Ephrata High School - Cloisterette Yearbook (Ephrata, PA)

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plwrata loistcr The Ephrata Cloister was established about 1732 by John Conrad Beissel, who had fled to America from Germany because of religious intolerance. In his new home Beissel inaugurated an aggressive campaign on the Seventh Day Sabbath Question, which proved quite successful. A granary and several large brick-ovens were built at the site of the present Cloisters. A school was established about 1735 followed by a Sabbath School, the first Sunday School in America, about 1738. The next to the earliest printing set-up in America was also located at the Cloister, printing fifty diierent volumes. Reverend Peter Miller, a graduate of Heidelburg University, became a leader in the solitary life at the cloister. The Berghaus was too small for the growing congregation and Kedar was erected. Bethania or Brother House, Saron or the Sister House, and the Saal, the place of worship, were erected before 1745. Because of the scant use of iron in the construction of the Cloister buildings, the hinges and doors were carved from solid pieces of Wood which today seem as strong as they were two hundred years ago. The Epharata Academy was established about 1837. It was patron- ized by people from Philadelphia, New York, and Baltimore. Gossiping was frowned upon and loud laughter was forbidden and thought to be the mark of a fool. About five hundred sick and wounded Revolutionary soldiers, who fought in the battle of Brandywine in 1777, were quartered here for treatment. Several hundred died and were buried in Zion Cemetery. It was a condition of menibership that the inmates of the Cloister should be single, whether male or female. No vow was required except that if they married they had to leave the sect. No wages were paid but all lived on money received from the sale of books and products of nature. The Lovefeast, a ceremony of sociability and hospitality, served to better acquaint the inhabitants of the small Cloister with each other. All their books were printed in high German: De Christian A. B. C. Isht leiden, dulden, huffen, ' Wafr dieses hadt galernt Dow' hudt sein stiel gatroffelnf' 8

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C. H. Hartzler . . . John H. Moyer .... Susan G. Bard .... Harry L. Geyer . . Robert S. Metzler . . Harry R. Bomberger Esther Weeter ..,.. Raymond Brubaker Ralph A. Lesher ..., Allen H. Hammon , William L. Derr Lester J. Fleischman Elinore Rockwell .. Sadie K. Mohler . . Mildred M. Shope . . . . . Doris Eler ......., Mildred I. Cressman Esta McCaa .....,. Evelyn C. Yingst . . . Supervising Principal History English English English and Geography . . . . Latin and German . History Science . . . History and Science . . . . . . . . . Mathematics . . . . . . . . . Mathematics Mathematics and Shop . . . . . Home Economics . , Commercial Subjects . Commercial Subjects Art Music . . . .... Physical Education Librarian

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