As the Moravians in Salem rolled into the 1800’s social problems arose. One concerned corn huskings - of all things.
Corn huskings were held in the country congregations. These events concerned the Elders because they had the potential for excessive drinking and too free association between male and female.
An effort was made to ban them. The farmers on the other hand needed the help to husk their corn.
In 1802 a comprise was reached between the Elders and the farmers. The farmers promised to no longer have the huskings in the evening or at night - and they will not permit the single Brethren and Sisters to get together. The “promises” it is recorded may have been half hearted.
The Brethren were also apprised about the dangers of attending horse races, frolics, shooting matches and the like.
Times were changing in the early years of the 19th century and the Elders were finding it more and more difficult to maintain the ways of just a few years earlier.
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