Historic Flag in Old Salem

The Guilford Courthouse Flag
in the historic barn at Old Salem, NC
Photo Credit: GRL3

In seasons of national celebration the Guilford Courthouse Flag hangs in the barn of the historic 1784 Tavern in Old Salem, NC. 

This unusual flag was made with thirteen 8-pointed stars in a wide field. Historical records report this flag carried by North Carolina militiamen at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, March 17, 1781. 

Photo: Three Moravian Sisters

Photo Credit - Lobster Pot Photography

Moravians in Salem During the Revolutionary War

By the fall of 1780, Patriots and Tories were fighting each other throughout the backcountry, and both sides took the policy that “if you’re not with us, you’re against us.” That left groups like the Moravians, who were mostly pacifists, in a difficult position. 

The Moravians supported the Patriots in the war. Like the Quakers, they would not swear an oath, including the oath of loyalty to the new state government, and most Moravians would not take up arms, though some younger members of the congregation did join the Patriot militia. The state Assembly recognized their loyalty, allowing them to affirm their loyalty without swearing an oath and exempting them from military service if they paid a triple tax. 

Still, many backcountry Patriots and Continental Army soldiers didn’t trust the Moravians. They spoke a different language (German); they practiced a different form of Protestant Christianity; and — worst of all — they refused to fight for either side. 

The Spirit of the Ancient Moravian Church

Spirit of the Ancient Moravian Church

An account of the ethos of the Moravian Church is given by one of its British bishops, Clarence H. Shawe. In a lecture series delivered at the Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Shawe described the Spirit of the Moravian Church as having five characteristics: simplicity, happiness, unintrusiveness, fellowship, and the ideal of service.

Simplicity is a focus on the essentials of faith and a lack of interest in the niceties of doctrinal definition. Shawe quotes Zinzendorf's remark that The Apostles say: 'We believe we have salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ....' If I can only teach a person that catechism I have made him a divinity scholar for all time. From this simplicity flow secondary qualities of genuineness and practicality.

Happiness is the natural and spontaneous response to God's free and gracious gift of salvation. Again Shawe quotes Zinzendorf: There is a difference between a genuine Pietist and a genuine Moravian. The Pietist has his sin in the foreground and looks at the wounds of Jesus; the Moravian has the wounds in the forefront and looks from them upon his sin. The Pietist in his timidity is comforted by the wounds; the Moravian in his happiness is shamed by his sin (p. 13).

Unintrusiveness is based on the Moravian belief that God positively wills the existence of a variety of churches to cater for different spiritual needs. There is no need to win converts from other churches. The source of Christian unity is not legal form but everyone's heart-relationship with the Saviour.

Fellowship is based on this heart-relationship. Shawe says: The Moravian ideal has been to gather together kindred hearts.... Where there are 'Christian hearts in love united', there fellowship is possible in spite of differences of intellect and intelligence, of thought, opinion, taste and outlook. ... Fellowship [in Zinzendorf's time] meant not only a bridging of theological differences but also of social differences; the artisan and aristocrat were brought together as brothers and sat as equal members on the same committee. 

The ideal of service entails happily having the attitude of a servant. This shows itself partly in faithful service in various roles within congregations but more importantly in service of the world "by the extension of the Kingdom of God". Historically, this has been evident in educational and especially missionary work. Shawe remarks that none could give themselves more freely to the spread of the gospel than those Moravian emigrants who, by settling in Herrnhut [i.e., on Zinzendorf's estate], had gained release from suppression and persecution. - Wickipedia  

Message delivered - two Moravian brothers and a sister ...

Photo Credit: GRL3

Photo at the historic 1784 tavern in Old Salem. 

A stunning story of missionary spirit

SALEM NC - JULY 4, 1783

Revolutionary War ended with the Preliminary Treaty of Peace signed in Paris on January 20, 1783. North Carolina Governor, Alexander Martin, made the official announcement to the North Carolina General Assembly on April 19 and the Assembly instructed the Governor to designate July 4th as a day of public thanksgiving. Only the Moravians heeded this directive and thus, their celebration of peace on July 4, 1783, is the earliest documented celebration of Independence Day in the United States.

The Moravian towns in Wachovia all celebrated the day in various ways, which included church services, lovefeasts, prayers, instrumental music, hymns of thanksgiving, and ringing of bells.

Salem had the most extensive celebration and the Salem Diary for Friday, July 4, 1783, described it well.  In part it says:

According to the order of the government of this State we celebrated a day of thanksgiving for the restoration of peace. The congregation was awakened by the trombonists. At the beginning of the preaching service the Te Deum was sung… At two o’clock there was a happy Lovefeast, during which a Psalm of Joy was sung with thankful hearts…In the evening…the congregation again assembled in the Saal, and the choir sang…

Then the congregation formed a circle in front of the GemeinHaus, and from there passed in procession through the main street of town, with music and the antiphonal song of two choirs…Hearts were filled with the peace of God, evident during the entire day and especially during the procession, and all around there was silence, even the wind being still.

Image - Hat and Herbs

Photo Credit: GRL3

Hat and bags of drying herbs in the 1784 kitchen of the Tavern at Old Salem, NC. 

Did You Know?

Jon Hus

Moravians, followers of a mainstream protestant religion, settled here in Winston-Salem 250 years ago and have contributed significantly to the area’s rich culture. This denomination originated in the Czech Republic around 1415 from the followers of Jan Hus.  These missionaries made their way from Germany - to Savanah, Georgia - to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and finally settled in Winston-Salem on 100,000 acres known as the Wachovia Tract.  

Old Salem, a living history museum, seeks to preserve the history of these settlers and educate visitors about their origins and influence.

Image - Photo: Moravian Sister

Photo Credit: GRL3

Image: Moravian Sister brimming with joy

Photo Credit: GRL3