe in 

 1660. Its republication was imdertaken prin- 

 cipally at the suggestion of the Mennonites. 

 The printing occupied fifteen of the brethren 

 almost constantly for three years, and it is 

 really astonishing, that under the circumstan- 

 ces, so great a work could have been produced 

 in so creditable a manner. There appear to 

 have been two editions; one containing a 

 frontispiece with mystical figures and em- 

 blems, intended for the "Brethren;" the 

 other, which is by far the most common, was 

 withon'j the emblems, and was probably in- 

 tended for circulation among the Mennonites 

 and the great body of Geiman Baiilists. The 

 book has been frequently reprinted, in Lan- 

 caster and elsewhere, but it is • ::ly witli the 

 Ephrata edition that we are at present con- 

 cerned. 



17.52 : Erster Theil der Theologischen Lec- 

 tionen, [Theological Discourses, Parti,] 4 to., 

 pp. 432. A copy of this book is still in the 

 monastery at Ephrata. 



1754: "Eines Christen Reise," [The Pil- 

 grim's Progress,] 12 mo., 2 parts, 280 and 264 

 pages. The first edition of Bunyan's Pil- 

 grim's Progress ever published in America. 



1755: "Nachklang zum Gesang der Eiusa- 

 mrn Turtel-taube," [Echo of the Song of the 

 Solitary and Forsaken Turtle-dove,] 4 to., pp. 

 111. 



1756 : "Das Bruderlied, oder ein Ausfluss 

 Gottea," [The Brothers' Song,] 4 to., pp. 30. 

 1756 : "Ein AngenehmerGeruch der Rosen 

 und derLilien," [The Pleasant Odor of Roses 

 and Lilies,] 4 to., pp. 18. The two preced- 

 ing volumes were respectively issued by the 

 Brethren and Sisters. The first is dated at 

 "Bethania" — the brothers' house; the second 

 is said to have been composed in "Saron," the 

 dwelling of the sisters. 



1759: "M. Tobias Wagner's Abschied's 



Rede an seine Lutherische Gemeinden," [M. 



Tobias Wagner's Valedictory Discourse,] 



pamphlet, pp. 9. 



1762: "M. Valentin Wudrian'a Creutz 



Schule," [Wudrian's School of the Cross,] 8 

 vo., pp. 465. 



1762 : "Neu vermehrtes Gesang der einsa- 

 men Turtel-taube," [Improved edition of the 

 Song of the Solitary Turtle-dove.] First pub- 

 lished in 1747. 



1763 : "Eine Kurtze Vorstelling des Theils 

 von Africa, welches bewolmt wird von Ne- 

 groes," [A short account of Africa,] 8vo., pp. 

 107. A book against the slave trade. In an 

 imperfect list of Ephrata imblications, in the 

 possession of the Historical Society of Penna., 

 this volume is said to have been issued in 

 1757. I can, however, find no other evidence 

 of the existence of an edition of that year. 



1764: "Von der Historia des Apostolischen 

 Kampfes," [The History of the Apostolic 

 Conflict,] 8 vo., pp. 388. 



1764: "Desjungeren Nicodemi Evangeli- 

 um," [The Gospel of St. Nicodemus.] The 

 two preceding volumes are apocryphal books 

 which have been great favorites with mys- 

 tics. The lattei", especially, has been fre- 

 quently printed in this country. 



1765 : "A Dissertation on Man's Fall — 

 Translated from the High German Original, '- 

 8 TO., 37 pp. The author of this hook was 

 Conrad Beissel. It is curious on account of 

 its appearance in the English language. 

 1766: "Paradiesisches Wunder-spiel, " [Won- 

 derful Melody of Paradise,] 4 to., pp. 

 472. Another collection of hymns. 



1767: "The Family Prayer Book. Contain- 

 ing Morning and Evening Prayers. For Fami- 

 lies and Private Persons. To which are an- 

 nexed directions for a devout and decent be- 

 haviour in the publick worship of God, more 

 particularly in the use of the Common Prayers 

 appointed by the Church of England, together 

 with the Church Catechism. Collected and 

 published chiefly of the Episcopal Congrega- 

 tion of Lancaster, Pequea, and Csenarvon. 

 Printed for T. Barton." We give this title 

 on the authority of a query in the last number 

 of the "Pennsylvania Magazine of History;" 

 but have never seen a copy of the book. 



1769:. "Christliches Gemuethsgespraech, " 

 [Christian Meditation,] 8 vo., pp. 168. 



1770: "Die Ernsthafte Christen Pflicht," 

 [The Earnest Duty of Christians.] A second 

 edition of the book published in 1745. 



1773: "Deliciae Ephratenses, " Pars 1, 

 ["The Delights of Ephrata."] Discourses of 

 Conrad Beissel. 



1786: "Chronicon Ephratense," [The 

 Chronicle of Ephrata ] This book contains a 

 history of the order, and is on this account 

 valuable and interesting. It furnishes a vast 

 amount of material to the student who de- 

 sires to enter minutely upon this curious 

 theme. 



1788 : Anhang zum Widerlegten Wieder- 

 taeufer, [Appendix to the Confuted Anabap- 

 tist.] 



1788 : "Apologia oder Schriftmaesige Ver- 

 antwortung," [Apology or Scriptural Ans- 

 wer, J pp. 72. The two books last mentioned 

 were directed against a volume called "The 

 Confuted Anabaptist." The authorship of 

 the second volume is ascribed to Alexander 

 Mack, Jr. 



1790: "Merkwucrdige Geschichte von einem 

 Menschen der mit dem Teufel in einem Bund 

 getreten," [Wonderful History of a man who 

 had made a compact with the Devil.] The 

 author of this book is given as Rev. J. G. 

 Schroeder, Evangelical Minister in Maryland. 

 1792: C. A. Roemcliugs' "Herausfuehrung 

 aus Babel," ["Deliverance from Babel,"] pp. 

 .542. This book contains a number of relig- 

 ious tracts by Roemeliugs, Gottfried Arnold, 

 Ter Sleegen and others, some of which were 

 published separately. 



1792 : "Christliche Bibliothek" von Georg 

 A. Martin, [Christian Library,] 8 vo., pp. 

 148. 



1792 : "Vom Christlichen Gebrauch der 

 Liedez," [The Christian Use of Hymns,] 12 

 mo., 56 pp. 



1795: "DasNeue Testament," [The New 

 Testament.] 

 1795 : The Cheap and Famous Farrier. 

 About the end of the last century the Eph- 





