In 1732, Beissel arrived at the banks of the Cocalico creek, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Around this charismatic leader a semi-monastic community with a convent (the Sister House) and a monastery (the Brother House) was established called Ephrata.
The members of the order were celibate. In addition to celibacy, the members believed in strict interpretation of the Bible, and self-discipline. Members were required to sleep on wooden benches 15 inches wide, with wooden blocks for pillows. They slept six hours per night, from 9 P.M. to midnight, and from 2 A.M. until 5 A.M., with a two-hour break to "watch" for the coming of Christ. They ate one small vegetarian meal a day.
Services every Saturday were led by Beissel, often being several hours long.
They used the German Bible (just as the much larger and vibrant Amish community uses today).
They ran a highly regarded printing press. Their largest project was a commission from the Amish for a large book of stories of religious persecution in Europe.
The Ephrata Cloister was a haven for women who didn't have a home or who were victims of domestic abuse.
We took a trip to Lancaster to see how the Amish live. We visited a schoolhouse museum where this Amish woman told us about the Amish private school system.
School only goes to the 8th grade. I checked out some of the curriculum materials and concluded that it is extremely limited.
I really enjoyed seeing the buggies around town. The horses don't seem to mind the cars zooming past them.
Amish canned goods.
The docent explains the Amish lifestyle in front of an array of Amish clothing.
An Amish quilt covers the bed in the house museum.
Is that cloister still running?
ReplyDeleteThat 1732 living is for the birds.
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