About Herrnhut -- Persecutions in Moravia -- A Wandering
Carpenter -- Good Tidings -- Fugitives -- Squatters on the
Hutberg -- Count Zinzendorf's Steward -- The First Tree --
The First House -- Scoffers -- Origin of the Name -- More
Fugitives -- Foundation of the Union -- Struggles and
Encouragements -- Buildings -- Social Regulations -- Growth
of Trade -- War and Visitors -- Dürninger's Enterprise --
Population -- Schools -- Settlements -- Missions -- Life at
Herrnhut -- Recreations -- Festivals -- Incidents of War --
March of Troops -- Praise and Thank-Feasts.
While I sat by the monument of the first tree, and lingered in the
glow of sunset at the pavilion, a desire came upon me to know
something more of the history of Herrnhut. I partly gratify it in the
present chapter.
When the sanguinary Hussite wars ended in the triumph of the Jesuits,
there remained in Bohemia and Moravia numbers of godly-minded
Protestants, who, as the oppressor grew in strength, were forbidden
the free exercise of their religion. They worshipped by stealth,
hiding in caves and thickets, and suffered frightful persecution; but
remained steadfast, and formed a union among themselves for mutual
succour, and became the United Brethren. Their chief settlements were
at Fulnek, in Moravia, and Lititz, in Bohemia. Though professing the
principles of the earliest Christian church, many of them embraced the
doctrines of Luther and Calvin, whereby they subjected themselves to
aggravated persecutions; and cruelly were they smitten by the
calamities of the Thirty Years' War.
About 1710 a Roman Catholic carpenter set out from the little Moravian
village, Senftleben, to fulfil his three "wander-years," and gain
experience in his trade. While working at Berlin, he frequented the
Evangelical Lutheran church; and afterwards at Görlitz the impression
made on his mind by a Lutheran preacher was such that he went back to
his home a Protestant. He was a bringer of good tidings to some of his
relatives who were among the persecuted. He could tell them of a
kingdom beyond the frontier where they might worship unmolested; of a
youthful Count Zinzendorf, who had large estates in the hill-country
of Saxony, and was already known as a benefactor to such as suffered
for conscience' sake.
It was on Whit-Monday, 1722, that Christian David--so the carpenter
was named--brought the news. Three days later, two families, numbering
ten persons, abandoned their homes, and under David's guidance came
safely to Görlitz, after a nine days' journey. On the 8th of June the
four men travelled to Hennersdorf, the residence of Zinzendorf's
grandmother, who placed them under charge of the land-steward, with
instructions that houses should be built for them. But as the steward
wrote to his master, "the good people seek for the present a place
only under which they may creep with wife and children, until houses
be set up." After much consideration, it was resolved to build on the
_Hutberg_, a hill traversed by the road from Loebau to Zittau--then a
miserable track, in which vehicles sank to their axles. "God will
help," replied the steward to one of his friends, who doubted the
finding of water on the spot; and on the two following mornings he
rose before the sun and went upon the hill to observe the mists. What
he saw led him to believe in the existence of a spring; whereupon he
took courage, and, as he tells the Count, "I laid the miseries and
desires of these people before the Lord with hot tears, and besought
Him that His hand might be with me, and prevent wherein my intentions
were unpleasing to Him. Further I said, On this place will I build the
first house for them in thy name."
A temporary residence was found for the fugitives; the benevolent
grandmother gave a cow that the children might have milk; and on June
17th, as already mentioned, the first tree was felled by Christian
David. On the 11th of August the house was erected; the preacher at
Berthelsdorf took occasion to refer to it as "a light set on the hill
to enlighten the whole land;" and in October it was taken possession
of with prayer and thanksgiving, the exiles singing from their
hearts--
"Jerusalem! God's city thou."
The steward, writing about this time to inform the Count of his
proceedings, says: "May God bless the work according to His goodness,
and procure that your excellency may build on the hill called the
_Hutberg_ a city which not only may stand under the _Herrn Hut_
(Lord's protection), but all dwellers upon the _Lord's watch_, so that
day and night there be no silence among them." Here we have the origin
of the name of the place.
Meanwhile, the neighbourhood laughed and joked about the building of
a house in so lonely a spot, where it must soon perish; and still more
when the digging for the spring was commenced. The land-steward had
much ado to keep the labourers to their work. Fourteen days did they
dig in vain; but in the third week they came to moist gravel, and soon
water streamed forth in superabundance.
On December 21st the Count arrived with his newly-married wife, and
was surprised at sight of a house in a place which he had left a
forest. He went in; spoke words of comfort to the inmates, and falling
on his knees, prayed earnestly for protection.
In the next year, Christian David journeyed twice into Moravia. The
priests, angered at the departure of the first party, had worried
their relatives, and forbade them to emigrate under penalty of
imprisonment. Would not let them live in peace at home, nor let them
go. Aided, however, by the messenger, twenty-six persons forsook their
little possessions, their all, and stole away by night. "Goods left
behind," says the historian, "but faith in their Father in the heart."
They reached the asylum, where, by the spring of 1724, five new houses
were ready to receive them.
In this year came other fugitives, experienced in the church
discipline of the old Moravian Brethren; and as the number yet
increased, they besought the Count to institute the same constitution
and discipline in Herrnhut. But differences of opinion arose, and for
three years the harmony and permanence of the colony were seriously
endangered. The Count, however, was not a man to shrink from a good
work; he was remarkable for his power of influencing minds; and on the
12th of May, 1727, after a three hours' discourse, he succeeded in
reconciling all differences, and the Reformed Evangelical United
Brotherhood of the Augsburg Confession was established. This day, as
well as the 13th of August of the same year, when the whole community
renewed and confirmed their union in the church at Berthelsdorf, are
days never to be forgotten by the Brethren.
The success of Herrnhut was now secure. The number of residents had
increased to three hundred, of whom one half were fugitives from
Moravia. But they had still to endure privation; for they had
abandoned all their worldly substance, and trade and tillage advanced
but slowly: in the first six months, all that the two cutlers took
from the passers-by was but two groschen: a lean twopence. Friedrich
von Watteville, however, a much-beloved friend of the Count's, took a
room in one of the houses that he might live among the struggling
people, and help them in their endeavours.
Of the thirty-four small wooden houses which then stood on both sides
of the Zittau road not one now remains. In their place large and
handsome houses of brick have risen, which, though the place be but a
village, give it the appearance of a city. Besides those which have
been mentioned, there are the _Herrschaftshaus_, the _Vogtshof_--a
somewhat palatial edifice--the _Gemeinhaus_, the _Apotheke_, the
_Pilgerhaus_, and others. An ample supply of water is brought in by
wooden pipes, and two engines and eight cisterns in different quarters
are always ready against fire. There are covered stalls for the sale
of meat and vegetables; a common wash-house and wood-yard, and a
dead-house, all under the charge and inspection of a _Platzaufseher_--an
overseer who most undoubtedly does his duty. If ædiles in other
places would only take a lesson from him, their constituents would
have reason to be proud and grateful. An almoner is appointed to
succour indigent strangers. In 1852 he relieved 3668 tramping
journeymen.
Year by year the Herrnhuters improved in circumstances, though often
at hard strife with penury. However, they preferred hunger, with
freedom of conscience, to the tender mercies of the Jesuits at Olmutz.
The weavers of Bernstadt sent them wool to spin. In 1742 an order for
shoes for the army was regarded as a special favour of Providence. The
Seven Years' War, that brought misery to so many places, worked
favourably for Herrnhut. In one day a hundred officers visited the
place. Prince Henry of Prussia came and made large purchases, for the
work of the shoemakers and tailors, not being made merely to sell, was
much prized; and it sometimes happened that from 1500 to 2000 dollars
were taken in one day. Austrians and Prussians--fierce foes--rode in
alternately to buy; and while Herrnhut flourished, many erroneous
notions which had prevailed concerning it were removed by what the
visitors saw of the simple life and manners of the Brethren.
To Abraham Dürninger, who established a manufacture of linen cloths,
and whose skill and enterprise as a merchant were only matched by his
ceaseless activity, the colony owed the mainstay of its commercial
prosperity. Brother Dürninger's linen and woven goods were largely
exported, particularly to Spain, South America, and the West Indies,
and esteemed above all others in the market for the excellence of
their quality. The trade has since fallen off, but not the
reputation, as gold and silver medals awarded to the Herrnhuters by
the governments of Prussia and Saxony for honest workmanship amply
testify.
In 1760, notwithstanding that many colonies and missions had been sent
out, the population numbered 1200. This was the highest. The number
remained stationary until the end of the century; since then it has
slowly decreased, owing, as is said, to the decline of trade. In 1852
it was 925. No new buildings have been erected since 1805, so that
Herrnhut has the appearance of a place completely finished. The
streets were paved, and flagged footways laid down, eighty years ago;
and since 1810 all the roads leading from the village have been
planted and kept in good condition.
Well-managed elementary schools supply all that is needful for
ordinary education. Pupils who exhibit capabilities for higher
training are sent to the _Pedagogium_ at Nisky, a village built by
Bohemian refugees near Görlitz. Theological students are trained at
the seminary in Gnadenfeld, in the principality of Oppeln; and those
for the missions at Klein Welke, a village near Budissin, established
as a dwelling-place for converts from among the Wends.
Fifty-seven Moravian settlements and societies in different parts of
the continent of Europe--Russia, Sweden, Holland, Germany, some
founded by emigrants from Herrnhut, and all taking it for their
pattern, mark the growth of the principles advocated by the Brethren.
In England they have eleven settlements, among which Fulneck, in
Yorkshire, renews the name of the old Moravian village; and Ockbrook,
in Derbyshire, is the seat of the conference which directs the affairs
of the British settlements, but always with responsibility to the
Conference of Elders at Berthelsdorf. Scotland has one community--at
Ayr; and Ireland seven. At the last reckoning, in 1848, the number of
real members, exclusive of the societies, was 16,000.
Besides these, there are seventy foreign mission-stations, the duties
of which are fulfilled by 297 Brethren. The number of persons
belonging to the several missions is 70,000. That in North America was
commenced in 1734; Greenland, 1733; Labrador, 1770. The others are in
the West Indies, Musquito territory, Surinam, South Africa, and
Australia. At the instance of Dr. Gutzlaff, who visited Herrnhut in
1850, two missionaries have been sent to Mongolia.[J]
Although life at Herrnhut may appear tame and joyless to an ordinary
observer, it is not so to the Herrnhuters. A lasting source of
pleasure to them are the cheerful situation of the place itself, and
the delightful walks fashioned and planted by their own hands.
Lectures, the study of foreign languages, and of natural history, and
music, are among their permanent recreations. They excel in harmony,
and find, as their celebrations partake more or less of a religious
character, in the singing of oratorios, choruses, and hymns, an
animating and elevating resource. They observe the anniversary of the
foundation of Herrnhut, and of all other important incidents of its
history, and thus have numerous festival days. In some instances,
instrumental music, decorations of fir-branches, and an illumination,
heighten the effect.
Betrothals are times of gladness; baptism and marriage of solemn joy.
Weddings always take place in the evening; and in the evening also are
held, once in four weeks, the celebrations of the Lord's Supper. On
these occasions the whole community are present. Three or four
brothers who have received ordination, wearing white gowns, break the
thin cakes of unleavened bread and distribute to the assembly, and
when the last is served all eat together. The cup is then blessed and
passed in order from seat to seat.
On certain festive occasions love-feasts are held, after the manner of
the _Agapæ_ of the earliest Christian churches. At these gatherings,
which are intended to show the family ties which unite the members of
the community with the spiritual head of the church, suitable
discourse is held, hymns are sung; and cakes and tea--with at times
wine and coffee--are partaken of.
The Easter-morning celebration is especially remarkable. On that
morning the whole brotherhood assemble before sunrise in the church,
should the weather prove unfavourable; if fine, in the open air. Then
they walk two by two, the trumpets sounding before them, to the hill
of the _Gottesacker_, to watch from thence the rising of the sun.
Arrived on the height, they form into a great square: the prayers and
praises of the Easter-morning liturgy are then prayed and sung;
meanwhile the sun appears above the dim and distant horizon; a
spectacle in which the beholders see a foretoken of that glorious
resurrection where, in the words of a brother, "the grave is not, nor
death." Then the names of those who died during the past year are
read, and with affectionate remembrances of them the celebration
closes.
The service on New Year's Eve is so numerously attended from all the
neighbourhood round, that the church will hardly contain the throng.
At half-past eleven a discourse is begun, in which the events of the
year about to close are passed in review, with other subjects
appropriate to the time, until, as the clock strikes twelve, the
trumpet choir sound hail! to the new year. Then the verse
"Now all give thanks to God"
is sung, and with a prayer the service ends.
Burials are characterized by a simplicity worthy of all imitation; in
striking contrast to the vain and oft-times ludicrous proceedings, by
which folk in some other places think they do honour to the dead. The
Brethren assemble--wearing no kind of mourning except in their
hearts--in the church, where a short discourse is delivered, and a
narrative of the deceased's life is read. The procession is then
formed, preceded by the trumpet-band, who blow sacred melodies; and
the corpse is carried on a bright-coloured bier, covered with a
striped pall, by four brothers, dressed in their usual clothes. The
nearest relatives follow, and behind them the community, according to
kin. They form a circle round the grave and sing a hymn, accompanied
by the trumpets, during which the coffin is lowered. The burial
service is then read, and the simple rite concludes with a
benediction.
Not least interesting among the annals of Herrnhut are incidents
arising out of the wars which have afflicted Germany since the place
was founded. All day the Brethren heard the roar of cannon when
Frederick won his great victory at Lowositz; and a few days later,
forty-eight of them had to keep watch against an apprehended foray of
Trenck's wild Pandours. In 1757, General Zastrow quartered suddenly
four thousand men upon them spitefully, and in defiance of a royal
order to the contrary, keeping the peaceful folk in alarm all night;
but the troops were withdrawn in the morning, and an indemnity was
paid for the mischief they had committed. At times, long trains of
men, horses, and artillery would pass through without intermission for
a whole day--now Prussians, now Austrians, now heathen Croats. In the
same year three thousand officers visited the place, among whom,
during three weeks of the summer, were thirty-four princes,
seventy-eight counts, and one hundred and forty-six nobles of other
degree. Numbers of them attended the religious services of the
Brethren. The Abbé Victor was one of the visitors, and on his return
to Russia he said so much in praise of the Herrnhuters, that the
emperor gave him permission to establish the colony of Sarepta in
Southern Russia, which still exists.
In 1766 came the Emperor Joseph II., and by his pleasing manners and
friendly inquiries made a "lasting impression" on the minds of the
Brethren. In October, 1804, Francis I.--the Franzl of the
Tyrolese--with his wife. In 1810, Gustaf Adolf IV. of Sweden, who
expressed a wish to become a member. In 1813 the Emperor Alexander
came as a visitor, and examined all things carefully; and it is
recorded of him that while the children sang he stood among them
bareheaded. He was followed by three of the famous marshals--Kellermann,
Victor, and Macdonald.
This was a terrible year. With the retreat from Moscow came train on
train of wounded Saxons on the way to Dresden. Requisition on
requisition was made for linen and provisions; and one day, when no
more wagons were left, the Brethren had to supply two hundred
wheelbarrow-loads of rations. Night after night they saw the lurid
glow of fires, for seventy-one places were burnt in the circles of
Bautzen and Görlitz. Then came Cossacks, Calmucks, and squadrons of
savage Bashkirs, armed with bows and arrows. Then Poniatowsky with his
Poles, and Saxon Uhlans; and a review was held in a meadow behind the
_Schwesternhaus_, and the sisters made hundreds of little pennons for
the Polish lances.
In August, Napoleon was at Zittau. Daily skirmishes took place among
Prussians, Poles, and Russians, for possession of the _Hutberg_--the
best look-out for miles around. In September, Blucher came with
Gneisenau and Prince Wilhelm, and had the Prussian head-quarters here
for five days.
On the whole, Herrnhut suffered but little in comparison with other
places; yet the Brethren were not slow to rejoice for the evacuation
of Germany by the enemy, and the restoration of peace. "Praise and
Thank-feasts" were held, with illuminations and fireworks; some of the
fires being green and white, to represent the national colours of
Saxony.
FOOTNOTE:
[J] According to the Report for 1851, the latest I have been able to
get, the contributions received for missions in that year amounted to
86,221 dollars; the expenditure to 83,419 dollars.