The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-12-28

with the homes in what they termed
as REDEEMED simplicity of life and
manners
One Of these 'cult-colonies' made an
effort to root itself here in our noun
tains. 1t should prove most interest
ing to the student of local history that
the first settlers in Preston County
W. Va, We're three brothers, both in
the flesh and spirit They We're Pro
testants monks Their names were
Samuel. Thomas, and Emmanuel Eek
erlm (Eckerly, Eckarly). The first
spelling is preferred by Orn F. Morton
in his two volume work published by
the Journal Publishing Company
Kingwood, w. Va, 1914 entitled "A
History of Preston County," These
three Protestant monks were forced
out of their group, known as The
Ephrata ClOisters, becaues they We're
in sharp disagreement with The Supe-
rior. They left Ephrata Cloisters
around 1850, journeying south into
Virginia making contact with German
settlers in the South Branch Valley
Having learned of the formation of
The Ohio Company 0748) and that it
was opening up new territory west of
the Alleghenies they made contact
with this Company and bought up at
first some land on the lower Monon-
gahelia Not satisfied with this they
petitioned for another land-grant and
finally obtained about one hundred
acres on the Cheat This tract be-
came known as Dunkards Bottom, in
asmuch as the people who had known
the Eckerlins thought them to be
Dunkards. This tract of land is now
an army camp, once the camp for the
National Guard of W. Va. located
along the east bank Of the Cheat to
the right Of Route No. as you begin
the ascent of the mountain from the
bridge.
The Eckerlins arrived at this spot
in 1854 and from all indications were
preparing to establish a Cult-colony
similar to the one in Ephrata. They
ran short of ammunition and salt
/ Samuel, the Oldest of the three, de-
parted to the South Branch, the near
est trading center, for supplies Upon
his arrival the South Branch folks
were apprehensive of him, thinking
he was employed as an Indian spy.
This was the time Of the French and
Indian War-and the frontier settle
mentS, becauses of their vulnerability
were gravely excited. Samuel was ar
rested, and placed under guard. He
was allowed to make his purchases
and return to the Cheat but only on
condition that he be accompanied by
an armed guard. When Samuel and
all he found were the ashes of the
Cabin and the mutilated bodies of his
brothers. This tragedy, from all re-
ports, put an end to the plan of estab-
fishing a religious community here in
the mountains. Most likely the enter
prise was abandoned thru the uncon-
solable grief for his two massacred
brothers and the fear of marauding
Indians of the future. So far as We
know Samuel returned to the South
Branch Valley. He was not there long
He finally ended his days in Eastern
Pennsylvania.
Ephrata Closters was founded in
1888 and continued it's isolated anC
self -subsisting existence until shortly
after 1900. In that period it had two
superiors. The colony was composed
Of both men and women-althougt
the sexes were strictly segregated
Upon entering this Protestant Monas-
terry they pledged themselves tc
chastity, poverty, and obedience.
1t was one of the most unique
monastic institutions in the history OF
the Christian Church. The early anC
medieval church established male
monasteries and femal monasteries
But where is there a precedent for 6
monastery in which both sexes shared
the same spiritual and artistic life
but voluntarily deprived themselves
Of marriage and the sex relation?
The men occupied one large stone
dormitory-andt the women a separate
dormitory similar in size and architec