The sisters lighten and enliven their industrious pursuits with music; and many a strain that would draw tears of rapture from listening multitudes, is blended, and even made more pastoral and effective by the sound of the shuttle, and the noise of the spinning wheel. There are likewise a blacksmith's shop, and a cooper and cabinet-maker's shop, where the brothers pursue their mechanical occupations. There is also a flouring mill, where, beside custom work, two thousand barrels of flour are annually produced. This is situated on a perennial stream that flows through, and abundantly waters the estate. It is an arm of the Antetum River, a tributary of the Potomac. The dwelling-house is most pleasantly situated about six paces from the stream on its south bank. This dwelling is a convent or religious house, and is styled "The Nunnery," by the country people. It presents a singular and unique appearance, being about one hundred and fifty feet long, by thirty feet wide, and three stories high; the lower story is built of blue limestone, and the others of brick. The lower story is even with the ground on the south side, before which, and between the two orchards, there is a small grassy lawn. There are three front entrances, of which the middle entrance communicates with the dining hall, where a company of sixty or seventy guests might be conveniently accommodated. On the north side, projecting from the middle of the main building, with an entrance into the dining hall, are the rooms appropriated to domestic and culinary purposes. Over the dining hall, in the second story, is the family chapel, where worship is regularly performed both in the morning and at evening. Above this, in a small cupola, is the convent bell, whence a rope passes through each floor into the centre of the dining hall. The west end of the building, from the dining hall round, contains exclusively the apartments of the brethren connected with the establishment; the east end of the building, beginning with the same division, contains exclusively the apartments of the sisters. In each department there are spare rooms for company, with sleeping rooms on the north side in both stories. In the centre of the cellar there is a beautiful fountain of clear spring water, incessantly flowing in an abundant stream. This is distributed in every convenient manner to the different parts of the establishment. Along the north side of the building, there stretches a luxuriant meadow, about one hundred paces across, which is abundantly watered by two streams; one, the creek before mentioned, the other, a brooklet of smaller dimensions. These are crossed by two wooden bridges, and a well-worn path leads to the meeting-house, situated on the north side of the meadow, adjoining the public road, which runs through the estate. The meeting-house, which is sixty by fifty feet, is built of stone, without a gallery. The adjoining building of smaller dimensions communicates with it on the west end, which exactly resembles an English vestry, although it is in reality a kitchen. About twenty-five paces from the convent, near the eastern border of the meadow, is the waste-gate for the mill. Here there is a bend in the creek, and at this point is formed their baptistery, well supplied at all seasons with pure water. Three steps lead down into this beautiful fount. In this place we were forcibly reminded of that exquisitely beautiful hymn,
"The Lord my shepherd is;
He maketh me to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The pleasant waters by."
This Society keeps no journal, has no written history, nor humanly composed creed. However, they have a charter, obtained from the state legislature, in which they are known as Seventh-day Baptists. By this charter they are authorized to hold and govern the estate and the house, by by-laws of their own formation and adoption, which are represented and defended by five trustees elected by a plurality of the votes of all the male members of the Society. In these by-laws it is made a condition of admission, that the inmates of the house shall be single persons; however, they are not disqualified by a state of widowhood. They must also be conscientious observers of the seventh day, and must have shared in the ordinances of baptism, and possess reputed piety. Their application for admission must be made to the trustees, who are the authorized judges of their eligibility. No vow, no promise of unconditional and continued celibacy is ever required, but if they subsequently wish to marry, which is sometimes the case, no unkind treatment ensues; on the contrary, they leave the house like a sister going from the family of her kindred, when every one is attentive to her future wants. No person entering the Society can retain independent estate or personal property; but should they bring property with them, it is subjected to a fair appraisement, and a certificate of the same given; and should the person subsequently leave, the same or its value is restored without interest. If the inmate dies in the convent, or a recognised inmate of the same, all the property accrues permanently to the establishment. No one receives wages, but all participate in the comforts of the house; and the charter secures the whole of the estate and its incomes to the single brethren and sisters as their property. The labours of the establishment are shared alike by all; the brethren under the direction of the prior, and the sisters under the direction of the prioress. In no respect, however, is there any pre-eminence of authority or class; their offices are designed to subserve good order—nothing more. They are in truth a band where fraternal regard and equality of right regulate all their conduct.
In 1847, there were nine brothers and fourteen sisters who were inmates of the convent. The other members of the Society have no personal rights in the property of the estate; and there is no more community of interests among them than there is among other denominations of Christians. In church discipline and government they are decidedly congregational. Their officers are elected by a majority of the votes of the members. They are averse to paying their pastors a stated salary; but believe that he should be assisted voluntarily according to his necessities. The convent and all the buildings are exceedingly neat and well-kept; the furniture being plain and convenient without any superfluities or finery. The venerable pastor, Andrew Fahnestock, having lost his wife, made a distribution of his property among his children, and took up his residence in the convent some time since. All visiters are likewise requested to make the convent their home, particularly during the public meetings, and are furnished in it with private apartments. Their yearly meetings are attended by many who reside in distant parts, these, as they arrive, are most hospitably welcomed; the brothers saluting the visiting brothers with a holy kiss; the sisters saluting the visiting sisters in the same manner, but the brothers and sisters only shaking hands. When the meeting is over, and these visiters are preparing to depart, the same affectionate observance is again tendered to all. At these meetings a supper is spread in the meeting-house, which is the anciently celebrated Agapa, or love-feast, held in imitation of the Last Supper, of which the Redeemer partook with his disciples, before he was led out like a lamb to the slaughter, and in connexion with the institution of the Eucharist. At this supper everything is previously prepared, and there is no cooking done except to make coffee. Here appears the use of the vestry kitchen, adjoining the meeting-house, with its cellar and well-stored larder. In this apartment are vessels over fixed furnaces prepared for heating water, coffee, and the like. The meeting-house has two front entrances, and is seated with the males on one side, and the females on the other. It is furnished with settees and long narrow tables, which serve for their books during worship, and for meals during the love-feasts. About midway of the house, on the back end, is one about eight feet, appropriated to the ministry, there being no other pulpit in the house. The tables at the love-feasts are furnished with a good supply, and a sufficient variety of all the necessary aliments of life, without any superfluities; and all are invited to partake. This being over, and the things cleared away, the communion table is furnished for the Lord's Supper. The holy rites are begun by singing and prayer; the thirteenth chapter of John is then read, and the officiating ministers discourse upon it, when these servants of the church lay aside their coats, go to the kitchen vestry, gird themselves with long towels, and each one taking a small wooden tub half filled with tepid water, return to the brethren's side of the house, and commence the ceremony of washing each other's feet, repeating meanwhile the words of your Saviour: "Therefore if I, your Lord and master, have washed your feet, so ye ought also to wash one another's feet." The same is performed on the female side of the house by two aged sisters. This being ended, all again sit down, and every one appears absorbed in silent prayer and meditation for a few minutes. The officiating ministers then take the bread of the communion, and one of them, after giving thanks, and imploring the divine favour, carries the plate before the others, so as to stand before two of the communicants. He then breaks one of the pieces of the bread into two parts, giving half to one and the other half to the other, saying, "Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me." This formulary is repeated at each time of breaking the bread, until all the communicants have received a portion. In distributing the wine, the ministers, instead of the deacons, carry the goblets. The whole concludes with singing. They are all masters in music, and, what appears to me extremely appropriate, their hymns in German were all composed by members of their own order, and have never been given to the world. Many of them exhibit considerable poetic talent. The same is true of their music, which is perfectly unique; but so soft, solemn, soul-stirring, and melodious, that the listener half forgets its reality, and holds his breath for fear of breaking the enchantment. They have three volumes, of which a small edition has been printed for their own use, and there is not a light or jigging beat in the whole collection. They frequently make additions in manuscript, and take great pleasure in making new books with the pen, of which many have very richly ornamented pages. While listening to their melting melodious strains, one cannot fail to revert in imagination to that new song which was sung before the Lamb, and before the beasts, and the elders, and which no man could learn but those who were redeemed from the earth. Their style of singing, though altogether different from that of modern congregations, is extremely effective, and such, as I believe, few persons of taste and sensibility could listen to, without shedding tears of silent rapture. They have no choir, but all, both young and old, sing, being directed in this exercise by a leader.
There is perhaps no ordinance of the Christian church more highly interesting to a casual observer, and more fraught with hallowed associations to a devout mind, than the rite of baptism, when it is administered in the manner corresponding with the Word of God. This is particularly the case at Snowhill, where everything is in such perfect keeping and character. The candidates for baptism being previously examined and accepted as suitable subjects for that holy ordinance by the pastors, an announcement to that effect is made to the congregation. They are then suitably attired, and all repair, forming a procession, to the baptistery, where a thronging multitude is generally assembled. Here the scene is extremely solemn and affecting, and all nature appears to sympathize in the deep solemnity. Even the sunlight, as it bathes the verdant hillside, the smooth meadow, and the golden orchards in a flood of glory, seems to partake a softer radiance. A hundred snowy clouds appear here and there on the blue heaven above, and it requires no great stretch of the imagination to fancy that behind or upon them the waving wings of seraphs have been furled, and that forms of ineffable beauty are bending there, and watching with interest the dedication of souls to God. A flood of hallowed associations comes rushing into the mind. We think of Jordan, of the multitudes who gathered upon its banks, and who were baptized "confessing their sins." The venerable appearance of the Baptist, that first preacher of the kingdom of God. And then the Great High Priest of our Salvation, who came hither to set an example for his servants in all coming time. But this pleasing revery is broken by the voice of the pastor. A hymn is given out; and then from the midst of the company arises a deep, full, melodious swell of harmony. It is unlike singing; it seems the very soul of heavenly music breathing out an ecstasy of thanksgiving. The music ceases; a low soft echo breathes through the air, so lately living with sweet sounds, and over the waters; again all is silent. The pastor now stretches out his hands, and lifts his eyes to heaven: "Let us pray." Some kneel, others remain standing, but all assume the look and action of devout humility. The prayer ended, the pastor descends into the pool; the candidate, assisted by a brother or sister, descends after him. Reaching the lower step, he takes her, if a sister, by the left arm, and leads her down to a suitable depth, where she kneels in the water. She applies water to her face, and he does the same to the back of her head, waiting a moment for her to recover her thoughts and acquire a frame of mind suitable for the occasion. Then, laying his left hand upon the forepart of her head, and his right hand upon the back between the shoulders, he says, "I baptize thee in the name of the Father," and immerses the candidate, face foremost; then, raising her up to her former position, he gives time for a like recovery of self-possession, and adds, "and the Son," and immerses her in the same manner a second time; then, giving a like time for recovery, he continues, "and the Holy Ghost," and proceeds as before. Then while she is yet kneeling in the water, he lays both hands upon her head, and offers a short invocation for the Spirit of God to seal this obedient handmaid as a child of God. During all this time, the multitude exhibits a deep interest, and maintains a perfect silence; the candidate manifests the greatest composure, and all appear to feel that the Saviour is near.
The German Seventh-day Baptists profess to have no other guide than the inspired Word of God; and to this they profess to exactly conform, omitting nothing enjoined, and adding nothing to the Observances there given. Their simplicity is truly remarkable, and I believe, truly pure. They are non-resistant in sentiment, but they plainly preach the righteousness of the kingdom of God. They are likewise remarkably amiable in their intercourse with each other. There is a similar society in Bedford County, under the pastoral care of Elder King, but I have been unable to make myself acquainted with any incidents connected with its history.