Letter Book of Conrad Beissel
Fraktur
Item Info
Language: German
Physical Description: 1-346 [=328 p]; 4to
Material: Iron gall ink; laid paper; leather; pressed paper; string
Transcription:
[1-18] [N.B. unpaginated] Ephrata d 8ten des 4ten Monats 1755 [An Br. Ludovici]
[19-24] [N.B. unpaginated up to 23] Ephrata d 5ten des 4ten Monats 1755 An Br: Christoph Saur Sen: in Germantown
24 [fragment pasted in] Ephrata d 20ten des 3ten Monats 1755 An 2 Bruder, genannt Ezechiel und Anthonius, | welche unter dem Vorwand ein einsamers Leben | zu suchen, die Bruderschafft verlassen
25-29 [N.B. 29 top half page pasted over original/in a different hand] Ephrata d 24ten des 4ten Monats 1755 An Peter Beussel
29-32 [N. B. 29 latter third of page original to Ms and in same hand as 28-32] [n.d.; n.p. ]An einen Englischen Schulmeister in Lancaster. | namens Daniel Kenly
45-50 [33-38] [N.B. 33 misnumbered as 45] Ephrata d 22ten des 7ten Monats 1755 An Bruder Ludovici
50-68 [38-56] Ephrata den 12ten des 8ten Monden 1755 An Jacob Mohr den ältern in Amwell
69-89 [57-77] [d 21ten ____ Ephrata An einen Freund in ] Heidelberg
90-92 [78-80] [n.d.; n. p. ] An einen Becker in Heidelberg namens Prior
92-106 [80-90] [N.B. 93 misnumbered as 97] Ephrata d 12ten des 9ten Mond[es] 1755 An Bruder Ludovici
107-110 [91-94] Ephrata d 9ten des 3ten monden 1756 An Br: Hennrich Lohmann
111-137 [95-121] [N.B. 2/3rds of 137 pasted over with a different page in a different hand. Per catchword Ephrata on 136, this paste-over was not originally intended to go here. It may be the ending of letter commencing on p. 111, but is not a continuation of 136] d 28ten des 7ten Monats 1755 An Br Ludovici.
137-172 [121-154] [N.B. 147 misnumbered as 149] Ephrata d 20ten des 3ten Monats 1756 an Peter Becker [per Jeff Bach, 11/19/1993 letter...
‟this is the letter from which Obed Snowberger extracted a tiny portion for his broadside, The Church of God; in Peter Erb’s Ephrata sourcebook.”]
172 -174 [154-156] An Bruder Ludovici [in postscript] Ephrata d 7ten des 5ten Monats 1756
174-179 [156-161] Ephrata d 1sten des 8ten Monats 1755 [No recipient]
180-184 [162-166] Ephrata d 17ten des 8ten Mondes 1756 An Johannes Müller, der Schw: Pauline Bruder
184-191 [166-173] [n.p., n.d.] An Bruder Agabus
191-204 [173-186] Ephrata den 11ten des 5ten Monats 1751 [No recipient]
204-219 [186-201] [n.d., n.p.] An Willhelmus Jung
219-226 [201-208] [n.d., n.p.] An den vorigen [Willhelmus Jung]
226-236 [208-218] [n.d., n.p.] An den vorigen und seine Schwester [Willhelmus Jung & wife?]
237-242 [219-224] [n.d., n.p.] An den vorigen [Willhelmus Jung]
242- 247 [224-229] [n.d., n.p.] An den vorigen [Willhelmus Jung]
247-251 [229-233] [n.d., n.p.] An Cunrad Mathey
251-260 [233-242] [n.d., n.p.] An Br: Grieß in Mannheim
260-270 [242-252] [n.d., n.p.] der M: M: Schreiben an den vorigen [Br. Grieß] Mutter Maria [Prioress Maria Eicher]
270-279 [252-261] [n.d., n.p.] An Freund Georg Hoening in Gunters blumm
279-286 [261-268] [n.d., n.p.] An Hennrich Funk
287-294 [269-276] d 12ten des 2ten Monats 1751 An Bruder Peter Becker
294-300 [276-282 [n.d., n.p.] An Br: Gerhard Zinn
301-311 [283-293] [n.d., n.p.] An einen unbenannten
311-314 [293-296] [n.d., n.p.] An Br Chr: Saur [Sr.] ‟Sey hiemit noch einmal samt der lieben Schwester | Maria Christiana geküsset und geliebet. Ich bin und und bleibe, | der ich bin, euer vor Gott zu den Füssen niedergelegter | Friedsam, ein Fremdling und Pilger auf | dieser Welt...”
315-318 [297-300] [n.d.,n.p.] An den vorgien [Chr: Saur Sr]
319-327 [301-309] [n.d., n.p.] An Christian Siberberg
327-335 [309-317] [n.d., n.p.[ In demselben vielgeliebter und werther Freund und Bruder, als Mitberufener zu dem Abendmahl des grosen Gottes... [no recipient...Siberberg?]
335- 339[317-321] [n.d., n.p.] An Br: Jacob Kümmel
339-346 [321-328 ] [n.d., n.p.] An Bruder Henrich Lohman
Translation:
[1-18] [N.B. unpaginated] Ephrata, the 8th day of the 4th month in 1755
[Water damage of some sort has removed the salutation. However, in a transcription made by Jeff Bach in 1993, the salutation was still legible, and he notes “ To Brother Ludovici”.]
[19-24] [N.B. unpaginated up to 23] Ephrata, the 5th day of the 4th months in 1755; To Brother Christoph Saur Sr. in Germantown
24[fragment pasted in] Ephrata, the 20th day of the 3rd month in 1755; To two brothers, who using the excuse they wished to find a still more lonely life, left the brotherhood.
25-29 [N.B. 29 toph half page pasted over original/in a different hand]
Ephrata, the 24th day of the 4th month in 1755; To Peter Beussel [Beissel]
29-32 [N.B. 29 latter third of page original to Ms and in same hand as 28-32]
n.d.; n.p.; To an English schoolmaster in Lancaster by the name of Daniel Kenly
45-50 [33-38] [N.B. 33 misnumbered as 45] Ephrata, the 22nd days of the 7th month in 1755; To Brother Ludovici
50-68 [38-56] Ephrata, the 12th day of the 8th moon in 1755; To Jacob Mohr the elder in Amwell [N.J.]
69-89 [57-77] Ephrata, the 21st of __________; To a friend in Heidelberg
90-92 [78-80] n.d.; n.p.]; To a baker in Heidelberg by the name of Prior
92-106 [80-90] [N.B. 93 misnumbered as 97] Ephrata, the 12th day of the 9th moon in 1755; To Brother Ludovici
107-110 [91-94] Ephrata, the 9th day of the 3rd moon in 1756; To Br. Henrich Lohman
111-137 [95-121] [N.B. 2/3rds of 137 pasted over with a different page in a different hand. Per catchword Ephrata on 136, this paste-over was not originally intended to go here. It may be the ending of letter commencing on p. 111, but is not a continuation of 136] the 28th day of the 7th month in 1755; To Br. Ludovici
137-172 [121-154] [N. B. 147 misnumbered as 149] Ephrata the 20th day of the 3rd month in 1756; To Peter Becker [per Jeff Bach, 11/19/1993 letter...‟this is the letter from which Obed Snowberger extracted a tiny portion for his broadside, The Church of God; in Peter erb’s Ephrata sourcebook.”]
172-174 [154-156] To Brother Ludovici [in postscript] Ephrata, the 7th day of the 5th month in 1756
174-179 [156-161] Ephrata, the 1st day in the 8th Month in 1755 [No recipient]
180-184 [162-166] Ephrata, the 17th day of the 8th moon in 1756; To Johannes Müller the brother of our Sister Pauline
184-191 [166-173] n.p.; n.d.; To Brother Agabus
191-204 [173-186] Ephrata, the 11th day of the 5th month in 1751 [No recipient]
204-219 [186-201] n.d.; n.p.; To Willhelmus Jung
219-226 [201-208] n.d.; n.p.; To the previous recipient [ Willhelmus Jung]
226-236 [208-218] n.d.; n.p.; To the previous recipient and his sister [i.e. probably his wife, that is Willhelmus Jung and his wife]
237-242 [219-224] n.d.; n.p.; To the previous recipient [Willhelmus Jung]
242-247 [224]229] n.d.; n.;.; To the previous recipient [Willhelmus Jung]
247-251 [229-233] n.d., n.p.; To Cunrad Mathey [Conrad Matthaei]
251-260 [233-242] n.d.; n.p.; To Br. Griess in Mannheim
260-270 [242-252] n.d.; n.p.; Letter from Mother Maria, also known as Prioress Maria Eicher, to the previous recipient, that is to Br. Griess
270-279 [252-261] n.d.; n.;.; To Friend Georg Hoening in Guntersblum
279-286 [261-268] n.d.; n.p.; To Henrich Funk
287-294 [269-276] the 12th day of the 2nd month in 1751; To Brother Peter Becker
294-300 [276-282] n.d.; n.p.; To Br. Gerhard Zinn
301-311 [283-293] n.d.; n.p.; To one unnamed
311-314 [293-296] n.d.; n.p.; To Br. Christopher Saur [Sr] ‟Along with your dear wife Maria Christiana once again be herewith warmly greeted with love and kisses. I am and remain who I am, yours the Peaceful One who lies prostrate before your God, a foreigner and pilgrim in this world...”
315-318 [297-300] n.d., n.p.; To the previous recipient [Christopher Saur Sr.]
319-327 [301-309] n.d., n.p.; To Christian Siberberg
327-335 [309-317] n.d.; n.p.; Regarding same, much loved and valued friend, and brother, as one also chosen as a participant in the Holy Communion of the mighty God... [No recipient...Siberberg?]
335-339 [317-321] n.d.; n.p.; To Br. Jacob Kümmel [Kimmel]
339-346 [321-328] n.d.; n.p.; To Brother Henrich Lohman
Category: Letters (Briefe)
Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:
Binding:
Quarter leather with pressed paper boards
Physical Description:
[1-22] 23-328 [24 a fragment pasted in; 29 top half page pasted over original and in a different hand; 2/3rds of 137 pasted over with a different page in a different hand] [33 misnumbered as 45; 93 misnumbered as 97; 147 misnumbered as 149]
Sewing:
through the fold on five cords
Notes:
Biographical Note:
Conrad Beissel (1691-1768), mystic and founder of the Ephrata Cloister in 1732, was an amazing personality. Although uneducated, and by trade a baker, and later a weaver, Beissel authored many mystically-themed books that influenced not only the Cloister celibates, but many outside well-schooled minds as well. He spiritually inspired those around him to excel in their illustrations of the music books that contained both traditional, as well as original music created by Beissel and other members. Thomas Mann was so intrigued by Beissel’s peculiar musical technique that he incorporated it into his novel Doktor Faustus. In fact, Mann commented that the spirit of Beissel was present throughout the entire work.
Notes:
Inscription:
[Located on the front pastedown at head] Eine Verehrung von den geliebten Bruder | Jaebez, auß Ephrata, in Bättania | an Bruder Johannes Horn
[Located on the front pastedown at head To Brother Johannes Horn in admiration from Peter Miller, also known as Brother Jaebez, the Brethren House known as Bethania in Ephrata]
Notes:
Scope and Content:
This is one of two surviving paginated copies of a very important set of manuscript letters authored by Conrad Beissel. The other set (Ac. 1923) is part of the Abraham Cassel collection at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Neither copy is in Beissel’s hand. With the exception of a fragment of a letter to Ezechiel Sangmeister in the Borneman collection, both contain the same letters. Most of them are theosophical missives directed to persons named in the salutations, as well as philosophical and religious thoughts penned to no one in particular. N. B. Gathering signatures are noted on the Borneman Ms 22 leaves as if the Ms were intended for publication.
Associated Names: Zinn, Gerhard
Provenance: Borneman, Henry Stauffer, 1870-1955
Horn, Johannes
Bibliography:
Jeff Bach, Voices of the Turtledoves, Pennsylvania German Society (University Park, Pa: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2002), vol. 36, 200-201.
__________, Letter to Free Library of Philadelphia (Durham, NC: November 19, 1993), 3.
Martin Grove Brumbaugh, A History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America ( Mount Morris, Ill: Brethren Publishing House, 1899), 201-208.
Letter Book of Conrad Beissel : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Digital Library, Abraham H. Cassel collection, Record Nr. 8050, Volume Nr. 19. Retrieved 18 June 2013 from http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/7539
Julius Friedrich Sachse, The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania: 1742-1800, a Critical and Legendary History of the Ephrata Cloister and the Dunkers (Philadelphia: P. C. Stockhausen, 1900 ), v. II, 394-400.
Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Per location given on letters
Region/County:Lancaster
City/Town/Township:Ephrata
State/Province:Pennsylvania
Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): 1756
Image Dimensions Width: 25.4 cm
ShelfMark: FLP Borneman Ms. 22
Creator Name: Beissel, Conrad, 1691-1768 - Author
Letter Book of Conrad Beissel