This rare hand-written copy of the
scriptures was in the meetinghouse. German calligraphic writing called
Frakturschriften was viewed by the members of the Ephrata community as a discipline for both body and soul.
The brothers and sisters ate, worked, and even worshipped separately to keep temptations of the flesh at a minimum. To prepare their minds and bodies for Paradise, they ate meager meals, slept only briefly, and meditated.