Sickness and Death

"The year which we are about to close (1857) was also signalized by an unusual amount of sickness and mortality, so that in all probability there have never been as many deaths in our town and congregation as occurred this year. 

Toward the close of April when the weather was anything but genial the measles and kindred diseases attacked many children and young persons both in town and more especially in our female boarding school. 

Several children of members of our congregation were on this occasion taken away from their parents by him who said: "suffer little children to come onto me and forbid them not, four of such is the kingdom of heaven." Luke 18:16.

In more than one instant, through, this dispensation of our Lord was felt more keenly by the parents because by it was removed from their guardianship an only son or only daughter.

Later in the year great sickness prevailed  ... so that several of our members had to part with their little ones, and one of our sisters had to give up to him who has the best claim upon them three of her children in very quick succession.

Adults, though, were also called to their eternal home during the year, so that alongside one another are reposing on our "Gods Acre" the mortal remains of three young mothers." --From handwritten notes of George Frederick Bahnson - the Memorabilia of the Salem Congregation 1857

One Good Reason That The Moravians Came To North Carolina?

"During this year (1783) earnest consideration was given to the possibility of taking the Gospel to the Cherokee Indians, so fulfilling one of the purposes for which the Savior planted our little congregations in North Carolina."  -- From the Wachovia Memorabilia, 1783

Methodists and Baptists Upstage the Moravians

From time to time the Methodists and the Baptists upstaged the Moravian order of things. Consider this note from the Friedland Diary - 1856:

"The Sunday School, nine children. The children are very ignorant and generally very dull. Preached from John 1:29. The meeting was a small attendance. I have since learned that at this season of the year the Methodists have their camp meetings, and when these occur or the Baptists practice immersion there is a general gathering to these places from curiosity, religious motives, and wickedness."

A Moravian Sister

An unknown Moravian Sister. Note the pink ribbon on her Haube (head covering) indicating that she belongs to the Single Sisters Choir - i.e, she is unmarried. 

Females (not Moravians) Misbehaved

Candle, Coffee and Bun
prepared for the Christmas Lovefeast

"A number of (non-Moravian) females, at present lodging at the hotels in town (Salem), having on yesterday intruded themselves into the lovefeast for the children of the congregation and greatly misbehaved on that occasion. Council almost unanimously resolved that in the future all lovefeasts be strictly considered as private meetings to which none but members of the congregation are to be admitted, and that the minister, whenever he announces them, State publicly that they are only intended for members of the congregation." -- September 29, 1856

A Save Named Sam

• In the 1760's the Moravians rented a slave named Sam. He was competent and hardworking. 
• Sam saw that the Moravians could offer him the opportunity to better himself. On the basis of that belief he asked to be purchased by the church. The bishop opined: "It is certainly not our way to buy men."  But, the bishop eventually justified the purchase of Sam in the hope that Sam would become the property of the Savior as well as the Moravians. Thus he was acquired by the church. 
• Sam supervised several young Moravian helpers - he was a cattle herder, and the teamster.
• In due course, repenting of his sins, Sam was baptized in 1771. The first baptism in the nascent town of Salem. 

In the Church's diary it is written: (during the liturgy) "... The presence of the Savior was deeply felt by the congregation, including many friends and a few Negroes; many said that the impression would never be forgotten."

• Sam was renamed Johannes Samuel. 
• Samuel eventually married - Maria, also enslaved.
• He purchased freedom for himself and his wife.
• Samuel faced the terrible problem so many freed slaves faced - poverty. 
• Fifty years after his baptism Samuel died an indigent - the year was 1821.
• Samuel was, as they called him, the first fruit of Moravian evangelism. Yet in the congregational diary there is only this terse statement: "the Negro Johann Samuel died in our neighborhood." 
• Between Samuel's baptism (1771) and death (1821) - those fifty years - the attitude of the Moravians toward slaves had changed, sad to say. 

Sisters in Christ

Two of Old Salem's knowledgable interpreters that are ready to guide visitors through the 18th and 19th century Salem. 

Moravian Sister in Watercolor

The Ruins Of The Tavern in Bethabara

What Effect Would Slave Labor Have On The Youth of Salem?

In the 1760's the Moravians needing additional labor rented slaves from non-Moravians living in the Wachovia. Later the church, not individuals, would own the slaves. In turn the church rented out slaves to Moravians living in the area. 

In 1814 a review was made concerning who might own slaves among the Moravians. Concerns were expressed about private ownership of chattel. The concern was not for the slaves as such - but for the effect it might have on young Moravians. Consider ...

"It might easily follow that the young women in the congregation would become work shy and ashamed of work, and there would be increasing difficulty in holding growing boys to the learning of a profession..." (from Minutes of a Meeting of the House-fathers, Masters and Brethren of the Congregation Council - August 22, 1814)

The Gemeinhaus at Bethabara

Bethlehem and Salem were notable congregation towns. The practice of life in general and the faith in the congregational towns was parochial, stringent, and well documented. Both Bethlehem and (Old) Salem are living history experiences.  Thus most people today think of the Moravians of old in those terms.

The reality is that in the Wachovia (the 100,000 acres of Moravian land in North Carolina) 50 percent of the Moravian population lived outside the congregational towns. The largest settlement of Moravians up to the War Between The States was not Salem but Friedberg, NC. 

Sickness Unto Death

Salem Academy Students - 1904
Digital Forsyth Photo Credit
Study Parlor 

Between May 5 and June 4th - 1857 - eight pupils at the Moravian Academy in Salem died. Measles, whooping cough and scarlet fever occasioned this mortality - in addition 170 beds confined sick students. -- Stats from the Records of the Moravians in North Carolina - Volumn XII.

Tavern Face

An interpreter at Old Salem puts his "tavern face" on for the demanding work of running a Colonial tavern. 

Slavery

Needing labor the Moravians rented slaves from non-Moravians. The year was 1763 and one such woman was rented - her name was Franke. Her task was to work in the tavern at Bethabara. Her hiring put in motion a tradition that would last for years. The tradition was to place black workers in Moravian taverns as a means of shielding church members, particularly young people from worldliness.  

Hosianna Moravian Harmonists

Often sung in Moravians on the First Sunday of Advent and Palm Sunday. Hosianna is a staple of Moravian hymnody.

"We are entering upon the happy season of Advent ... In the evening at 7 PM Brother Bahnson delivered an address, followed by the singing of Hosannah ..."  --From the Salem diary - Sunday, Nov. 29, 1857 

Why Move The Family To Live Among The 18th Century Moravians?

Why would a New England family uproot in the middle of the 18th century to live near a congregation of the Moravians in North Carolina? 

In 1767 the parents of Catharine Rominger moved to the Wachovia, i.e. the 100,000 acres in North Carolina purchased by the Moravians. It is recorded why they moved: 

"they were ... "desirous of seeking the salvation of their souls and mindful of the everlasting happiness of their children." 

That among other things is loud testimony of the impact the early Moravians made for Christ and His Kingdom. 

The Dyer at Salem, NC

The dyers work room at Old Salem, NC. Dying was not a haphazard skill. A good deal of learning through apprenticeship was needed to perform the mixing of dye recipes and dying the yarn. 

Bishop Comenius' Hymn - "Lord God, in Grace and Holy Love"

Two stanzas of a hymn written by the Moravian bishop, Comenius. It is well sung by the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity at Moravian College, Allentown, PA.

John Amos Comenius (1592-1670) was a bishop in the Unity of the Brethren (Moravian church).  He was one of the earliest champions of universal education. Comenius' legacy is that of being the "Father of Modern Education."

Lord as we gather in this place

You nourish us by this same grace;

And so we lift our grateful praise

That we may serve in these our days.

Send us as workers in your field

That it abundant harvest yield

Of souls brought safe into your store

E’er suns and seasons come no more.

A New Life for the Moravians in North Carolina

On October 8, 1753, twelve men left the Moravian congregation town of Bethlehem, PA to establish a foothold in the Carolinas The average age of the twelve men was 33 years of age. 

They arrived in the Wachovia, the 100,000 acres the Moravians owned in NC on November 17, 1753. After cutting a path of two and one half miles they settled in an abandoned cabin. Within hours of their arrival they held a simple Moravian lovefeast to give thanks to the Lord for their safe arrival. 

A hymn compose for the occasion, by one of the brethren, was sung:

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 wide world do go,

To bear Him witness everywhere,

And naught but Jesus know. 

The Moravians from ancient times to the present have a “Watchword” or devotional Bible text for every day of the year. The texts are drawn, even in the 21st century, by lot every year. The text for the day of their arrival was Revelation. 2:13, which appropriately reads: “I know where thou dwellest.”

Indeed He knows where you and I dwell. What good news!

Just What One Would Expect at a Colonial Tavern

"Colonial Americans, at least many of them, believed alcohol could cure the sick, strengthen the weak, enliven the aged, and generally make the world a better place. They tippled, toasted, sipped, slurped, quaffed, and guzzled from dawn to dark." Text from Colonial Williamsburg. To read more click here.

Welcome Afghanistan

We welcome our most recent country, Afghanistan, to our site. It is the 43rd country to read from the Moravian 2.0 blog.

Going "hands on"

Brother Meyer, an 18th tavern keeper, in Salem, NC, found out that keeping a colonial tavern was not for the faint of heart. From time to time the keeper must go hands on. 

Come visit the 1784 Tavern in Old Salem, NC. Love to see you.

Photo Credit: Digital Forsyth

The Moravian Revival and the One Hundred Year Prayer

This is a video that is low on entertainment value but high on message. What heart those early Moravians had. In short, the early Moravians inspire me greatly. This video will ask but six minutes of you.