In Moravian circles it is said that Count Zinzendorf in Europe died because of a decision that was made in Bethany, North Carolina. It is not a tall tale.
Bethabara, North Carolina, was the first Moravian settlement in the Wachovia (1753). All of the residents were Moravians - no exceptions.
Bethania was the second Moravian settlement (1759). Into this village the Moravian bishop, August Gottlieb Spangenberg (b. 1704) permitted non-Moravians to settle.
Eight Moravian families were selected to move from Bethabara to Bethania - three miles away. The bishop enhanced that number with eight non-Moravian families. The village was then intentionally divided - the Moravians were “lower towners” and the non-Moravians “upper towners”.
It took more than a year for this news to cross the Atlantic and land on the desk of Count Zinzendorf in Saxony.
The Count was not happy - not at all! He vented! The scribe that took down the venting noted, “those who heard his words will never forget them in their whole life long.”
In the Diary for May 3, 1760 are recorded additional words from the Count.
He said, “It is against our plan to mix ourselves with people who we do not know. It must absolutely and to eternity not happen that Brethren and stranger people build a settlement where they are going to live together.”
Six days later - the Count was dead. Bethania lives on.
There are a number of implications to this narrative. Do any jump out of you?
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