davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05

! art OF weaving from the Bunker preacher,
/ Peter Becker. But finding that the
brethren Of that persuasion were too
much entangled in the concerns of the
! world, he left in 1921 the habitations OF
men 10 lead contem plative life at Mill
! Creek, streamIet that empties into the
Conestoga River in Lancaster County.
He became hermit, having no other
company than that of his Fidus Achates
Stielei.
At this time it seemed to be quite the
fashion to live hermits life. and Beissel
was not the only man who followed il.
All the hermjts, however, we're religious
enthusi asts, and withdrew thems selves be-
cause of religious discussion. However,
Beissel did not long remain a hermit, buJ
submitted to baptism in the Pequea Creek
on November u, 1924, at the hands of
Peter Becker, the bunker minister OF Ger
mautown, who, with about dozen of the
bre thren, traversed the land upon mis-
sionary errand. The baptism, however
meant no peace or fellowship. 1t was fol-
lowed by controversies among the men
and quarrels among the women. Soon
Beissel began TO assert his authority and
10 preach doctrines distasteful to the
Dunkers, urging celibacy and the ob-
serTance of Saturday as Sabbath. a little
knot of followers that gathered about
him were baptized, or rather rebap-
tized by him in May, 1925. With this
the step was taken that called
into existence the sect of Seventh-day
Dunkers. Conrad, who was chosen their
leader. became greatly impressed with his
own importance and di>coursed like
prophet Later dissension occurred and
he withdrew once more to a hermit life.
Here he was followed from time to time
by men and women who wished to re-
nounce the world and live the life they
thought right. The cloister at Beissel, |
finally called, was no resort for idlers. !
Every one was put 10 work-on the farm,
at the mills, at trade, in the copying
room or the bindery. At the beginning
the land was cultivated without the aid of
horses or oxen, the brethren themselves
in a long line, dragging at the plow.
There was no end OF building, and all the
la bor was done by the mem bers of tie or
der. Thus the colony that grew up made
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05
BY Il REGENT FIRE

has Conrad Beissel for it's author. 1t is a
small duod ecimo volume, printed by Ben
jamin in 1850, in Roman type.
Beissel had also much musical talent,
and com posed upward of 400 airs, upon a
system of his own. A visitor who neard
this music rendered tn us wrote of it to
the Governor:
"The performers sat with their heads re-
clined, their countenances solemn and de-
jected, their faces pale and emaciated
from their manner of living, the clothing
exceeding white and quite pictures que,
and their music such as thrilled the very
soul. l almost began to think myself in
the world of spirits"
When Conrad Beissei died, in 1853, the
office of vorsteter devolved on Peter NIL
ler. who had been prior for many years.
He was q fine classical scholar, was well
versed in theology, and became a mem ber
of the American Philosophical Society,
and led an unblemished life. But, in SPITE
of all this, the monastery con tinued to de-
cline. That part of Lancaster County
where it was planted remained no longer
the wilderness that had proved so attract
i've to the enthusiasts of iormer period.
The worlds people gained upon them. and
time came when a few decreplt monks and
nuns that fingered in the desolate con-
vents or bashed upon the green sward were
looked upon as living curiosities.
In 1914, with the consent and at the re-
quest of the few surviving members of
the monastery, the Assemb bly, of Pennsyl-
vania incorporated the "Seventh-day
Poptists of Ephrata'' as a society, to sue
ceed TO the property of the dying out
fraternity. Since then the buildings of
the society have been held in trust for IRE.
hgious, charita Bile and literary objects"
For years these buildings have been of
great interest to sightseers and those that
are tond OF antiquity. Their oddity and
severity, the little cells that men called
home, where they rested their heads at
night upon wood and lay their bodies,
tired after the days toll, upon the stone
floors. The bare places that women called
home, without hint of comfort or any
of that softaess that women love, and
all for religion.
A motto which ornaments the letters of
an alphabet which was printed in the
is this:
Des Christen a. B, G.
Ist leiden. Du den, Hoffen.
Wer Gieses hat ge!ernt
Der hat seln Ziel geroffen
EPHRATA: MDCCL.
Which translated means:
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05

strikingly irregular. Bays and capes of
enormous size make up the shore line.
There are several islands on the surface
of the lake, the largest of them being
known as Titicaca Island.
Connected with this island is some of
the most romantic history of that part Of
the country. 1t was here that Nance
Capac, the first Inca of the Peruvian
dynasty, mira ulousIy appeared. Atleast
that is what tradition says and that part
of the world is made up Of little more than
tradition. On this island are also some
of the most important ruins that have
been discovered in Peru. There is part
of a large temple of a peculiar style of
architecture that bears no resemblance to
the styles to be found in the vicinity. This
ruin has proved OF the greatest interest to
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05

When anything occurs to interfere with
historical portions OF this America, whlch b
has so few parts that can be considered
historical, 1t Is apt to be of some consid-
erable importance. Therefore, when a
short time ago the inform alton was re-
ceived that an accidental fire had occurred
in the old monastery buildings al Ephrata,
Lancaster County, Pa, and had almost de-
stroyed allthat was left 10 recall to III emory
one of the Oldest and strangest secls our
country has ever known, ii was noted with
interest.
The sect which occupied these old mon
aslery buildings was founded By Conrad
Beissel, and was called the Ephrata Clois.
ter. The first of the buildings was erected
IN 1885, and was called the kedar How
ever, the origin OF the Ephrata is supposed
to have been by secession from the Dun
kers, species of Baptists first heard of in
Germany in 17OS. On account of tyranny
in religious matters the Dunkers removed
10 America.
But the late Ephra a sect is all but~de-
iunct, and its most remarkable phase, the
adoption of monastic life and the coun-
tenance given to ceiibacy, curious as an
anomaly OF Protestant Christianity, and
still more so as a wrinkle of early colonial
history, has long ago passed out of exist
ence.
The founder OF the Order of tn e Solitary,
Conrad Beissel, was born at Eberbach in
1890. In Germany he does not appear to
have been affiliated with the Dunkers,
but was strongly impressed with the emo
tionaI religion of the Pletists and the nys-
tic antics of the INSPIRED" He was by
trade baker and during his apprentice
ship as gay as any other young fellow at
he fiddle and the dance. In 17I5
i hanse came over him that brought him
Unto contact with the ranting conYul-
sionist Frederick Rock, with DR.. Carl,
the editor of the Berlenburg Bible, and
others OF the awakened" His biog-
raphers assert that the regenerating grace
which he experienced improved even the
quality OF the bread which lie baked
at Heidelberg. Weary of the petty perse-
cution which the peculiar brand of his
pietv drew upon him be emigrated in
172O with Stiefel and some other friends to
America. In Germantown he learned the
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05

itself independent of the outside world.
The printing press of Ephrata was put up
about 1742 and turned out q mum Der OF
works now eagerly sought after by bibli-
ophiles. Singing schools were also
founded, and the choral singing ct
Ephrata became quite celebrated.
The fare at the converts was of the plain
est kind and consisted almost entirely of
bread, mush and vegeta bles. Animal
food. even milk and cheese, was thought
to clog the spirit and injure the voice.
The costume that was worn was designed
to hide entirely the shape of the body,
which was considered the image of sin.
it consisted of long, close robe fastened
with hooks down to the feet, with narrow
sleeves and a collar fitted close 10 the
neck; also a eirde about the waist. Dur
ing their service they donned a cap that
reached to the waist. Attached to the
robe was a cowl, or hood, that hung down
over the back and could be drawn over the
head for protec ion.
The habiliments of the sis ,ers were SIM
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05

archeologists, but so far its origin has not
been asceytaned.
On the western shore of Titicaca there
are two toWns-Puno and Chucuito.
The former is of considerable size, al
though both of them are unique in char
acter. Each has some claim to archi-
tectural beauty, but there are no grand
buildings to be seen. AS in all cities of
Spanish origin the church is the princi-
pal structure. These buildings are quite
elaborate, built of stone that was quarried
at long distance from the buildings.
How the stones were hauled up the
mountain sides to their present positions
is matter that has been a puzzle to a
great many scientists. In fact many
eminent men have stated that the early
builders must have possessed some supe-
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05

Come, oh. love; come, my love,
Let me give you thousand kisses
Month to mouth and heart to heart.
BeisseFs style of preaching is thus de.
scribed by Israel Acrebies. who gives an
abstract of his sermons:
"All this was spoken with an incom-
parable rapiditg, in hasty language. with
rapid gestures. Now he stuck out his
hands, now he pressed them to his breast;
now he placed them on one side. now
upon the other, and now upon both"
Beissel was also a poet. He composed
many hymns redolent with the flowers of
mysticism. 1t is a remarkable fact of
American bibliography. not generally
known. that the earliest book of German
poetry written and published in America
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05
in PENN
.6YIVHNIH
4 VISITOR
RELH
WHIT 1T
DID IN IT'S
Days OF
HCTIVITY.
The Christians A, B, c
Is suffer, bear and hope.
If you have mastered that
Then you have reached the sc

Now all those who lived so rigidIy have
passed beyond and their works are dead,
and even the few landmarks that stood,
symbol of themselves, have been de.
stroyed. So. in few years doubtless, the
grounds will be the property of the sinful
outside world, that the Ephrata had snf-
fered 10 keep away from, and even the
name of the strange and fanciful sect will
be with those who bora it.
The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05

the cloister consisted mainly of the opera
tions Of he flour. paper, saw and fulling
mills and of a fl txseed oil press. The
honest dealing OF the monks did much to-
ward rec Cling outsiders with their re-
! igious notions.
The cloIster people of Ephrata and those
allied with them are generally known as
Seventh-day bankers, as if they had diff
fered from the parent sect in no other way
than the observance of Saturday as Sab
bath. There Is. however, another ard
very important element that entered into
the religion OF the Ephrata Society. They
were in intimate accord with the mvstics
OF the period, such as Gottfried Arnold,
Frederick Rock, and through them witn
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
Cooperative Banking for Farmers.

The American Agriculturist, of April
4, again discusses editorially the ZEN
tire feasibility Of cooperative banking
among farmers" This can be done"
it says, "by slight notifications of the
building associations or cooperative
banks, which has proved so remarkably
successful in American cities. These
institutions now hold over $500,000,000
OF deposits and are thoroughly demon
strated practical success. The Saxon
Land Credit association Ca report upon
which can be obtained by writing to
the secretary of state, Washington is
modification of the Raitfeisen system,
which in Prussia and Germany has
achieved the same success among the
working farmers of those countries that
the cooperative banks have achieved In
our American cities. The peoples banks
of Italy and neighboring countries,
based upon much the same plan, have
had marvellous success. a report Civ
ing further particulars upon the Saxon
Land Credit association has been pub
lished by the department of state for
free distribution, in which Consular
Agent Peters says with a truth that
can never be questioned
What American farmers require to re-
lieve them of the present financial strain
under which they are living IS the power 10
borrow at the lowest possible interest con-
sistent with their securities and the iinan-
cial conditions in the great centers Of the
world SO long as they must borrow from
the local money lender they must pay
high rate of interest for accommodation.
II IS this high rate Of interest under which
our farmers are now striving and failing
that is responsible for the general unrest
and dissatisfaction. Remove the nigh rate
Of interest. give them the same opportunity
to use their credit as men engaged in other
business, exchange the present mortgage
on the farm for one with a reasonable in
terest, which the farmer can pay and have
something left for the savings bank and
we will restore happiness and prosperity.
THE question has been solved by the
farmers and landholders OF Europe, and
the solution of the problem did not con-
sist in the issue by the government Of a
mass of debased currency circulate
among the people at a fictitious value. The
end was reached by the farmers and land
holders by their own force and coopera-
ton, by the founding of associations which
whose financial strength was measured by
millions of undoubted securities which
the public was only too glad TO invest in"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
EVOLUTION OF MONEY.
Unwnrrnnted Government Interfer-
ence Prevents Easy Transition from
One Substance to Another.

Vnwarrnnted Government Interior.
ence Prevents Easy Transition fro IN
One Substance to Another.
Money is simply q commodity that is
generally recognized as a universal
equivalent, and its degree Of goodness
or efficiency consists in the unanimity
of the recognition of the fitness of the
commodity used as money to perform
the essential functions of money. Many
commodities have been used as money,
and they have remained in use as long
as they met the essential requirements
of money among the people where used,
or until some other commodity ap-
peared the fitness of which commended
itself to the intelligence as being SUI
perior TO the commodity then being
used.
Aspeople have advanced in discriminat-
ing intelligence they have discarded in
ferior commodities and adopted in place
thereof something that was superior;
these changes kept taking place until
finally gold and silver became the COM
modities that were recognized by the
people of most countries as being the
best for use as money. Sociological
transition is constant. Change Is the
natural order of things, and changes
come about naturally and are therefore
effected easily If the natural process Is
allowed TO go on undisturbed; troublous
friction ensues only when there is OBJ
structive governmental interference at
tempting TO delay or defeat the natural
order of things.
In our own day the stage coach has
been supplanted by the steam railroad
and stage coaches have practically be-
come thing of the past. The tallow
dip was succeeded by lamps filled with
burning fluid or oil, and lamps by IL
Eliminating gas, and gas by electricity.
These and many other changes were
accomplished with no serious disturb
ance whatever, and so il would be with
commodities used as money in the alb
sence of governmental obstruction.
There would be no threatening money
question in this country to-day, endan-
gering the continuity and perpetuity
of all business activity, if the United
States was not engaged in the banking
business.
Among the civilized people the days
of usefulness of silver as money, except
in subsidiary forms, are numbered, and
silver is going out of use as surely as
has the stage coach, and the tallow dip,
and for exactly the same reason; civili-
cation has outgrown the conditions
which necessitated it's use. No money
has ever come into use at the behest Of
government. or because of statutory
enactments, but solely because of recog-
nized ability TO perform the functions of
money.-Austin w. Wright in Sound
Currency.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
Good Money Il Good Anywhere.

While a government can within its
territory define that which shall con-
stitute legal tender in satisfaction Of
contracts past and future, it cannot by
legislation fix the purchasing value Of
it's money, for money is a commodity,
aud it's value is determined in the mar
kcts of the world under the laws of
trade, and the laws of trade, like the
laws of nature, are stronger and more
far-reaching than any constitutions or
statutes. The best money is the money
Of greatest purchasing power, and that
money has the maximum of purchasing
power which is exchangeable at par,
not only in the country from whose
mint it is issued, but also in the mar
kets of the world.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
Can't Export Laws.

No civilized country can confne Its
citizens within its own territory or pro-
hibit all commercial intercourse with
other countries. Every country, there
fore, needs money which can be used in
purchase from and in payment of its
debts to other countries. Yet, howso-
ever absolute may be the power Of its
government, its laws can have no ex-
tra-territorial effect. No government,
therefore, can prescribe the standard
by which its currency shall be valued in
any other country, or compel the citi-
zens Of another country to receive its
currency save at the bullion value of
that currency in the markets Of the
world
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
ALMA. MICH, May 4, 1897.

Regular meeting OF the Village Council of
Alma at the council chambe on above date
Present, President Bagley, trustees Glass
Tinker, Dean, Wilson and Brewbaker
Trustee Pollasky absent.
Minutes of the last regular meeting were
read and approved
Minutes of the Two last special meetings
we're read and approved.
Trustee Pollssky appears
The following claims were presented and al
uaA NJ fAA
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
silver VS.. Milk.

Up in Iowa they have given up silver
and have a softer snap. They make
Sal, 900 in Iowa from their COWS
alone. That beats free silver, doesn't
it-beats it all hollow? They make
SAL, 100000 selling milk, butter, cheese
and calves, and at the end OF the year
they have the same old Bossy and Speck
and Spot and Brindle and Bess that
they had the year before. The Kansas
COW is sticking her head over the pas
ture fence, lowing and mooing, with her
bag swelling with $41, 000,00 worth of
milk, while the old man is downtown
tearing his shirt because the plutocrats
won't coin S36,00O,000 worth Of silver.
-Emporia (Kan.) Gazette,
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
Village Council
ALMA. MICH.. April 2n. 1sq.

Special meeting of the Common ouncil
upon call of the president upon above date
to reconsider action on the bond of Il Ed
wards.
Present, President Bagley trustees Glass
Tinker. Dean, Wilson, Brewbnker and Pol.
lasky. Clerk Torrey absent.
Moved that Ely Brewbaker act as temporary
clerk in absence of Clerk TOrrey. Motion car
RED.
II was moved and seconded that the action
in the case OF the Il Edwards liquor bond OF
the last meeting be reconsidered and that the
bond be accepted Ayes. q; nays none. Mo.
ton carried and bond approved
Ii was moved and supported that bicycists
be allowed the privilege Of the walk in front
of the Santarium TO the south walk running
west 10 the Sanitarium building. Motion pre-
vailed and privilege allowed.
Upon motion council adjourned
4 A BAGLEY, ELY DREwBAKER
President, Temporary Clerk
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07

Gerrit 5 Ward, trustee and
attorney in fact. FOR VIII
liam ;, Turck, Ammi ".
Wright, Joseph II. seaver
and Gorrit ;. Ward, COM
posing the firm OF ". =.
Turck ~ Co, of Alma,
Mich. Compartments,
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07

MORTGAGE SALE:-Default having been
Nl made in the conditions OF a mortgage, ex.
ecuted by Homer E Decker and Helen NJ
Decker 10 Jennie Nc Blain. dated March 4, 1895.
and recorded March 3, 1895, In the Office OF the
register OF deeds for Gratiot county In Mich-
gan, In liber 20 OF Mortgages, on page l43; on
winch mortgage there Is claimed To be due at
the date OF this notice one hundred aud two
dollars and thirteen cents. beside, an attorney
lee OF iiteen dollars ipuiated in said mortgage
10 be paid. should any proceedings be taken 10
iOrFcl'ise rald mortgage; and no suit or pro-
cccdlng "a law or IN equity having been insti-
tuted 10 recover any part of the dc bt secured
by SAID mortgage; Therefore, by virtue OF the
power Ol sale IN said mortgage contained. and
OF the statute IN such case made and PROVIDE
notice Is hereby given that On June 3. 1885, al
one O'cl OK IN tho afternoon at the north lrOnt
door OF the court house tor GratiOt county. in
Mlchlghn,ln the village OF Ithaca ia sud county,
there VIII b" sold AZ public Veudus 40 the high.
est bdder the pr, misses dc sorbcd IN said mort
Ruge w; The west half OF the northeast
quarter OF section twenty-niur and the south
east quarter of the northeast quar, Of stc-
tion twenty nine all IN township eleven. north
ct range tour west, in Michigan. said sale
Will be made, subject 10 the payment of the re-
malndrr OF said mortgage not yet due ana be-
ing eight hund ed ana fifteen dollars due
March 4, 1898 with interest payable at six and
one-halt per cent, computed from March 1,
1897.
Dated, March &, 1891
PERKINS a BALDWIN, JENNIE MCBLAIN,
Attorneys for Mortgagee. 5iO-l3w Mortgage.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
Bert Woodward :.
81: Real Estate Broker

Makes Loans on frst-class Real Estate
Draws Papers relating 20 Real Estate
Looks after property for non resident owDers
Has property Tor sale or exchange IN every
part of the country
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07

SALE:- State of Michigan, the
" circuit Court for the County of Gratiut ~
Chancery.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
AGENTS WANTEp:-For DIR. Talmage's

AGENTS WANTED:-For DIR. Talmage' S
1.-THE Earth Girdled" or his famous tour
around the world. A thrilling story of
Savage and Barbarous lands. Four
million Talmage books sold. and 1.-The
Earth Girdled" is his latest and great
est. Demand enormous; everybody
wants this famous book. Only 50 90
Big book, big commission, gold mine
for workers. Credit given, freightage
paid, outfits free. Drop all trash and
sell the King Of Books and make $500
per month. Address for outfit and ter
ritory, 94S-6w
PEOPLES, 1911 Market St,
Philadelphia, Penn
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07

The Westfeld (Ind) News prints the
following in regard 10 an old resident Of
that place Frank McAvOv, for many
years in the employ of the l. n A & G..
Ry. here. says Il have used Chamber
lain's Collie, Cholera and DiarrhGa
Remedy for ten years or longer-am
never without it in my family. | con
slider it the best remedy of the kind
manufactured take pleasure in rec
ommending it. 1t is specific for all
bowel disorders For sale by Bivins d
Rhodes, druggists.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07
Little Maid o. Dreams

never dreamed of anything so good for
the human race as DR. Caldwell's Syrup
Pepsin. So pleasant to take ard so
potent as a cure for Constipation, Indi-
gestion and Sickheadache, three of the
greatest troubles that flesh is heir to.
In 10c, soc and $1.00 sizes of b. S.
Webb.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-07

According to the newspapers, an Ohio
husband became the happy father of
seven children not long ago OF the
seven all lived but one. 1t is to be
hoped he laid in supply of Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy, the only sure
cure for Group, whoOping cough, colds
and coughs, and so insured his children
against these diseases. For sale by
Bivins q Rhodes, druggists.