On the eve of the New Year

“In times past, it was a cherished tradition of the Moravian Church to read a Memorabilia of notable events at a closing service of a waning year. Not only did a Memorabilia remind a congregation of its own deeds and accomplishments during the passing year, but it also recalled the leading of the Savior as we sought to do his will.

In the Southern Province the first settlers in 1753 were prevented from holding a Memorabilia or Watchnight service, because “our cabin was very full” with visitors. Since then Bethabara and then Salem held Memorabilia services for more than two centuries until the final Salem Congregation Memorabilia was read on New Year’s Eve 1968." -- Richard W. Starbuck

The Moravian Bishop

Unlike most denominations the Moravian bishops hold no executive power by virtue of their office. Their function is primarily to ordain and to be a "pastor to the pastors." They hold the office for life and have episcopal standing throughout the world-wide Moravian church. The bishop is elected from among the presbyters of the Moravian Church. 

Christmas decorations in the Public Room of the tavern are retired

A Moravian sister collects the greens of Christmas.

Christmas at the tavern

A Moravian sister corresponds - note the Christmas decorations in the background. This photo was taken in the Public Room which historically was decorated in the style of the English - which features more greens. The German - Moravian tradition decorated more simply. A majority of 18th century guess to the Salem tavern were English-Scott-Irish. 

Education

About the Boys School:

- The school pictured above was built in 1794; 
- Students attended 12 months of the year;
- Students were awakened at 5:15 in the summer and at 6:30 in the winter;
- Students arose and saluted when the teacher entered or departed the classroom;
- The curriculum included geography, English grammar, geometry, German, Latin, religion, music and penmanship;
- Boys attended the school from age 6 to 14.

The 1784 disaster

On January 31, 1784 disaster struck in the village of Salem. The tavern burst into flames and burned to the ground. Though no lives were lost much material was in the form of furniture and the personal property of those staying in the tavern. 

A benefit did, however, manifest itself. The church boards ordered two hand-pumped fire engines from Europe. They arrived a year later in 1785. It pleased the citizens of Salem that the engines could pump water over the highest roof. 

The fire engines were first used at a fire in August of 1786. 

Pictured above is the 1803 fire house from which were monthly fire drills.

When a fire broke out a bucket brigade was formed. The men would form a line and pass buckets of water from the cistern to the fire engine reservoir. The women would form a parallel line passing the empty buckets back to the cistern. 

The Count and the Lot

Count Zinzendorf, pictured above, the progenitor of the Moravians, introduced a controversy practice to the Moravian Church during the 18th century, the lot. In the 18th Century Moravian's made use of the lot in an effort to determine the will of God in situations when the right course of action was not clear to them. Prayer proceeded the drawing of the lot. Three small tubes were placed in a bowl: one said "yes", another said "no" and the third was blank, which indicated "not yet".

The choirs

The Single Brothers House
Old Salem, NC

The Moravian choir system originated in Herrnhut, Saxony - Germany in February 1728, when a group of unmarried men moved to their own dormitory to worship, live, and work. In 1730 the unmarried women, led by 15 year old Anna Nitschmann, made a similar move and founded the first single sisters house - this also in Herrnhut.

The choir system has little to do with singing as the word implies today. Rather it was a grouping of males and females according to age, sex, and marital status. These groups or choirs gave the opportunity for Moravians to live with those with similar concerns and life experiences. 

Pietism

Photo taken at Bethabara - the first Moravian settlement in North Carolina.

To understand the Moravians of the 18th and 19th centuries one must have at least a passing understanding of Pietism. Pietism is a theological understanding, and should not be confused with simply being pious. 

If you feel you are deficient about Pietism I suggest doing a search on the word "Pietism" - or simply click here. 

The Moravian Motto

The motto or slogan of the Moravian Church is: "In essentials, Unity; in non-essentials, Liberty; in all things, Love."

Moravians and the single woman

Singles were almost unheard of in early America. It is suggested that only 3 percent of women in early America stayed single ... almost everybody married just by necessity. 

That being the case for the Moravian community to have given this women — and a lot of other women — (the means) to stay single was really unusual for the time. 

A glimpse into Indian living

"We left Tellico Block House in the company of a respected Indian, named Tay, to whom

we had been directed. We regretted very much that it was impossible to find someone who could have talked both Indian and English at the same time, but we were assured that in the Indian towns we would find enough people who were fluent in both languages. 

We spent the first night at Big Tellico, a town which has 44 houses. The reception which we had at the home of an Indian, Kulsatahi, was good according to his national customs; for supper we had bread baked from corn and beans and a remarkable soup of honey-locust pods. Here we could make ourselves understood only with signs. On the 14th of November (1799) in the evening we arrived near the Baptist (Dunkard) of who we have heard in Salem. He lost his companion sometime ago, when he was killed in the felling of a tree. 

Next to his tidy cottage live three Indian families. They visited us that evening and his

next-door neighbor invited us to his house the next morning and treated us with milk. The entire arrangement in the house indicated orderly and right-living people; they keep cattle, horses, etc. The Dunkard, who had been Anspach troops and is a linen-weaver by profession, instructs them in his craft and in field and garden cultivation..." -- Tellico Block House, 19th November 1799, authored by Friedrich v. Schweinitz

The strong missionary spirit among the Moravians

"Since one of the reasons the Brethren came to North Carolina (the Wachovia) in the first place was ... for the sake of the southern Indians, and ever since brother Martin Schneider's visit among the Cherokee 16 years ago we have always had cause to become more closely acquainted with them in order to serve them with the gospel where possible." - text from the Helfer Conference, meeting in Salem in 1799. Translated by C. Daniel Crews.

"Brother Kohler stated that the chief reason for which the Lord planted our congregations here in Wachovia (North Carolina) was that we might preach the Gospel to the heathen, especially the neighboring Cherokee and Creek Indians." 

"It has been our constant desire to watch what goes on in these nations, and see whether the hour has come in which this plan of the savior can be carried out."  Text from the Salem Diary, 1799. Translated by Adelaide L. Fries.

A sampling of Moravian terms

Gemein Haus: congregation house, containing a room for worship, living quarters for the minister and others, and usually school rooms as well.

God's Acre: the burial ground of a Moravian Church. It is thought of as God's Field, where the bodies of believers are sown awaiting the resurrection. See first Corinthians 15:36-44.

Hernhut: the community on the estate of Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf, begun in 1722 - built by members of the Moravian Church and others. It is considered the headquarters of the worldwide Moravian Church.

Lovefeast: during a time of hymn-singing, the worshipers, as a family of believers, partake of simple food and drink, rendering praise to God. The love feast is not a substitute for the Lord's Supper, but on occasion is held in preparation to the sacrament.

Memorabillia: an annual review of events worthy of remembrance, prepared by the minister and read to the congregation on New Year's Eve.

Oeconomie: Common housekeeping.

Saal: Usually a worship space within a building.

Singstunde: Hour of singing. A service in which a congregation unites in singing a series of hymn versus, developing a worship theme.