The hearty souls that came to Pennsylvania in the early 1700’s did so on the promise that William Penn’s religious freedom experiment would bring them ever lasting peace. Thousands of German, Swiss, Dutch and French Protestants escaped religious persecution by journeying to Pennsylvania. My ancestors Han
s Michael and Elizabeth Schule were among the first to join the new outpost known as Ephrata. They supported the nearby Cloister as householders and were well acquainted with Conrad Beissel, its founder.
Many of the original buildings are still here today; the Saron (Sister’s House) and Saal (Meetinghouse) dominate the grounds of the Cloister. From 1732 to 1750, nearly 300 individuals joined Beissel at Ephrata. Celibate members lived in either the Sister’s House or the Brother’s House and the Householders lived on nearby farms contributing funds, products and assistance to the members of the Cloister.
They were an industrious community operating a printing press, recording musical compositions and practicing German calligraphic writing called Frakturschriften. The community became known for its charity, helping new settlers build homes, caring for the poor and elderly, operating a school for area children and offering free lodging to guests. During the winter of 1777-1778 the Cloister was the site of a Revolutionary War military hospital.
Both Hans and Elizabeth are buried at God’s Acre cemetery at Ephrata; both in unmarked graves.
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