Michael was certainly an interesting character. I was one of the German sectarians who was associated with the Ephrata Cloisters and is supposed to be buried there although his grave has not been located. He was also known as one of the Hermits on the Cocalico. As a member of the Cloisters he was celibate.Michael was one of the first Germans in America to use the printing press to spread the religious beliefs of the Cloister, although he never published his own religious views. This caused Ben Franklin to mention him in his autobiography. He said of Michael that he is like a man walking down a road in a fog. People in the fields on either side are in the fog. Things right in front of his face are clear. Eventhough he is in as much of a fog as anyone. Other items of interest along with Michael include Conrad Beisell (Michael's mentor) and the Celestial Virgin Sophia One of the fascinating people in early PA Jim in Vermont