Moravian funeral customs

God's Acre in Salem - 1771

Tombstones are washed in advance of Easter

All ages and members of the family tend the markers of those who have gone before. 

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Moravian funerals are are characterized by both grief and joy. Moravians like others grieve the loss of loved ones, but they also believe Jesus brings salvation to those who profess his name in faith and trust. Thus they are a hopeful people. Moravian believers say the deceased has “entered into the immediate presence of the Savior.”

One unique characteristic of Moravian funerals is the reading of the Lebenslauf of the deceased. The Lebenslauf is a short account of the deceased’s life. It includes a brief account of the deceased’s faith, and it is meant to be an encouraging example.

Music is a very important part of Moravian funeral traditions. Generally speaking, a volunteer brass band will play music at the gravesite. 

Moravians have simple burial grounds - called God’s Acre. They believe in uniform, plain grave markers to emphasize the equality of all human beings. The dead are buried facing the East as they await the resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming of Jesus. 

Scripture readings are an important part of church functions. Favorite passages of the deceased may be used as part of the funeral. 

Romans 10:9 and Bishop Rondthaler

The tombstone pictured above marks the resting place of the beloved Moravian bishop, Edward Rondthaler (1877 - 1931), in God's Acre, Old Salem, NC. 

The inscription on his tombstone tells us a great deal about the good bishop's theology and sense of mission. May his tribe increase. 

Did you know this about home ownership in Salem

From the founding of Salem, NC, in 1766 until 1857 one must be a Moravian to live and work in Salem. During that period if one sold their home it must be to another Moravian. That all changed in 1857. In that year Moravians could sell their real estate to non-Moravians. Salem was no longer a congregational village. 

The birth of Winston-Salem

The Moravians purchased nearly 100,000 of Land in North Carolina from the Earl of Granville in 1753. This tract was named "die Wachau" to honor the estates of Count Zinzendorf, the leader of the international Moravian Church. The name was anglicized to Wachovia.

In 1849 the Salem Congregation sold land to the newly formed Forsyth County to build the county seat called Winston. In 1913 the village of Salem officially merged with the city of Winston to form modern Winston-Salem. 

Three facts about the Moravians during the War of Independence

Moravians at the time of the Revolutionary War were decidedly pacifists.

They remained neutral during the war. This caused them to be distrusted by both sides of the conflict. Each of the belligerents thought the Moravians were secretly serving the other side in the conflict. 

The Moravians during the war had to pay extra taxes and to billet troops for both armies.

Of the Moravians of old it was said ...

"No soldiers of the cross have ever been bolder as pioneers, more patient or persistent in difficulties, more heroic in suffering, or more entirely devoted to Christ and the souls of men than the Moravian Brotherhood." 

What a magnificent thing to be able to say about the church of Jesus Christ.

The 1727 Moravian Pentecost - Part one

A Moravian historian wrote that Church history abounds in records of special outpourings of the Holy Spirit. The 13th of August 1727, was such an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Moravians gathered together saw the hand of God and His wonders in a way they never had before. Signs and wonders took place in their midst. 

A great hunger after the Word of God took possession of them so that they had to have three services every day. Self-love and self-will seemed to disappear. It seemed as if an overwhelming flood of grace swept them out into the great ocean of Divine Love.

Count Zinzendorf's died because of a decision made in Bethany, NC?

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?

Old Salem expansion

Photo Credit: Digital Forsyth

The National Park Service has expanded the size of Old Salem's national historic landmark district.

The previous district covered 62 acres and focused on Moravian history between 1766 and 1856. It’s expansion now includes the 20th century and beyond and encompasses a broader swath of the community.

Mo Hartley of Old Salem Museums and Gardens  says the announcement will help show that the influence of Salem didn’t end after 1856.

“When you are able to say this is a national historic landmark, that elevates the awareness for grants, for public interest and preservation awareness that leads to support. This can only be beneficial.”

The new district includes part of the Happy Hill community, Winston-Salem’s oldest black neighborhood.

Hartley says the neighborhood was established after the Civil War when freedmen bought property in Happy Hill for $10 a lot from the Moravian Church.   — WFDD, Winston Salem

Who were the men that first planted the Moravian cross in the Wachovia?

In October 1753 twelve single men set out from the Moravian town of Bethlehem, PA. They had six horses and a wagon loaded with supplies to settle on their new land, Wachovia. The party consisted of:

Rev. Bernhard Adam Grube, ordained minister; 

Jacob Loesch, business manager; 

Hans Martin Kalberlahn, physician; 

Henrich Feldhausen, carpenter; 

Erich Ingepretsen, carpenter; 

Hans Petersen, tailor; 

Jacob Lunge, gardener; 

Herman Loesch, farmer; 

Christopher Merkli, baker; 

Friedrich Jacob Pfeil, shoemaker and tanner; 

Jacob Beroth, farmer; 

Johannes Lischer, farmer.

The oldest of the Moravian pioneers was 42 - the youngest 27. 

November 17, 1753 - Journey's End

Nov. 17, 1753
We rose early having had a cold night; it looked much like snow. ....... At last, at half past twelve, we reached the boundary of our land, whereat we all rejoiced.... It touched us, and we thanked our Saviour that He had so graciously led us hither, and had helped us through all the hard places, for no matter how dangerous it looked, nor how little we saw how we could win through, everything always went better than seemed possible. We wished that the dear ones in Bethlehem, now gathered in the Sabbath Lovefeast, could know that we, in less than six weeks, had safely reached our land. We drove three miles further on the new road, then turned to the left and cut a way for two and a half miles to the little house that the Brethren found yesterday. We reached it in the evening and at once took possession of it, finding it large enough that we could all lie down around the walls. We at once made preparation for a little Lovefeast, and rejoiced heartily with one another. Br. Gottlob began the singing with the little verse; 

We hold arrival Lovefeast here, In Carolina land,
A company of Brethren true,
A little Pilgrim-Band,
Called by the Lord to be of those Who through the whole world go, To bear Him witness everywhere, And nought but Jesus know.

....While we held our Lovefeast the wolves howled loudly, but all was well with us, and our hearts were full of thanksgiving to the Saviour Who had so graciously guided and led us. Then we laid ourselves down to rest, and Br. Gottlob hung his hammock above our heads. 

God's Acre

God's Acre at (Old) Salem - the scene above was photographed in the Easter Season. No artificial flowers allowed - thanks be to God. What you see is the real deal. 

God's provision and turnips

On their way to North Carolina, from Nazareth/Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Moravian pioneers met many people who had at least a vague notion of who the Moravians were. One was a “Free Negro, who is the only smith in these parts.” He understood German well, and he and his wife, a Scotch woman, had heard Moravians preach in Lancaster and Philadelphia. They welcomed the Moravians for they “loved people who spoke of the Saviour.” 

Later on they asked an old man by the name of  Muller to sell them some turnips, but “He

was so good as to make us a present of a nice quantity, and gave an invitation that any of our people passing this way should visit him. He had heard perhaps a hundred lies about the Brethren — that we were ‘bearded people,’ that we enjoined celibacy, etc. — and now learning the truth, the old man rejoiced, and took a friendly leave of us.” 

Eight randomly selected diary entries from the founding Moravian pioneers

Oct. 18, 1753

We rose at three; Br. Nathanael held morning prayer........We breakfasted by a creek, and two miles beyond found water again. At noon we passed through Friedrichstown, which consists of about sixty houses rather badly built. One mile beyond Friedrich- stown we stopped for lunch near a mill, and bought some bread and corn. We turned our horses out to graze in a meadow as we had no feed for them; the Brn. Lischer and Merkli stayed with them during the night.

Oct. 19, 1753

We rose about six but had not slept much having been disturbed by the smoke. One mile beyond our camping place we stopped to bake bread, and about nine o’clock started on again.

Oct. 20, 1753

Very early the Brn. brought in our horses from pasture. Br. Grube waked the other Brn. by singing a few verses, and after eating our broth we set out about five o’clock. There was a considerable hill just ahead and we had to push hard to help get the wagon up, and reached the top before daybreak. We heard that from here we would see no house for 20 miles, but that we would find water every three or four miles. Several Brn. went hunting, but returned empty handed. We had a pretty camping place to-night, and felt happy, and thankful to the Lord for bringing us safely so far. Br. Nathanael held evening prayers.

Oct. 22, 1753

We set out again at five o’clock. .......We had to climb two hills where every one had to help push or we could not have made it, for our horses were quite exhausted. Two Brn. had to keep a little ahead to seek out the road; and so we came at last to Thom. Harris’ plantation, where we bought food for our horses, and set up our tent a little way from the house. The people were friendly and assisted the travelers gladly.

Oct. 23, 1753

We started at daybreak. We bought a bottle of milk to use at our noon lunch, but the bottle broke and we lost it all. Two miles from camp we bought some meat..... Our meat and dumplings tasted good and refreshed us.

Oct. 24, 1753

2:30 A.M. our broth was ready, and at three we were on our way. One mile from camp we found good water, the same one mile further. Two more miles brought us to Middle Branch, a fairly large creek, with a bank difficult to climb that gave us much trouble. Most of the Brn. crossed on a fallen tree, Br. Kalberlahn fell in but did not hurt himself. It was not yet day when we crossed the creek.

Oct. 26, 1753

We rose rather late on account of the rainy weather ..We had bad hills to-day and as soon as we were at the top of one we had to hang on the break-rope, and even then it was dangerous going down. .......It began to rain and continued almost all night, and as our tent was on a hill the water ran through it and we were all soaked through and through.

Oct. 27, 1753

We rose early to dry our clothes, and the sky cleared. We were very thankful to the Saviour for giving us good weather again; it was badly needed for without it we could hardly have gone forward, for our wagon is very heavily loaded, and the ascent of the hills is almost more than we can manage. ...This morning for the second time we had to take off half our load, in order to climb the hill, for it was so slippery that the horses could not keep their feet in pulling but fell constantly to their knees. Br. Lösch shot the first turkey, which we ate for supper. Passing over the creek we came immediately to a long high hill, which took us an hour to climb, and we all had to push on the wagon. But we had fine pleasant weather, and from the top there was a beautiful view of the great mountains, and the valleys on either side of us. We drove some miles along the ridge.... In the evening we set up our tent eight miles from Buffler Creek, by a stream, made a good fire and rested from our labors which today have been rather trying. Br. Nathanael held the eve- ning service, and we were all so tired that we dispensed with the night-watch.

Bishop Spangenberg's description of the Wachovia Tract where the Moravians would settle in NC

After a long - arduous search Bishop Spangenberg found the hoped for land acquisition. It is largely Forsyth County, NC. This is where the Moravian brethren would settle. 

In his diary the good bishop recorded: "The land on which we now are encamped seems to me to have been reserved by the Lord for the brethren."

In 1753 Bishop Spangenberg further describes the Wachovia Tract of  nearly 100,000 acres. 

"The tract lies particularly well. It has countless springs, and numerous fine creeks; as many mills as may be desired can be built. There is much beautiful meadow land, and water can be led to other pieces which are not quite so low. There is good pasturage for cattle, and the canes growing along the creeks will help out [for fodder] for a couple of years until the meadows are in shape. 

There is also much lowland which is suitable for raising corn, etc. There is plenty of upland and gently sloping land which can be used for corn, wheat, etc. . . .There is also stone here, suitable for building purposes, and Br. Antes thinks millstones can also be found. The tract is perhaps like the Nazareth [Pennsylvania] land, except that it has more streams and meadows."