The Memorial Days of the Renewed Church of the Brethren
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Memorial Days Historical Introduction As the 100th anniversary of the Renewed Moravian Unity drew near, the church in Germany in 1821 published two small volumes to mark the occasion. They were Die Gedenktage, or Memorial Days, of the Unity, both Ancient and Renewed. They contained accounts of special events and documents which had a great effect on the beginning and continued development of what came to be known as the Moravian Church. The editors wanted the people not just to remember those occasions, but to feel them as a part of their own heritage. They therefore, as much as possible, told the stories in the words of the original participants drawn from contemporary letters, diaries, and the like. In so doing, they produced a treasure house of information on the early days of the Ancient and Renewed Unity, seen through the eyes of those who were there. Memorial Days of the Renewed Unity was quickly translated into English and published in London first in 1822 and then again in 1895. This made it possible for these stories to reach new generations and new countries, including America. Today, as we mark the 550th anniversary of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) it is fitting that in a new century and in a new electronic mode of communication we make these inspiring events available to a still wider audience. May these accounts help us see the devotion of our spiritual ancestors to our Lord and to His service in the Moravian Church, and may they inspire us to make their story our story. C. Daniel Crews, Archivist Moravian Church in America, Southern Province Winston-Salem, North Carolina September 2007 CONTENTS 1895 Edition CONTENTS............................................................................................. page iii PREFACE .................................................................................................page v FOR JUNE THE 17TH ............................................................................ page 11 Beginning of the building of Herrnhut by the first emigrants from Moravia in 1722 FOR MAY THE 12TH.............................................................................. page 42 The laying of the foundation stone of the first meeting hall and academy at Herrnhut in 1724 Appendix ..................................................................................... page 76 FOR AUGUST THE 13TH ....................................................................... page 79 The renewal of the Brethren’s Church in 1727 Appendix A: Statutes of the Congregation .................................. page 111 Appendix B: Declaration of the Congregation ............................. page 120 (See next page) Appendix C: A letter from Christian David.................................. page 120 FOR AUGUST THE 17TH ..................................................................... page 130 The great awakening among the children of Herrnhut in 1727 FOR AUGUST THE 27TH ..................................................................... page 136 Beginning of the Hourly Intercession in 1727 FOR AUGUST THE 21ST...................................................................... page 139 First mission of the Brethren to the Heathen, viz., the Negroes in Saint Thomas, in 1732 FOR JANUARY THE 19TH.................................................................... page 163 Beginning of the mission among the heathen in Greenland in 1733 FOR SEPTEMBER THE 16TH and NOVEMBER THE 13TH.................... page 189 Powerful experience in the Unity of the Brethren in 1741 that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd and Head of His Church Appendix B, page 120 Declaration of the Congregation at Herrnhut concerning their Doctrine and Regulations Hymn 686, page 191, of the British Moravian Hymnal of 1809 1. Chosen souls, who now assemble 4. May this place exist no longer Under Christ’s protecting care; Than, Lord Jesus, thy own hand, Tho’ you’re weak, your foes must Uncontroll’d, rules in its border, tremble, And be love our sacred band. If by him you guarded are. May we by thee — be found Of his goodness — bear ye worthy, witness: As a good salt to be used, Know ye not your high vocation, That some fruit may be produced. As the Lord’s own congregation? 5. Bless our cov’nanting together; 2. To his name give thanks and Make us like a burning torch, praises, Kindled by our heav’nly Father, Him with deepest awe adore; In these last days of the church. May his people in all places To thee joined — and resigned, Join t’exalt him evermore; May by each of us be further’d, Christ, our Saviour, — be for ever What thy holy will hath order’d. Of your building the Foundation, And the God of your salvation. 6. Now, dear Brethren, know ye Jesus? 3. Herrnhut, the Most High’s own Happy who him truly knows: structure, He’s the Head, and we are Built upon the grace of God, members, May thy walls be without fracture, From him ev’ry blessing flows. Sprinkled by thy gates with blood; Who believeth — to Christ God’s election — and protection cleaveth, Founded and maintain our union, Doth rejoice in ev’ry station, Christ’s the ground of our ’Midst reproach and tribulation. communion. THE MEMORIAL DAYS Renewed Church OF THE Brethren. front tl\e itrman. Xontfon: MORAVIAN PUBLICATION OFFICE, 32, FETTER LANE, E.C. ALSO AT THE BRETHREN'S CONGREGATIONS AND CHAPELS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. I895- CONTENTS. I. Beginning of the Building of Herrnhut by the first Emigrants of Moravia. For June the 17th. II. The laying of the Foundation Stone of the first Meeting Hall and Academy at Herrn- hut. For May the 12th. III. The Renewal of the Brethren's Church, 1727. Appendix A.B.C. For August the 13th. IV. The great awakening among the Children at Herrnhut. For August the 17th. V. Beginning of the Hourly Intercession. For August the 27th. VI. First Mission of the Brethren to the Heathen, viz., the Negroes in Saint Thomas. For August the 21 st. VII. Beginning of the Mission among the Heathen in Greenland. For January the 19th. VIII. Powerful experience in the Unity of the Brethren, that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd and Head of His Church. For September the 16th, and November the 13th. A 2 PREFACE. ""THE following eight Narratives, and their Appen- dices, contain historical accounts of those events which have given rise to the memorial days of the renewed Church of the Brethren. They are in close connection with the Narratives published in 1821, comprising the account of those two memorial days which have a reference to the history of the ancient Church of the Brethren; and this connection is necessarily the closer since none other but the descendants and survivors of that oppressed Church (which had been completely destroyed in those regions where it existed originally) commenced in the year 1722 the building of Herrnhut, the firstling of all our Congregation places. Having found in that VI. place an asylum from the reiterated persecutions of their enemies, they resorted thither from time to time, in considerable numbers, and brought with them the Statutes, the Spirit, the Blessing and the Promises of their ancient Church. The commence- ment of the Building of Herrnhut, June the 17th, 1722 ; the laying of the foundation stone of the first Meeting Hall and Academy, May 12th, 1724; the agreement to the first Orders and Statutes of the Con- gregation, May 12th, 1727 ; the celebration of the Holy Communion by the Congregation at Hurrnhut in the Church at Berthelsdorf, 13th of August, the same year, which, as it were, imprinted the Lord's seal upon that Congregation, and from which may be derived, as immediate consequences, the awakening of the Children, and the introduction of the hourly intercession—these were the memorable events, which fully proved, that the Lord would again mer- cifully look upon His deserted, despised, rejected people of the Brethren ; and graciously answer the believing Prayer of His faithful Servant, the aged Bishop Amos Comenius, 0 bring us, Lord, again to thyself, that we may return to our homes ! Renew our days as of old !—and that He would, according to the hope and confidence of this His Servant, breathe with the breath of His mouth upon the dead and dry bones, scattered over the field of this world, and Vll. cause them to live. Every one, who reviews the course and connection of these events, with even only a small degree of attention, will have to acknowledge, in these beginnings of the Brethren's Congregation, the finger of God, and the moving of His Spirit; and whoever with due care contemplates the evident leading and interposition of the Most High, in this new phenomenon of His kingdom, will be constrained to confess: This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes ! As soon as the newly established Congregation of the Brethren began to feel the vigour of the life which had been imparted by the Lord, the most earnest wish to participate in the furtherance of the kingdom of God in general, filled the minds of all. The impulse of their hearts to carry the message of Salvation procured for us by Christ to the remotest heathen tribes, inspired the first heathen-messengers with that irresistible courage of faith, which enabled them to break through all opposing impediments, and to commence, in the years 1732 and 1733, the. first Missions of the Brethren in St. Thomas and in Greenland; the beginning of which Missions is commemorated on the 21st of August, and 19th of January. All these memorable events were sealed and confirmed by the blessed experience made in the Unity of the Brethren, both on the 16th of September