The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-04-24

the papers through
out the state an
nounced that the property belonging TO
the community. valued at more than
100000. would revert 70 the state OF
pennsylvania, but II seems now that
such is not the case The Seventh Day
Baptists. to whom the community at
Snow Hill belongs. are particularly
strong In northern Kentucky, southern
Ohio and southwestern Pennsylvania.
Quite number OF members belond TO
the society at Snow Hill and a move
ment has begun looking toward a re-
organization OF the monastery. a branch
OF the once famous monastery az Eph-
rata, Pa. The Idea II TO draw recruits
from all the existing societies by means
OF religious REVEALS. to be begun
shortly. The original community was
organized IN 1875. Catherine Snow
berger bought the tract Of land IN i7cs
II had then farmhouse and contained
$50 acres. The whole valley was in.
habited by Baptlsis. most OF them OF the
Seventh Day branch. 10 which sect
Ca'harlne belonged. Thirty-two years
later Peter Lehman. a German Baptist
preacher. came to the southern part OF
franklin county. held a revival meet
ing and started the idea which hal
been 30 successful at Ephrata. Two
years later four women. all snowberg-
ers' took the VOWS. and when Others
Joined from time to time the society
became flourlshlng. Until 1925 tho
property was owned by Catharlne
Snowberger's heirs. In that year Il
was sold TO five trustees by Andrew
snowberger. Catharine's nephew. and
the state chartered The Seventh Day
Bapiists' Monastioal Society OF Snow
Hill," which then began vigorous
life. Both sexes we're admitted, and the
farmhouse being found insufficient for
the growing numbers. the original
building was from time to time en-
larged. Then, as new industries were
begun, shops were erected all over the
place. For many years the average
number OF persons living at the nun
merry was fifty. the men seldom exceed
Ing the weaker sex In number. ANY
Seven Day Baptist In good standing was
eligible, provided he or she was willing
to come out from the world and be sep
arate; TO give up all worldly goods 10
the society. and to live a life OF cellb-
aey. The VOWS were not necessarily
for life. but very few OF those who en-
tered ever returned to the world. No
one having a husband OF wife living
was admitted but widows and widow
ers might become members. All new.
corners were obliged to serve a novltlate
Of one year. after which. n satisfactory.
they were admitted to full membership
and received a new name Those who.
at the close Of their probationary peri
ID or even having been for years men,
bers OF the community. desired to
marry or see more OF the world. were
free to leave and carry with them
everything they had brought In. but
nothing they had acquired while men,
bers OF the order The sisters occupied
themselves with spinning. cooking.
weaving, dairy work. and the gathering
OF herbs for their own use. while tho
brothers attended to stock raising.
farming and milling For yarioty's
sake. II was the custom to change on.
That Is. the sisters who cooked one
week made butter the next. and like
wise the mlllers OF one seven days
tended sheep the following ldleness
was not permitted. neither was over
work. and wholesome food IN abund-
anoe made the life OF the monastics any
thing but a burden. The whole So
ciety ate their meals In one dining
room. the male members by themselves
at one long table and the females at an
other. while an old grandfather's clock
guarded against waste Of time and in.
digestion from too much haste.
Prayers were attended twice day. AZ
In the morning and at sunset. In
chapel about the center OF the chief
building. The only ornaments visible
N the chapel are some rude Illustrations
OF Scripture texts on parchment. One
OF the largest OF these came from Ger
many, and represents the baptism Of
Christ by John, There Is another
chapel on the place, but In Il the NOM
bcrs OF the local church. and not the
monks and nuns. worshipped. A brook
runs by Il. whore hundreds OF converts
have been baptized Since the war. the
decline OF the society has been contlnu-
GUS Old age and disease have nllei
the graveyard In the meadow. and the
admissions by the council we're OF rare
occurrence. Ten years ago five sisters
and three brothers, nearly all above the
three-score-and-ten line. we're all that
remained OF the snowhlll household. In
1890 Sister Zenobah. originally Eliza
beth Fryock. and Obed snowberger
lRrother Or,dl we're an that remained,
and now the sole occupant OF the COM
unity Is a Waterman and hls family.
@@
\ Damaging song.