BEISSEL, brsel, Johann Conrad, German mystic: b. Eberbach 1690; d. Ephrata, Pa., 1768. He learned the trade of a baker, also studied music and was a successful violinist. Later he studied theology at Halle, but having been banished in 1720 for his Pietistic opinions he emigrated to Pennsylvania, settling first at Ger mantown and later in Lancaster County. In 1724 he returned to Germantown and adopted the Dunker faith, but his views as to celibacy and his observance of Saturday as the Sabbath were unacceptable to his neighbors, and he therefore established a sect of Seventh Day Dunkers. He attempted a hermit life, but his fellow believers gathered about him and in 1735 he founded the famous Settlement of Ephrata, Pa. (q.v.), and remained at its head till his death. At the settlement he practised many of his socialistic and religious theories. He was the author of the earliest volume of German poetry published in America, (Gottliche Liebes und LobestOne' (1730), and published several collections of hymns, such as 'The Voice of the Lonely and Forsaken Turtle Dove— that is, of the Christian Church; by a Peaceable Pil grim traveling to Tranquil Eternity) (1747); and 'Paradisaical Wonder-play) (1766). In
the latter are found the (Brother Song' of the sect with its 215 stanzas, and the 'Sister Song' with 250. He was known at Ephrata as Fried sam, and on his tomb may be read the inscrip tion: 'Here rests an outgrowth of the love of God, (Friedsam,} a solitary Brother, afterward a leader, ruler, teacher of the Solitary and the Congregation of Christ in and around Ephrata.' For an account of his life consult (Chronicon Ephratense' (Ephrata 1786); Sachse, (German Sectarians of Pennsylvania' (1899-1900).
brit-el-ffi'ke, Arabia, a town in Yemen, 32 miles south-southeast of Hodeidah, 77 northeast of Mocha and about 20 miles from the Red Sea. It is celebrated for its trade in Mocha coffee, which is chiefly grown in the neighborhood, and of which about 12,000,000 pounds are exported annually. Ppp. about 8,000. The word Brit, signifying a house or hut, is prefixed to the name of vanous other small towns and villages in Arabia.