The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-10
LAST OF "WHITE FRIARS."
THE COMMUNITY SLOWLY But
SURELY DWINDLING AWAY.
MIonastic Vows For Members.
Crowds Used to Flock TO "Dns
KIOster" to Hear the Inmates
Chant The "AngeI Music"

Celibacy and Professionalism flourish not
together as exempHhed in the decline Of
the community settlements of Economy,
Ephrata and Snow Hill in the old Key
stone state. The hundreds Of the mystic
Rapp's followers who once constituted
the community settlement Of Economy,
near Pittsburg, have dwindled to half a
score; "Kedar" and Zion the closter
buildings at Ephrata in Lancaster coun-
~, are tenantless of white Friars,"
while the ''snow-Child," born of Ephrata,
has fallen asleep among Anuetams
rushes in Southern Franklin.
In the sixteenth century fed from
Deutchland persecution one Elmeleck,
with few followers, after the order of
mystics, and sought refuge among the for
est wilds of Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
vaniA, that being revealed as "the por-
ton of land set apart for the purpose,
that therein the descendants of the ia
vored tribe of our heavenly Jacob should
outspread themselves"
Many years afterward when a few d.
lapidated huts only bore witness that
these solitaires were not, one served as
habitation for another hermit of the same
order, Conrad Beissel This master mind
and learned scholar was in early life
monk in a German monastery, but on his
advent to this country became member
of the Mennonite settlement al German.
town. Pa. Being of the Omish or Hooker
faith, the buttons on the Brothers coats
savored Of outward adornment," so
proved an uncomfortable thorn in the
flesh" This added to other pricks, such
as recognizing the first day of the week
as the Sabbath, non-adherence to VOWS
of celebacy, refusing to be dipped thrice
or oftener if guilty Of fragrant sin-caus-
ed his withdrawal, and henceforth in the
life of a recluse he was to regain pristine
holiness.
Conrad held, also, the idea that this fair
globe was once the abode Of Lucifer and
his fallen comrades, to whom was given
the power Of redemption by works, and
besides, only those impregnable to Cupid
arrows could take part in the first resur-
rection or occupy front seats in the new
kingdom soon to descend upon the earth.
Beissel was not long left to himself and
the rewards of celibacy were set forth to
those following in the wake of the re-
former in as desirable a light as plurality
OF wives to a Mormon convert. Under ms
leadership a settlement sprang up on the
banks of Cocalico's stream, crude cabins
for those who refused to annual until
death do US part"
Those who took upon themselves mon
astic vows were provided with a cloister
home about 1725. "Kedar' and Zion, the
brother and SISTER" houses. with the
Saal or worship house between. The huge
log structures resembled a bit of trans
planted Germany. hgh-peaked roofs,
heavy beams fastened by wooden pins
without and iTregularly Scattered wee
DaDed leaden easements. The portals
were low. so in humility one must how en-
tering therein, narrow, "one by one the
exit The doors were swung on wooden
hinges, the string to the wooden latches
always outward for the stranger who
was babe welcome to come and larry az
will The buildings were tioored with
brick. and from the corridors opened
dreary cells, some with only a board LOT
a bed and & block for pillow.
The monks" and nuns" wore glrdled
robes and cowls of white, hence the name
white Friars." Unbolted bread, fruits
and vegetables constituted their diet,
meat only used on church feast days.
Only In the Saal did the brothers and sis
ters meet on each seventh day OF the
week. and at the semi-annual love feast
when at those times would JOIN then the
community members.
The nuns were kept busy with tapestry,
dairy, spindle or loom. They knitted ana
.serubbed as the friars and brothers sowed
the seed, garnered the grain or ran the
miil-lumber, grist, oil and paper. The
proceeds of lands and cloister were cast
into a common treasury, Conrad Beissel
recognized temporal as well as spiritual
leader.
In the early days Of Ephrata's prosper
fty William Penn was attracted thither-
ward to see the child of his Mennonite
founding. So pleased was he at the signs
of industry and thrift displayed that he
presented the Ephrata community settle
ment with 5000 acres additional The
grant was declined, lest such 'goodly pos
sessions" endanger goodness.
Schools were established at Ephrata
with advanced curriculum. Beissel trans
lated the Bible in four different languages
and set up a printing press, one of the
first in the country. From 1t went forth
the voluminous Book of the Martyrs"
the edition curtailed when Washington
seized the paper b. the ton for gunwads.
Later, after the battle Of Brandywine, he
transplanted his troops to Ephrata for re-
cruit and succor. Then were turned into
hospitals the cloister buildings, the nuns
proving effective sisters of charity.
And your sons and your daughters
shall prophecy. your Old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see Wis
ions" AS the Swiss Snowbergers OF the
community of Ephrata were led by the
spirit of prophecy westward, the seven
teenth century reached its meridian mark
OF glory. According to vision they were
TO cradle a child of the church which was
to increase as the light of the mother
society faded. Heavenly outlines led
them Ger a scarcely defined trail in which
the red man proved friendly, sharing the
game and tracking the venison for the
Lords anointed
The numerous sparkling springs forming
the headwaters of Antietam's branch
marked the promised land" soon turned
by them into a Canaan OF fertility. Trees
were felled for the cabin homes, supplant-
ed later by brick as skill made ready the
kilns
With its 16O acres Of timber, valley and
plain, was incorporated on the state re-
cords in 1863 the "Monasuc Society Of
Snow Hill" the name derived from its
founders, Snowberg, or hill.
For many years the services held from
house to house on each seventh day of the
week, wherein were no fires klndled for
making ready savory dishes.
The annual '1ove-feast" took place in
Forest temple, whence came Beissel or
Miller, the great heads Of the church.
from Ephrata, with a goodiy number
trained In the NOOudorapeu rnuefc MI