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. 

Eleven things to know about the the Moravian Gemeine Hauses

Exterior of the Bethabara Gemeine Haus

Interior of the Bethabara Gemeine Haus

Antique Image of the Gemeine Haus at Bethabara

Eleven things to know about the gemeine hauses - the meetinghouses of the Moravians of old.

- The gemeine haus was build by the members;

- The early gemeine hauses were usually built of logs;

- The cutting of the trees, the hauling of the logs, and the erecting of the meetinghouse was done with care and reverence;

- The gemeine haus was in a central location as Jesus was central to their lives;

- The gemeine haus had several functions. It was the residence of the pastor's family, a school house for children, a meeting hall for the community, and as a worship place which was called the Saal;

- For lack of resources the gemeine haus was usually small;

- Gemeine hauses usually had a small bell tower to summon the faithful for worship;

- The gemeine haus had no stained glass, pulpit or reserved pews;

- The architecture was to reflect the humbleness of the worshiper before God. Simplicity ruled. The walls were whitewashed and the uncomplicated benches were of pine. In addition there was a table and a chair for the pastor. That's it. 

- Within the walls of the meetinghouse all were equal.

- Finally, the gemeine hauses hosted many events throughout the year that brought family, friends and neighbors together.