Trouble in Worship and trouble in the Tavern of Salem

The Salem Tavern

"During the singing of the liturgy a disturbance was made by the bad conduct of several strangers. The same men gave Brother Meyer much trouble in the tavern last night, but when they began to fight they were pacified by brother Philip of Friedland, who came to Brother Myers help." -- From the Diary of Salem Congregation, 1784.

The Watchword of this Blog

“This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" --Jeremiah 6:16.

Who are we that He loves us so greatly?

A Moravian Brother ponders. Watercolor

"What shall we say, when we consider our conduct in the light of the many and great mercies which we have received from our gracious God and Lord? 

Surely we must acknowledge with humble and contrite heart's that we are not worthy, we poor souls, the love is all too great, the love is so full of pity, which has done all for us." 

-- From the Wachovia Memorabilia, 1784

"They rode like the Devil"

Bishop Spangenberg 

After the Moravians established themselves in North Carolina in 1753, Brother Spangenberg came up with the idea of riding rapidly on one's horse through Indian country. His thought was that Indians would find shooting a man on a galloping horse difficult. Of course he was right. When Bethania, a new Moravian Village, was founded 3 miles from, Moravian, Bethabara there was of course travel between the two villages. 

On one occasion Brother Spangenberg went with some of the men, who were plainly nervous, word having come that morning that Indians had been seen in the neighborhood. “Brothers”, said the bishop, “you do not know how to ride, let me show you.” He spurred his horse into a gallup. He maintained that speed for the entire distance between the villages. 

Thereafter that was the custom whenever there was rumor, or fact, that local Indians were being aggressive. As time passed the infrequent hostility of the Indians ended. The Native Americans admitted that time and again they had planned to take prisoners between the Old town (Bethabara) and the new village of Bethania but, said the Indians, “the Dutchers had big fat horses and rode like the devil.”  

Penmanship with a quill pen

A brother works toward penmanship with a quill pen. He has a way to go.

Fire

The 1784 Tavern that replaced the tavern that burned to the ground also in 1784

_____________

"About 3 AM, on January 31st, that our tavern burst into flames, no one knows why." (1)

"Our Brother and Sister Meyer, their children and associates and several guests, were sleeping peacefully, and all the Brethren and Sisters hurried to do what they could, partly to keep the fire from spreading and partly to save the furniture and the belongings of those who were in the house; but the fire increased so quickly that these purposes could only be attained in part."

"Thankfully ... no one received bodily injury, though the Brethren who were trying to put out the fire were in grace danger from falling burning wood and from the chimney. 

The escape of all who were sleeping peacefully in the burning house, the absence of wind, and that the fire did no further damage, are reasons enough for giving thanks and praise to our God and Lord." -- from the Wachovia Memorabilia, 1784.

(1) In the Bethania Church records there is the suggestion that the tavern may have been set on fire by evil-minded enemies of the Brethren, but in a letter to Brother Reichel, dated February 17, 1784, F.W. Marshall said that though such threats had been made there was no evidence of incendiaries.

News of Indians from Salem and Bethabara

"Br. Marshall read the news ... we were particularly glad to hear of the baptism of the first Cherokee Indians, Noah, and his wife Wilhelmine; and we wish for our neighboring Indian nation that the light of the Gospel may soon shine upon it." -- Jan. 11, 1774, from the Salem Diary.
__________

Woman of the
Cherokee tribe and
her daughter.

On Nov. 23 "Two Indian men and a woman arrived today" (at Bethabara). They were quiet and attentive at the evening meeting. The Indians wondered much at the organ, thinking it must be alive if it could make a sound like that; (the organ case had to be opened for them, for they heard children were inside, who sang.)"  The Bethabara Diary

Daniel Boone (1734 - 1820) Passes Through Salem

"Many people passed to and fro; numbers are moving in these days. Mr. Daniel Boon (sic) was here (Salem); he was recently seized by the English near the Salt Springs in Kentuk (sic), but escaped." -- November 9, 1778, the Salem Diary

Hungering and Thirsting

"The congregation partook of the Lord's Supper with hungry and thirsty souls." - From the Diary of the Salem Congregation, 1784.

Have you ever had a hunger or thirst that only Jesus can satisfy? 

The Primary Objective of the Early Moravians

Scene from the Village of Old Salem

The 18th century Moravian culture had one overriding objective: to cement an individuals relationship with the Savior. The process began with the conversion experience but did not end there. The Moravians developed multilayered religious communities that sought to support the tenants of Christianity for all age groups, genders, and marital status. 

Boys will be Boys

“It is earnestly wished that the masters would keep their boys in better order and not allow them to run around.” — July 10th, 1784 - Minutes of the Salem Board.

"Concerning our young people it was remarked that they should be under better discipline, and should be held to more order in their affairs and to more industry in their work. Our boys should never be left without oversight, and should not have opportunity, either before or after meals, to linger in places where that is not allowed." -- December 2, 1784 - Minutes of the Salem Board.

Borders Done Well

The 18th century Moravians of Pennsylvania and North Carolina accomplished a noble goal. That being the maintenance of their spiritual, ethnic, artistic, and intellectual boundaries, borders - without alienating themselves from communities outside the Moravian orbit.  

Men Only

As the Bethlehem, PA, Moravians pondered establishing the Wachovia (their 100,000 acres in NC) they recognized the dangers of clearing a wilderness. For that reason they did not wish women to be involved in phase one. They sought men that were experienced in wilderness living.

This meant that the Wachovia's population was entirely male from 1773 -1775. *

*Thorp, Moravian Community

Recovering the Moravian past is key to the Moravian future.

Early Moravian Passion

It is said that an individual or a group will be remembered by what they are passionate about. What was the overriding passion of the former Moravians (18th century and early 19th century)? The answer is bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the end that a person received the New Birth.

A group of twelve men was sent from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to North Carolina. Their mandate (was) to revitalize Christianity in North Carolina by introducing inhabitants to the new birth. 

The effect of the common experience of the new birth was the creation of an environment where various ethnicities and social groups could meet, live and worship in harmony. 

"Moravian itinerants delivered a simple message that sought to appeal to the maximum number of people, regardless of their ethnicity or sectarian affiliations: by embracing Jesus Christ one can be 'reborn'."  

Hope's Promise: Religion and Acculturation in the Southern Back Country, S. Scott Rohrer, p. 16.

A Moravian brother at the tavern

A Moravian brother at the 1784 Salem tavern. Why not visit Old Salem and swing by the tavern. 

Why Salem Was Laid Out The Way It Was

"The entire length of this place (Salem) does not amount to half a mile so that no one would have to walk more than a quarter of a mile or more than five minutes at a leisurely pace to attend the meetings of the congregation." -- Notes on a map of the proposed Salem Square by mapmaker Christian Gottlieb Reuter, July 1765.

Home Moravian Church
Old Salem, NC

The Moravian church, in Salem, would eventually be called Home Church. The distance to it from various points in Salem figured into the decision about the town layout. 

This is an worthy priority. It reminds one of the Hebrew Tabernacle that was situated in the center of the encampment of the tribes. 

Trusting the Savior

What follows are excerpts from the diary of Brother Martin Schneider (b. 1756), recorded as he made his way from Salem to Long Island. His journey began mid-December 1783 and ended on January 24, 1784.

I am particularly interested in the spiritual confidence the former Moravians had in Jesus Christ. By any measure it was bold and rich. Consider this from Brother Martin Schneider (b. 1756). Brother Martin served as the pastor in the Moravian congregations of Friedland and Friedberg.

"It was communion day in the congregation at home, and in my loneliness the Savior was with me in a most blessed manner."

The brethren in an unnamed place advised Br. Schneider not to travel to an Indian town without company. Given that advice ... "I did not see how I could go further. I laid the matter on the faithful heart of the Savior, and told Him that it was His business, and since I now had no comrade, and had come to far to turn back, I begged Him to be my traveling companion. And so I continued my journey in HIs name, and came toward evening to Colonel Smith"

Recovering the Moravian past is key to the Moravian future.

Seventy Soldiers

"In the afternoon more than 70 soldiers arrived, passing through our neighborhood on their way to join the Army which is gathering on the frontier to meet the Indians. 

They camped about a half a mile from town on the road to Friedberg and stayed for two 

days, during which time they made many visits to the town, but their behavior was quiet and orderly. The officers took up their quarters in our Tavern. 

On Wednesday morning they marched away, through our town and through Bethabara." 

-- Diary entry for January 20, 1793.

Recovering the Moravian past is key to the Moravian future.

The Top Five

The top five nations accessing the blog in descending order:

USA
Russia
France
Poland
Germany

“the Moravian past is the key to the Moravian future.” 

Moravian Church Gospel Choir, Kyela, Tanzania

Recovering the Moravian past is key to the Moravian future.

Giddy-up

The Rev. Christian Lewis (1820-1891), Moravian pastor, was making his way ... "to (the congregation) at Good Hope. In his handwriting he recorded the following.

"I sent off for Good Hope afoot, as I had engaged a (hired) hand to plow and my horse (was) needed at home.  After walking 4 miles, half way, I passed my dear friend, Dr. Shelton. He asked where I was going. I replied to Good Hope. 

What, walk there and back? Certainly. How comes that? 

I remarked, I and my horse have concluded to divide the labor; I do the preaching and he the plowing and when I get rich like you, I'll keep two horses. 

The doctor laughed and called his boy to bring me a horse, and an excellent animal he was. I mounted him and went on my way."  --From the Friedberg and Hope Diary, 1860.

The Moravians must find their way back to being – wholistic Missionaries & tireless Prayer Warriors

This is an important short video. 

The video directs the viewer toward two emphases of the historic Moravian church: abiding prayer and holistic missionary effort. That is to say prayer and mission work that seeks to convert the lost and to heal and minister to physical needs. I am not speaking of just doing social work however valuable that may be. 

The degree to which this mission of prayer and evangelism is recaptured is the degree to which its future will be vibrant. Thus the Watchword of this blog. 

"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" --Jeremiah 6:16.

An issue of seismic proportions and ramifications.

The Moravian congregational town of Salem was founded in 1766. In 1856 - nearly one hundred years later - a decision was made to officially communicate official business in English rather than the long spoken German. Consider ...

On February 14, 1856 the Salem Congregational Council wrote the following in their minutes:

"A resolution was made, seconded, and adopted that the minutes of this body in future be written in English language, and that those of the last meeting be translated into that language."

This change is far more profound than simply switching from one language to another - it is a change in identity. No small matter. 

The Lick-Leinbach House

1787 with 1795 Alterations 

A Bold Statement About The Early Moravians - Especially In The 18th Century

Of the Moravians of yesteryear it is 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. It grieves the heart to note that the contemporary Protestant and Catholic Churches are not even a shadow of the 18th century Moravians. Grieves the heart. GRL3

The 1784 Tavern Kitchen

The kitchen in the 1784 tavern (above and below)

The sister on the right describes the food and beverage served at the tavern. On selected days of the week the tavern, using 18th century methods and recipes, makes complete meals.