With Beissel's death,  Peter Miller [1710-1796], at age 59, became the second Rosicrucian leader at Ephrata.  Miller was the son of a Reformed Lutheran clergyman in Germany.  The young Miller was a graduate of Heidelberg University, an honor student in theology.  He left Germany for America in 1730 to answer the call for clergy.  But at age 25 he resigned as minister of the Union Congregation of the Lutheran Reformed Church. 

Due to his retreat to solace in a secluded spot on Mill Run for about six months, he became known in the region as “Peter the Hermit”.  In November 1735, he decided to join the Ephrata Cloister.