Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, Pa.

Issue 60 January 2011

Georg Neisser, First Moravian Historian in America

Georg Neisser was one of the first Moravians gration from Moravia to Herrnhut, the early to come to America. He was also the first histo- history of Unitas Fratrum and the hymnody rian of the Moravian Church in America. of the church. His hymnological materials Throughout his life he kept the memory of his consist of several tunebooks with hundreds roots in the Czech lands alive. This month a of hymn tunes in use by the Moravian new finding aid of Georg Neisser’s personal Church during his lifetime, tunes of hymns papers was completed and published on the from Czech hymnals, and also copies of Archives’ website. choral music. A surprising find is a copy of Georg Neisser was born in the village of the last two choruses of Handel’s Messiah: Söhle (Zilina) in Moravia on April 11, 1715. “Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain” and When he was eight years old, his parents “Amen.” The first American (partial) perfor- Georg and Susanna decided to leave for the mance of the Messiah took place in New recently founded community of Herrnhut in York in 1770, where Neisser was minister Saxony. at the time. Had he perhaps attended one of Georg Neisser was a member of the first the performances? group of Herrnhuters to be sent to Savan- Neisser made lists of bishops and pastors nah, Georgia, in 1735. After the Moravian of the Unitas Fratrum from 1467 on, and community in Savannah broke up, he moved lists of places in Bohemia and Moravia north to Pennsylvania in 1740 where he was where congregations of the Unity used to witness to many events that formed the exist. He included memoirs of members of Moravian Church: he helped with the con- the Moravian Church who had emigrated to refugee from Bohemia. Böhner and Neisser struction of the Whitefield House in Naza- Herrnhut. He also collected various notes corresponded about the history of the An- reth and the first houses of Bethlehem; he on general church history, Czech church cient Unity and Böhner communicated his was secretary to Count Zinzendorf during history, on Comenius and his works, and recollections of stories of refugees to his visit to Pennsylvania in 1742; and when a the history of the Renewed Moravian Neisser. Is it a coincidence that Neisser’s Moravian school was begun in Germantown Church. notes on Moravian history began in 1772, in 1742 he became one of the schoolteach- Neisser started to compile his historical soon after Cranz’s History came out and ers. Neisser was also the first person to notes in the early 1750s. At first he collect- Neisser and Böhner began their corre- keep the diary of the Moravian congregation ed material on the hymnody of the Ancient spondence? at Bethlehem. Apparently Neisser, who by Bohemian Brethren in 1753. The bulk of his Neisser developed a new identity through then was 27 years old, had a talent as a notes, however, were collected later in life his historical work. Far away from the land chronicler. Later in life he would devote when he was Moravian pastor in New York of his birth Neisser became aware of his much of his time collecting historical infor- in the 1770s. roots. National identities were not strong in mation. From Neisser’s notes one can deduce his the 18th century (nationalism was typical for In 1743 he went on a visit to England and interpretation of Moravian history. Neisser the 19th century), but Neisser knew where Germany when Zinzendorf's group returned believed that the Moravian Church in the he came from. He found his identity within to Europe. A few months after he came 18th century directly descended from the the church that he served. The history of his back to Bethlehem in October of 1744 he Unity of the Brethren as it existed earlier in church was also his personal history. married Catherina Theodora Medler. Her the Czech lands. This was according to the Through his historical work he was able to parents immigrated from Württemberg to official history of the Moravian Church, but uncover this part of his identity and to place America when she was six years old. Neisser thought his fellow Moravians were himself in this tradition. In 1748 Neisser was ordained a minister not sufficiently aware of the early period of Neisser died in Philadelphia on November of the Moravian Church. With his wife he the church. 1, 1784. After his death the Moravian served in many places: in West Jersey, New Shortly before Neisser began his work an Church purchased his valuable papers for York City, Maryland, and in Pennsylvania: official history of the Moravian Church, the Archives. Heidelberg, Nazareth, Lancaster, Lebanon, written by David Cranz, was published. Al- York, Warwick, and Philadelphia. In York, though its title was Ancient and Modern Histo- Source New York, and Philadelphia he served more ry of the Brethren only 106 of the book’s 870 than once. pages were dedicated to the Ancient Unity. Image: portrait by J.V. Haidt in MAB. Albert H. Neisser was a Moravian minister but dur- Neisser did not think this was adequate. He Frank, "George Neisser, an Early Moravian His- ing his free time he was a devoted historian. shared his disappointment with Johann Böh- torian," TMHS 23/2 (1979): 1-11. The Neisser papers cover the early immi- ner, missionary in St. Thomas and fellow www.moravianchurcharchives.org