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PUBLICATIONS
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL COMMISSION
RECORDS OF THE MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA
EDITED BY
Adelaide L. Fries, m.a.
Archivist of the Moravian Church in America Southern Province
Volume III
RALEIGH Edwards & Broughton Company State Printers 1926
THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL COMMISSION
THOMAS M. PITT MAN, Chairman M. C. S. NOBLE W. N. EVERETT
HERIOT CLARKSON BEN DIXON MAC NEIL
A. R NEWSOME, Secretary, Raleigh
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I Page History, Constitution and Congregations of the Unitas Fratrum or Moravian Church - 977
Paet II
1776. Increasing strain between Continentals and Loyalists.
Organization of Militia Companies. Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. The Moravian position. Supplies fur- nished by Brethren. Halifax Convention. Currency problems. Attack on Charlestown, S. C. Increasing law- lessness. National Independence declared. Expedition against the Cherokees. School-House in English Settle- ment opened 1021
1777. Threatened expulsion of Tories. Muster and the Brethren.
Day of Humiliation and Prayer. Expedition against the Indians. The Test Oath. Distinguished visitors in Salem. Currency depreciation. Beginnings in Kentucky. Taxes. Moravian preaching tours 1127
1778. Loyalists deprived of civil rights. Confiscation Act. Land
Office opened. Moravian land titles threatened. Mo- ravian objections to the Oath of Abjuration and to mili- tary service. Moravian Petition to the Assembly. Cur- rency values uncertain. Trade conditions. Waterworks in Salem. Soldiers enlisted for Continental army. Money and supplies furnished by Brethren. British attack on South Carolina. Wilkes County erected. The Mulberry Fields tracts 1202
1779. Moravian Petition granted by Assembly. Brethren take
Affirmation and pay three-fold tax. British successes in the south. April freeze. Continental soldiers in Salem. Small-pox in Salem. Currency questions. Line between North Carolina and Virginia extended west. Large migration to "the new land." Americans defeated at Savannah. Keturn of Frederic William Marshall—. 1279
Paet III
The Bagge Papers, Nos. X to LXVII 1347
Archive Papers, ISTos. 1 to 11 1402
Paet IV
Liturgies and Funeral Chorals of the Unitas Fratrum. 1435
ILLUSTRATIONS
Salem Store Frontispiece
Facing page
A Page of the Bagge MS 1028
The Hosannah Chorus 1058
Grave of Bachhof in Friedberg God's Acre 1120
Constitution of North Carolina 1140
Lower Mulberry Field Tract _. 1216
Col. Alexander Martin 1248
Part of Salem Store Balance Sheet 1262
Certificate of Affirmation 1290
Map of Wachovia 1342
Upper Mulberry Field Tract 1414
PART I
A short HISTORICAL ACCOUNT about the present constitution of the Protestant UNITY of the BRETHREN" of the Augustan Confession.
Translated from the German Edition printed at Francfort and Leipzig.
[The manuscript book bearing the above title is inscribed on the inner side of the front cover :
Alexr Martin LLD this manuscript was found in his Library after his decease pr
J. A. Martin
March 1808
The book is 5x8 in., bound in board with leather trim, and contains 78 pages. The German edition was written by Bishop Spangenberg, of all Brethren of his day the best qualified by talent and information to present his Church to the public. The English translation was made by Traugott Bagge (see Graff's report to U. E. 0. July 14, 1778, in- cluded in Salem Diary under that date), and it was originally used for the "visitors of distinction" coming to Salem. The copy presented to Col. Alexander Martin is not in Bagge's handwriting, and may well be the one taken by Bagge to the Assembly in Aug. 1778, as mentioned in his report of that mission. The Historical Account is copied in full because of the information it gives as to the international character of the Unitas Fratrum or Moravian Church, its ideals and organization, all of which were of vital import to the Brethren in North Carolina during the Revolution and throw light on the position which they took at that time. Bagge's spelling and punctuation are partly modernized, but his wording is unchanged.]
PREFACE
This is a short Account about the protestant Unity of the Brethren, and its inward and outward Constitution.
Should it prove acceptable to the Public one way or another the thanks for it belong to the Rev. Doct. Walch at Gottingen.
This worthy Divine was pleased to desire the same from one of his Auditory, who is a Member of the Unity of the Brethren and left Gottingen but lately.
The more I have perceived hitherto that many people ground their speaking and writing about the Brethren upon testimonies which are not true neither in part nor in the whole, the weightier it has been to me to find for some time past that many persons have taken pains to ob- tain a true Idea of them which may be depended upon. Not only learned and pious Men in public Offices but also Lords of high and the highest Rank have found themselves moved either in person to take a View of all, or else to procure true Information from the Brethren themselves.
I am therefore highly obliged to Dr. Walch that he would be pleased in the same manner to desire an Account from the Brethren themselves concerning their present Situation.
His Wishes were in the first place to have the Congregations and Missions of the Brethren enumerated ; this has been done and for short- ness' sake David Cranzens History1 of the Brethren has been referred to. He has been desirous of a Description of the inward and outward Constitution of the Brethren's Unity, shewing its present Situation; this has, according to his point of view, been thought equitable, and endeavoured for to execute.
This Account is as plain as possible, yet concise, wherefore many things are omitted which will be found in Cranzens History of the Brethren.
I have only to add the following, viz.
1) This short Account is to be considered no otherwise than the writing of a private Person ; nevertheless its whole Tenor is according to Truth.
2) It shews that the Constitution of the Brethren's Congregations and the Brethren's Unity is not at all suitable for National Churches
1 Alte und Neue Bruder-Historie, oder kurz gefasste Oeschichte der Evangelischen Briider- Unitat in den dltern und insonderheit in dem gegenwartigen Jahrhundert. Von David Cranz. This history contains 868 pages, not counting the Index, and went through three editions, the first bearing date of 1771.
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and Religions.2 To advise that the Brethren's Constitution should be introduced and made general in any National Church or Religion would be acting not only foolishly but also unaccountably. The King- dom of Christ would not only gain nothing by it but certainly lose much.
3) The Brethren have reason to thank our Saviour for the Consti- tution which He has given them and to keep it as a jewel, because by the grace of God it has proved a blessing to them hitherto. But this remains a settled point with them, that this their Constitution is not the Building itself but only the scaffolding. The main Substance con- sists in this that by faith a poor Sinner be made partaker of the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost. Where this exists there is also certainly the fruit of the Spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, and so on.
4) Should the Brethren have the misfortune to deviate with their heart from the Lord, and again make to their object the World, and all that is in the World, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, then there is nothing more certain than that their whole matter will fall to pieces; for the present Constitution of the Unity cannot stand except the Holy Ghost guides the helm, our Saviour remains the Head of the Congregation, and our dear heavenly Father blesses and preserves the whole and its parts.
May He from time to time Preserve us in His Grace, and bless His property in every Land and Place.
August Gottlieb Spangenberg.
Barby
Dec. 12th, 1772.
5jS 5^ jjj SfC
In an account of the present Constitution of the protestant Brethren may reasonably be expected
1) A Specification of the Places where Brethren's Congregations
& Missions exist at present.
2) A Description of their inward Constitution; and
3) Of their outward Constitution.
This Account will therefore be divided in three Sections.
2 Practically all Countries then had their State Churches. Further on in his treatise Spangenberg explains why he does not think the Constitution of the Unity suitable for a State Church or for a large "Religion" — that is Denomination. His insistance on the point suggests the need of that day for emphasizing the fact that the Unity was not seeking rivalry with any orthodox Denomination, and especially not with the State Churches.
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Section I
Specification of the Places, where the Brethren's Congregations and their Missions exist at present.
The Places where Brethren's Congregations exist are of different kinds, and many thereof have no considerable Number of Members. Some of them are quite new erected, where nobody lived before, and have been built with this in view that there should dwell none but Members of the Congregation unmixed with other Men. These Places are in the strictest sense called Congregation-Places, for instance Hermhuth, Gnadenfrey , Fulneck, Bethlehem, Salem, Sarepta, &c.
Further the Brethren have built contiguous to some Towns and Places (which were already built and inhabited) in such a Manner that their Meeting house & the Dwelling houses of the Congregation Members stand together as much as possible in One Place or in One Street, and lie more or less distant from the other Buildings and Inhabitants of the Town. These are also called Congregation-Places, tho' in a limited sense ; for instance, Neusalz, Neuwied, Ockorook, &c.
Again there is other Brethren's Congregations whose Members do not live together but scatter here and there in Towns or in the Country, but keep to One Meeting house and have a Regulation suitable to their Circumstances. These are called Town and Country Congregations; for instance, London, Amsterdam, Philadelphia.
There is even such a difference in the Brethren's Missions. Some Congregations which have been gathered from among the Heathen by the Gospel dwell together in one place ; for instance, at New Hermhuth and Lichtenfels in Greenland, at Languntoutenunc, that is Town of Peace, in North America, also at Sharon on the River Sarameca in Surinam. These may with propriety be called H eathen-C ongregation- Places. Other Congregations, brought to Christ and gathered from among the Heathen by the Ministry of the Brethren, live scattered; for instance, the Negroes in the West India Islands, & the Indians on the River Corentyn, but they come together to the preaching and receiving of the Sacraments in One Church and Meeting house, which the Missionaries have built near their own Dwelling houses. These might be called in the strictest Sense Mission-Settlements.
Prom this Description the Reader may judge himself to which Class each Brethren's Congregation or Mission is to be counted. They shall now be enumerated according to the Countries and Dominions in which they are situated.
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I) In the German Empire, and the Dominions of the Elector of Saxony, is situated:
Eermhuth, in Upper Lusatia, on the high road that leads from Lobau to Zittau, on the Manor of Berthelsdorf, formerly the estate of Count Zinzendorf, now of Baron de Watteville. This place was begun to build in 1722, and the Congregation has in process of time been con- firmed in its Regulations by Privileges from the Elector.3
Nieslcy, also in Upper Lusatia, on the Manor of Trebus, 12 miles from Gorlitz. It was begun to be built in 1742, by exiles from Bohemia. Here is at present the Paedagogium of the protestant Unity of the Brethren.
Klein Welke, also in Upper Lusatia, about 3 miles from Budissin, on the high road to Berlin, was begun to build in 1756, and lies close to an old Village of the same Name. Most of the Members of the Brethren's Congregation there are of the Vandal4 Nation.
At Barby, in the County of the same Name, 24 miles from Magde- burg, a protestant Brethren's Congregation has gathered together ever since 1748, the Government having in the same Year rented the Castle or Manor-House and Bailiwick to Count Henry the 28th Reuss and Associates, also delivered up the Chapel in the Castle to the Brethren's Congregation for their divine Service. Here is the Seminarium Theo- logicum of the protestant Unity of Brethren, in which Students are prepared to be made use of in the Congregations among Christians and Heathen.
Gnadau, on the Land of the Electoral Farm Doben, 6 miles from Barby and 18 Miles from Magdeburg. After the Government had in 1765 rented on hereditary Lease to Count Henry the 25th Reuss the Castle at Barby, with appurtenances and the Farm Doben, to the intent of making an Establishment after the manner of other Congregation- Places of the Brethren, the Beginning thereof was made in 1767, not far from Doben.
II) In the Dominions of the King of Prussia are situated: Gnadenberg, in the Silesian Principality of Jauer, on the Land of the
Estate Gross Krausehe, 3 miles from Bunzlau, was begun to build in 1743, having obtained a Royal Special Concession previous thereunto.
Gnadenfrey, in the Silesian Principality of Schweidnitz, about 9 Miles from Reichenbach, on the Land of Ober Peile, was also begun to
3 Here and in the following paragraphs the Cranz History is referred to by page, but as
that book is not in the hands of readers of this volume the references are omitted for the sake of brevity.
4 The Wends.
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build in 1743. The Brethren's Congregation there is at present the most numerous of the Brethren's Congregations in Silesia.
Neusalz. This place was new built by the Brethren, ever since 1745, near the town of Neusalz on the River Oder, and had in 1744 been laid out very regularly by order of the Government ; was also in a flourishing Condition before the last War in Silesia. But in that War it was plundered and totally laid in ashes, — in 1759. The Loss which the Brethren sustained in their temporal possessions was considerable, but all the Brethren and Sisters, Lying-in- Women, Sick and Children escaped the flames, and after enduring manifold distresses arrived safely in the neighbouring Silesian and Lusatian Congregations. By desire of Government this Brethren's Settlement was begun to rebuild in 1763, and since then the Brethren's Congregation has gathered there again.
These Silesian Congregations have their own Bishop of the Breth- ren's Church, who resides in Silesia.
At Berlin a Bohemian Brethren's Congregation of the Augustan Con- fession has been gathering from the Year 1744, and declared them- selves before a Royal Commission in 1747. The said Congregation has there a public Congregation-and-Meeting House for their divine Serv- ice, according to the Constitution of the Brethren's Congregations.
At Rilcksdorf 3 Miles from Berlin, a Bohemian Brethren's Congre- gation gathered in 1737 and built a Congregation-and-Meeting House of their own. The Brethren's Congregation there underwent also a heavy plundering in the last War, in 17 60, but at the same time experi- enced the gracious preservation of God that no life nor limb was hurt.
At Norden, in East Friesland, there is also a Brethren's Congrega- tion, which has a public Meeting House where their divine Service is kept with undisturbed Liberty. This Congregation was begun during the Government of the last Prince of East Friesland.
Concerning the Royal Prussian Concession for the protestant Unity of the Brethren of the Augustan Confession,5 dated Dec. 25th, 1742, repealed May 7th, 1746, and renewed July 18, 1763, see Cranzens His- tory of the Brethren, pages 378, 381, 729. Ill) In the Ducal Dominions of Saxe-Gotha is situated:
Neudietendorf, 30 Miles from Gotha, and 12 Miles from Erfurt. In 1742 a considerable number of the Lutheran Tropus had gathered there for a Brethren's Congregation. After many Difficulties the Congrega- tion began to prosper more in 1753, and obtained the Duke's Concession
5 Usually called the Confession of Augsburg. The frequent reference to the Augsburg Con- fession shows the earnest desire of the Brethren of that day to be recognized as strictly orthodox, and in no sense sectarian.
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in 1764. Since then the Members and Buildings of the Congregation has increased in number perceptibly.
IY) In the Dominions of the Imperial Count Reuss is situated:
Ebersdorf, in Yoigtland. In this place there was an Ecclesiola6 (small Church) ever since the close of the last Century, which increased from time to time, and after many changes in 1745 proposed an entire Union with the Brethren's Congregations. In consequence whereof a proper Brethren's Congregation was regulated there, the Count granted the Brethren a piece of Land for extending their Buildings and in 1761 a new Concession for the protestant Brethren's Congregation there. V) In the Dominions of the Imperial Count of Neuwied.
At Neuwied a Brethren's Congregation began with a number of French Brethren and Sisters of the Reformed Religion, who emigrated from Herrnhaag. The Count granted them a Concession early in 1751, and renewed the same more completely in 1756. The Brethren under- took to build a Square near the Town, on which stands their Congre- gation-and-Meeting House and other necessary Buildings for their Choirs and families, and since then a pretty numerous Congregation has gathered in this place. A most part of the Congregation Members are Trench and of the Reformed Religion, yet also Germans have moved thither from time to time, — the divine Service is kept in both Lan- guages by turns.
YI) In the United Netherlands.
At Zeyst, in the Bishopric of Utrecht, a beginning was made in 1748 to build a Congregation-place on two Squares between the Manor House and the Yillage. In 1768 the Congregation built a new Congregation- and-Meeting House, and enjoys full Church Liberty under the Govern- ment of the States of Utrecht. The preaching of the Gospel in the Hollandish and German Tongue is much resorted to from other places.
In Amsterdam there has been a Brethren's Congregation ever since the Year 1738, and it has its own Meeting house in which divine Service has been held in blessing & undisturbedly for these many Years past.
At Haarlem there is also a small Brethren's Congregation, which keeps divine Service publicly in their Meeting house.
The protestant Unity of the Brethren has also some Missions in South America in the Province of Surinam? to wit,
At Paramaribo a small House-Congregation, which dwells there for the reception of the Missionaries from Europe and their being for-
6 Pietists, desiring more spiritual warmth than they found in the State Church, had
established a number of groups for mutual encouragement in the religious life. These groups were called Ecclesiolae in Ecclesia — "Little Churches within the Church."
7 Dutch Guiana.
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warded to the places of Mission work among the heathen, has a house of their own, and lives by the labour of their hands, which the Brethren do gladly everywhere.
At Sharon, on the River Sarameca, there is a Congregation gathered from among the heathen of the Arawakish Nation. The beginning thereof was made in 1757, and consisted of some baptised Indians who had been obliged to fly from the rebellious Negroes of Berbice. The same it is with
Hope, on the River Corentyn, on the borders of the Colony of Berbice, where some Missionaries from the Brethren ministered the Gospel unto the Indians that live scattered on their Cassaby Plantations.
At Quanta, not far from the heads of the river Sarameca, the Breth- ren have a Mission among the free Negroes, which began in 1765. This Mission, as may easily be imagined, is one of the most toilsome and troublesome, yet it has already yielded some pleasant fruit, whereas Arabini, a Negro Captain, has believed in the Lord Jesus, been bap- tised, and walks as it beseemeth the Gospels.
VII) In the Dominions of Great Britain there is in Europe, North America, and in the "West India Islands, several Brethren's Congrega- tions and Missions.
At London there is a Brethren's Congregation ever since 1742. Its Chapel is in Nevil's Court, Fetter Lane; another in Chelsea, where they have their own burying Ground. In both Chapels divine Service is performed publicly every Sunday.
At Bedford there is also a Brethren's Congregation, which at one End of the Town has built a Chapel, Congregation-house, also houses for the Single Brethren and for the Single Sisters, of which the begin- ning was made in 1748. The Congregation was regularly settled in 1744, according to the Brethren's Constitution. To this Congregation belong the Brethren's Chapels and Societies at Northampton, Bisely, &c. which are ministered unto by the Brethren with the Gospel.
At Ockbrook, five miles from Darby, there has been a Brethren's Congregation ever since 1750. They have since then built a chapel, a Single Brethren's House, a Single Sisters' House, also some family houses, not far from the Village, on a piece of ground purchased for that end.
Fulnech is a Congregation-place, built by the Brethren and situated by itself near the Town of Pudsey, about six Miles from Leeds in Yorkshire. In 1744 a beginning was made to build, and in the follow- ing Years a Meeting-hall, called
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Gracehall, also Houses for the Single Brethren, the Single Sisters, and the Widows, have been built there. Here are also the Children's Oeconomies, in which are educated the Children of the Labourers8 who by reason of the incumbrances of their office cannot take care of them themselves. The Direction of the Congregation at Fulneck also aids, takes charge of, and cares for the four Brethren's Congregations at
Pudsey, to which the Members of the Congregation and Society about Leeds & Bradford belong;
Wyke, to which the Members of the Congregation about Halifax report ;
Mirfield, to which the Brethren that live about Huthersneld and Wakefield belong; and
Little Gummersal. Yet these four Brethren's Congregations have their own Labourers and Chapels, in which their meetings are kept both on Sundays and in the Week.
At Duck enfield, a Village in Cheshire, about 8 Miles from Man- chester, there is also a Brethren's Congregation, with one new-built Chapel and two Choir Houses, one for the Single Brethren and the other for the Single Sisters.
At Leominster, a Town in Herdfordshire, is also a Brethren's Con- gregation since the year 1759, and has its own Chapel. In the same Year a Congregation of the Brethren gathered at Haverfordwest, in Pembrokeshire in South Wales. In 1755 a select number of the So- ciety at
Bristol was settled into a Brethren's Congregation, which has a new- built Chapel in St. James' Parish. To this Congregation belongs the Congregation at Kingswood, 4 Miles from Bristol ; it has its own Chapel.
At Bath, a Town renowned for its Spas, there is a new-built Breth- ren's Chapel, and a Congregation since the Year 1765.
At Thetherton, in Wiltshire, there is a Brethren's Congregation ever since the Year 1748. And after some of the Congregation Members had moved nearer round the Chapel they called their own Place Lambs- acre. To this belongs also the Brethren's Chapel at Malmsbury.
Besides these Congregations the protestant Unity of the Brethren has Chapels in several Parts of England, where their Ministers preach the Gospel with blessing, for instance at Apperly in Gloucestershire, Frome in Sommersetshire, Plymouth, also at Air and Irvin in Scotland.
In Ireland are the following Brethren's Congregations :
8 An old English term for Ministers, Teachers, and other Church officials.
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At Dublin, the Capital of this Kingdom, begun in 1750, & has one Chapel on each Side of the Liffy that runs through the Town, viz. in Big Butterlane and in Stafford Street.
On the Town land of Ballykennedy, in the County of Antrim, the protestant Brethren began in 1763 to build a new Congregation-Place which was called Gracehill. Besides this Congregation-house and two Choir Houses some dwelling houses have been built here, and are in- habited.
Ballymaquigham, in the County Derry, on the West Side of the well known Lake Logneagh, is also a new-built Congregation-Place, to which belongs a Chapel at Lisnamara, at 2 Miles distance, where there has been a Brethren's Congregation ever since 1759. Ballonderry, on the East Side of the aforementioned Lake Logneagh, is a Brethren's Con- gregation ever since the Year 1755 ; to which also belongs the Brethren's Congregation at Kilwarlin, which has its own Chapel.
At Drumargon, about 4 Miles from Armagh, there is a Brethren's Congregation ever since 1759.
Lastly, a Brethren's Congregation was gathered in 1765 at Coothill, 14 Miles from Armagh.
In America, and first in the Province of Pennsylvania, are the follow- ing Brethren's Congregations:
Bethlehem, the chief Congregation-Place of the Brethren in North America, in Northampton County, 50 Miles from Philadelphia, on a branch of the River Delaware, which has retained the Indian name Lechai or Lechi. At repeated Trials this place has been found to be in 40 Degrees, 37 Minutes, Northern Latitude. In 1741 this place was begun to build, at a time when but few Europeans lived as yet here- abouts. Erom this Brethren's Congregation a great many Mission- aries are gone among the Heathen.
At Nazareth, nine English Miles to the north of Bethlehem, there is built a roomy Meeting-hall called Nazareth-hall, in which the Breth- ren's Congregation which lives round about Nazareth in different places, Gnadenthal and Christian s Spring, has their divine Service on Sundays & festival Days. At Nazareth-hall there is also the Paedagogium of the Unity of the Brethren in America. Last year the building of a new Congregation-Place near the Meeting-hall was begun.
Lititz, a new Brethren's Congregation-Place, in the County of Lan- caster, 70 Miles from Philadelphia. The building thereof was begun in 1757, and there is a roomy Meeting-house, Choir Houses for the Single Brethren and the Single Sisters, also many family Dwelling Houses.
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At Lancaster, the chief Town of the County of that name, there is a Brethren's Congregation ever since 1746, which has a Church, Congre- gation-house, and burying Ground of its own in the Town.
At Yorktown, alias York, on the Cadores, 24 Miles from Lititz, there is a Brethren's Congregation since the Year 1755 ; they have built a Congregation-house of their own.
At Mount joy, formerly called Donnegal, 16 Miles from Lititz, there is also a Brethren's Congregation.
In the Township of Bethel, 12 Miles from Montjoy, near the Blue Mountains, there was a Brethren's Congregation as early as the Year 1755, but it was obliged to fly in the last war from the Cruelty of the Savage Indians. But after the peace they have gathered again about their Congregation-house.
At Hebron, in Lebanon Township, 16 Miles from Lititz, formerly called Quittoppehill, a beginning was made in 1757 for a Congregation- Place, near the Congregation-house there; in like manner at Emmaus, in Salisbury Township, formerly called Maguntshy, 8 Miles from Bethlehem. The Indian War occasioned that the Members of the Congregation who belonged to this place ever since 1742, and lived scattered, have moved together and built near their Congregation- house.
In Heidelberg, in Berks County, 24 Miles from Lititz, there is a Brethren's Congregation ever since 1743.
Schdneck, not far from Nazareth, was built for a Brethren's Congre- gation-Place in 1757; the Congregation Members, who live on their plantations about the Land belonging to Nazareth, resort hither to divine Service.
At Gnadenhutten, on the Kiver Mahoni, a Brethren's Congregation is gathering again. It was formerly a considerable Brethren's Settle- ment, but was destroyed in the Indian War, 1755. In the City of Philadelphia there has been ever since 17 41 one Brethren's Congregation of the English and another of the German Nation. Both have at last united into one Congregation. However, divine Service is as yet per- formed in both languages by turns. They have a Church, Congregation- house, and burying Ground of their own.
In the Province of New Jersey, at Oldmanns Creek, 30 Miles below Philadelphia, there is a Brethren's Congregation since 1765.
At Greenland, 30 Miles from Bethlehem, a new Brethren's Settlement has been laid out of very recent Years.
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In the Province of Newyork, in its Capital New York, there is a Brethren's Congregation ever since 1741, which has built a Church & Congregation-house for their divine Service, & has a Burying Ground in the City.
In Duchess County, 100 Miles from New York, on the borders of New England, there is Sick em, a small Brethren's Congregation since the Year 1758.
In the Province of Rhode Island, at Newport, there is a Brethren's Congregation since the Year 1758, which has a new-built Chapel and Burying Ground in the Town.
In the Province of Maryland, 6 Miles from Predericktown, 1 Mile from the river Manakosy, there is a Brethren's Congregation ever since 1757. To the same belongs a Chapel, 12 Miles distant from it, on Carolls Manor, in which the Brethren preach the Gospel to a number of English people.
In the Province of North Carolina, in Wachovia, there is three Brethren's Congregation-Places :
Salem, the chief place in the midst of the land, the building whereof was begun in 1766;
Bethabara, the first place where the Brethren settled, and began to build in 1753, 6 Miles north of Salem;
Bethany, 9 Miles north of Salem, the building whereof was begun in 1759.
Besides these there is 2 Plans in Wachovia:
Friedland, 5 Miles south-east from Salem, and Friedberg, 8 Miles south-west from Salem, where the Brethren also preach the Gospel.
In the Dominions of Great Britain the protestant Brethren have also established several Missions among the heathen with blessed Success, from which have sprung
An Indian Congregation in North America, which was gathered in 1740 at Chekamelcah, & consisted of Mohicans and Wampanoos. This Congregation having from time to time dwelt in different places it will be necessary to describe their moving about, that nobody may apprehend that there has been different Congregations in such different places. "When the afore-mentioned Indian Congregation was drove away from Chekamekah in 1746 they came for the most part to Bethlehem, where many newly converted Indians of the Delaware Nation joined them. Prom there they moved to the Biver Mahoni in 1748, and built Gnadenhiltten, 25 Miles north from Bethlehem, and in 1754 they built a new place on the Biver Lecha, one Mile from old Gnadenhutten, and
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called it New Gnadenhiitten. And when this place was destroyed by the Savage Indians in 1755 they fled again to Bethlehem. One part of them built a new place in 1757 called Nain, 1 Mile from Bethlehem; another part moved beyond the Blue Bidge and built on a piece of Land which the Brethren had purchased, on "Wechquetank Creek, 20 Miles from Nazareth. But when in 1763 a fresh Indian War broke out some Europeans suspected them, tho' without just cause, that they held with their Savage Countrymen. This involved them in the greatest danger of life, but the Government took them in protection to Philadelphia, first to Provinz Island and at last into the City Barracks. After the peace the Governor and Assembly forwarded them into the Indian Country, high on the River Susquehannah, at the mouth of "Wihilusing Creek. Here they built a place called Friedenshutten. This was the occasion that many more Indians became believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and settled partly at Friedenshutten, and partly at Tschuhsheguamik, 30 Miles higher up the River. But in 1768 the Six Nations sold a large piece of Land to the English, in which Friedenshutten was situated, therefore the Indian Congregation could dwell there no longer. Ac- cordingly they relinquished their fine place, on which they had built 39 good houses and 10 huts, and in June, 1772, they moved away from there, 200 persons and upwards in Number, to cross the River Ohio, and to settle on Muskingum River, between Lake Erie and the Ohio. According to the latest Accounts, they arrived there safely, and have laid out a place called Wilhiktuppek, that is Fair Spring, (in German Schonbrunn) .
Another Indian Brethren's Congregation has gathered in an Indian Town Goschgoshing, about two days' journey above Pittsburg, near to Venango, by the labour of the Missionary David Zeisberger. This Congregation moved in 1771 to the Beaver Creek, which falls into the Ohio a day's journey below Pittsburg, where they built and settled a place called Lang unt out enunk, or Town of Peace.
On the British Island Jamaica, in the West Indies, the Mission of the Brethren began in 1754, and the distance of the Plantations soon brought about different places of Missions, where the Gospel is preached in English to the poor Negro Slaves, and they are embodied in the Christian Church by Holy Baptism. At present there is 6 such places, Carmel, Bogue, Mesopotamia, Elim, Eden and Island.
On the Island Antigoa the Brethren began the Mission among the Negroes in 1756, in the Town St. Johns. There they have a Church for the Negroes, and also preach out of Town on different plantations with blessing.
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On the Island Barbados the Brethren have their Church for the Negroes some miles distant from the Town Bridgetown, and preach besides on several Plantations as in Antigoa. The beginning of their Mission was made in 1767.
Lastly the Brethren have yet in the British Dominions a Missions- Settlement on the Coast of Labrador, in Eskimo Bay, begun in 1771 with a view to carry to the Eskimos the glad tidings of God's becoming Man and His meritorious life and sufferings. The place where they settled for this purpose and built a house is called Nain, and lies in the 57th Degree of Northern Latitude.
VIII) In the Dominions of the king of Denmark. By a Royal Con- cession dated Dec. 10th, 1771, the protestant Brethren of the Augustan Confession have obtained permission for settling a Brethren's Congre- gation-place in the Dutchy of Sleswic, as also the requisite Church and other Liberties for the Brethren's Missions in the Danish Countries and Colonies out of Europe. According to this Concession a new Breth- ren's Congregation-place is now settling on the royal Estate of Tys- truphof, in the Bailliewick of Hadersleben, & is called Christiansfeld.
New Herrnhuth, on the West Indian Island St. Thomas, is the oldest Brethren's Mission among the Heathen. The first Missionaries went there is 1732. The number of Negroes to whom the Brethren there dis- pensed the Word and Sacraments is increased so much, and their dwell- ings so distant from the Negro Church in New Herrnhuth, that the Brethren have built a new Negro Church, and dwellings for the Mis- sionaries, at Niesky, formerly called Crumbay. Thus the baptised Ne- groes and Catechumens divided naturally into 2 Congregations, and each Negro keeps to that which is nighest to him.
Friedensthal, in St. Crux, near the Basin or Town and Harbour, is the Establishment of the Mission where the Brethren built a roomy Negro Church and Dwellings in 1753. But there has been Brethren's Mis- sionaries in this Island 20 Years sooner. The Negro Congregation here became also numerous, and necessity made it to be divided as in St. Thomas. Therefore a new Negro Church, and dwelling for the Mis- sionary, was built in 1771 at the west end of the Island near Christians- town, and was called Friedensberg, by which a new awakening among the Negroes has been occasioned.
The place of the mission of the Brethren in St. John's is called Bethany. The Mission here was at first cared for from St. Thomas, as being but three Miles distant from St. John's. But the Negroes solicited very much to have a Missionary living with them constantly,
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and therefore a Negro Church and Dwelling house was built there in 1753. Since then the number of baptised has increased evidently.
New Herrnhuth, in Greenland, on Baal's River, in 64 Degrees of North Latitude, is the first Brethren's Congregation in Greenland. The Brethren's Mission thither began in 1733.
Lichtenfels, 18 German Miles, or 36 Leagues, south from New Herrn- huth, on the Eisher-Eiorde or Bay, is the second Brethren's Congrega- tion in Greenland, and was begun there is 1758.
Near to Tankenbar, in the East Indies, in the Brethren's Garden, there is a Settlement of the Brethren ever since 1760, from whence the Mission amongst the Heathen in the Nicobar Islands is cared for. This Mission on Nancauveri, one of the Nicobar Islands, was begun in 1768. The Missionaries are waiting there with great patience that our Saviour will open the Ears and Hearts of these Heathen also to receive the Gospel.
IX) In the Imperial Dominions of Russia there is a Brethren's Con- gregation at Sarepta, in the Kingdom of Astracan, laid out in 1765. By an Imperial Mandate in the preceding Year the Unity of the prot- estant Brethren had obtained leave to come into these Dominions and to enjoy perfect Liberty of conscience, religion and church-matters, ac- cording to their peculiar discipline. They chose and settled on a piece of Land 4 Miles below Czarizin, on the Brook Sarpa, which empties into the Volga, and have since then not only built dwelling-houses for families but also a Single Brethren's House, a Single Sisters' House, & in 1772 a Congregation-house and meeting house.
In 1766 the Empress of Russia made a Present to the Brethren of a roomy house at Petersburg, with special leave therein to keep divine Service according to the Custom of the Brethren. Since then public preaching is performed there every Sunday.
X) Lastly it must not be passed over with Silence that there is at present five Brethren in Africa, who reside at Cairo, in Egypt, with a view to serve the Copts with the Gospel, & if the Lord pleases in time to come into Abyssinia.
Section II
Concerning the inward Constitution of the protestant Unity of the Brethren.
2
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§ i
All the aforementioned Congregations and the Members thereto be- longing call themselves The protestant Unity of the Brethren of the Augustan Confession.
In this protestant Unity of the Brethren there are first those Breth- ren who constitute in part the old Brethren's Church, as far as the same is a Religion and even the eldest of the protestant Religions. It is well to be observed only in part, for exclusive of them there is yet many who also belong to the old Brethren's Church and are of the Bohemian Confession. To this Division those members of the protestant Unity of the Brethren are also counted who come out of other religious De- nominations than the protestant (Lutheran and Calvinist) Religions and have joined the Unity of the Brethren.
Secondly, there is in the protestant Unity of the Brethren such mem- bers as have been born and educated in the protestant Lutheran Re- ligion, but have joined the Brethren, without separating from their Religion on that account.
Thirdly, there belongs to the protestant Brethren's Unity those who come out of the protestant Reformed (Calvinist) Religion, and have entered into like union with the said Brethren, without separating from their native Religion.
§ 2
The gracious providence of God has itself given the occasion for this Union, for when many of the Moravian Brethren, who were concerned about their salvation, relinquished their native country, settled in Upper Lusatia, and began to build Herrnhuth, there was also other souls, equally concerned about their salvation, both from the Lutheran and Reformed Religion, associating with them.
After now these, by the grace of God, had fundamentally agreed with each other about the undeniable fundamental truths of the Holy Scriptures, on which the salvation of mankind depends, they were also closely united in love one to the other, and agreed that in the less ma- terial points they would bear with one another, and for the sake of Jesus and His Love bury all disputes which might accrue from or be conducive to difference of opinions.
About this they made their public declaration in a writing before a Notary Public, dated Herrnhuth, August 12th, 1729 : "That they would "not be Schismatics from anybody in other Christian Congregations, "whom the Holy Ghost has called by the Gospel, enlightens by His
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"gifts, and by true faith sanctifies and keeps him, altho' he should have "other ideas of this and the other by-matters, and perhaps take this and "the other piece of Scripture in another sense than they do." At the same time it was laid down as a fundamental principle that there was ab- solute necessity for harmonizing in those points which must be really true with every Man that will be saved, and these points are clearly expressed in the Scriptures.
§ 3
In process of time that part of the old Brethren's Church which keeps to the Augustan Confession received & maintained its ancient Church-rights and own Ordination of the Church-Ministers. The protestant Unity of the Brethren uses them, and the Constitution & Church Discipline of the old Brethren's Church, for the furthering and spreading of the kingdom of Christ, in blessing, especially among the heathen. And with the Consent of an extensive Responsum by the Faculty of Divines at Tubingen, dated April 16th, 1733, the ancient Brethren's Constitution & Discipline was even kept up at Herrnhuth, along with the conformity of the protestant Doctrine.
§ 4
The protestant Unity of the Brethren took at the same time great care that those Members of the Congregation who belonged partly to the protestant Lutheran & partly to the protestant Reformed Religion should not be lost and buried in the ancient Brethren's Church, and that said Church should never become a particular and separate Religion or Sect. Therefore the different Members of the Congregation, not- withstanding their nearest and closest Union in the chief Matter, were however kept separate as to their ways of comprehension and expres- sion,9 (Tropis pedias), and it was firmly settled: "That nobody as- sumes a new Religion by becoming a member of a Brethren's Congre- gation, yea, that a Brother remains Reformed, if he is of the Reformed "Religion, and Lutheran, if he is of the Lutheran Religion."
Upon this bottom it is that such Members of a Brethren's Congrega- tion as belong to either of the aforesaid Religions without the least scruple frequent the preaching of the Gospel and receive the Holy Sacraments in their protestant Churches and from their protestant
9 This adroit plan for making the members of the three Denominations feel at home in the Unity of Brethren worked admirably, and laid the foundation for future harmony. Its influence appears in the old Catalogs of the Congregations in Wachovia, where one column always stated the Trope to which the member belonged. The connection re- tained by members with their ancestral Denominations was only theoretical, for they became full Communicant members of the Unity, giving their time and effort to the Church of their adoption.
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Ministers whenever they have their abode out of a Brethren's Congre- gation, which was also the resolution of the Divines of the Brethren and the Augustan and Swiss Confessions in Consensu Sendomiriensi, 1570.
Thus the protestant Brethren's Unity of the Augustan Confession consists at present of these different Divisions, which are called in the protestant Brethren's Unity Tropi pcedias.
§ 5
But to keep these separate in the proper manner, according to the fundamentals before mentioned, and that all Schisms which might want to work against it might be occasionally prevented, there was certain Presidents and Administrators of each of these two Divisions (Prae- sides & Administratores Troporum) nominated and appointed in the Synods of the protestant Unity of the Brethren.
As long as the late Ordinary, Count Zinzendorf, lived, he himself cared for the Administration of the Lutheran Tropus. After his death two Brethren were nominated at the Synod held at Marienborn, 1764, for the administration of the Lutheran & Reformed Tropes, & in 1769 the Synod confirmed them for it anew, and they continue therein hitherto. Their chief calling is that each of them, with the assistance of some Helpers, do keep up a friendly Connection with the Witnesses of Jesus in his own Religion, and take notice of how the Souls which here and there are gathered by the Gospel to Jesus Christ are cared for. For by occasion of the many Journeys which the Brethren have made in all parts for spreading the Gospel among the Heathen, and at other Opportunities, the Brethren are become acquainted with many Ministers of the Gospel and other persons of a sincere mind who have at heart the truth in Jesus Christ. This has occasioned that the Brethren have been invited by this and the other to come to visit and to converse with the awakened Souls here and there, which has been done occasionally for a longer or a shorter time. The Brethren's concern, & their endeavours in consequence thereof, is in this respect to the following purpose, vizt. in private conversation to direct the Souls who are concerned about their salvation & make acquaintance with them to our dear Saviour, to cheer them up to believe in Jesus, and to encourage them by word and example to follow Jesus Christ. At the same time they endeavour to preserve the Souls from Separatism, and to endear to and maintain with them the fruition of the word of God and the Holy Sacraments in the public Church of their place, that thus they may from their
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whole heart approve themselves as people faithful to their Keligion10 and who may shine as lights in their places. And this is chiefly the Duty of the Administrators of the Tropes to inspect this service of the Brethren, that it may continue as hitherto in blessing and good order.
§ 6
The honorary Presidency of the Lutheran Tropus is still vested in the same eminent Saxon Divine who in 1751 accepted thereof with the Approbation of the Elector.
Thomas Wilson, Bishop of Sodor & Man, had the Presidency of the Reformed Tropus offered to him by the Synod of 1749, and accepted thereof. But he being entered into his rest another Reformed Divine has been pitched upon for this end.
§ ?
In the Congregations there is hardly any difference perceptible in the Members of the protestant Brethren's Unity belonging to these divers Tropis pcedias, for their hearts live in the chief matter of Jesus Christ and His whole merit, therefore the mouth speaketh out of the abundance thereof. Yet those who have sufficient knowledge of the matter may readily discover in their natural and unbiased conversa- tion with the Brethren to which Tropus this and the other belongs.
For if the Church-Discipline, the Enemies of the Church, the decay of the Church, & other like matters, be the Topic one cannot well miss to know a Brother by his ideas & expressions that he originates from the Moravian or Bohemian Brethren, tho' nevertheless Christ the Crucified and His sweet Gospel are his chief matter.
Whosoever was brought up in the protestant Lutheran Church, and has received its Doctrine, not in the head only but also has experienced in the heart what the late Doctor Luther has professed concerning faith, in such a manly and confident manner, will surely discover it by his language.
In a Reformed Brother a considerate and careful way of expression will always be observed, if he has rightly comprehended & been zealous in the principles of his Religion before he came to the Brethren.
In this statement is found the purpose of the large amount of pastoral service given by the earlier Moravians to persons outside the Unity, and explains why the Unity was not more largely increased in numbers thereby.
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§ s
There is also this variety in the Congregations that some of them have the word and Sacrament administered unto them by Ministers who have their ordination from Bishops of the Brethren's Church, in others are Ministers who have been ordained either in the protestant Lutheran or in the protestant Reformed Church.11 For instance, in the Brethren's Congregation at JSTeuwied there is a Minister of the Reformed Religion's ordination; at Herrnhuth, Neudietendorf, Barby, Gnadau, Ministers who were ordained in the Lutheran Church; at Gnadenfrey, Gnadenberg, &c. there is Ministers who have their ordi- nation from Bishops of the Brethren's Church.
At the same time it is remarkable that no Brother of the old Episco- pal Brethren's Church, if he should be in a Congregation which is min- istered unto by a Minister that has the Lutheran or Reformed ordi- nation, makes any scruple of having his Children baptised by him, to receive the Holy Communion from him, and so on.
In the same manner any Brother of the Lutheran or Reformed Tro- pus, when he is in a Congregation where the Minister has the ordina- tion from a Bishop, makes use of his Ministry without any scruple.
§ 9
As in this manner the fellowship with regard to divine worship is kept unhurt among the Brethren of different Tropes the conclusion is easily drawn that they acquiesce in the orders & regulations which are peculiar to each Congregation. When a Brother of the Lutheran or Reformed Tropus has his abode in a Congregation which properly belongs to the Episcopal Brethren's Church then he assents to the Or- ders, regulations & Ceremonies which are customary there. If a Brother of the Episcopal Church comes to a Congregation where the Lutheran Tropus is used he takes no Umbrage at the Orders, Ceremonies & Regu- lations of that Congregation, but looks upon himself in Duty bound to observe them as long as he is in that Congregation-place.
§ 10
Lastly, it is to be remarked, while treating of this matter, that it is not customary with the Brethren to dispute one with the other about this & the other points, on account of which people of different Religions so
11 Ordination in the Lutheran or Reformed Church was accepted in the Unity, without re-ordination, as of the rank of Deacon. If a Minister was raised to the rank of Presbyter or Bishop it was by ordination at the hands of Bishops of the Unity of Brethren,
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easily fall out with each other. A man may converse with a Brother for a considerable time, & be very confident with him, but will not hear him even so much as mention those things which in the Religions are contended about without end. But this is not to be ascribed to any pro- hibition among the Brethren, but to the Conviction which the Brethren have that it is vain jangling to be always warming up anew those ques- tions which only breed contention. The Brethren look upon it as a Grace from God that in keeping to the Chief point, the Salvation which is in Jesus Christ, they abstain from all scholastic disputings and strife of words.
§ n
The Holy Scripture of the Old and JSTew Testament is and remains the only line and rule of the doctrine & life of the protestant Unity of the Brethren. They believe that the Congregation of the first Century and that of the Eighteenth stand upon one and the same foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, and that the latter can and ought to have no other rule than the former. They therefore, with all their Tropes, and in all Countries, profess the Doctrine of the unaltered Augustan Confession, as in the Year 1530 it was delivered in the German tongue to the Emperor Charles the Eifth, because, according to their frequent & categorical declaration, it agrees with the Holy Scriptures. Thus the protestant Unity of the Brethren has therefore accepted this Con- fession because they consider it as a pure Confession of Faith which agrees with the Holy Scriptures.
At the Synod of the Unity of the Brethren which was kept at Marien- born in 17G4, the doctrinal Articles of the Augustan Confession were again read publicly, the whole Assembly heard it with full applause, yea with an emotion of that Spirit which animated the ancient Con- fessors, and confirmed the profession thereof with their whole heart.
Also the Brethren will not have themselves considered otherwise, or received in any Country whatever, than as Members of the Augustan Confession, having even in Russia (not to mention Holland & England) professed no other Symbol than the Augustan Confession.
Yea, in their Synods they have agreed together that in the Brethren's Congregations no Doctrine shall be taught that is contrary to the Au- gustan Confession. Should nevertheless anybody do it, such an one cannot keep or remain in the office of a Teacher in the protestant Breth- ren's Unity.
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§ 12
No other writings, of what name or author soever, are accepted by the Brethren as symbolical. The other writings, which have been ac- cepted by one great part of the Protestants, the Brethren don't under- value, & believe they were intended more to explain and confirm the Gospel-truths contained in the Augustan Confession, yet they scruple to receive them as symbolical.
The same Opinion they have of the writings of the late Ordinary12 (the late Count Zinzendorf). They would look upon themselves as being very ungrateful if they did not own what God has done on the Brethren's people thro' the Ministry of the late Ordinary of the Unity. When he delivered a testimony of Jesus Christ, of His deep humilia- tion, of His bitter Sufferings, of His heart full of love, of the blood of Atonement, & such fundamental Truths, then he was in his Element. Therefore the Brethren count his writings precious, yet don't esteem them anyways as symbolical. With regard to these writings there is still to remark that the late Ordinary himself believed that he ought to revise all his writings before he could be satisfied with them, but was hindered from doing it by a number of other business and his being called home. Concerning his private opinions expressed therein he has entreated all the Brethren 20 Years ago, and that in the Synod, that nobody by any means should undertake to maintain or defend them. Therefore the Brethren themselves would act against his mind if they should do it.
§ 13
With regard to the teachings of the word of God, the Synod held at Bern in 1531, and its first eighteen Chapters, is highly esteemed among the Brethren as an Instruction for the Ministers of the Gospel, because it illustrates admirably the words of Paul: "I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified."
Our young Students are instructed in dogmatic Divinity13 with great diligence. But they are at the same time cautioned not to dwell upon such points about which the Holy Scripture gives no clear determina- tion, and which are only problematical, for this occasions mostly nothing but endless disputings, from which little profit may be expected.
On the other hand the Divinity of the Catechism14 (or Catechetical Divinity) is cultivated incessantly in all Congregations, with endeavor
12 Ordinarius.
13 Theology.
14 Catechetical instruction in the doctrines set forth in the Bible.
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that the same may not only be understood by the head but also laid hold of and experienced in the heart.
With regard to Ethics, the Brethren are not only for teaching what ought to be done, and what ought to be left alone, but also for deducing everything from the right foundation, and whereas the Dogmata (Ten- ets) contain the right foundation of what we ought to do or to let alone, therefore the Brethren like the best always to combine the dog- matical & the moral Divinity.15 They believe that our Lord Jesus Christ and His dear Disciples have done the same, yea they are afraid that it could happen too easily that the teaching of morality would be- come insipid if our Lord Jesus Christ with all His treasures of salvation, which He so dearly purchased for us, yea with His blood and wounds, is not continually mixed in everything, and the inward and outward walk of all Children of God is drawn from this source.
§ 14
The Brethren believe from their hearts what Paul says: "Let every Soul be subject unto the higher powers." Therefore in all cases which belong to the Right of Civil Government in Church-matters they do not think themselves entitled to anything which is not consistent with the general Constitution of the Religion of the Country, or which is not allowed them expressly by the Government of the Country.
Therefore the Brethren's Congregations look on themselves as in duty bound at all times, when it shall be required, to give account to the Government of the Country where they dwell about their inward and outward Constitution.
And for this reason it is a fundamental principle of the Direction of the Unity of the Brethren not to settle any Brethren's Congregations in any Country except the Brethren's Doctrine and Constitution has been previously examined by the Government of the Country.
The Consequence thereof has been that the several Governments of Countries, after such previous examination, have granted to the Congre- gations such liberties and rights as are materially necessary for the Brethren's Constitution. And these Privileges of Government estab- lish those Church-Rights (principia juris ecclesiastici) which are the rule of the Brethren's Congregations according to which the Brethren's Congregations may regulate their Church-order and discipline, Liturgy & Ceremonies, as they shall think fit. They appoint themselves their Teachers and Preachers, have their own Congregation-houses and meet-
That is, morals based on religion.
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ing-houses & burying grounds, and are not subject to the Inspection & Jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical Courts, but with their whole Constitu- tion they stand immediately under the Cognizance of Government itself.
§ 15
The Brethren hold that the outward Church, Government in the Protestant Religions and all the rights thereto belonging (principia juris ecclesiastici) is so suitable to the present Circumstances of the Constitutions of these Religions that praises belong to God for it. But they believe that this Government does not suit the Brethren's Congregations because they never have been nor will be calculated for a separate Constitution of a Religion.16 For the Brethren's sole point in view is to be a true living Congregation of Jesus Christ, for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to build up themselves mutually unto a house of God.
For a Brethren's-Congregation-Constitution, therefore, the Doctrine of Jesus and His Apostles, and the Congregation Order & Practice of the latter, is the only rule whereby it is to go on. And because the Apostolic-Congregation-Constitution is grounded on those divine rights which Christ acquired, and He Himself has ordained and granted to His Congregation, therefore the protestant Unity of the Brethren hold such Apostolic-Congregation-Constitution to be es- sentially necessary, and endeavour to keep it up unalterably, and to come up to the same more and more.
Next to the Doctrine of the Sufferings of God this is the chief point in view in the whole Brethren's Unity with its Tropes and all the Congregations thereto belonging; and experience teaches that such Congregation-Constitution can very well subsist in the common Constitution of other Religions and Churches, to the honour of Jesus and general utility.
Thus all the parts which according to the divine Rights denote the Character & Constitution of the Church of Christ in general be- long also to the peculiar Character & to the Essence of the Con- stitution of the Brethren's Congregations. All its inward and out- ward regulations are solely intended for the attaining this end & maintaining this Character.
Therein is a thorough uniformity in all Brethren's Constitu- tions, notwithstanding the divers Tropes and different outward con-
16 In spite of the plans of the Brethren of 1722-1772 the Unity did become a separate Denomination, though not as large as others started along different lines of easier growth.
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stitutional parts, which have their reference to the diversity of the Constitution of the Keligion of the Country, and the Concessions granted by Government. And tho' these Brethren's Congregations hereby distinguish themselves from the common Constitutions of Re- ligions and Churches among the Protestants, yet they also thereby preserve themselves in universality & fellowship of faith in regard to the fundamental truths of the Gospel-Doctrine with the two prot- estant Religions & their Constitutions, for their service and for the furthering of the kingdom of Christ in general.
§ 16
The Rights of an Episcopal Church, which the Brethren's Congre- gations have received from the Ancient Brethren's Church, are justly esteemed by them as a great grace and benefit from the provi- dence of God. They are also certainly blessed means whereby all the Brethren's Congregations with their Constitutions have main- tained themselves in the protestant Religions. Yet in the Breth- ren's Church these Rights are never made further use of than as far as they can prove general means of promotion for the wants of the kingdom of Christ, and as far as they for outward order's sake are necessary in protestant Countries with regard to the established Con- stitutions of Religions and Churches.
Therefore these Rights of an Episcopal Church are considered by the Unity of the Brethren as outward Church Rights, and the Or- dination of the Church Ministers depending thereon as a right del- egated to them by the Church itself for exercising the functions of the Church.
Thus the Bishops of the Brethren's Church, and the Presbyters & Deacons ordained by them, stand in the same manner as other Servants of the Congregation under that College of Elders appointed by the Synod, to whom the direction and counseling of the whole Brethren's Unity is entrusted. Also they cannot exercise the right of Ordination any otherwise than according to the Sense of the Di- rection of the Unity. In the Brethren's Congregations of the Lu- theran and Reformed Tropes it is the same Case with the Ministers who have been ordained in the Lutheran and Reformed Religion. They also in the exercise of their office are subject to the Direction of the Congregation to whom they minister and to the Direction of the whole Brethren's Unity.
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Yea, the Ministers & Preachers, and all other Servants in the Brethren's Congregations in general, are only allowed the exercise of their office as long as it shall be performed with the power of the Spirit and that grace which is required for it, & with approving themselves and being approved of in the Congregations..
Thus the divers Ordinations are in equal Esteem and use in the Brethren's Unity, whether obtained from the Episcopal Church of the Ancient Brethren or from the protestant Lutheran or from the protestant Reformed Church.
§ 17
In all Cases where the protestant Church Right contains Laws which have an influence in the general Policy of the Country, and which do not clash with the inward Congregation Constitution, — for instance the publishing" of the Banns of persons promised in holy Matrimony, that no persons shall marry one another who are related to each other in a prohibited Degree, also that the Act of their Mar- riage shall be done lawfully, and so on, — in all such Cases the Breth- ren's Congregations altogether act according to the Laws of the Country.
§ 18
The Ancient Unity of the Brethren has appointed certain of its Members, under the Name of Senior es civiles, to inspect the careful observation of the Laws of the Country, and of the outward Decorum & Order fitting a Congregation of Christ, also upon emergency to solicit & plead that the privileges granted by Government to the Con- gregations may not be infringed or diminished. They were blest for this office with the imposition of hands. This office continues still in the protestant Brethren's Unity in blessing.
Section III
Concerning the outward Constitution of the 'protestant Unity of the Brethren.
§ 1
Altho' each Congregation-place has its own separate Regulations and Direction, and no one Congregation is dependent on another, never- theless all the Congregations are united to one another in the near- est manner as far as they are Parts of the whole, and all together constitute the protestant Unity of the Brethren. This Union is an
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essential part of the Brethren's Constitution, & without it neither the whole nor the parts could subsist to fulfill their Calling from the Lord. To promote this salutary & necessary keeping together Synods are held from time to time.
For a Synod there assemble the following persons, that is as many of them as can be present according to Circumstances.
a) The Brethren who ever since the last Synod had the Inspec- tion & Counseling of the Unity in general intrusted to them, by virtue of which Trust they call the Synod together, and open it, and then resign their office to the Synod, for then the Direction of the Unity rests in the Synod that is met, and the Synod also chooses their Pres- ident or Presidents.
b) The Servants of the Church and the Congregations, who have been called to it, or sent there by their Congregations.
c) Other Deputies are also sent from the Congregations to the Synod, who have been chosen in fellowshiply Consultation from among the Members of the Congregation, and appear at the Synod in behalf of their Congregation.
All these Members of the Synod are at liberty to deliver their opinions by word of mouth or in writing at all Consultations which occur, & also to vote at the Appointment of Offices and in other such like Cases. But these Votes are always gathered with caution, & it remains entirely unknown from whom this or the other vote comes.
There is also some Eldresses present at the Synod, especially with this view that the necessary intelligence may be had from them at the Consultations which relate to the Choirs of the Sisters. How- ever, nobody votes but the Brethren.
§ 2
At each general Synod of the protestant Unity of the Brethren the inward and outward Situation of the Unity, the Concerns of the Congregations & Missions, and all that relates thereto, is taken in- to mature Deliberation. Whenever any Errors in Doctrine, or bad Custom in practice, have crept in endeavours are made not only to redress but also in future to prevent them by salutary measures.
For which End a new Covenant is made at every Synod to remain by the simplicity and purity of the Gospel, yea, to become more simple & pure in the holding forth of the sound Doctrine, and more faithful in the practicing thereof.
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§ 3
The Holy Scripture (which as mentioned before the Brethren hold for their only rule of faith & life) is also in the Synod of the Brethren the deciding head-principle.
But should any Consultation occur wherein the Holy Scripture gives no special Direction, for instance Appointments for Offices, the beginning of new Missions, and the like, then the Brethren do not trust therein to act according to their insight only, but they have agreed unanimously, in all Concerns of importance, the Conse- quences whereof they cannot foresee, to lay the matter before the Lord and to call upon Him to make His Will known to them by the Lot.
And as soon as anything is confirmed by the Lot they receive it in child-like Confidence as out of the hand of the Lord, and endeavour to execute it faithfully.
Yet it is to be remarked, 1) That a sufficient and mature Con- sideration of all Circumstances always precedes the Lot; 2) That the Lot is never used to compel anybody against his Conviction and Will, for instance to a journey, to accept an Office, or other Offers.
This shows sufficiently that the use of the Lot in the Unity of the Brethren is grounded partly on a Conviction of the human in- sufficiency amidst the best intentions, partly on a full Confidence in the gracious Condescension of Our Lord Jesus Christ; and in making use thereof the chief aim of the Brethren's wishes is that not their but His Will be done.
The Brethren have been strengthened in this Confidence by an ex- perience of almost 50 Years, when in innumerable Cases our Saviour has confessed Himself thereto in a quite extraordinary manner.
§ 4
The chief consultations and Eesolutions of the Synod are before the close thereof again read distinctly to the whole Synod, and when they have been agreed to unanimously they are communicated to the Congregations.
The Synod also appoints the Direction of the Unity, which is a Council of the Unity chosen by all the Synodal Members, and con- firmed by the Lord; it consists of a greater or smaller number of Elders, and therefore bears the name of the Unity s Elders Conference. This Conference endeavours to the best of their knowledge & Con-
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science to care for the keeping together of all the Congregations, the proper Appointment for Offices, the faithful providing of the Mis- sions, the diligent Ministry to the Children's Oeconomies and Schools, the Inspection of books to be put in print, and whatever else belongs to the inward and outward wellbeing of the Unity. This Conference, also, is above all else very intent upon that in all Congregations the Doctrine be expounded conformable to the Holy Scriptures & the Augustan Confession, and that the walk and conversation of the Mem- bers of the Congregations be as becometh the Gospel.
But this Direction is not settled upon certain persons for life, it is chosen anew at every Synod, when according to circumstances this or the other form thereof may be altered.
§ 5
It is an object of care in all Congregations that the Children be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, for which reason the parents are not only faithfully reminded of this duty which God Himself has laid upon them, but also proper Opportunity is given thereto when it is necessary.
There is separate Schools kept for the Children, both boys and girls, under the inspection of the Ministers & Elders of the place, in which by Teachers of their own sex they are instructed in the Ele- ments of human knowledge, in the same manner as in other well regulated Schools.
But whereas it is one chief Aim of the Brethren's Unity that the Children should already in their tender years receive a right im- pression of the depravity of human nature and the Salvation that is in Christ Jesus, therefore not only the Children exclusive of their Schools, but also the Boys and Girls who are put to some employ- ment, are by the Minister of the place instructed and catechised about the fundamental truths of the Gospel, which are laid before them in such a manner that they are at the same time shewn how they may attain to the enjoyment of that grace and store of Salvation which is procured by the bloody Atonement of Jesus.
§ 6
Besides these Schools and instructions of youth, which are common in all Congregations, there is also in the Brethren's Unity separate Oeconomies of Education in which the Children of those Servants of the Lord who preach the Gospel to the heathen, or however on ac-
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count of their calling have no constant place of abode & therefore cannot take proper care of the education of their Children, are not only outwardly furnished with all necessaries but also are nursed with the greatest care & educated with parental faithfulness by Brethren & Sisters appointed for that purpose; which also is done in Congre- gation-places to Orphans.
For the Boys intended for Students there is a Paedagogium erected, where they are instructed in the rudiments of learning & other use- ful Sciences, and are kept under careful inspection at the same time. From this Paedagogium they are transplanted to the Seminary of the Unity, the chief Aim of which is that such young people who devote themselves entirely to the service of God be made fully acquainted with the oriental languages, acquire the needful knowledge of his- tory, philosophy, mathematics and Divinity. At the same time they are always reminded of for what purpose they are come to the Semi- nary, namely, that they themselves may be thoroughly grounded in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and whether they are to be used for in- structing of Children, for Messengers of the Gospel to the heathen, or for Teachers and Preachers in the Congregations, that they then may be able to declare with gladness what God hath done for their Souls.
§ 7
The full-grown unmarried Men & Boys in the Congregation-places live together in a separate house, which is called the Choir-house of the Single Brethren.
In like manner the unmarried Women and larger Girls live together in a Single Sisters' Choir-house. In larger Congregations there is also such Widowers' and Widows' Houses. Here each Choir and each Member thereof follows his calling, under the inspection of one or more Elders of his or her own Sex, works with quietness, & endeav- ours to eat his own bread.
As these Choirs are frequently numerous, care is also taken that in each room, where sometimes 6, 8, or more persons live, there be proper inspection, to prevent all manner of disturbance of a happy unanimity & good order.
Each Choir has, besides the public Congregation meetings, its special meetings for edification, wherein is held forth what belongs to a godly life & walk, yea it is customary for each Choir to begin & to conclude the Day with appearing fellowshiply before the Lord to im- plore His blessing.
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The outward regulations with, regard to eating and sleeping are suitable to such a house, and therefore f ellowshiply ; however, the difference of people's education, rank & age are here also considered, and the weak and sickly have especially all possible convenience afforded to them.
The Brethren & Sisters who work and serve in the families enjoy the care of their Souls from the Elders of their Choirs, & frequent the meetings of the Choir to which they belong, but they do not al- ways live or sleep in the Choir-house, this is done or not done accord- ing to the domestic circumstances of each family.
These Choir-houses, and their inward and outward regulation, are subject to those Elders to whom the Direction of the whole Congre- gation is entrusted.
§ 8
When Persons are married, either according to the wishes of their Parents or their own, or according to the advice of the Elders when their calling and other Circumstances seem to require it, it is always done with mature Consideration, with full liberty of the persons whom it concerns, and never without the Consent of the parents.
After being promised the new pair is published, according to the Constitution of the Country, and afterwards given together in holy Matrimony by the Minister of the place, in the presence of the whole Congregation. In Holland & England the marriage is solemnized according to the Constitutions of those Countries.
After the marriage the new-married pair is recommended to the faithful nursing & advice of the Elders of the married Choir, and they are instructed with special care to begin their married State in the presence of God, as a representation of Christ & His Church, & to carry it on in the name of Jesus.
§ 9
The ecclesiastical Ministry continues in the protestant Brethren's Unity in the order customary with the Ancient Brethren, & consists of Bishops (Episcopi & Coepiscopi) , Civil Seniors & Conseniors, Presbyters & Deacons, which Church offices & Degrees Amos Com- enius in his Days has already described, and illustrated their Duty.
These Offices are subordinate to each other according to the nature of things, & their Activity depends partly upon the Direction of that Congregation where they serve, partly upon the Direction of the Unity.
3
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§ 10
Each Congregation is guided by a College of Elders,17 in whom is chiefly looked for that they may be persons replete with the Spirit of wisdom & counsel, have a good character in the Congregation, and by reason of use have their Senses exercised.
This College of Elders is employed in watching over the whole Congregation, the doctrine, the conduct of the Members, the course of the Choirs, & over each person, and every where to make & put into execution the most salutory proposals, and withall to prevent hurt and danger.
To obtain this Aim the better there is some Brethren appointed, who are called the College of Overseers.18 Their duty is to have a watchful Eye upon the families & the way of people getting their livelihood in the Congregation, to arbitrate in a brotherly way any differences arising between Members of the Congregation, & to en- deavour with the utmost faithfulness that all things be done honestly & in order, not only before the Lord but also before Men.
§ 11
The Office of Teacher in a Congregation is always committed to a Man that is ordained and thoroughly versed in the Holy Scriptures, and he is called Preacher. And although in the Unity of the Brethren also such Brethren are made Teachers who have not studied Divinity in Universities as usual, yet for common no others receive such ap- pointments as those who understand the Bible in the oriental lan- guages and have a knowledge of Divinity. Even the unlearned Teachers appointed among the Brethren are so grounded in the word of God that their Discourses bear witness thereof.
And tho' in the Brethren's Congregations nobody can nor may teach publicly except he be first sufficiently tried, orderly called, presented to & received by the Congregation, and introduced in his calling in an orderly manner, yet all Members of the Congregation can and ought to admonish, warn and encourage one another, & to incite each other to the faithful following of Christ according to the command of our dear Saviour & His Apostles.
17 Aeltesten Conferenz.
18 Aufseher Collegium.
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§ 12
The meetings for divine Worship in the Brethren's Congregation are intended for the daily & most necessary nourishment of the in- ward Man, through the Gospel & its nearer application to the heart. They are partly general doctrinal meetings, for everybody, even Strangers; partly separate meetings of the Communicants or the Choirs, to wit, the Married People, the Single Brethren, the "Widow- ers, the Single Sisters, the Widows, the Children.
Mostly in all Congregations there is in the forenoon a meeting for the Children, when a Teacher in the Congregation delivers a short admonition in a hearty & encouraging manner, suitable for Children, upon a place of Scripture. Full-grown Brethren & Sisters, whose time and business allow it, attend the same also. These are called Children s Meetings.
Towards evening, commonly in the dusk when the handicraft & day labourers have finished work, there is a general meeting for all the Members of the Congregation, when a Teacher delivers a dis- course upon some portion of Scripture.
About nine in the evening, that is shortly before going to rest, there is one more and general meeting, in which several verses are sung, most commonly concerning the matter of those portions of Scripture which gave rise to the edification of that day and to the illustration thereof.
§ 13
These portions of Scripture have ever since the year 1731 been printed together every year in a book, with Antiphones to them for illustration. They are called Daily Words & Doctrinal Texts of the Congregations, and contain admonitions, promises, warnings & com- forts out of the Old and New Testament.
They are always collected anew for the next year, & made ready for the press in due time that as far as possible they may be used at the beginning of each year in all Congregations, Colonies & Missions. Experience has shown that they are blessed means to edify the Con- gregations everywhere with one and the same food from the word of God, & to keep them fully in One Mind.
§ 14
One or some of these Meetings are set apart for the reading of the Bible publicly, before the whole gathering of the Congregation,
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which has proved a great blessing. From Christmas until Easter the Acts of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as drawn together out of the four Gospels, is commonly read publicly several times in a week, & finished within that time. From Whitsunday the Acts of the Apostles, & in the other times of the year the Epistles of the Apostles, also the Psalms & Prophets, are absolved. The Epistles of the Apos- tles are read in that order of time in which they were wrote, for thereby many things may be easier understood.
In a Meeting one entire matter of history is read together, & not short pieces or chapters only. If a verse of a hymn occurs to the Reader during the reading then he & the Congregation sings it to stir up their Devotion. And in case he should be particularly moved by a matter which he is reading he is at liberty to speak upon it, or to add a few words for explaining the expressions & clearing up the sense thereof, provided all be done with Spirit & Grace.
§ 15
Sunday is in the Brethren's Congregations entirely devoted for edification. The beginning is commonly made in the forenoon at 8 o'clock, with the Litany of the Congregation, which the Teacher reads & the whole Congregation accompanies with short prayers aloud here and there. When, for instance, the Teacher prays: Lord God our Father who art in Heaven! the whole Congregation adds with one accord: Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, and prays the whole Lord's prayer. When the Teacher reads: From indifferency towards thy merits and Death, the whole Congregation adds: Pre- serve us, our dear Lord and God! In this Litany the Sovereign & Chief Magistrate of the Land where each Congregation is situated is always prayed for by name, also the Lord of the Manor & the inferior Magistrates are made mention of. This meeting for the Litany is one of the most blessed meetings of the Congregation, & without very urgent necessity nobody stays away from it.
About ten in the forenoon on Sundays there is preaching, which is held by the ordinary Teacher in the public Church, where the Con- gregation has one, otherwise in the Congregation-hall in the same manner as other meetings. He has liberty to choose himself a Text for the Topic of his preaching. But in the Countries of the protestant Lutheran Religion the usual Gospel & Epistle of the Sunday is preached upon in most of the Congregations. The preaching is begun
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with a hymn, or some verses of a hymn, & concluded with the Lord's Prayer, the Church-Blessing, and singing.
In the afternoon at 2, or in some places in the forenoon between the time for the Litany & the preaching, there is a Children's Meeting, in which the Doctrinal Text is spoke upon. Towards 3 o'clock there is a Meeting for the Married People, when a homily is kept for them, wherein the blessings which the meritorious life and Sufferings of Jesus acquired for them, for carrying on a happy matrimonial State according to the heart of Jesus, are recommended to them.
Such Homilies are kept in the other Days of the week to the Widowers, Widows, Single Brethren, Single Sisters, to each division separately, and they are entreated to take to heart how they are rightly to use and to enjoy in their calling and state the merits of Jesus, for the Sanctification of Soul and body.
Towards 5 o'clock there is a liturgical meeting of the Communi- cants, when a solemn hymn to the Father, Son & Holy Ghost is sung in fellowship. These hymns contain not only the Congregation's understanding of the Gospel but also its feelings arising from the benefits of grace, which God has revealed and gives her to enjoy in Christ. Wherefore also the Congregation accompanies her hymns of praise & thanksgiving with an outward attitude of reverence.
Towards night there is a meeting of the whole Congregation, where- in according to the word of the day, or Doctrinal Text, there is more specially delivered how highly a Congregation of Jesus Christ and all the Members are favoured by God, and how according to this heavenly calling they are to walk holily & unblamably before Him until the day of His Coming. And this is called the Congregation- Meeting.
At last the keeping of Sunday is commonly concluded at 9 o'clock with an Evening Blessing of the whole Congregation met together.
§ 16
Besides the before-mentioned liturgical Meeting on Sundays there is also some Meetings held in the other Days of the week for singing19 such hymns of praise and thanksgiving. Among these the hymn; 0 Head so full of bruises, which is sung on Friday evenings, has its distinguishing Signature.
In singing these liturgical hymns the Brethren & Sisters sing by turns, some lines being sung by the former, others by the latter, &
19 Singstunde.
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others again by both together, whereby the singing is made more agreeable, & the presence of mind is promoted.
§ 1?
Another meeting is appointed once a week for that Company20 which has united for particular intercessions for the furtherance & spreading of the work of the Lord, for all outward and inward Con- cerns of the Congregation, for the higher powers, for the Servants of the Church, & all those who have recommended themselves to the re- membrance of the Congregation.
This Regulation began in 1727. Each Member of this Interces- sors' Company chooses an hour of the day or night therein properly to call upon the Lord for His protection & help in all Circumstances of the Congregations, as also of the Missions among the heathen. These meet once in a week, fellowshiply to thank & to adore Him for His gracious help. Sometimes such matters are made known in this meeting as they are to lay particularly before God in prayer.
§ 18
There is something agreeable in the singing in the Brethren's meet- ings, because it is very distant from the otherwise customary loud bawling of the hymns, & thereby becomes the more devout & harmonious.
The hymns which are in use at present are mostly contained in the small Brethren's hymn-book,21 and are taken partly out of the ancient pithy hymns of the Unity of the Brethren & the protestant Lutheran Church, partly out of the Collections of Paul Gerhard & other new Hymnologists.
The Teachers in the Brethren's Church have taken all possible pains, from time to time, to express themselves also in hymns more intelligibly, pure and simple, & to word them in such language that a devoutly considering heart, in the use thereof, need not stop short or perhaps be silenced quite at the question : Understandest thou what thou singest?
20 Stundenbeter.
21 Das Eleine Bruder-Oesang-Buch, in einer Harmonischen Sarnlung von Jcurzen Liedern,
Gebeten und Seufzern bestehend. The first edition was printed in 1755, and was intended to put into the hands of members the hymns in most general use among the Brethren, as the Grosse-Gesang-Buch was rather large. A second edition of the small book, thoroughly revised, was printed at Barby in 1761. It has 510 pages, exclusive of the Index, and contains 2396 hymns, besides the Church Litany. The "liturgical hymn," O head so full of bruises, so often mentioned in the Diaries, is No. 2382, and has eleven eight-line stanzas.
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For the festivals of the Christian Church in general, and for the festal memorial Days peculiar to the Brethren's Church, some Psalms and Cantatas have been composed and printed from time to time. These are performed by a musical choir in each Congregation, with gentle Music on Instruments, & the Congregation accompanies the same with singing at intervals Choruses suitable to the matter.
In the Children's Meeting there occurs frequently a very agreeable catechising in Hymns. The Teacher changes the first line of a verse into a question, and sings it alone; the Children answer with the following lines of the verse, also singing. For instance, when the Teacher sings:
Where do you see Life's fountain? the Children answer:
On th' Cross on yonder Mountain Our Healer sinks in Death, etc.
Question :
What will ye do while ye are here, Since ye can nothing give?
Answer :
His Sufferings in our hearts we'll bear, And in His Death we'll live.
This agreeable singing of the Children has made such an impression upon many of the hearers that they could never forget it.
§ 19
Very few Church Ceremonies are to be met with in the Brethren's Congregations. There is rather a certain simplicity to be found in all their Church Acts, suitable to the matters. Their Teachers are not distinguished in their Clothing from others, except that they make use of a white Surplice at solemn Church Transactions, & especially at the Holy Communion.
At the Baptism of Children there is commonly five Sponsors or Witnesses, who as well as the Teacher lay their hands upon the Child & bless it.
The so-called Exorcising is not practiced with Children, but the Teacher recommends them fervently, in a hearty prayer, to the gra- cious protection of God from all evil, and from all the power of Sin & Satan. On the other hand, at the Baptism of heathen something
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similar to exorcising is in blessed practice, when before the Baptism all powers of Darkness are commanded, in the name of Jesus, to de- part from those that are to be baptised, & they are dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ.
§ 20
At the Holy Communion some Deacons, who assist the Teacher that consecrates and administers, distribute the blessed Bread to the Communicants, who keep it so long in their hand till it has been distributed to all, then they all enjoy it at one time; and after the enjoyment adore the Lord kneeling or on their faces, at which the Consecrator commonly repeats the words : Eat, this is His Body, which is given for you. In the same manner the blessed Cup is handed round to the Communicants & drunk by them.
The Supper of the Lord is kept in the Brethren's Congregations every four weeks on Saturday evening, then all the Communicants partake thereof who by the conviction of their hearts have freedom to draw nigh to the Sacrament.
In the Week before the Sacrament the Teacher earnestly recom- mends, & lays to the heart of all the Communicants, the proper & true preparation for this great matter, according to Paul's admoni- tion: Let a Man examine himself, etc. Nevertheless the Brethren are yet spoke with singly by their Elders, & the Sisters by their Eldresses, before the Lord's Supper, to learn from them their present heart's situation. And as these stand in the nearest connection with them they can advise them most to the purpose, also sometimes for conscience' sake dissuade one or another from going to the Holy Com- munion, after previous communing about it with the Elders of the Congregation. Yet it is attended to with serious care that such Com- municants be not wrongly judged, who one time or another, either by their own conviction or the advice of their Elders, stay away from the Lord's supper, nor the reason thereof be enquired for out of curiosity.
The Brethren live in constant heart's confidence with their Elders, and the Sisters with their Eldresses, and pour out all their Concerns & their hearts' situations to them in confidence; therefore no further Confession is introduced in the Brethren's Congregations.
Before the Communion the Congregation prays fellowshiply for Absolution, & gives one to the other the kiss of peace.
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The washing of the feet, or Pedilavium, was held in stillness by and among a few Persons in the beginning of the Eenewed Brethren's Church. They thought themselves bound, according to the Letter, implicitly to follow the command of Christ, in the 13th Chapter of John: Ye also ought to wash one another s feet. But at that time it was not kept before the Communion, nor with the whole Congre- gation. This was not done till afterwards, & by some Congregations, after spreading in foreign Countries & Colonies, and that in the begin- ning before every Lord's Supper. But now it is only kept at certain times, for instance on Thursday before Easter, by the whole Congre- gation.22 It is directed in such a manner that not only the Elders of the Congregation but also other Communicants wash one another's feet.
Each Sex keeps the Pedilavium separately, either in different halls or at different times; and during the Act the Teacher sings suitable verses, which treat of the cleansing & washing away of Sins through the blood of Jesus.
The Pedilavium is also used in some other cases, for instance when a whole Choir celebrates its yearly festival, gratefully recollects the grace & benefits received from the Lord in the Year past, and fellow- shiply prays for forgiveness of all unfaithfulness, faults and wants that have occurred.
§ 22
The Dying are blessed by their Elders for going home, tho' not exactly in the Moment of departing, because that is uncertain & many Sick are then no more present to themselves.
There is one more peculiar Custom in the Brethren's Congregations, vizt. that on Easter Sunday they assemble fellowshiply in their bury- ing grounds, early, about sunrise. Thereby they in the first place put themselves in mind of the resurrection of their Lord and Saviour, and when the Teacher proclaims to the Congregation: The Lord is risen! the whole Congregation replies with one accord: Re is risen indeed! Then the Teacher reads a Confession of Eaith, or the Easter Liturgy, so called, & therein remembers the everlasting fellowship with those departed in the Lord in the year past.
Yet as to Ceremonies in the Brethren's Congregations it may be observed in general, that they have not remained unaltered every
22 Many years ago the Pedilavium ceased to be observed in the Unity of Brethren.
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where & at all times. They have in this Case reserved to themselves the Liberty of altering and amending, which the Ancient Brethren in Bohemia & Moravia made use of in regulating their Church-Order, according to the old Canon: "The difference of Ceremonies does not remove the Unity of the Church."
§ 23
The Brethren's Church has established certain Statutes in all Con- gregations, to the end that all evil may be prevented beforehand in the Congregation, & every thing may be most possibly moved out of the way that could prove an opportunity for Sin and Transgression. These Congregation-Statutes are laid before all and every one who wants to be received into the Congregation. If they receive them willingly and with conviction then they bind themselves thereto by giving their hand, or signing the name with their own hand; but they remain at the same time at full liberty, if they change their mind, to leave the Congregation & be no more bound to the Congregation- Statutes.
Whosoever is so unfortunate as not to conduct himself according to these Congregation-Statutes, & consequently abstracts from the cause why he lives in a Brethren's Congregation, such a one falls under the Chastisement of the Congregation introduced in the Breth- ren's Congregations from ancient times. An offensive "Walk, Se- duction to works of the flesh, to Free-thinking, yea all what oc- casions hurt of Souls and mars our glorying in Christ, are Transgres- sions which occasion the Chastisement of the Congregation. And in this Case, the Transgression of the Congregation-Statutes is not only considered, but also the wrong situation of heart, from which the Transgression flows.
§ 24
Each Brother or Sister in the Congregation, who observes a wrong or offensive thing in another, no matter who, is bound according to our Saviour's Rule to remind, to admonish, and to reprove such a one. If this does not help, then they are under an obligation neither to hush it up nor to publish it unguardedly or in the wrong place, but to make it known to their Elders that it may be looked into.
If they are able by hearty conversation and admonition to bring the guilty Person to a true Acknowledgment of the transgression & a real sorrow for it, then they endeavour to settle the matter in still-
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ness. But such a one ought by rights to keep away from the Holy Communion for a shorter or longer time, according as the case has been. Should he not do it of his own accord then he should be told in the name of the Congregation that he cannot be admitted thereto.
§ 25
Should this not work the sought-for fruits of amendment, then he is called before the Overseers' College, where his Transgression is not only laid open to him in a serious manner, but he is also told, if it is in a Congregation-place, that in case all the admonitions he has received should bring about no amendment, he will forfeit the brotherly fellowship, yea even the abode in the Congregation-place, by virtue of his free-willing Acknowledgment of the Congregation- Statutes.
If this has no good Effect, then such a persevering offensive Man (especially if he tries to seduce others) is by the Overseers' College, in the name of the Congregation, forbidden to have any further abode in the Congregation-place. Such an Exclusion is made known to the Congregation in a public Congregation Council, yet it is not done with wishing of evil, as is otherwise customary at an Excom- munication or the so-called Ban, but with a sorrowful feeling, and hearty admonition to implore the Mercy of God for such an unhappy Man.
§ 26
With this, however, no loss of worldly honour, dignity or estate is connected, because the Church or Congregation-Chastisement in gen- eral is not calculated for Statutes merely relating to civil Life, & therefore cannot take cognizance of or punish civil Crimes, or im- pose civil punishment on merely spiritual Transgressions.
Further, if, contrary to Expectation, anybody should fall away so far as to commit Sin against the Law, by Whoring, Adultery, Theft, Battery, Drunkenness, Fraud in Dealings, knowingly defrauding the Taxes and Imposts of Government, or other vicious Extravagances, such a one would be made known to the Magistracy for examination, and left to be punished according to Law.
But then such a Transgressor is no more esteemed a Member of the Congregation, nor suffered to abide there: be it then that a fund- amental Conversion and Alteration of his heart should make him fit anew for the fellowship of Faith and Dwelling in the Congre- gation.
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And this is what is properly looked for in taking off the Congrega- tion-Chastisement and readmitting to the Holy Communion. The Brethren's Congregation has no certain Canons nor Rules which ap- point the time how long a person ought to remain under chastisement, or prescribe any outward penitential Exercises for the Demonstration of repentance, but as soon as a real amendment & fundamental Con- version is perceived in a Person under Chastisement he is, according to the measure of the degrees of his Chastisement, either readmitted to the Communion in stillness, or reconciled with the Congregation after a letter from him has been read publicly wherein he begs to be forgiven, or absolved from his Transgression with imposition of hands before the Congregation.
§ 27
But whoever does not endure the Chastisement, & thereby becomes angry and hardened in his mind, either separates from the Congre- gation of his own accord or is advised, as before mentioned, to go away from the Congregation-place. Of the first sort there is, alas, numbers scattered about in the world, who as they were not allowed to live in the Congregation according to the will of the flesh and reason, therefore complain of compulsion & implicit obedience being required, lay the fault of their own extravagances upon others, & heap their judgments by lies & revilings.
To poor & decrepid minds who, more from weakness than from malice, do not walk according to the Rule which the Mind of Christ Jesus requires, great patience is shown in the Brethren's Congre- gations, and they are waited for with much forbearance and over- looking to arrive to the happy period when they shall also find their heart & prosper before that Lord Who bought them with His own blood. They must not be active in hurting others by spreading their wrong way of thinking, about which they may & ought to speak up- rightly with their Elders who are appointed for them. Eor as soon as they turn Seducers the Brethren's Congregation does not only pray in her Litany: Put far from Thy People all Seducers! but en- deavours also to realize it in practice.
To such Persons it is made known seriously, with full liberty of disposing of their estate, to move to somewhere else, and to keep off from the Brethren's fellowship. They are also not received in other Congregations, because they bring no testimony from their Elders, which is otherwise given to Congregation-Members who go to other Congregation-places, but they are left to Him, & the unbounded Mercy of Him Who, tho' He is Love itself, yet has pronounced a very severe Sentence about them, — Matt. 18, 6.
PART II
1776
[The year 1776 was a most momentous one for America. The peti- tions sent by the Colonies to England in 1775 were received with scorn by King and Parliament, and the so-called "Prohibitory Act" was passed, which was virtually a declaration of war, its provisions being such as to end negotiations between Colonies and Crown, provide for "pardon" only on terms of complete submission, and place the grant- ing of pardon in the hands of Commissioners who were to come to America with the troops. Having trouble in forcing English soldiers to undertake the task of subduing America the British Government engaged troops, at a high cost, from Hesse and Brunswick, sending some fifteen thousand of them to America in the early spring of this year.
News of the attitude of the English Government brought the issue squarely before the American Colonists, and even the more moderate turned toward the idea of complete separation between the two countries. North Carolina's Provincial Congress made the first decisive declaration of purpose toward Independence, — at Halifax, April 12, 1776, — and several others followed almost immediately. The Continental Congress in Philadelphia began deliberation of the proposition on June 7th, and the Declaration of Independence of the United Colonies was adopted on July 4th, being signed for North Carolina by William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn.
Meanwhile open hostilities had begun between the opposing forces. In March, Gen. Washington surprised the British in Boston by an over-night fortification of Dorchester Heights, and on the 17th the British evacuated Boston, by agreement, and without a fight. It was understood that Gen. Clinton was to be sent from England to the south- ern Colonies, and that the northern forces, under Gen. Howe, were to attack New York. Washington, therefore, sent Gen. Charles Lee, who had been Tory-hunting in Virginia, to Charleston, S. C. to command the forces there, William Moultrie being chief officer in the fort command- ing Charleston harbor; he also made plans for the protection of New York.
June 4th the English fleet appeared off the South Carolina coast, and troops were landed on an island in the vicinity of Charleston. June 27th vessels in the harbor fired on the fort, but it was surprisingly well defended by the untrained Americans, and rough water prevented send- ing soldiers to attack by land; so in a few days soldiers and fleet with- drew and sailed north.
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The summer and fall campaign in New York was all against the Americans and in favor of the British. Early in the year Continentals had seized the cannon at Fort George, and had driven Gov. Tryon on hoard the man-of-war Asia, and Sir Henry Clinton, reaching Sandy Hook in March, had not entered the harbor but had gone south. But in July, Gen. Howe took possession of Staten Island, where he was joined by Clinton, back from his unsuccessful trip to South Carolina, and by Admiral Lord Howe with his fleet and additional troops from England. These officers were empowered to give pardon to individuals and Col- onies when they promised entire submission to England ; some frightened individuals submitted, but most of them refused. "Washington did his best with his ill-equipped, undisciplined army, largely short-term militia-men who went home whenever they became discouraged, but he had only about 17,000 to the 30,000 British. The battle of Long Island in August was a victory for the English, and Washington was obliged to withdraw his army from successive positions until the English were in possession of the city of New York, its harbor, and the forts on the Hudson Biver. Arnold was defeated on Lake Champlain in October; and in December the Continental Congress, expecting the capture of Philadelphia, adjourned there and re-convened in Baltimore.
The turning point came on Christmas L)ay, or rather that night, when Washington and a part of his small force crossed the Delaware Biver, in spite of floating cakes of ice, and surprised and captured the Hessians at Trenton. Evading apparently certain capture by Lord Cornwallis at Princeton Washington then entrenched his men in a strong position on the hills at Morristown, which guarded the Highlands of the Hudson on one hand and the roads to Philadelphia on the other, leaving Gen. Howe with nothing to show for his six months of effort except possession of the city of New York, which the Continentals could hardly expect to hold in view of the English fleet.
Gov. Josiah Martin, of North Carolina, spent much of the month of December, 1775, at Charleston, S. C, conferring with Loyalists there. He returned to the harbor of the Cape Fear early in January, 1776, and sent out numerous emissaries to arouse the Loyalists of North Carolina, expecting a response from six thousand or more. Commissions were sent to various officers, Gideon Wright and James Glyn (spelled Clane, Clan and Glen in the Moravian Becords) being appointed for Surry County. Feb. 5th, Gen. Donald McDonald called the Loyalists to gather around the King's Standard at Cross Creek ; Feb. 6th, the Committee of Safety summoned the Minute Men and Militia of the west to Salisbury, Charlotte and Hillsboro, and as word of the rising reached the east
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1023
troops were also called out there. Feb. 16th, the King's Standard was erected at Cross Creek; soon afterwards Gen. McDonald set out for the coast with such of his men as had not withdrawn when they found that the report that Gov. Martin and 1,000 British Kegulars would meet them at Cross Creek was false. Feb. 27th, the Loyalists were defeated at Moore's Creek Bridge, many of their officers were captured, and the forces scattered. Meanwhile, North Carolinians under Col. Howe had rendered valuable assistance against Gov. Dunmore in Virginia; and a Tory rising in Currituck was suppressed by Col. William Williams.
The Provincial Congress of North Carolina met early in April, and on the 12th authorized the North Carolina Delegates in the Continen- tal Congress "to concur in declaring independency," They also re- organized the Militia, Griffith Butherford becoming General in the Salisbury District. On the 13th of April a Committee of nineteen was appointed, which attempted to frame a new Constitution for the State, but difficulties arose, and the matter was postponed for further consideration, and a temporary form of government was adopted to serve until the next session. On Nov. 13th a new committee was ap- pointed; and the Constitution was adopted on Dec. 18th.
Sir Henry Clinton joined Gov. Martin below Brunswick in April, and on May 1st Sir Peter Parker's fleet began to arrive, bringing Lord Cornwallis and 7 regiments of British Regulars. During the month 6 regiments were landed, but no engagement of note took place, and at the end of the month the fleet sailed for South Carolina, Gov. Martin going with them, and ultimately accompanying them north.
North Carolina troops took part in the defense of Charleston in June ; but those from the western Counties were more nearly concerned with the excursions against the Indians in July and August; in the latter month Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina united in a suc- cessful campaign, whereby the Indians were scattered and driven back, and the frontier of the Province was advanced westward.
A Constitution having been adopted for North Carolina by the Pro- vincial Congress on Dec. 18th, on Dec. 20th, Richard Caswell was elected first Governor of the State.
The Moravian records give a vivid picture of the confusion prevailing during the year, — mental confusion caused by uncertainty as to what should or could be done by the Colonists who wished independence, and by the flood of rumors with which the Loyalists sought to arouse the adherents of the English Crown; — economic confusion caused by high
4
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prices, and currency of uncertain value; — and the restlessness of men, excited over conditions, called, sent home, and called again into military service.
The Brethren of Salem, Bethabara, and some of those in Bethania held steadfastly to their determination not to bear arms and not to take part in political affairs, cost what it might, but there is no question as to which side really had their support. When members of the Com- mittee of Safety questioned them they answered frankly and fully, and they furnished all supplies that were ordered, if at all possible. When the Tory Captain, Henry Herrman, sought to gain their interest they refused to have anything to do with the movement, or even to hear the proposed plans. If Bishop Graff sighed when he heard of the Declara- tion of Independence, seeing the long struggle and the trials ahead, he without hesitation signed the declaration that he would "cheerfully as- sist and support the Country" in all matters not contrary to his con- science [Bagge Paper, ~No. XI] ; if he warned the Communicants of Salem to be careful not to be drawn into partisan discussion, he made no effort to prevent the enlistment of young men of the neighborhood, not Communicants, and several names appear in the Diaries showing hitherto unrecorded military service. Traugott Bagge bore the burden of nego- tiations with the outside world, the drafts of declarations and statements of various dates are in his handwriting, and members of the Committee of Surry County warranted him "a true Friend to American Liberty" [Bagge Paper, JSTo. XVIII]. Col. Martin Armstrong, of the Surry County Militia, was their friend and protector as was Capt. Henry Smith ; there is marked courtesy in all communications sent to the Salem Brethren, even when calling on them to explain accusations; and their word was accepted as simple truth even in so unfortunate a coincidence as the appearance of their wagons in Cross Creek for goods for their store just when the Tories were gathering there. Much they had to endure from the lawless, ignorant and jealous, but they bore with pa- tience what could not be avoided, putting their faith in the Lord in Whose name their settlement had been founded.]
From the Bagge MS. 1776.
Up to this time most of the inhabitants of the land had associated themselves together against Great Britain, but had had patience with those who would not join the Association. But as the latter party did not keep still, but became active for the King in word and deed, the former began to take measures against them. Among other things all arms were forcibly taken from the Non-Associators, and they were com-
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1025
pelled to take an oath to remain quiet and not to act against the land. This happened, through Rowan County officers, to certain of our people on the South Fork and at Hope. Those who lived in Surry appealed to Col. Armstrong, and he gave them a letter to one officer, ordering that this should cease, and he wrote here and there to other officers ordering them to return the arms, hut it had no effect. The worst of it was that this seizing of guns took place several times, each time by a new officer with new ideas.
Each district in each County now elected its Captain. In Dobbs Parish, or Wachovia, the blacksmith Heinrich Schmidt was chosen. Many of the young men of the neighborhood attended the Election out of curiosity, and gave in their votes, which made them liable to Muster, drill, and military service, to which they were called times without number, and were much annoyed thereby. Some of their parents had no real convictions as to military service, but when things got serious they came to the Brethren in Salem asking for advice and help for their children. Some of our young men came to Salem for a while, till the storm passed, for their fathers did not want to tell the officers plainly that they were opposed to the bearing of arms, and were taking no part in the controversy, which would perhaps not have been true. Some, of our Brethren, who lived alone on farms, were in bad case, for they and their sons were on the Muster roll, and were called to each Muster ; but they found that when they made a frank and proper explanation to the officers it was received with courtesy, and was accepted. Yet there were some cases in which young men from our families voluntarily enlisted, and went into the war, though not from Salem or Bethabara.
Without question the royal Governor Martin had emissaries and mes- sengers in the interior, and many people took sides with the King, even among those who had subscribed to the Association. What the Gov- ernor planned I do not know, for those of our Brethren to whom offers of information were made refused to listen. It became apparent later that he had intended to regain control for the King, with the help of the so-called Loyalists. The Scotch, who lived between Cross Creek and Wilmington, were his especial dependence, but those who lived higher in the land were expected to join them with wagons and provisions, and then the King's Standard was to be raised, and all faithful subjects of the King were to enlist under it. A Justice in Rowan, Spurgin by name, who lived about ten miles from Salem, was very active in the matter. In January he gathered a company of good and bad, and with wagons, horses, provisions and weapons, they hurried to Cross Creek. Three separate times the Brethren in Salem were asked for their assistance,
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especially for an advance of money. But God so ordered it that no one was drawn into the movement ; we refused on the ground that it was something in which we could not meddle.
About this time we heard that up on the Yadkin many who sided with the King were driven from house and home by persecution ; and that these people were hiding in the woods in our neighborhood, (the first Outlyers, as they were later called). In February, these and others passed to and fro in groups through Salem, saying they were on their way to join the King's Standard and do their duty.
The King's Standard was indeed erected some sixty miles below Salem, and some hundreds of men gathered there ; but instead of finding Gov. Martin's troops, as they expected, they found only a Scotch officer, in whom they had little confidence. A hogshead of rum was brought to them, which most of them visited industriously, then it was reported that the Whigs were marching against them, and in a few days they had scattered. The few that passed through Salem returned much de- pressed, and without having had part in the frolic. Of those who went further with Spurgin and others some probably joined the Scotch, who were below Cross Creek, where a royal officer, McLeod, commanded a Corps, or little army.
As the Evil One did not succeed in drawing the Brethren into this rising, he now took another opportunity to stir up something. George Hauser, Jr. had been in Cross Creek, and had bought seven wagon- loads of salt for Bethania. The Salem store also had some salt in Cross Creek which it needed. A wagoner offered to go for it, if he would be paid for a full trip, which was promised him by Br. Bagge. The man then expressed the wish that his brother might also bring a load, as he would like to earn something. Br. Bagge agreed to this also, and his assistant, Christian Heckewalder, undertook to go to Cross Creek and make the necessary purchases. Nine wagons therefore left in a company for Cross Creek for salt, a necessary article, of which there was already a great shortage in many places. It happened that this was just at the time when men were gathering there around the King's Standard. The wagons reached there safely, and the purchases were well made, considering the circumstances.
The Committee of Safety in Salisbury suspected that the Brethren in Wachovia had sent these nine wagons, pretending they were to get salt, but really meaning that they should meet Gov. Martin, and help him and his army on their march. This accusation, however, was not brought before the Brethren until punishment hung over their heads, as will be further noted.
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1027
On the other hand it happened that the King's Standard had been erected on the road from Salem to Cross Creek, and on their return the nine wagons suddenly found themselves among the several hundred men assembled there. These Loyalists refused to let the wagons pass, and with many curses threatened to empty the salt, on the ground and ruin it rather than let it be used by the Rebels. They also cursed the Mo- ravians for helping the Rebels to live by getting salt for them. But the more moderate among them prevailed, and after holding the wagons for twenty-four hours they permitted them to leave for home, which they reached safely.
Immediately many rumors were afloat, charging the Brethren with various things in connection with these wagons, and the Committee of Safety in Salisbury called all its members together. Mr. Charles Gal- laway, an old friend of the Brethren and now a member of the aforesaid Committee, stopped in Salem on his way to Salisbury and on his return. On his way thither he was asked to defend the Brethren against cer- tain accusations ; on his return he warned us to be careful, and to keep good watch over our property, but did not venture to tell what he knew more explicitly. Mr. Avery, a lawyer, and also a member of the Com- mittee, said about the same as he passed through. Finally on Feb. 15th, about noon, Brethren from Bethania notified the Brethren in Salem that Col. Martin Armstrong, the Captains John Armstrong, William Sheppard and Jesse Walton, and the latter's company of about sixty Minute Men, had come to Bethania yesterday, and had made formal inquiry about the aforesaid wagons, and other accusations; that today they had done the same in Bethabara, and that they were now on their way to Salem for the same purpose.
Capt. Walton and his company drew up before the tavern; some of the men spoke joyfully of the booty they were going to get. They were treated politely and given some refreshments. The other officers also appeared, and told why they had come. The Captains John Armstrong and Jesse Walton were representing the Committee of Safety of Salis- bury ; Col. Armstrong came from the County Committee. The Brethren of Bethabara and Bethania had referred some matters to the Brethren of Salem, and those who had come from those towns were granted time to consult with the Salem Brethren. A Declaration was quickly drawn up and signed, to be presented to the officers. The meeting was held in the upper room of the tavern, (the Minute Men standing with loaded guns before the house). First Col. Armstrong took an Affirmation, in- stead of an Oath, from all present, that they would answer all questions truthfully. Then he asked (1) If we had not received ammunition from
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Gov. Martin, and were keeping it for him? Answer, No. (2) Why did we not accept the new Congress money ? Answer, We did not refuse it, but would feel differently about taking it if we were sure it was not counterfeit, and if we were certain of being able to pay it out again. (3) He produced the Test, prescribed by the Congress in Hillsborough, and asked us to sign it. Br. Bagge, in the name of the Brethren, ex- plained our position in regard to the bearing of arms, and said that it was quite contrary to our calling to mix in political matters. Many other questions were asked, based on false reports; and each of the officers had something to remember and talk about. But at the end of a two-hour session all was explained and answered to the entire satisfaction of the Commission. The written Declaration was given to Col. Armstrong, who was quite content with, it.
That afternoon the Minute Men marched out Shallowford road to the Petersbach, taking with them James Glen and Ezekiah Wright,1 arrested as Tories, whom they had shackled together in our blacksmith shop.
Capt. Walton and his Lieutenant Benjamin Cleveland, (later the re- nowned Colonel of Wilkes County), went into the store and workshops, and took what they wanted, charging it to the public account. Col. Martin Armstrong, privately, gave the Brethren a Certificate;2 and he also ordered 2000 lbs. meat, and enough cornmeal to feed 2000 men eight days, this to be furnished from our three towns and to be paid for.
The uncovered loss in our town was two axes and two pairs of shoes, which were taken without pay.
That night the special watchman in Salem discovered four Minute Men in the locksmith shop, who said they were looking for deserters. They left again at once.
We may thank God that a man like Col. Martin Armstrong was and remained chief officer of Surry County throughout the war, for while sometimes need forced him to order, or have ordered, from us articles which were a loss to us, yet in general it was in his heart to make things as convenient as possible for us. The above-mentioned Certificate from him stood Friedberg in good stead almost at once, for Capt. James Macay, of Bowan, came into the neighborhood to take arms from the Non-Associators, and when the Certificate was shown to him he did not cross over into Surry, as others had done, but left the Brethren there in peace.
From the 18th to the 22nd of February Bethabara was full of Militia, gathered to march against the Non-Associators at Cross Creek. When
1 The Salem Diary says Giery Wright, which is probably correct, since Giery had been
an active Tory. See entries of Feb. 7, 8, 15, Salem Diary.
2 Bagge Paper, No. XII.
A Page of the Bagge Manuscript It shows names attached to the Declaration of the Brethren. February 15, 1776
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1029
they arrived in Bethabara, Col. Armstrong issued orders for their good behaviour, — which they had not at all expected. On the 22nd and 23rd they were in and around Salem, some afoot, some on horseback. The officers took much from the store and workshops, partly at public cost, (which was later paid for in money which had lost one third of its value) and partly on their own accounts (of which much never was paid). On the 24th all left. On the 25th, however, a Lieutenant and a few men returned to Salem, with an order3 to Br. Bagge to send powder and lead, of any sort, and all that was on hand, on the public account ; 37 lbs. small shot was sent. In addition, sugar, coffee, tobacco, and other things were taken from the store and charged to the officers.
On March 1st a Presbyterian minister, from the Jerseys, came to Salem. He said he was travelling by order of the Continental Congress, with instructions that wherever he went he should explain to the people the causes of the controversy with England. He wanted to speak here, but was given a satisfactory excuse.
Soon after this the Scotch and Non-Associators were defeated by the Militia under Gen. Richard Caswell, and many were taken prisoner. The Surry Militia, therefore, did not get further than Cross Creek, and were turned back there. But there was booty to be had in Cross Creek, for the stores were well supplied with salt, and belonged to Scotch mer- chants, who, with their Factors had either secretly or openly espoused the cause of the King. A Council of War was held, and it was ordered that the stores should furnish free to each Militia-man present one bushel of salt, if he would pay transportation on it. So the salt stores were visited and, as may easily be believed, he was the best man who got the most ! Later some Militia-men complained that they got none. There must have been a good deal of plundering also, for as the Militia passed through Salem on their return, which continued until March 14th, it was noticed that many of the men wore Scottish clothes.
The return of the Militia was fairly quiet, though they had to be fed, and some were troublesome.'
Plans had been made that the Virginia Militia should march against the Scotch, and had they come it would have been worse, for they were even less disciplined, but they were countermanded.
A certain Lynch, a member of the Surry Committee, who called him- self a Captain, was with the expedition to Cross Creek. A man named Thackston took an oath, and made a written statement, that Br. Herbst, the tanner in Salem, had refused to accept from him some of the new Congress money. The aforesaid Lynch and several men stopped in
8 Bagge Paper, No. XIII.
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Salem on their return and arrested Br. Herbst. As that very money had been accepted at the store other strangers in town interfered and threatened Lynch, and he had to release Br. Herbst.
Meanwhile there had been rumors of a second rising at Cross Creek, or an incursion of the English, and on March 4th, 5th, and 6th there had again been a number of Militia in Salem. One Company and their Captain were very wild. It was the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before Easter. The first two days were endurable; on the second they received orders to go home, but stayed until the third day, and the aforesaid wild men became quite active. If Col. Armstrong had not ex- pressly sent them off they would have stayed still longer, but they left on Great Sabbath, during and after Lovefeast, in a rage. The Brethren in the tavern and store could not come to the Lovefeast.
In April there was another Provincial Congress, which met at Hali- fax. Written announcement for the Election of Delegates was posted in our towns by the sheriff, but no one went from Salem or Bethabara. This Congress agreed to the Resolution already considered by other Provinces, namely that the Continental Congress would be justified in declaring the Thirteen Provinces independent of Great Britain. Con- cerning the Brethren it was enacted : "That as they did not bear arms their guns should be taken, but politely, and at an appraised value; and that they themselves should not be forced to serve." This Congress again issued a very large sum of paper money, like the last.
From this time on hard money disappeared. Four kinds of paper money were in circulation, — North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Congress money. The last named went best for a few years, as it could be used in all the states; the North Carolina money, on the con- trary, could hardly be used outside North Carolina, at least not without 7V2 to 25% loss.
Now every one came to spend his money where things could still be found, and very few would take change. If there was some part due on a bill they wanted to spend they would say, if in the tavern : "Give me a dram for it"; in the store: "Give me some thread, needles, tape, sugar," or whatever ; to the tanner it was : "Give me a strap, a pair of soles" ; to the potter : "Give me another pipe," etc. So the time began when it was a real problem to spend the money that one was obliged to take in. Even among ourselves there was murmuring on the part of those who had to live on their wages, for goods were higher, but the actual value of what was received in the shops was less, and so the v/ages did not suffice for expenses. About this time we began to lend
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1031
our surplus paper money;, hoping some time to get it back in good money, but this did not happen in all cases, and a good deal of what was so lent was finally lost.
From the beginning to the close of this year there was no end to the rumors that Gov. Martin had landed in Worth Carolina with his soldiers, and that he was marching into the interior, though there was not one word of truth in it. The Provincials, without orders from their officers, had demolished Fort Johnson, on the Cape Fear River, and this in sight of the ships of war, on one of which was Gov. Martin. So far as one knows he had no troops, and he only lay there, and now and then sent an ineffectual Proclamation on shore, which was at once seized and brought to naught. Other royal sympathisers in North Carolina finally took refuge on these ships also. After Charlestown, or rather Fort Moultrie, was besieged by the English, one heard no more of Gov. Martin. Of other rumors, true and false, there was no lack, for every one had become a news-monger.
Br. Bagge had gone to Charlestown on business for the store, carrying a Pass4 from the Surry County Committee, and was there when the sea and land forces approached the town. On the evening of June 1st the first alarm was given, which threw the town into an unbeliev- able confusion. On the 2nd it was still more alarming, and the city Militia were called out, and the Militia from the surrounding country came in. On the 3rd the wind was contrary, so life and business went on as though nothing were happening. But on the 4th, as the ships began to appear, the alarm and fright were still greater. For five miles from the town the roads were full of negroes, women and children, riding, driving and on foot, fleeing from the enemy with a few of their possessions. The wagon for the store was loaded, and just ready to start, when an order was issued that no one else might leave the town without a Permit from the commanding officer. With the assistance of a good friend Br. Bagge secured a Pass for himself and his wagon, and another for his teamsters, and by night was ten miles from the city, where he camped.
The next evening he reached Witten's Tavern. There he found a poor German farmer from the Congaree, who had been in Charlestown on business when the English army approached, and was not permitted to leave. When he insisted, he was sent off, but with the order to take a letter from the Governor at Charlestown, to Salisbury, without delay. The poor man preferred to go home, and let some one else carry out his
4 Bagge Paper, No. XVIII.
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commission, so Br. Bagge quietly took charge of the letter, and on the way back he delivered it to the Committee in Salisbury; and so he reached home safely.
In July, Col. Armstrong received written orders from Brigadier- General Rutherford that the Moravians and Quakers, according to the number of their men, should take part in a proposed expedition' against the Cherokees, or provide others in their place, or pay a fine of £10 : for each man. It was decided that Brn. Bagge and Bonn should take up the matter with the General, but when they went to Salisbury on the 15th he had already left for Quaker Meadows, and the order was dropped. This order seems to have been based on an Act of 1770, which pro- vided that in case of a rising or invasion the Quakers, who at that time largely held with the Regulators, must either serve in the Militia or pay £10 : penalty. This Act had nothing to do with the Brethren, had ex- pired, and had not been in force since 1774, when the regular Assembly met.
Also in July the General Council of Safety sent an order to the County Committees of Safety that all who claimed to be neutral, or re- fused to receive the new money, must give a sworn inventory of their possessions.5 The reason given was that these persons, by their be- haviour, had shown that they were enemies of the country, and that the King and Parliament of Great Britain had decreed, under color of law, that English troops might seize property and persons in this Prov- ince. Many were forced to give such an inventory, and made to swear without end, for at the same time the commanding officer of each County was ordered to arrest all who refused to swear6, and bring them before the Council. ~No such demand was made on the Brethren.
In the same month the Brn. Bagge and Pockel were notified in writ- ing by the clerk that they must appear before the County Committee in August, and answer the complaint that we charged oppressive7 prices for our goods. The accusation was false; the Brethren did not go; and this time one of the accusers became ashamed of himself, and told the truth to the Committee.
On July 22nd, Br. Andreas Broesing returned unexpectedly to Salem from Knoxbury, near Savannah, Ga. He came because of the present unrest, and because a Provincial Congress there had ordered that the Brethren must bear arms or pay £7 : Sterl. per month. He had secured a Pass, and had come by way of Augusta, Broad River and Catawba River, that is exactly through the country which was considered dan-
5 Bagge Paper, No. XX.
8 Bagge Paper, No. XIV. ^^TT 7 The German adjective is "blutaussaugende." For the order see Bagge Paper, No. XXII.
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1033
gerous on account of the Indians. Because of illness Br. Wagner had received permission to stay on the estate of Col. Haversham until he recovered.
In the beginning of August the war against the Cherokees was takeu up in earnest. The Brethren in Salem and Bethabara had to furnish provisions, forage, and other necessaries to the Militia,8 who passed with pack-horses and wagons, and provide food for the journey, all on the public account. This racket lasted about two weeks. It was rather interesting that one of the Captains who was in Salem would not trust his men with the powder he had in the wagons, but put it under Br. Bagge's1 care. The same Captain, under instructions from the Committee of Safety, on Aug. 6th posted a printed copy of the American Declaration of Independence on our tavern. Br. Bagge had to lend the Expedition against the Indians money with which to buy meat, — it amounted to £146.
On Aug. 28th, Thomas Person stopped on his way to part of the army gathered to go with Gen. Rutherford against the Indians. He was a Brigadier-General, and member of the Committee of Safety, and learned to know the Brethren in 1773, when they were in JSTewbern for the Assembly, and gave them real help on that occasion, as he has done in every Assembly during the entire time of the war. He had turned a little out of his way on purpose to visit the Brethren. He could re- main only a couple of hours, and the time was filled with inspection of the workshops and friendly conversation.
Sunday, Sept. 1st, during the first service, seven members of the Council of Safety arrived. The president, Mr. Ashe, later Judge of the Superior Court, was a moderate, courteous gentleman; the others were his associates. They requested a service in English, and were present in the afternoon in the Saal when Br. Graff read a sermon on the text : "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not." The singstunde in the evening charmed them most. They left next morning, lovingly, and well satisfied with the few courtesies we were able to show them. One special incident of the visit was that while in Pennsylvania Br. Heinz- mann had received money for the settlement of an estate, which he was to give to one of these gentlemen, who was the Executor. ~Now as the paper money was laid down the gentleman made objection to receiving it, and when asked why replied that it was probable that hard money had been given for it in Pennsylvania, and he expected the same here. He was assured that Br. Heinzmann had received paper money in Pennsylvania, and then he changed his mind and took it.
8 Bagge Papers, Nos. XXIII to XXXI.
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From the first until almost the middle of October many of the Militia, who had been against the Cherokees with Gen. Rutherford, passed on their way home. One detachment of Militia from this and other Counties, under Col. Joseph Williams, was sent to assist the Militia who were moving from Virginia, under Col. Christie, against other Cherokees. Before marching they got various things from the Brethren, on public account, six hundred flints among the rest. They did not return until November.
On Oct. 15th delegates were elected to the North Carolina Congress, called to meet in Halifax for the purpose of adopting a Constitution for this State. No one went from Salem ; several went from Bethabara because of business with various persons.
The rest of the year was fairly quiet, except that on the 25th and 26th the paymaster9 came to Salem, and here paid off the troops then in service. This made a great gathering, and caused much fatigue. Capt. Philips and twelve men of his Company marched through Salem on Dec. 10th, toward Wilmington, it was said.
In addition the following may be mentioned for this year.
On March 19th and 20th the Brn. Graff and Bagge were in Salisbury, called by a letter from Maxw. Chambers, chairman of the Committee there, the letter having been dated on March 12th.10 The occasion was that just about the time the ports were closed a package of letters and Nachrichten from Europe had come from London to Mr. Felix Long, in Charlestown, to be forwarded to Br. Graff. Mr. Long gave the package to a German farmer from Abbotts Creek, who was to deliver it to Br. Graff in Salem; but when he reached Salisbury he had a great deal to say about it, (probably intentionally, as he was a pronounced Liberty- Man) so that some one took the package from him and gave it to the Committee. The Committee, therefore, asked Br. Graff to come, or to send some one, so that the package might be opened in the presence of a man appointed by the Committee, in order that any intelligence therein contained might be given to those who were seeking to further the freedom of the land, as it appeared that the package came from England. The Brethren appeared before the Committee, and were treated with the greatest politeness. Br. Graff opened the package and looked through the letters, but they contained nothing relating to political affairs, and when he assured the gentlemen of the Committee of this fact they were satisfied, and the matter was ended. The books sent to us from England with these letters, and three other packages,
9 Bagge Paper, No. XXXII.
10 Bagge Paper, No. XV.
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina
1035
never did come. In June we received one package from Charlestown, intended for the Brethren in Georgia, sent to us that we might take care of it until opportunity offered to send it to them, though this never could be done on account of the war.
Our correspondence became very much curtailed, whether for Penn- sylvania, outside that state, or through it. The Committee in Pittsyl- vania County, Virginia, on one occasion searched a wagon coming south from Pennsylvania, and found a package of German newspapers11 instead of the package of letters; as they could not read German they looked no further.
The Brethren in our towns were daily surrounded, so to speak, with men of both parties. This was especially the case in Salem, where once more than a hundred outsiders were fed in one day, and where sixty or more were sometimes lodged over night. The men who gathered here always talked of politics, and often disagreed to the point of blows, and it took care enough to avert fights. Our store, pottery and tanyard had more trade than they wanted. More than once, at the pottery, the entire burning was sold in one morning. Often it was necessary to send apprentices from the workshops to help at the tavern, though this was injurious to the shops.
Prices of all goods were now enormously high. Salt was 48 to 50 shillings a bushel. Salt was being shipped by land from Charlestown to Pennsylvania and Maryland. In the stern treatment of Cross Creek the Salem store lost 70 bushels of salt, which was paid for, but had not yet been sent for. As the merchant who was holding it fled at the approach of the Provincial troops his property was divided out, and our store could get no return.
The goods furnished on public account were finally paid for, but if one considers the value of the money they were also a loss. It was also very troublesome to get the payment. Once all the receipts for the supplies we furnished were lost through the carelessness of the man to whom they had been given for settlement. When we asked pay- ment for the lead furnished, the paymaster wrote a letter claiming that Br. Bagge had refused to supply it until the man who came for it paid on the spot, — this was a lie, and was later so proved.
Several times during this year spring-houses and shops were broken into at night, and provisions and other things were stolen. This had not happened previously. It was generally said that this was done by runaway negroes, who were loitering about, but it is just as likely
There are parts of three German newspapers of 1776 in the Salem Archives, and a few extracts from them are printed in this volume, under No. 1.
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that it was the act of wandering Militia-Men, or Non-Associators hiding in the woods. The spirit of men became more and more debased. Many a lad, in his native simplicity, went into the field with the Militia, and a few months later came back a thorough scamp. This made life harder and harder, for men became more and more brutal. This also applied to the Tories.
On June 22nd Salem had a particular experience of damage and pro- tection. Four fellows rode, armed, into the town, bought various things at the store and elsewhere, ordered brandy and liquors at the tavern, asked impertinent questions, and loaded their guns heavily. Under pre- tense of leaving they made trouble with Br. Meyer about their reckon- ing, and he yielded to them. Then they rode into the tavern and made insolent nuisances of themselves. The house door was shut against them. Then, without provocation, they attacked Br. George Frey, knocked him down, held him by the throat, and made two holes in his head with a gun-barrel. His wife, who was present, took two guns away from them and hid them, and he escaped through the back door of the tavern, which made the scamps that much worse. They forced open the front door, demolished the door of the living room, and went to the bedroom door, which was nailed shut, the room being not then occupied. They knocked out a board and opened the door, swung tomahawks around the heads of Br. and Sr. Meyer, stamped their feet in the cradle, from which the baby had just been lifted, threatened and swore that they would kill them, hacked through the table-cloth into the table where the family had been eating, etc. Several Single Brethren came up, unarmed, and tried to make peace, but the villains knocked two down, snapped their guns at the others, threw a tomahawk at one, and so drove the Brethren up the street. Two Brethren took refuge in Reuter's house, and the pursuers threw stones through the door and windows; attacked three strangers who were passing on the street, and knocked one down, and so came to the Brothers House. Br. Heinzmann tried to forbid them the door, but they seized him, hurt his eyes, kicked him, tramped on him, and gave him two wounds in the head with a tomahawk. Then they thrust their loaded guns through the windows, smashed other windows, burst and forced the house-door, broke room doors and furniture and more windows, beat about them with guns, tomahawks and clubs and a pair of fire tongs they found in the house, and terrified the house residents, wounding some. Five Brethren were badly hurt with tomahawks, two others less severely injured. One villain leveled his gun on the Brethren who tried to stop the trouble. Finally the evil doers were overpowered by the house residents, with the help of two
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1037
married Brethren, and were bound. The whole disturbance took place in less than an hour.
Just that day Capt. Henry Smith was holding Muster in Bethania. He heard what was happening, and came at full speed, with some of his men, and took charge of the scamps, who now talked peacefully enough, though earlier they had declared they were only an advance party and that twelve more would follow them. The Brethren were the more re- lieved by Capt. Smith's arrival, and his action was approved by Col. Armstrong and by the County Committee. The Communion, which the congregation in Salem should have had that day, could not be held. The next day the villains were tried before three justices in the tavern, and the third day they were sent as prisoners to Salisbury. Several Brethren were put under bond by Justice Joseph Williams, to appear at the next term of Superior Court against these evil doers, from whom he refused to hear any plea for bail. The Bond of Recognizance read "to his Majesty, etc. or to the Continental Congress." In Salisbury, however, they were released on bail, and no more was heard of them. Their names, as they gave them here, were William McMurry, Samuel McMurry, Samuel McKinney, (these three from South Carolina,) and David McMackin, of North Carolina. The Brn. Heinzmann, Henrich Walther, James Hurst, Christian Triebel and Schaaf were badly hurt, John Holland and Peter Schreyer less seriously. The evil doers agreed to pay something for the damage, which was divided evenly among them.12 It amounted to some £14, not including the cost of medical attendance for the wounded, of, which the congregation later bore part.
After this there were many discussions as to what could be done to better resist such an attack, but few definite plans were made, and the Eye and Guardian of Israel was really our only defense throughout the war.
In this year, for the last time, a new Yestry, Church Wardens, and Public Readers for Dobbs Parish were elected, a Parish Meeting being held in Salem on Easter Monday. Before the year's end, that is on Dec. 18, the Congress at Halifax had drafted and adopted a Constitution for the State, the English Church was no longer the State Church, and with it fell all its Parishes, and so the Brethren ceased to have a Parish of their own.
On account of the differences that arose because of varying opinions, politics, and the like, which even affected our own towns, it became necessary during this time to divide the office of Roadmaster in
12Bagge Paper, No. XIX.
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"Wachovia. Hitherto one Brother had served, with the assistance of a deputy elected by each town, but now six men were chosen, each of whom looked after a certain part of Wachovia. As a result some roads were opened that were not advantageous, and on others the necessary repairs were not made.
The store in Salem secured some goods from Cross Creek13 in January, April, July, August, and October, from Newbern in October and De- cember, from Charlestown in June, from Petersburg in November, and from Pennsylvania in October. The loss and difficulty and protection experienced thereby have already been referred to. The store also bought some things in Salisbury and in Bladen, and some from travel- ing salesmen, who bartered goods for goods. The purchase of Indigo, in quantity, was begun this year. In June, Br. Bagge supplied a mer- chant in South Carolina with a barrel of linseed oil from this neigh- borhood. He had been accustomed to import such oil from England, and to sell it from Charlestown through South Carolina, and even in North Carolina. In the times that followed there were other occasions when the Brethren sold to merchants in the seaboard towns articles which were formerly supplied by the seaboard towns to people in the interior.
In this year also the old paper money came to an end. It was ordered that all old Proc. (that was the name by which it was commonly known) should be brought in and exchanged for new money. This was largely done, and what was brought in was to be burned ; but one is told on good authority that those who were to burn it gave some of it out again. Many thousands of pounds were not brought in, and circulated at face value among the people who hoped the King would yet regain control, or who doubted whether the State could maintain itself. There is much of this old Proc. still in existence, which will never be redeemed.
Memorabilia of Salem, 1776. [Translated in full.]
The Lord our God has never yet
His faithful flock forsaken, He is their Blessing and their Trust,
Their Joy, their Peace unshaken; A wondrous Lord is ours!
13 Bagge Paper, No. XXXIII.
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1039
And to this we say Yea and Amen as we think of the year which has passed, and the many instances of His wonderful help, counsel, and direction. Had He not been this to us, had the Guardian of Israel not watched over us and turned aside the evil which the enemy1 planned against us, we would have perished. We acknowledge our happy state, and will hold to Him, expecting fresh evidences of His grace and mercy, all undeserved by us, praying for them humbly and yet with joy. And as we cannot recount all His goodness to us in spiritual and material things, still less can we express the thanks that are His due. We thank the Saviour, first of all, for the daily consciousness of His presence, and that God the Holy Ghost has nourished our souls with thoughts of the Atonement, leading us further into real knowledge and the truths of salvation; and we are grateful that the faithful Father in heaven has been near to us, His poor children, during the ever-increasing unrest in the land, has guarded us in danger, and has preserved soul and body. The special proofs of this are the following.
On Jan. 1st, the Congregation covenanted in the Cup of Thanksgiving to remain in the joy of our Lord Who is our Strength. And although in the following days many difficult and unpleasant circumstances arose they did not interrupt our intercourse with our Redeemer ; this was par- ticularly true in the Passion Week, when our town and the neighbor- hood were full of soldiers, and yet our accustomed ways were not dis- turbed, and on Great Sabbath, shortly before the Lovefeast, they all departed.
Only once in this year have we received a package of Nachrichten from Europe, and not one line from our dear Brethren of the Unity's Elders Conference; but the JNTachrichten were the more precious to us, especially the reports of the General Synod held last year in Barby, for we saw that in all that was done the Head of the Church was pres- ent, and His Spirit directed the proceedings, and we experienced a real blessing in reading the accounts. As we could not get new Nachrichten from our congregations in that part of the world, because shipping is entirely suspended, we have turned to the reading of the Bible, to the sermons of the Junger, and to the older Nachrichten in our Archives, which are new to those who have joined our Congregation in recent years, or have grown up during that time.
The Liturgical services for the Congregation and for the Choirs have been a blessing to us ; and the Choir Festivals have been days of joy and grace, on some of them the Cup of Covenant was shared, and on some the Holy Communion. We also mention the blessed celebration of the 13th of November, but that is doubtless fresh in the memory of all
1 Satan. 5
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Brethren and Sisters, and needs no detailed comment. The preceding days were days of tears and, prayer to our dear Lord and Chief Elder, on account of several incidents that were not according to the spirit of a congregation of Jesus, wherefore on our Congregation Festival no Communion could be held; but His forgiveness, His comfort, and His grace were given, and we could share in a precious Communion on Dec. 7th, — praise, honor and might be unto Him from His poor children!
Our store and workshops have had a harder time than last year, as all goods, and all materials needed in the workshops, were much higher in price, indeed could hardly be secured at all, not to speak of other difficulties, including the question of currency. But Providence so or- dered it that the goods bought at a high price1 could be sold again at a satisfactory figure, as could also all articles that could be made. Indeed the passing of people through our town was sometimes greater than was desirable, as when in one week more than three hundred were fed in our tavern. But through this, and by the blessing of God, our Gemein Diaconie was able this year, for the first time, to pay the in- terest due, and to make several considerable outlays, as for instance the new saw-mill, which was completed, and the new flour bolting-chest, which would have been finished had not the man who was making it been hindered by sickness. Our members also have contributed ac- cording to their means to the needs of the Unity at large, to Missions, to the institutions for the children, and to the support of our own con- gregations. Thanks be to God Who has made them able so to do!
This year more difficult and unpleasant things have happened than in any preceding year, but we must say with truth and humility that our dear Lord has not only lightened the heavy load, but when mis- fortune and harm was threatening He either turned it aside or made it work out to our advantage. For example, — the accusation was made that our wagons, which went to Cross Creek in January for salt for the store, had brought ammunition which was being secretly held to be used against the country. This led to a sharp investigation by a Commission, which came with a considerable party to our three towns on the 14th and 15th of February. The Texts of these two days fitted particularly well. To the Commissioners we stated our innocence and honorable intentions, and gave them a written declaration of our mind and purpose in view of present conditions in the land, setting forth that we would observe all rules that might be made, would pay our share of the taxes laid, and that "in so far as it was not against our conscience we would promote the best interests of the land, and would not meddle in political affairs." This not only gave them entire satisfaction, but they furnished
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1041
us with a written guarantee of their protection, which stood us in good stead on several occasions, especially when we were called to drill; and the Congress at Halifax promised us freedom from military service, and this quite without seeking on our part.
On the 22nd of June the Lord's Supper should have been celebrated, but had to be postponed because the enemy was permitted to send four murderously-minded fellows into our town, who indulged in barbarous excesses and wounded several of the Single Brethren, which not only greatly frightened us but made such a stir in the neighborhood that those in authority took the men prisoners, and freely offered us their protection against such occurrences. So far might the enemy go and no further, for our town belongs to God's kingdom and must be left in peace. Of terrors, threats and traps of various kinds there has been no lack, seeking to lead us from our simple and direct purpose, and in- volve us in outside matters, but we put our trust in Him, the Rock, Who never fails in joy or sorrow, we have remained quiet, and to this hour we have been protected. Br. Graff was cited to appear in Salis- bury before the Committee in order to open a package of Gemein Nach- richten from Europe which had been brought there, but when he and Br. Bagge went thither, and opened the package, the Committee did not ask to have anything read, and kept nothing. In September most of the members of the Council of Safety paid a friendly visit here, and twice attended services in the Saal.
The weather this year was unusual. In spring there were severe storms, especially that of the 17th of March, which was like a hurri- cane; it blew off many roofs and blew down many fences, uprooted the largest trees, overturned a recently built shed for fodder and broke it. Following this there was a long-continued drought, so that we feared the grain would be ruined, but in spite of this our Father in heaven gave us a good harvest of all kinds of grain, and also of fruit, so that all who live by them are full of content, — thanks be to Him !
We have also had several instances of special protection, as, for ex- ample, when the wagoners of the Single Brothers House were in the forest, and had just loaded the wagon with wood, lightning struck a near-by tree, branches and splinters fell around the horses, and it was difficult to keep them from running away. A Brother fell from a load of hay; another from a building; a great black snake passed between the feet of a Sister; but the hand of God kept them from harm. Our three towns have been spared the serious sickness which has prevailed
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elsewhere in the neighborhood. And no doubt we have been guarded in many unperceived dangers, and for this also we give heartiest thanks today.
The following changes have taken place among us. In the Parish Meeting, on second Easter day, the Yestry elected the two Brethren, Traugott Bagge and Michael Hauser, as Church Wardens. The County Court in Richmond this year appointed six Road-masters for this Parish, which formerly had only one; Br. Herbst is in charge of the Salem District. Br. Andreas Proesing has returned from Georgia, as the freedom of conscience, granted by the Act of Parliament in 1749, is not permitted there; Br. Wagner, being ill, was allowed to remain. The former preaching places on this side of the Atkin and beyond, on Deep Creek, and on the Town Fork, have this year been served by the Brn. Lorenz and Fritz. Two preaching tours have been made to a place on Haw River, by the Brn. Bachhof and Ernst, to the satisfaction of many souls ; it is a pity that on account of a lack of ministers this place cannot be more often visited, as many persons there have requested them to come. As the School-House in our English Settlement was so far finished that services could be held, Br. Fritz preached in it for the first time on Nov. 23rd, and Br. Graff baptised the first child. In future Br. Fritz will hold service there every fourteen days, instead of in the home of John Doughtid, but the consecration of the building will wait until a pastor and his wife move thither. On Sept. 21st the Saviour called Br. Bachhof from Friedberg to Himself; his place was filled in November by Br. Valentine Beck, after he and his wife had been received as Akoluthie by the Aeltesten Conferenz in Salem. On account of ill health Br. Wallis has gone to Pennsylvania, resigning the office of Congregation Vorsteher, which he has held for nearly two years. Br. Reuter will fill the position ad interim. Br. Friedrich Beck has also gone to Pennsylvania on account of his health, and Br. Tanz went with Br. Wallis to wait on him during the journey. One single man has been dismissed from here, and two have left of their own accord. The negro woman, Franke, because of her bad behaviour, was sold to a stranger. Our town has therefore lost eight residents, not counting Br. and Sr. Beck. On the other hand, as already stated, Br. Proesing has come back; young Andreas Wageman has moved here from Bethania, and Sr. Bachhof has come from Friedberg. The single woman, Hein, has received permission to stay in Salem; Dan Smith's little daughter has been taken by Br. and Sr. Fritz for care and training. Three children have been born. The increase, therefore, not counting Sr. Bachhof, is seven.
Eecokds of the Moravians in North Carolina 1043
Our only negro, Jacob, has been received into the Congregation. Our entire Congregation has celebrated the Communion twelve times; and each Choir has had it once. The Single Brother, Jacob Wohlfahrt, has partaken thereof for the first time.
At the close of this year the congregation of Salem consists of
19 Married Couples 38
Widows 3
Single Brethren 38
1 Youth and 6 Older Boys 7
Single Sisters and Older Girls .... 19
Little Boys and Children 13
Little Girls and Children 9
127, 1 less than last year.
Extracts from Summary in the Wachovia Church Booh, 1776.
The unrest in the land constantly increased. Gov. Josiah Martin left ~New Bern, and went on board an English war-ship that was cruising near Fort Johnston. A strong party of Scotch and others set out to bring him on shore, but below Cross Creek they were defeated and scattered by the other party. The Non-Associators, called Tories, were kept under close observation, and many of them fled to the new Pur- chase of Mr. Henderson.
In July the Independence of the twelve1 United Colonies was de- clared, and since then all has gone unhappily: — the so-called Continental Army lost all the places it had won in Canada; New York and the J erseys had to submit to the English under the command of Lord Howe, after much blood had been shed and a third part of the city of JSTew York had been burned to ashes. Commerce and trade was much dis- turbed, and goods were sold at very high prices, for instance a bushel of salt cost £2 : and could scarcely be found even at that price.
1 Bishop Graff twice refers to the twelve United Colonies — in the Salem Diary for Aug. 6, 1776, and in this summary of the year. He is doubtless counting Pennsylvania and Delaware as one, for "the Territories," otherwise known as "the Counties of New- castle, Kent and Sussex on the Delaware," did not become the Delaware State until Sept. 20, 1776, when they adopted a Constitution apart from that of Pennsylvania.
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Salem Diary, 1776. [Extracts translated.]
Jan. 1. After the congregation, in the Night-Watch, had passed over into the New Year in the peace and joy of Jesus Christ, and had en- joyed several hours of rest, they gathered at 10 o'clock in the morning for the festal service, Br. Graff speaking on Luke II, concerning Jesus, the Mediator of the New Testament, Whose blood speaks louder than the blood of Abel.
After the dampness of the preceding days the weather is pleasant.
Jan. 2. Br. Lorenz came from Bethabara for the first Aeltesten Con- ferenz of the year; we prayed our Lord that he would be graciously present in our Conferences, and that He would keep us from any in- fluence of our own minds that might hinder His will among us.
Jan. 5. It rained all day, but toward evening cleared with a strong wind from the west.
After fourteen days of quiet it was rumored today that Provincial soldiers were coming into this neighborhood to force those who favored the King to declare themselves, as, it is said, has already been done in South Carolina.
Jan. 6. Br.. Heckewalder returned from a visit to Matthew Lock, having been sent by Br. Bagge to get the news from Charlestown; he heard that the town and neighborhood were much alarmed, that the war ships of the Governor were firing on the town, that the town was being fortified, etc. This evening Mr. Sporgen's brother came with a secret message from Capt. Heinrich Herrman and other leaders of the Loyalist party, to find out in what way and how far we would unite with them, and what money and other things we would let them have, offering to stand by us and protect us to the full extent of their power. We absolutely refused to have anything to do with such an undertaking, which would be most dangerous for us; we look to our dear Lord, and rely on the protection of our heavenly Father, not on the help of man. We hear again that measures against us were proposed in Salisbury, but not decided on; if they should get anything against us their anger would not be restrained.
Jan. 7. Capt. Heinrich Herrman himself came to Br. Bagge, asked his opinion about present conditions in the land, and whether we would not set ourselves against them and join the other party? It does not accord with our character as Brethren to mix in such political
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1045
affairs, we are children of peace, and wish peace with all men; what- ever God lays upon us that will we bear, etc.; and with this as answer he left. In the Charlestown newspaper we see that the Pro- vincials have prevailed over the other party, and that in Canada they have captured Fort Chambly; also that Gov. Dunmore has given up his attack on Norfolk, and with a few men has retired to his sloop-of- war.
Jan. 8. It rained all day, and into the night.
Jan. 9. In Friedberg, Cornelius Schneider was married to Anna Maria, daughter of Martin Ebert, in the home of the latter, by Br. Bonn, as Justice.
Jan. 11. Again there was rain. Br. Fritz returned this evening; he has preached five times, English and German, that is to our friends in the English Settlement, at Christopher Elrod's, in Timber Ridge Meeting-House, and twice on Deep Creek. He had much difficulty on account of high water. There were good congregations everywhere, especially at Deep Creek; the people have had no preaching for a long time, for Murphy and the Bryants have been hiding, and have not yet returned. In Bethania, George Hauser and the [widow] Stolz were married by Justice Bonn.
Jan. 12. It was a wild day, with one rain and snow storm after the other, so there was no service in the evening. Various soldiers from Col. Martin's Corps were in the tavern, and bought different things, but conducted themselves in an orderly and courteous manner. They told much about the hardships they had to endure on their recent ex- pedition to South Carolina, some of their number had died, and some had had limbs frosted. In Bethabara, Capt. Armstrong posted an Ad- vertisement calling on the people to enlist; in Salem the sheriff posted another Advertisement, calling all Freeholders and Householders to assemble at Richmond Town on Feb. 12th, for the Election of Delegates and of members of the County Committee. It stated that Household- ers as well as Freeholders should vote, and might be voted for.2
Jan. 13. Last night it cleared and froze, but today the sun has melted nearly all the snow which fell yesterday. In the evening meet- ing of the Stundenbeter present conditions were earnestly commended to them as a subject of prayer, not that the Brethren should take any part in them but that they should ask the Lord to advise and lead us and our Brethren and Sisters according to His will through these de- pressing times, and pray that His example and conduct in this world might be our safe guide.
2 The Hillsboro Convention of Aug.-Sept., 1775, had given the franchise to Householders as well as Freeholders.
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Jan. lit-. It rained nearly all day, but at 8 o'clock we were able to have the Liturgy and the hymn of praise to the Holy Ghost. Jan. 15. It was damp and misting all day.
Jan. 16. A surgeon, who had fled from Virginia, was in our tavern, and told Br. Meyer that he crossed Dixon's Ferry with Miiller's wagon, and that the Committee in Pittsylvania County had broken open the chest in that wagon, in which were the letters, etc. for us, but for- tunately the first thing they found was a package of German news- papers, so they opened nothing else. In the afternoon it was again clear and cold.
Jan. 17. Today it was piercingly cold.
Jan. 18. This afternoon we received the much desired Text Books for this year, which were printed in Philadelphia ; there were also a few letters and Nachrichten from Bethlehem and Lititz. Gottfried Miiller brought them ; he had a very hard journey from Yorktown hither. We particularly rejoiced to again receive Wochentlichten JSTachrichten from Europe, including the first six Wochen concerning the Synod at Barby. From the few letters we learned that in Bethlehem all was going quietly; in Lititz there had been the unhappy incident that in the night of Nov. 25th the grist and saw mill had been burned, in much the same way as the oil mill at Bethlehem was burned several years ago. In the evening the news was presented to the sympathy of the Communicants.
Jan. 19. Br. Bagge was in Bethabara and Bethania, and on his re- turn reported what he had heard from George Hauser, Jr. and from others. Hauser has just returned from Cross Creek; Fields and Zapf- enfeld made the trip both ways with him. One does not dare to ac- cept such reports as true.3
Jan. 22. Br. Heckewalder went to Cross Creek for salt and other goods for the store. The intense cold continues.
Jan. 24 & 25. Very unfriendly weather, with glaze ice and rain, so that one could hardly go out of the house.
Jan. 29. A gentleman, one of the proprietors of Transylvania, or Lewicy, spent the night in the tavern. He told Br. Bagge, confiden- tially, that it was reported that Gov. Martin had been re-inforced by two shiploads of soldiers; the men of the frontier were much disturbed as to what they should do, and he himself felt that if England would no longer protect them they were indeed unfortunate.
Jan. 30. The whole day was wet, with rain and glaze ice; on ac- count of the weather no evening service was held. The gentleman who
3 The Diary does not state what the reports were.
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1047
came yesterday remained over anothdr night. There are more reports of the Governor's landing.
Feb. 1. Two messengers came to Br. Bagge, calling him to a certain place in the neighborhood tomorrow, to hear the secret instructions of Gov. Martin to his loyal followers, and to associate himself with them. Br. Bagge briefly declined.4 It looks as though the Governor were really going to march, but we cannot take part in a movement which means life or death.
Feb. 2. Last night there was again a little snow.
Feb. 3. Br. Heckewalder returned from Cross Creek, where he se- cured 200 bushels of salt, and other things for the store. There he heard nothing about the Governor's landing, but when he came by Capt. Herrman's, and when out of unnecessary curiosity he stopped at Justice Sporgen's house for more certain information, he heard that the Governor really had landed, and was instructed to give the news to Br. Bagge in Salem, though otherwise they were telling only those who had taken the oath to support him. We hear that during the last days John Koole has been gossiping a good deal about it in town here. After the evening service ten men arrived from up on the Atkin, flee- ing from the hard treatment which is being given to Non-Associators there. They wanted to give their secret information to a couple of the Brethren, but were not allowed the opportunity, and in the morn- ing they went on to Guilford County.
Feb. 5. Mr. Gallaway, a Deputy from Guilford County to the Coun- cil of Safety, spent the night here on his way to Salisbury. As he is favorably inclined to us, and an honorable man, Br. Bagge spoke confidentially with him, and asked that if in the meeting of the Coun- cil false reports were brought up against us, as happened at the last meeting, he would do his best for us, which he promised. Last night another party from the Atkin passed on their way to Cross Creek, and during the day various men have passed in the same direction; we also hear that Capt. Fields and his men marched from Guilford several days ago, and camped beside the Bethania wagons, seventy miles this side of Cross Creek.
Feb. 6. Various small companies passed toward Cross Creek; it is said that the King's Standard will be raised today sixty miles from here. It is reported that Col. Martin and 600 men have marched to intercept the other party. They say many threats of execution have been made against us, but the Lord will stand by us.
4 "Er lebnte es aber kurz ab."
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North Carolina Historical Commission
Feb. 7. Early this morning Giery "Wright and some twenty men marched through, but had neither money nor provisions. In the eve- ning a company of Atkin men came back from the camp, sixty miles away; they said that when they left about 500 men had gathered, but without officers or order, there was only one Scotch officer there to com- mand them; it was reported that they would march to Braunsweig to meet the Governor, etc. They regretted that their leader had disbanded them before certain news was received of the Governor's landing. They also said that the Bethania wagons had been held in the camp, but they did not know whether they had been allowed to pass later.
Feb. 8. Giery Wright and his party passed on their return; they had been turned back by men coming from the camp. Toward eve- ning we heard that the men who had remained at camp had marched toward Cross Creek, — time will show whether this is true. From Bethabara we heard that they had been frightened by men wearing buck-tails in the hat, presumably they were from Capt. Waldham's [Walton's] Company, which has been roughly treating people on the Atkin., Br. Reuter and Br. Miksch, who last Monday went to the Town Fork to divide Valentine Frey's land among his three sons, re- turned, and reported that many farms there had been completely abandoned by their owners.
Feb. 9. Evening there was a storm from the south, almost like a hurricane, with heavy rain.
Feb. 10. In the afternoon two wagons bringing goods for our store from Cross Creek arrived safely; they had been held at the camp one day, and then allowed to go, with much scolding because they were hauling salt for the Boston party. In camp the men were drilling. Mr. Gallaway returned from Salisbury; he told Br. Bagge that very likely a Detachment would make a visitation here, on account of the sending of wagons to Cross Creek, as they believed that Bagge had sent them for the use of the Governor, — but they will learn that this is not true.
[Graff to U. E. 0. David Heckewalder had been sent by Br. Trau- gott Bagge to buy salt for the store. Several private individuals from Bethania went on the same errand, so that altogether there were nine wagons.]
Feb. 11. Mr. Every, King's Attorney, passed on his way to Rich- mond to Court. Br. Bagge told him all about the sending of the wagons to Cross Creek.
Feb. 12. The two Brethren, Heinrich Schor and Marc Hohns, came together from Bethania to Br. Graff, and mentioned that the latter's
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1049
son, Johannes, was planning to marry Marie, the daughter of the former., Br. Graff could say nothing except that at present Johannes Hohns is not in good standing, and that it must be left to the care and consideration of the parents on both sides, as they both understand the spirit in which marriage should be undertaken; they both expressed regrets that their children were not in the state of mind which the importance of the step made desirable.
Br. and Sr. Meinung moved from the house near the pottery to the upper floor of the two-story house. Young Weiss came in the after- noon to say goodbye to Br. Graff, as he is going to Pennsylvania with Alexander Rosenbaum.
Feb. 13. We heard that on his way to Richmond Town Mr. Every stopped in Bethabara and inquired about the sending of the wagons to Cross Creek, and heard the true story thereof. From Richmond he went in haste to Guilford County, to countermand the Minute Men from Virginia, as the camp had broken up; since then all has been quiet in that vicinity, and the fugitives have returned to their farms.
Feb. IJf. Mr., William Hill was here for a short time last night. He brought the report that in Virginia there had been a bloody fight between Gov. Dunmore and the Minute Men, and the latter had lost. A man came from Cross Creek with salt, and brought word that there the Governor's party was very strong, and that the King's Standard had been raised. From Richmond we hear that the Minute Men are being divided into Companies, and are preparing to march to Guilford and beyond against the Governor, etc. All is alarm and confusion; we comfort ourselves with the Text : "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not."
Unafraid and undismayed
Will Christ's man
Ever stand, Let what may assail him.
[Graff to U. E. C. On account of an unfounded report that Gov. Josiah Martin had landed with troops below Cross Creek, and expected the loyal to join him there, many men from this and other Counties were persuaded to leave their farms and go to him.. The hard treat- ment they were receiving from the other party almost forced them to do this. Their number amounted to perhaps six hundred. But they had no intelligent leadership, and no supply of food or ammunition, expecting to find all that when they reached the Governor, so when they found themselves entirely disappointed, (either Gov. Martin had
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not landed, or he did not find himself in a position to join them,) they returned in small companies to their farms. But now they were the more sharply treated by their opponents, who took away their arms, and forced them either to take an oath to remain quiet, or to go into the field against the Governor.]
Feb. 15. Toward noon Br. Grabs and several other Brethren came from Bethania to tell us that yesterday Col. Armstrong, his brother John, Sheperd, and Waldam [Walton], the last three Captains, to- gether with a detachment of 50 soldiers, came to their town to make an investigation; this morning they were doing the same at Bethabara, and then they would come here. This happened at twelve o'clock, and one hour later the Brn. Graff, Wallis, Petersen, Heinzman, Bagge, Reuter and Herbst appeared before them, together with four Brethren from Bethabara and six from Bethania. The Brethren from the other towns had referred one point to Salem, and had therefore been ordered to come here. The Commission, which had been sent by the Council of Safety at Salisbury, took our solemn Affirmation, and then asked the" three following questions formally and courteously:
1) If we had not received ammunition from Gov. Martin? Answer : ~No.
2) Why would we not accept the new Congress money?
Answer : We did not refuse it, but would accept it at a different value if we could be sure it was not counterfeit, and that we could pay it out again.
3) They laid before us the Test authorized by the Congrgss in Hillsbury, and asked us to sign it. Br. Bagge, who spoke in the name of the Brethren, explained the mind of the Brethren con- cerning the bearing of arms, and that it was quite contrary to our calling to meddle in political affairs. This, and certain other points which had arisen from false reports about us, were explained to the entire satisfaction of the Commission, and they only asked a written Declaration5 from us in connection with the third point, which was drawn up, signed by all, and delivered to them. In return Mr. Arm- strong gave us a Certificate6 stating that the investigation had been completed to his entire satisfaction, and ordering all under his com- mand not to molest us. Then they departed in peace, taking with them four prisoners, James Clan and Giery Wright, whom they had arrested at their homes on the way hither, and whom they here had had fastened together with hand-cuffs, and two others whom they took
5 Bagge Paper, No. XI.
6 Bagge Paper, No. XII.
Eecokds of the Moravians in North Carolina 1051
in the tavern. The latter had come with a salt wagon from Cross Creek, and said that the Governor had already arrived there with a consider- able force; this was written down, and Capt. Armstrong left for Salis- bury. The Colonel made demand on us for 2000 lbs. meat, and enough corn-meal to supply 250 men for eight days, it will be paid for, and shall be furnished from our three towns. During the conference with the above-mentioned Brethren the common soldiers looked here and there for something to take, but got only a few axes and two pair of shoes, and these, together with some things taken from the store, were included in the account and were signed for. The Saviour be praised for His mercy and faithfulness during this investigation ! In the eve- ning, before the Liturgy, the congregation was given a short account of what had taken place, and were again admonished to be still, and to commit themselves to the Lord. Four additional Brethren were ap- pointed to watch tonight, as the command was camped on the Peters- bach, which was wise and necessary, for about midnight four came from there to the locksmith shop ; they gave as excuse that two prisoners had escaped and they were looking for them, but they found nothing, and had to leave.
Feb. 16. The Brethren and Sisters were spoken with preparatory to the Holy Communion, and were found content and blessed in their minds. We saw with real satisfaction that they were entirely in sym- pathy with the results of the investigation here yesterday, and that they are supporting with their prayers the Brethren who represented them. Br. Heckewalder has been all about in the neighborhood looking for wagons which he could send to Cross Creek for salt. He found wagons, but under the present circumstances no one dares drive them thither.
Feb. 18. Br. Bagge visited in Bethabara, where, in the afternoon, two Companies from the Town Fork arrived. Col. Armstrong had left an order that they were to camp in that neighborhood for a few days, and in the order had mentioned the favorable result of the recent investigation, thereby preventing annoyance from his men.
Feb. 19. Young Wilhelm Grabs came to spend several days here, as since yesterday efforts are being made to enlist the younger men in Bethania. If they were Brethren,7 and would establish their position as such, they could rely on the Declaration concerning this [military service] recently given to the Commission here.
Feb. 20. In Bethabara six Companies of Militia are camping, not counting Heinrich Schmid's Company at Bethania. One thousand men
7 That is, if they were Communicant members of the Unity of Brethren, or Society members fully agreed to the doctrine of refusal to bear arms on conscientious grounds.
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are to be gathered from this County, but their destination is as yet un- known.
[Graff to U. E. C. It really is a pity that most of them have been obliged to leave their farms, wives and children, without knowing whether or when they will return.]
Feb. 21. Br. Bagge received a letter from Col. Armstrong, asking that the beef ordered should be ready tomorrow, when it would be called for. In Bethabara they are quite overwhelmed with soldiers, as it be- gan to rain in the afternoon and continued all night.
Feb. 22. Br. Lorenz came from Bethabara and reported that most of the soldiers who were there had gone home, some by permission and others of their own accord. The rest came here during the afternoon, as did also those who were here a week ago, and a Company of Cavalry, and several wagons. They camped over night beyond the bridge; their officers were Col. Armstrong, Captains Cleveland, Hamelin, Walton and Henry Sclimid ; they numbered about two hundred; and they behaved well. Mr. Armstrong again took various things from the store ; they wanted to order ten pairs of shoes, but as the shoe-maker had no leather they could only get half a hide of saddle leather for moccasins. From the Brothers House they took meat, etc. which they will cook this eve- ning in preparation for the morrow's march, for an Express arrived with orders that they should hurry. Through a couple of Quakers news came that the Governor has really landed, and that the Scotch took a Company away. We gave up the evening service, and set a watch in town and in the Sisters House, but everything remained quiet, thanks be to the Saviour for His protection! Rudolph Christ left for New River to see about some so-called tin-ash at the lead mine, which Br. Aust could use for glazing pottery, as there is no red-lead to be had.
Feb. 23. In the afternoon the troops marched away. They took a number of things from the store and work-shops, and had them charged; we could not object, though payment is doubtful. Capt. Sheperd came in with 30 men, and quickly followed the others. Mr. Joseph Williams, with a wagon and a Company of Marauders, came toward evening and spent the night in the tavern; Mr. James Clane was set free, and al- lowed to go home.. In the evening meeting we read a sermon preached in 1750 by the Jiinger on the Text for today; and after that we sang the hymn "Da Jesus an dem Creuze stund." Br. Bachhof wrote [from Eriedberg] that his people were fearing a visit from Capt. Sheperd, and had sent their grown sons into hiding.
Feb. 2J/-. Capt. Yolp visited our English Settlement, and took their guns and the little powder they had. Daniel Schmid had to swear that
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1053
lie would do nothing against the liberty of the land; then when he de- clared himself a Brother, and told them that during the recent Com- mission in Salem Col. Armstrong had received full satisfaction, they returned one of his guns but kept the other, for which the Captain gave him a receipt. George Loesch came back from the troop, and went home; probably others will follow him. In the afternoon two young men came from Haw Kiver, Daniel Christman, Sr. Stockberger's brother, and Sommers. They left home because of the enlistment going on there, and wish to stay here a while; Christman would like to remain per- manently.
Feb. 25. Several came from camp to get sugar, coffee and lead for the officers.8 Br. Bagge was asked to get 100 lbs. lead from Chiswell's mine, but this he will not do. The poor men must and will make war, but have none of those things that are necessary. JSTow we see the wisdom of the Saviour's advice that we reduce rather than increase the business of the store,9 for the less we have the less can be taken away on charge account.
Feb. 26. The fine, spring-like weather continues..
Feb. 27. The children's service was not held on account of rain. Br. Lorenz came to Aeltesten Conferenz, which was held in the after- noon. Two of Col. Armstrong's soldiers, who were ill, returned by way of Salisbury. Prom them we secured a Charlestown newspaper, which among other things gave the news from London that Gov. Martin would be sent a support of 4000 men, with whose help it was hoped that he could take this Province; also that a sloop lay at Portsmouth ready for crossing, with which certain persons were to come over, pre- sumably with proposals of peace.
Feb. 28. The Aufseher Collegium met for a short while.. Br. Mein- ung went to Bethabara to see about the bookkeeping. A new stable was built on the farm of the Single Brethren. Prom the camp at the Cross Roads10 came a man who had been dismissed; he reported that the little army, about 3000 men, yesterday broke up there and marched toward Cross Creek. The thunderstorm to the south of us yesterday was followed by a sharp storm-wind from north by west, and last night the ground partly froze.
Feb. 29. Yesterday's north-west storm continues, and the cold is the sharpest we have had this winter.
8 Bagge Paper, No. XIII.
9 Some time before there had been an opportunity to buy a store at Cross Creek and
establish a branch there, but the Lord, through the lot, had advised against expansion. 10 In Guilford County ; Col. James Martin had gathered Provincial Militia there.
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March 1. The Single Brother Kudolph Christ returned from New River, where he accomplished nothing, for they are not smelting silver but only working for lead, so he could obtain neither silver glaze nor tin-ash which the potter could use for glazing. Meanwhile a Presby- terian minister from the Jerseys, near Pennsylvania, arrived accom- panied by Col. Hund. He said he had been commissioned by the Con- tinental Congress, and wherever he went he was to explain the causes of the strife with England, and desired to do it here.. Br. Bonn told him that most of the residents here were German, and would not understand him; he also explained to him the proceedings of the recent Commis- sion, which had the same object; this seemed to content him though he gave us to understand that weapons were to be taken away from members of the so-called Tory party, and the same would be done here. This did take place on Abbotts Creek, and they also took the young men, and so young Sommers, — see Feb. 24th above, — hurriedly fled hither again.
March 2. Since yesterday the wind is from the south and the weather is milder. Br. "Wallis visited the men who are working on the mill. Many people of all kinds were in town; toward evening two soldiers passed on their return from the army, they belonged to a Company en- listed on the Catawba, and having served their term were going back to their families.
March 3. Br. Fritz returned from a visit to Muddy Creek Settle- ment. Yesterday he preached in John Douthed's house, and today in Christoph Elrod's he preached in English to a good congregation, some coming from beyond the Atkin. He was advised not to go across the Atkin, for two weeks ago the people who were attending a preaching service were surrounded by soldiers, and some of the young men were taken, — probably the minister had arranged for this.
March 6. Mr. Joseph Hughs, formerly known as the one-handed peddler, came from the Provincial camp below Cross Creek, where he had been a prisoner, but had been exchanged as he was a Captain in the Light Horse of the Scotch or Loyalist army. He reported that the latter, although 4000 strong, had been defeated and captured by the Provincial troops, with only one-fourth as many men ; that Gov. Martin had not received help from England, and had not landed. Whether this is true, or how much of it, we will soon know.
March 7. Nothing special happened. Br. Martin Ebert came from Eriedberg, and told us that Capt. McCoy and his Company were scour- ing that neighborhood, seizing guns, and demanding the signing of the Congress Resolution. George Hartmann and Spach had taken the Cap-
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1055
tain a copy of the Declaration recently signed in Salem, and of the Certificate, to see whether he would not agree to let them include the Eriedberger. The pleasant spring weather continues. In the evening was Bible reading. Old father Schulz, from beyond Bethabara, came to Br. Graff for a Certificate that his son George is a member of the Brethren's Society, which was given to him.
March 8. We heard through Thomas Peddycoart that the Brn. Spach and George Hartmann were well received by Capt. McCoy when they took him a copy of the Declaration signed by us on the 15th of last month, and he promised that in the search for weapons, etc. our people should not be disturbed, which was good news for our English Settle- ment also. The brush from above our God's Acre was stacked on the further ridge; toward evening fire came across from beyond Rose's farm, and our Brethren had to hurry out and burn against it, or all would have been lost.
March 9. The Srs. Graff and Quest returned from their visit to Bethabara and Bethania; on the other hand the Srs. Herbst, Elisabeth Werner and Enerson went to Bethabara with the wagon. Lieut. Harnedon returned from Cross Creek with his little company of twelve Light Horsemen, who were going to their homes. They brought Br. Bagge a letter from Col. Armstrong, dated Cross Creek, March 5th, which confirmed the report which we heard on the 6th, saying that on Eeb. 27th, sixteen miles above Wilmington,11 the Scotch army had been defeated by Caswell's army, some 70 men had been killed, and all the rest taken prisoner; those who laid down their arms and took the oath were released, but the officers were taken as prisoners to Hallif ax town. All the stores in Cross Creek except three had been closed, awaiting an order from Congress. Our store will probably lose by this, as most of the recently purchased salt is still there.
March 10. Br. Wallis prayed the Church Litany with the Congre- gation. As we have finished the newer Gemein Nachrichten, which run to the end of 1774, and as we cannot expect soon to receive more from Europe, we followed the resolution recently adopted by the Aelt- esten Conferenz, and today commenced to read Br. Cranz' History of the Brethren, and in two sessions we heard the story from the first association of the Brethren in Bohemia and Moravia to the beginning of Luther's Reformation.
March 11. This morning came a Mr. Linch, who said he was a mem- ber of the Surry Committee, and three other men; they arrested Br. Herbst, and took him to the tavern. The occasion was that a man by
u At Moore's Creek Bridge. 6
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the name of Moore had told them that he had sent an $8.00 bill, of the new money, to the Moravians, and they had refused it. (Br. Bagge had that very bill in the money he had on hand.) The men were as- sured of the falseness of the accusation, and the irregularity of their action was pointed out to them, and they had to release Br. Herbst without further investigation. The Ensign who was with them was so provoked by the irregularity of the proceeding that he threatened the leader with blows. In the afternoon Capt. Heinrich Schmid and his Company passed on their way home from Cross Creek, as did the other Companies of Militia; from their continued enlistment, and other preparations, it may be inferred that they expect to be called out again. At leaving Cross Creek each man took a bushel of salt from what was stored there. In the evening there was reading from the Harmony of the Bible, and after that thei singstunde.
March 13. Capt. Waldon [Walton] and his Company spent the night in the tavern on their return from Cross Creek, which caused a good deal of disturbance there, though it was fairly quiet in the town. Col. Armstrong also came; he wrote for Br. Bagge a letter of recom- mendation to the officers in charge of the stores at Cross Creek, and there is some hope that the goods we bought may still be brought from there.
March 11}.. The Waldon Company left. The weather yesterday was rather raw, and in the afternoon there were storms; during the night the wind changed to the south, and today has been rainy.
March 17. In the afternoon there was a sudden storm, the most severe we ever remember here. During the few minutes that it lasted the noise was like that of the storm of one year ago yesterday, and it did more damage, for it blew into a heap the stable recently built and roofed on the Single Brothers farm, and few pieces of the wood re- mained unbroken; on one side of the Single Sisters' kitchen three- quarters of the roof was torn off and carried into the Gemein Haus garden, and other roofs and many fences were greatly damaged. The rain drove through tiles and shingles into the houses, especially the Gemein Haus, where the ceiling of the Saal and of the rooms would have fallen had the storm continued for a while. We shall probably hear of this storm from other places. Br. Graff received an unexpected letter12 from a Committee-man in Salisbury by the name of Cham- burg, who stated that a large package had come for us from Europe by way of Charlestown, and on account of the circumstances of the times had been held in Salisbury and deposited with Mr. Beard, and
12 Bagge Paper, No. XV.
Records of the Moravians in North Carolina 1057
Br. Graff or some other proper person might come and open it in the presence of a person appointed by the Committee. At the close of the day the hymn of praise to the Father was sung. Br. Praezel returned from Bethabara ; the storm was not nearly so severe there, and had done no particular damage. It cleared up warm, which is just the opposite of what usually happens after such a hard storm.
March 19. In Bethania, Johann Hohns was married to Marie Shor by Justice Bonn.
March 20. There was frost this morning, but we hope it has not hurt the peaches, which are in bloom.
March 21. The Brn. Graff and Bagge returned from Salisbury. Br. Graff opened the package of Gemein Nachrichten in the presence of the Salisbury Committee, and was permitted to keep everything when it appeared that the package was from Germany. It contained the first seven report sheets from the Synod in Barby, Wochen 1 to 11, and some Beilagen, from the year 1775. There was also one letter from Br. Hutton, in London, dated Oct. 10, 1775, which informed us that three additional packages were in a chest of books. Mr. Felix Long wrote from Charlestown, Feb. 28th, this year, that this had arrived in Georgetown, but so far he had received only the above-mentioned pack- age; he also told us that Br. Miiller went home in Savannah last fall. To our no small joy we also received our first letter from Br. Marshall from Barby, dated Aug. 17, 1775, which said that he and his Liesel were well, and that great blessing was resting on the Synod, but he gave no information about his return to America.
March 22. Br. Heckewalder left for Cross Creek, to see whether the salt and other things we bought are still there, and to arrange for hav- ing them brought here. Br. Wutrobe went with him to see whether he could get some leather. Col. Armstrong came on private business; he took with him Br. Bagge's account of the supplies furnished the Surry troops, and will present it to the Committee which will meet next Monday in Richmond. In the afternoon it rained for about two hours, but cleared with a wind from the south, so that we did not have frost.
March 21f. There was a cold wind from the north-west, but toward evening it veered to the south, so the frost was not heavy and we hope the blossoms were not greatly hurt. Br. Ernst mentioned [from Beth- ania] that Ludwig and Benjamin Leinbach had exchanged farms and dwellings, and so had John Leinbach and Dietz.
March 26. According to the summer schedule breakfast was at seven; at sunset the bell rang for stopping work, and three-quarters of an hour
1058 North Carolina Historical Commission
later the twilight service was held. Br. Bultischek took his tools to Steiner's mill, where he will make a bolting-chest for flour. Schober is sick, and as Tanz does not care to undertake the weaving the elderly Br. Hurst, who is a skilled weaver though he has not done any for twelve years, has joined Br. Praezel at the looms. We hear from Rich- mond that the Committee willingly accepted the account of the sup- plies recently furnished the Surry troops, and will present it to the next Congress. In Rowan County men are again being ordered to drill, or to give up their arms and take the oath to remain neutral. A man from 60 miles above Willmington reported that Gov.. Martin certainly had landed troops, who were throwing up fortifications near Fort Johnston, and all in the neighborhood were under arms, etc.
March 28. The Brn. Heckewalder and Wutrobe returned from Cross Creek before we expected them.. They had a successful trip, and found all that we had bought lying in safety, except seventy bushels of salt in one store, whose owner had fled, and for this salt we will have to apply to Congress. The stores there were nearly all open, and goods were willingly and gladly sold ; all was quiet and peaceful, and no one seemed frightened, though they expect more to happen. The shop-keepers who were taken to Hallifax town were released on security, and were look- ing after their stores again. This is another example of God's care for our affairs, and we give Him our thanks therefor.
March 30. Many people were here during the day to buy pottery, etc. Br. Heckewalder went to find wagons which he could hire to send to Cross Creek, and especially to secure a Pass for them from the Com- mittee at Richmond. Wear Bethabara, in the wild meadow below the mill, Capt. Schmid mustered his Company, and called for volunteers to march again to Cross Creek; he himself will not go.
March 31. In beginning the Passion Week we sung, in the morning at 8 :30, the Litany of the Life and Death of our Lord. * * * In the evening service the account was read of the entry of our Lord into Jerusalem before His Passion, and the "Hosannah: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord," was sung with instrumental ac- companiment..13
April 1. This month began with pleasant spring weather, but toward evening there was again a raw wind, and the night was cloudy and rainy. In the evening the story of Monday and part of Tuesday [of the Passion Week] was read; Br. Praezel held the singstunde.
April 2. The Weather was changeable, with some rain. In the eve- ning the rest of the acts of Tuesday were read.
Probably tbe Hosannah of Geisler, reproduced as one of the illustrations in this volume.
Hosanna Chorus, by Geisler From Herbst Collection in Salem Archives
Eecoeds of the Moeavians in Noeth Caeolina
1059
April 3. Br. Petersen went to Bethabara to see his Brethren before the Communion. Yesterday, Capt Hamelin, on his return from Halli- fax, brought word that no more troops were needed below, so our town will not be disturbed this week. Today a man from Virginia re- ported that a Proclamation from the King had been read there, which repealed all Acts against America, and that the King would govern the Colonies as before those Acts were passed. It is much to be desired! In the reading we had the washing of the Disciples' feet, and our Lord's discourse that followed it.
April -4- Maundy Thursday. In the morning there was a Com- munion Conference, and the Lord gave gracious decision as to several persons.14 In the afternoon at four o'clock we read of the Passover, the beginning of the Lord's supper, and the High Priestly Prayer. At five o'clock, just as the Sisters were about to have the Pedilavium, Capt. Jarvis and his twenty horsemen rode through the town and camped beyond the bridge ; however, they made no disturbance, and in the evening at seven o'clock the Brethren were also able to hold the Pedilav- ium, though the announcement [by bell-ringing] had to be omitted, as also for the service at eight o'clock, when we read of His agony, be- trayal, and arrest on the Mount of Olives. And finally 86 souls, hungry and thirsty for grace, joined in the Supper which He ordained the night in which He was betrayed.
April 5. Good Friday. Their share of the Sacrament was taken to Br. and Sr. Bonn in their home, and also to Br. and Sr. Steiner at the mill.15 Br. Wallis held the Communion for the officials. Then we read the account of the crucifixion and departure of our Lord, Who loved us even unto death. In the afternoon at 1 :30 we sang the hymn Da Jesus an dem Creuze stund; and at three followed the reading of the opening of His side.
Meanwhile several small parties of soldiers arrived, Col. Armstrong and Capt. Shepherd, and then 50 horsemen. The first named had just come when an Express arrived with word from Col. Martin that they did not need any more troops below at this time, and shortly thereafter he dismissed the men, telling them to go home and take good care of their farms, and most of them left this evening. The latest arrivals camped for the night in the woods just, below the tavern, so that again it was necessary to place several Brethren on watch. A couple of times several of the men appeared before the door of the Sisters House, but nothing further happened. Capt. Shepherd had impressed our wagon
The Lord was consulted, through the lot, before candidates were Confirmed and admitted
to the Holy Communion. There was sickness in each home, which prevented their attendance the preceding day.
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at Bethabara to carry their meal as far as Friedrich Miiller's, but here it was discharged and the meal sent back to the Bethabara mill. The Friedberger had appealed to the County Committee for their guns which had been seized, and had been referred to Col. Armstrong, who now gave them a letter to Capt. Johnston instructing him to return their weapons. "We closed the day with the story of the burial of the Saviour, and a beautiful liturgy, thankful that in spite of all outward disturbances we had been able to enjoy a quiet and peaceful Good Friday.
April 6. The town was somewhat disturbed in the morning, partly by the soldiers who were leaving for home and were making purchases, and partly by other persons coming to buy. Br. Bonn received from the sheriff, Mr. Shepherd, a Commission to hold the Yestry election on 2nd Easter Day; he sent the word as far as he could among the pa- rishioners. Soon after noon all the soldiers had left except Shepherd's Company; this Captain planned to spend another night here, and with no good intentions, but the Meyers begged Col. Armstrong to send them away, which he did, against the will of the Captain, who had behaved in a brutal manner here and at Bethabara. They did not leave until five o'clock, but we did not let that disturb us, and quietly gathered at two o'clock for our Sabbath Lovefeast, where we had blessed thoughts of the Saviour's rest in the tomb, and sang sweet hymns and a cantata. At eight o'clock the Choirs, separately, had their solemn evening prayer. It rained nearly all day and night.
April 7. In the morning at five o'clock the congregation was wakened by the trombones, and at half past five they gathered in the Saal, and after the Easter greeting: Christ is risen! they went to God's Acre, and there prayed the Easter Liturgy.16 * * * A fairly large number of visitors looked on attentively. There was a heavy fog, which fell just as the congregation was leaving God's Acre, and the sky cleared so that the day was fair. The festal sermon was preached at ten, on John XII. In the afternoon there was a meeting for the children ; also the reading of the account of the Resurrection, and the appearances to His disciples. At night the Hymn of Praise to the Father was sung.
April 8. In the morning, Gemein Nachrichten were read from cer- tain English and Irish congregations, and from the Diaspora in Holstein and Jutland. In the afternoon was the meeting of the men of Dobbs Parish, to which a number came from all parts of Wachovia. They
18 The origin of the custom of holding a service on God's Acre early in the morning of Easter Sunday is explained in Croger's History, which contains the following extract from the Diary of Herrnhut for 1732. "In the young men's meeting on April 12th we were of one mind that on Easter Day we would go to our Resting Place upon the Hutberg before the rising of the sun; which was done before four o'clock on the morning of the 13th. Later, when we had spent an hour and a half in singing on the Hutberg, and had returned, a prayer and song service was held in the Saal."
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elected twelve Vestrymen by a majority vote, and after Br. Bonn, as deputy sheriff, had qualified them the Vestry elected Traugott Bagge and Michael Hauser as Church Wardens for the year, and Br. Fritz as Public Reader for the Parish.
April 11. All day there was unfriendly weather, rain mixed with snow, and during the night it cleared and froze, and in the morning there was frost that has probably done harm.
April 13. People from Holston's River say that when they left there the snow lay six inches deep, so no wonder the air is chilly. It seems that there is danger there from the Indians, people are gathering together or are fleeing ; the Indians have plenty of ammunition, but no one knows whether it came from Canada or South Carolina.
April 15. A little warm rain last night refreshed things.
April 18. An express passed from the Congress in Hallifax, taking word to Mr. Lanier that Gov. Martin was captured in Hampton Roads of J ames River by Capt. Manly of the Philadelphia fleet. Br. Charles Holder returned from Salisbury; he was not able to find iron there.
April 20. Christian Prey, his wife, and others, left for Pennsyl- vania on horseback. "We hear that Alexander Rosenbaum has returned from Pennsylvania.
April 22. The air is cool, and this morning there was some frost, but so far no damage has been done.
April 23. A new dwelling-house was raised at Br. Baumgarten's, several Brethren from here assisting. Br. Charles Holder has gone to Allen's Furnace for iron which we need for the new saw-mill.
April 26. Mr. Lanier's Deputy Commissioner, Colvert, passed on his return from Cross Creek; he reports that the Congress in Hallifax has declared Independence from England. From Salisbury came Mr. Thomas Frohok and others who will spend, Sunday in our tavern. They attended the liturgy 0 Head so full of bruises, in the Saal.
April 27. Br. Toego ISTissen came from Friedland. He says that Peter Schneider and his family have moved to the farm of old David Holzapfel, on a written agreement that Schneider is to have the farm, and is to take care of Holzapfel for the rest of his life.
April 28. Br. Fritz preached for the first time in our Saal. The visitors from Salisbury had asked for an English sermon, and listened attentively. They were shown about the town, and were pleased; Mr. Frohok particularly liked the singstunde even though he could not understand the words of the hymns.
April 29. The guests from Salisbury left this morning, well satis- fied. Mr. Frohok was so pleased with the singstunde that his account
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of it brought tears to the eyes of the two ladies, who had not been able to attend on account of their small children. Br. Pfaff came from Friedberg to consult about the Muster, to which Brethren there are called from time to time. They think the Act of Parliament of 1749 exempts them, but if they should pay money in lieu of personal service, as that Act provides, it will be more than they can afford.
April 30. Again there were many here to buy pottery. This has been going on all the month, for it is known that the potter is out of glazing, and each is trying to supply himself in time. In our pottery we have twice burned lead to ashes for glazing and that has made it possible to continue the business.
May 1. After yesterday's thunderstorm it cleared up cool, and we feared frost last night, but escaped. Br. Heckewalder returned from Cross Creek, the wagons will arrive about next Friday. All was quiet there, but he heard that in the Congress at Hallifax much was being asked about our position and whether we had given aid to the Scotch.
May 2. Mr. Ludwig Eiseln, from Stinking Quarter, was here with his wife and sons to receive the inheritance which was paid for him to the Unity Yorsteher Collegium in Barby.
May S. Br. Bagge was informed that Mr. Lanier did not take to the Congress at Hallifax our account for the supplies furnished to the troops, but sent it to Mr. Every, and he, Mr. Lanier said, was in Salis- bury, and Mr. Armstrong, whom he was to meet there, would not go to Hallifax as he had been ordered again to enlist soldiers.
May Jf.. Three wagons arrived from Cross Creek with the goods we bought there.
May 5. The weather is beginning to be warm even at night.
May 6. Mr. Joseph "Williams came from the Congress in Halifax. He said that for the present no soldiers would be called from the upper settlements to the lower, as they were mostly farmers ; but 4000 regular militia-men were to be enrolled and drilled, from whom some could be called as needed. Two Friedberg Brethren, Graeter and Tesch, came just then to see about the Muster matter, and the news relieved them greatly.
May 7. Br. Bagge was in Bethabara and spoke with Capt. Heinrich Schmid's lieutenant, Schemel, who said that he had orders to notify all the settlers in Wachovia in the Friedberg, Friedland, and Muddy Creek Settlements to meet tomorrow at Steiner's mill, where the proposition will doubtless be laid before them.
May 8. In the morning the Aufseher Collegium had a conference. Afternoon Br. Bagge rode to the home of Matthew Lock, to ask his sons,
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who had just returned from Charlestown, about conditions there. Evening at seven-thirty the Handwork Conference met to consider the Virginia paper currency, which has begun to circulate in large quan- tity. It was decided not to accept it, except in case of necessity, that is if refusal meant to turn away a customer or sell on credit.
For the first time in Wachovia there was the unpleasant event that all the Taxables from Friedberg, Friedland, and the Maryland Settle- ment were obliged to meet at Steiner's mill, where Capt. Heinrich Schmidt took the names of all the young men, as belonging to his Com- pany, and therefore as enlisted. It was learned from his Lieutenant, Schemel, who is also a member of the Committee, that this would not have happened had not some from the Maryland Settlement attended the election of a Captain.
May 9. On account of a thunderstorm and rain the evening Litany could not be held.
May 10. Already today some of the young people from Friedland, — whose names were taken day before yesterday for Capt. Heinrich Schmidt's Company, — were called to