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."  

Moravians come to Nazareth, Pennsylvania - Part II

Nazareth of old and Bethlehem had much in common. Both Moravian communities operated under a communal social and economic system.  This made it possible for the early Moravians to excel in that for which their spiritual value system suggested - educational and missionary efforts.

The road was not paved with praise for the 18th century Moravians. Suspicion of them ran high.  They, being pacifists, were treated with disdain when they refused to bear arms in the colonial war against the Indians and French on the frontier. Rather than fight the Moravians strove to spread Jesus’ gospel among their Native American (especially the Lenape), English, and German neighbors.

One reason for their success in spreading the gospel among native communities was their ability to communicate with the Indians in their own languages. Moravian missionaries spent years learning and then translating parts of the Bible in native dialects.

The early Moravians would certainly salute this Lutheran thought

Photo Credit: Digital Forsyth

"Faith is a living and unshakable confidence. a belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake." ~Martin Luther

Moravians come to Nazareth, Pennsylvania - Part I

In 1740, Moravian missionaries from Georgia arrived in Pennsylvania as guests of Methodist evangelist The Rev. George Whitefield, a British cleric conducting his own missionary. The Savannah Moravians were looking for a new place to pursue their missionary activities among the indigenous population. 

In Georgia the Moravians had experienced hostility from neighbors and government officials who looked with great suspicion at their pacifism and their friendliness with local Cherokees and enslaved African-Americans. 

The relationship between the Moravians and George Whitfield  was short lived. A serious argument with Whitefield over doctrine caused the Moravians to leave Nazareth and establish the nearby town of Bethlehem. 

This was not the end of the Moravian presence in Nazareth it should be noted. When Whitefield’s finances failed him the Moravians bought Nazareth from him. 

The original structure there, still called Whitefield House, served their community through the centuries as a place of worship, a boarding school for Moravian girls, a nursery for the children of missionaries, and as the Moravian Theological Seminary. 

Why the Holy One brought the Moravians to the Wachovia (NC)

Oct. 20. Sunday. . . "In the evening service Br. Koher stated that the chief reason for which our Lord planted our congregations here in Wachovia was that we might preach the Gospel to the heathen, especially the neighboring Cherokee and Creek Indians. 

It has been our constant desire to watch what goes on in these nations, and see whether the hour has come in which this plan of the Saviour can be carried out. Sixteen years ago our Br. Martin Schneider, now pastor of Friedberg, was commissioned to visit the land of the Cherokees, and so did. He was kindly received, and they expressed a wish that Brethren might live among them and teach them about the Great God. 

Soon thereafter a great war broke out among the Indians, and nothing more could be done in the matter. Now conditions in these nations seem to have changed, and the matter was taken up to see whether the time had now come to visit the Cherokees again, or at least in their neighborhood to inform ourselves about them, and our dear Lord has ordered that it shall be attempted. After full deliberation, our Lord decided that our Br. Abraham Steiner, in Bethabara, should be called for the task, and he has accepted the proposal with a willing heart as from the hand of the Lord, confident His mighty help, and powerful support. Our Br. Friedrich Christian von Schweintz has been found ready the willing to go with Be. Steiner." -The Salem Diary.

The Baptism of Noah - a Cherokee

Photo Credit: Digital Forsythe

On January 10, 1774 * Brother Marshall read news to the Salem congregation. A selected portion, below, was recorded the Salem Diary.

“We were particularly glad to hear of the baptism of the first Cherokee Indians, Noah, and his wife Wilhelmina; and we wish for our neighboring Indian nation that the life of the Gospel may soon shine upon it.”

* Excursus - Frederic William Marshall

1721–1802

Frederic William Marshall was the chief administrator of the Wachovia settlements in North Carolina. He was not only a governor of the people but also a planner and architect for the Moravian settlements in and around present Winston-Salem. His best known building of the Home Moravian Church in Old Salem, NC.

New Year's Eve 1757

In times past the Moravians read a Memorabilia of notable events at a closing service of a waning year. Not only did a Memorabilia remind a congregation of its own deeds and accomplishments during the passing year, but it also recalled the leading of the Savior as we sought to do his will.

In the year 1757, as the year closed, thanks to God was recorded in the Wachovia Memorabilia.

"We give thanks for the following: -

For the safety and peace vouchsafed us by our Heavenly Father in these times of war. Many of our neighbors, driven hither and yon like deer before wild beasts, came to us for shelter, yet the accustomed order of our congregational life was not disturbed, no, not even by more than 150 Indians, who at sundry times passed by, stopping for a day at a time and being fed by us.” 

A response to tragedy by the early Moravians

Responding to tragedy is universal. How one relates to or acts out his or her response is not universal. As we have come to see over these many postings the former Moravians have something valuable to transfer to us as contemporary Christians.

In 1755 the Moravian settlement of Gnadenhutten near Bethlehem was wiped out by a band of more than 300, Delaware Indians. 

The news of the massacre did not reach North Carolina Moravians for months. To the fact of the massacre the Moravians in Bethabara wrote in their 1756 diary:

“Lord, You has never made a mistake in thy ruling, thou are still our Master, and our faithful God.”

John Wesley and the Moravians