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HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF

BETHLEHEM

IN

PENNSYLVANIA,

With Some Account of the

Moravian Church,

BT

John Hill Martin,
Of the Philadelphia Bar,
A Member of the " Moravian Historical Society."
And ofthe " Historical Society of Pennsylvania."
And author of '¦ Sketches in the Lehigh Valley."

SECOND EDITION.

PHILADELPHIA :
(Printed for THE AUTHOR,
By JOHN L. PILE, at No. 422 Walnut Street.
1873.

Entered according to the Act of Congress, by
John Hill Martin,
In the Office of the Clerk of the District Court
of the United States in and for the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania,
in the year 1869.

First Edition, 353 copIe3 printed.
SarosD Edition, 150 copies only printed, with corrections.

INTRODUCTION.

This work is not a full history of Bethlehem, but simply an historical Sketch, for
the use of the traveller. It is intended to supply a want which is felt by those people
who desire to know something of the origin of the Town, the character of the peculiar
people who first settled and built it, and ofthe different Institutions they founded in it.
No one can visit the Town without desiring to know more of it than can be derived
from mere enquiry ; and to render such information is the object of this sketch.
It was written entirely for amusement, but from the mo3t authentic information
that rould be obtained by the Author ; who became much interested in the Town, its
people, its institutions, and its historic mementoes.
JOHN HILL MARTIN.
Philadelphia, March ist, 1869.

Table of Contents.

Chatter I.
Settlement of Bethlehem ; building of the first house ; origin of name of the town ;
some account of the Moravian Church ; sketch of Count Zinzendorf and his family ;
Anna Nitschmann, - - - - - 5
Chapter II.
The descendants of Zinzendorf, Louis David de Schweinits ; the Old Indian Chapel ;
the Unity, Doctrine and Missions of the Moravian Church ; a list of the Inhabi
tants of Bethlehem ; the Indian Troubles, - - 12
Chapter III.
The Married People's House ; the Indian Wars of 1755 ; Benjamin Franklin as p.
General ; his account of Bethlehem ; Penn's "Walking Purchase the cause of the .
Indian Troubles ; Longfellow's Burial of the Minisink, - - 19
Chapter IV.
The Old Mill, built in 1751, burned in 1869 ; the Bethlehem "Water "Works ; Revo
lutionary times of 1776 ; "Washington and Bishop Ettwein ; Pulaski's Banner ;
Longfellow's Poem ; Visit of "Washington ; Lafayette ; Mrs. Beidesel's Account ;
Mrs. Friday ; Cotton ; the Fishery ; Manufacturers ; Main Eoad to Ohio ; the Stone
Kidge ; Views and Scenery, - - - - 26
Chapter V.
The " Crown Inn ;" the Sun Hotel ; Marriages in Olden Times ; the Choirs ; Dr. John
Schopfs Account of his Visit ; a Sketch from the Boston Magazine of 1784 ; Extract
from a Paper read before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 36
Chapter VI.
The Schnitz House ; the Farmers in Old Times ; the Object of the Establishment ofthe
Moravian Church in America ; Bochefoucault's Description of Bethlehem ; the
Bethlehem Souvenir ; Simplicity of Moravian Life in the Last Century ; Music ;
Bishop Spangenberg ; The Fifty Year's Celebration, June 25, 1792 ; The Old
Bridge over the Lehigh, 1792 ; Sketch from the American Gazetteer, - 44
Chapter VII.
The First Moravian Store ; Bethlehem in 1797, from Ogden's Excursion into Bethlehem
and Nazareth in 1800 ; the Ancient Institutions of the Brethren's Church, - 50
Chapter VIII.
Description ofthe large Moravian Church, erected in 1803 ; The Bethlehem Archives ;
The Gemein Haus, or Congregation House ; The First Moravian Church in Bethle
hem ; The Old Chapel, or Second Church ; The Old School, or the First Moravian
Seminary for Females ; The Official Seal of the Church of the United Brethren ; The

11 CONTENTS.

Addition to the Old School; " The Sister's House ;" The ""Widows' House;" Origin
of the Sisters' Houses ; Marriage by Lot ; Lieut. Auber/s Opinion ; Explanation
of the Lot ; Account of it in the Historical Collections of New Jersey; The " Great
Marriage Act" in Bethlehem, April 20th, 1757 ; Miss Mortimer's Novel of the
Marrying by Lot ; Married "Women, and Ancient Customs ; Remarks in Stroud's
History of Pennsylvania ; Act of Parliament of 20 George 2d, C. 44, for the Natu
ralization of Foreign Protestants, &c, 57
Chapter IX.
The Bethlehem Alphabet ; the Old "Water Works ; Dr. Mease's Sketch of the Mora
vians ; Derby's Gazetteer, 1827 ; Mrs. Royal's Account, 1829 ; Prince Maxamilian
of Neuwied's Visit, 1832 ; James N. Beck's Sketches ; Gordon's Gazetteer of Penn
sylvania, 1832 : The Centennial Celebration ; U. S. Gazatteer, 1843 ; Incorporation
of the Borough, 1845 ; " God Save the Luckenbach's ;" Act of Parliament Recog
nizing the " Unitas Fratrum," as a Protestant Episcopal Church in 1749 ; Origin
of the Moravians ; Some Account of the Settlement at Hope, New Jersey, from
the Plistorical Collections of that State, - 08
Chapter X.
Moravian Memories ; Modern Bethlehem ; the Old Grave Yard ; Funeral Ceremonies
of the Moravians ; Tschoop ; Tadeuskung, Anecdote of the Chief, the Figure on In
dian Rock, on the Wissahicon ; David Nitschmann ; Dr. Robert Dudley Ross ;
Mourning Dress not Worn by the Moravians ; the Passing Bell ; Easter Morning
Celebration ; Drives, Walks, and Places of Interest near Bethlehem ; Dr. Maurice
C. Jones and the Fremdendiener's ; Moravians in Early Times, 81
Chapter XL
The Moravian Parochial School ; the Moravian College, founded, A. D., 1807, charted
April 3, 1863 ; the Bethlehem Male Boarding School ; Nisky Hill Male Seminary ;
the Old Barn of the Congregation Farm ; Sketch of the Bethlehem Seminary for
Young Ladies ; the Military Record of Bethlehem during the Rebellion, 97
Chapter XII.
The Enterprise of the Moravian Church ; their schools ; their Publications ; the
Text-Book ; Birth Days, and their Celebration ; the First Printing Office ; the News
papers of Bethlehem" in the Past and Present; " Pennsylvania Dutch ;" "Love-
Feasts ;"_ the Moravian Christmas Putz ; the " Young Men's Missionary Society,"
and Christian Association of Bethlehem, - HO
Chapter XIII.
The Society for Propagation the Gospel among the Heathen ; Statistics of the Unity
of the Brethren, January 1, 1869 ; List of the Churches and Missions in the North
ern Diocese of the Church of the United Brethren in America ; an Old Passport ;
Christian Frederick Post ; Sister " Polly Heckewelder ;" Rev. John Heckewelder,
and his Writings ; the Horsfield Papers ; History of Northampton County, from a
Pamphlet ; Official Seal of the Moravian Church, a Correction ; Travels of the
Marquis de Chastellux in America, 1780 ; Chas. Thompson's Theory of the For
mation of the Wind-Gap ; Curiosities ; the Old Iron Stove Plates ; Indian Corn
Grinder; the Old Sun Dial; Old Tiles; Old Water Pipes; the First Market
House ; Old Grave Yard, South of the Lehigh ; Zinzendorf's visit to Wyoming ¦
Formation of Northampton County, - . ' " ' 127
Chapter XIV.
The Litany of the Moravian Church ; " Bartow's Path ;" Niskey Hill ; Friedenshuetten ;
the Indian House ; the German Barns ; Tecum3eh ; the Indian Missionary Stations ;
Haidte's Painting of the First Fruits ; Saheussle's Picture of Zeisberger Preaching
to the Indians ; The Lehigh, its Freshets and Fisheries; A ride on the Switch-

CONTENTS. Ill

back; American Tea; The Old Perseverance and the Fire Apparatus of Bethle
hem ; The Hotels ; The Streets ; The Old Tannery ; Social Life ; Census of 1870;
Powder Magazine ; Height of the Lehigh Hills ; May-day ; The Masonic Societies
of Bethlehem, - ... 141
Chapter XV.
Music in Bethlehem, by Rufus A. Grider, of the Bethlehem Moravian Congregation, 157
Chapter XVI.
Borough Authorities ; Lawyers and Doctors ; The choice of Bishop3 by Lot ; An Ac
count of a " Vesper" of the Moravian Historical Society ; Old Map of Bethlehem in
the Historical Sooiety of Pennsylvania ; The Married Peoples' Houses ; Mano-
kasy; The Apothecary Shop; Pottery; Tobacco; Silk; Public Buildings; The
Vineyards ; The Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Co. ; South Bethlehem ; The Pa
per Bag Manufactory ; New Street Bridge ; Volunteer Companies ; The Lehigh
University ; The Freshet of October 4, 1869 ; The First Public Roads ; David
Nitschman and His Company ; The Great Minnisink Trail ; The First Post Office ;
The Mode of Travel in the Olden Times ; The " Crown Inn " ; Stage Route, Wind
Gap to Philadelphia, .... 174

m

sp^llllillflSill

First House, Eethlehem, built 1741.

HISTORICAL SKETCH
or
BETHLEHEM,
Pennsylvania,
WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE MORAVIAST
CHURCH.
.B3S ITJU-^^IXSlkt.
A quiet town, embowered by patriarch trees,
Around which sleeps an atmosphere, as sweet
As airs of Paradise: where tiny feet
Tinkle, at twilicht, on a balmier breeze,
Than ever blew from Ceylon's spicy seas —
And where throughout the long and languid diiys
Poised on the Sycamore's silver-rinded sprays,
The Oriole swings his nest, and fluteB his glees.
Far statelier spots may beam beneath the sun,
But none so bland in beauty— none BO bright
With Eden's own Asphodel, that, exhaling light,
Bl )oms in her paths, while, like a kneeling nun
Hearing High Mass, she looks with reverent eyes,
Through clasping greenery, on smiling ski's 1
— Henry B. Hirst.
CHAPTER I.
Settlement of Bethlehem. — Building of
the First House. — Origin of Name of
the Town. — Some Account of the Mora
vian Church. — Sketch of Count Zinzen
dorf and his Family. — Anna Nitschmann.
Iethleuem, Northampton County,
(Pennsylvania's situated on the south
ern side of a declivity rising from the north
ern bank of the Lehigh Eiver, twelve miles

from its mouth at Easton, on the river Dela
ware, and fifty-two miles from, and connect
ing with the city of Philadelphia by the
North Pennsylvania Railroad; which forms
a junction with the Lehigh Valley Railroad
at that point; thus placing Bethlehem within
two hours ride by railroad of Philadelphia,
and three hours from Harrisburg and New
York. Bethlehem was settled in 1741 by Moravians
from Germany. It is a place of great resort
in the summer season for the inhabitants of
Philadelphia and New York, and is chiefly
celebrated for its dry and salubrious climate.
It is particularly adapted as a place of resi
dence for invalids, especially for those suffer
ing from weakness of the lungs, being at the
southern end of an extensive plain called
the "Dry lands," and sheltered on the west
and north by the Blue Ridge Mountains,
twenty miles distant. It is famous for its
schools, its beautiful walks and drives, and
the open-hearted hospitality of its An^lo-
German population, numbering at this time,
about 7,000.
To the better understanding of the appear
ance of the town of Bethlehem, and the cus
toms ofthe people, it will be necessary to give
a short sketch of the rise and progress of tho
Moravian Society.

6

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

In the early part of the year 1741, a small
party of German Moravians, seventeen in
number, under the leadership of Peter Boeh-
ler, left Ephrata now Nazareth, in Northamp
ton County, Pennsylvania, and settled at that
point on the Lehigh or Zecha river, (as it was
named by the Indians) where a small creek
called the Manockasy empties into that
stream. This place is now called Bethle
hem, the Society having purchased there
4J00 acres of land for the purpose of forming a
settlement. The first house, with a stable attached,
was erected that year, and within its walls
Were assembled on Christmas E°ve, 1741,
the pious inhabitants of the little settle
ment, (added to whom were Count Nicholas
Louis Von Zinzendorf and his daughter Be-
nigna, who had just arrived in this country
from Germany,'1 for the purpose of celebrating
the coming anniversary of the birth-day of
our Saviour, and from the coincidence that
the celebration was partly performed in the
stable, the name of Bethlehem was given to
the infant town ; the proposed name had been
Bethlechem,or the" house. upon the Lecha," but
in commemoration of this eventful evening
it was changed to Bethlehem.
The following interesting sketch concern
ing the settlement of Bethlehem, was written
by John Martin Mack, a Moravian Mission
ary to the American Indians. He was born
in 1715 and died in 1784. "On the 13th of April,
1740, we concluded to break up our settlement
in Georgia, on account of the war, as we had
no religious liberty, and remove to Pennsyl
vania, where we arrived the same month,
and were engaged as mechanics and day-la
bourers by Mr. Whitefield at Nazareth, in
order to build a house for him at that place,
as he had purchased the land for converted
people in England. We had a pleasant house
hold, every one laid hold where they could,
and the Lord was with us.
"In Dec. 1740, Bishop David Nitsehman Fa
ther Nitschman, and his daughter Anna, Sis
ter, Mother, and Charles Frb'hlich arrived
from Europe with a commission to locate a
settlement for the Brethren, and they did so
in 1741. The ground whereon Bethlehem

stands was purchased, and in the spring /
assisted in cutting down thejirst tree and founding
the place. In the fall of the same year came
the blessed follower (Zinzendorf), several
days before Christmas. He came to our new
built place ere it had a name; it so happened
that we celebrated Christmas Eve in memo
ry of the birth of our dear Saviour, and as
there was only a wall between our dwelling
and our cow and horse stable — so the Seligi
Jungei- went into the stable in the tenth hour
with us, and sang with feeling, so that onr
hearts were melted.
' Nicht aus Jerusalem, sonde rn Bethlehem
Aus dem Komt was mir fromct.'
And thus the place received the name of
Bethlehem. The impression which it made
upon my heart will remain to my latest
hour." Geo. Whitefield purchased 5,000 acres of
land A. D. 1740, in Upper Nazareth Town
ship, which he transferred to the Brethren
in 1743. This domain was known as the
' Barony of Nazareth/ and was nominally
the property of the Countess Zinzendorf; it
had the right of Court Baron, and was the
only manor sold by the Penns with the priv
ilege, and it was and is yet held on condi
tion of rendering service to them and their
heirs, of a lied Rose in June of each year.
The first house was a large log house, such
as are common in the wilds of Pennsylva
nia, even in these days. It was intended as a
temporary residence for the settlers, until a
more substantial building could be erected.
It stood upon the site of the present stables
of the " Eagle Hotel." Numerous drawings
of it have been made, in which itis represen
ted as a one-story log house with attic rooms
or garrets, having two doors and two windows
in the front ofthe house, and two windows in
each gable end of the first story, and two ir
regular windows in the gable ends of the
garrets. When the house was torn down
some of the wood was preserved, from which
canes, rules, and pen-holders have been made;
and are highly prized.
The existence of the religious society of
the Moravians, or the church of the United
Brethren, the ancient " Unitas Frati-um," is

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

now a matter of history. They are the oldest
known Apostolic and Protestant church,
comingfrom Bohemia and Moravia; its Bish
ops justly claiming Apostolic succession, au
thoritatively recognized by the Established
Church of England, and by the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United States.
To sketch briefly a history of the rise of
the United Brethren, it will be necessary to
begin in the year 1176, when the Waldenses,
a religious and primitive people, first made
their appearance in Bohemia, and settled on
the borders of the Eger, where they soon
united in friendly and religious communion
with the Bohemians and Moravians. The
early history of these persecuted people is
involved in much obscurity, although their
origin is dated from the eighth century, and
sometimes earlier; they inhabited the valley
of Peidmont and took their name from a cel
ebrated leader of their sect, Peter Waldo.
They were undoubtedly, however, the ear
liest advocates of Christian Truth, and suf
fered the most terrible persecutions; their
descendants are still found in Peidmont,
Switzerland and France. They traced their
Episcopal ordination to the Apostles, and on
settling in Bohemia, finding their doctrines
and practices assimilating with those of that
country, they finally became united into one
church. From these united people, sprung the Bo
hemian John Huss, who about the year 1400,
brought the doctrines of his people before the
world; and in consequence suffered the per
secutions of the Church of Rome, and was
finally burnt at the stake as a Heretic, on the
6th of July, 1415. Then followed the great
Hussite war.
Finally, after many persecutions and secret
worshipping in caves, George Podiebrad, of
Bohemia, about the year 1456, permitted, the
Bohemians and Moravians to form themselves
into an association, (the " Unitas Fratrurn,")
and to settle in the principality of Litiz.
'In the year 1467, a deputation of seventy
of the most respectable members of the Mo
ravian brethren met at Lahota. Nine of
these were chosen, from whom three were
selected by lot, to be the spiritual advisers

of the people; those chosen were Mathias of
Kunewold, Thomas Pizelaucius and Elias
Krenovins, end as it was necessary these
Presbyters should properly administer the
rites of Ordination, they decided on seeking
Episcopal ordination from some pure source
accordingly, some time after, the Brethren
resolved on sending three of their priests to
the Waldenses, (who still had their churches
and bishops in Austria,) to receive their sa
cred ordination, one of whom was Michael
Bradacius, who was with two others, ordained
by Stephen, one of the last remaining Wal-
densian bishops, who, within a year thereaf
ter, was burned at the stake, and his follow
ers fugitives.
About the same time the persecutions of
the Brethren began anew, and they struggled
on long weary years against civil and ecclesi
astical power, until at last a patron and a
protector was raised up for them, under
whose influence, bravery and goodness, the
society has become great and prosperous in
this country and in Europe ; where they have
built many pleasant towns, from which they
send out numerous missionaries, who go
about the world doing good to all mankind.
Nicholas Louis, Count von Zinzendorf, to
whose protection, fraternal friendship and
pious exertions the Moravians owe so much,
and which they repay so fully by cherishing
and keeping ever green his memory amongst
them, was born in the city of Dresden, on
the 26th of May, 1700. His father was min
ister of State to the king of Saxony, and a
nobleman much esteemed, he married the
Countess Reuss Von Ebeisdorf, by whom he
had this one son, and died soon after. His
widow then retired to the residence of her
mother (at Hennersdorf, in upper Lusatia,
Saxony,) Henrietta, Baroness de Gersdorf, a
learned and pious lady, who devoted herself
to the education of her grandson. When quite
young he was sent to the University of Halle,
then under the direction of of its founder,
Franeke; and afterwards in 1716, he went
to the University of Wittenburg, to complete
his studies. He left there in 1719, resolved
to embrace the Ecclesiastical profession, and
traveled throughout Northern Europe, inclu-

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

ding France and Holland ; having spent
most of his time during his journey, with the
most eminent theologians of the countries
through which he passed. He wrote and pub-
Kshed his travels under the title of "The
Pilgrimage of Atticus through the World."
On returning from his travels, T;he Count
purchased the manor and estates of Berthels-
dorf. Aboutthistime the society ofthe United
Brethren in Moravia were again being mUeh
persecuted for the practice of their religious
belief. Zinzendorf becoming acquainted with
the fact, extended to them through Christian
David, an invitation to come and settle on
his estates ; and in acceptance thereof, there
arrived on the 17th of June, 1722, a little com
pany of ten persons, who immediately com
menced to erect a house for their own accom
modation, upon the estate ofthe Count. Such
was the beginning of " Hernhut," meaning,
'•' The protection ofthe Lord." The number
of settlers soon increased, and within five
years the town had a population of 500 souls.
Zinzendorf took great interest in the infant
settlement; and assisted by a'Lutheran min
ister, Rothe, instructed the settlers and edu
cated their children: He conceived the idea
of founding a religious community, embrac
ing the doctrines of the martyred Huss,
which was soon accomplished ; and it is from
this time that the Moravians date the renew
al of the church of the United Brethren.
John Huss, the great reformer, was born
in the village of Hussinitz, in Bohemia, in
the year 1373, and is regarded by the Mo
ravians as the founder of their faith. As
early as the year 1500, the United Brethren
had over 200 churches in Bohemia ; they had
published their confession of faith, their edi
tions of the Bible, their hymn book and
catechism. Luther, with great justice, styled
them • " The reformers before the Reforma
tion." It was the descendants of these Unit
ed Brethren, the remnants of that once large
religious community, to whom Zinzendorf
gave an asylum at Hernhut; and convinced
that their doctrines were of the true faith, he
became a, member of their church, passed
his examination as a theological candidate at
Stralsund, and preached there his first ser

mon. He was subsequently consecrated n
bishop of the Moravian Church at Berlin;
and in 1732 he was married to the Countess
Erdmuth Dorothea Von Reuss ; by the mar
riage contract he transferred to her all his
property, and they entered into a mutual
covenant, that they would both be ready at
a moment's warning, to enter upon the task
of converting the heathen. The Brethren
soon began to establish foreign missions, and
their churches are now found in nearly all
parts of the known world ; the conversion of
the heathen to the true faith, being one of
the first objects of the society. It may be
stated, that the belief, and the forms and cer
emonies ofthe Moravian Church, assimilate
to those ofthe Protestant Episcopal Church,
of which they claim to be the oldest known
member, saying that they are a branch ofthe
Greek Church, and have preserved the Epis
copal succession. Crantz, the great Mora
vian historian, has written fully on all these
points, and his work is one of great interest.
It is said to have been Zinzendorf's wish that
the Moravians should adopt the liturgy of
the Episcopal Church, instead of the one now
in use; but he found himself so violently
opposed by his Brethren, that he abandoned
the idea.
In the year 1737, Zinzendorf visited Eng
land, in order to confer with Doctor Potter,
the Archbishop of Canterbury, concerning
Moravian affairs, and the Episcopal ordina
tion. It was there that he met General Ogle
thorpe, aud other gentlemen interested in
the settlement of Georgia ; they solicited the
Count to send missionaries to that colony ; he
objected on the ground that his Brethren
were not acknowledged as duly ordained by
the Established Church. The Arch-Bishop
was consulted, and replied : " That the Mo
ravian Brethren were an Apostolic and Epis
copal Church, not sustaining any doctrines
repugnant to the thirty-nine articles of the
Church of England ; that they could not
therefore with propriety, nor ought they to be
hindered from preaching the gospel among
the heathen." He also said : " That no En
glishman who had any notion of Ecclesiasti
cal history, could doubt their Apostolic sue-

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

cession." The bench of Bishops in England

78

1746

David Nitschman, jun.

in the year 1749, agreed that these Brethren

79

u

Frederick W. Neisser.

(referring to the present Moravian Church —

SO

ct

Christian F. Steinhofer.
J. F. Camerhof.

then known bythe name of the " Unitvrs Fra-

81

82

1747

John Baron de Watteviile.

trum at Hernhut") were an Episcopal Church,

83

Leonard Dober.

and an act of parliament was passed June

84

tt

A. A. Vieroth.

6, 1749, which granted and secured to

85

'1748

Frederick Martin.

them certain solicited privileges. Copies of

86

a

Peter Boehler.

the act were printed in English, Latin,

87

1750

George Waiblinger.

French and German, and distributed among

88

1751

Matthew Hehl.

the Brethren ; one of the original printed

89

1754

John Gambold.

00

1750

Andrew Grasman.

copies in English, is now in possession of B.

91

1758

John Nitschman.

E. Lehman, of Bethlehem, Pa.

92

a

Nathaniel Seidel.

In the list of Bishops of the Unity of the

93

1770

Martin Mack.

Bohemian and Moravian Brethren, commen

91

1773

Martin Graf.

cing with Michael Bradacius, consecrated in

95

1775

John F. Reichel.

1467, by Stephen, Bishop of the Waldenses ;

96

"

Paul E. Layritz.

and ending in 1644, we find fifty-five names,

97

a

P. II. Molther. "

98

1782

Henry de Bruemngk.

adding to these the Bishops of the Unity in

99

tt

George Clemens.

Poland, taken from Jablonsky's letter to

100

tt

Jeremiah Ruler.

Arch-bishop Wake, in 1717, down to David

101

1783

George Tranecker.

Nitschman, (consecrated in 1735, by Jablons-

102

1784

John Etwein.

ky, at Berlin,) the first Bishop ofthe renew

103

17 85

John Schaukirch.

ed Moravian Church, we have sixty-seven

104

1786

Benjamin G. Mueller.

Bishops; and from that time till the ordina

105 106

1789 tt

Christian Gregor.
Samuel Liebisch.

tion of Samuel Reinke in 1858, no less than

107

n

C. Duvernoy.

eighty-nine more bishops were added to the

108

u

Benjamin Rothe.

list. Making the entire number of Bishops

109

1790

John A. Huebner.

of the Moravian Church to tiat time, one

110

tt

John D. Koehler.

hundred and sixty-six. Some writers in

111

1801

Thomas Moore.

112

it

Christian Dober.

crease the number, but Crantz makes David

113
..
Samuel T. Benade.
Nitschman the sixty-seventh Bishop, and he
114
tt
Gotthold Reichel.
has been followed as the best authority.
115
1802
George H. Loskiel.
The Rev. Edward De Schweinitz, in the
116
1S08
John G. Cunow,
Moravian Manual, gives a list of the Bishops
117
li
Herman Richter.
ofthe church, constituting the Episcopal suc
118
1811
John Herbst.
cession ofthe Unitas Fratrum. In the Ancient
119
1814
"YYilliam Fabricius.
120
Charles G. Hueffel.
Church from 1467 to 1734, he makes the num
121
a
Charles A. Baumistcr.
ber of Bishops to be 70. Since then, up to
122
a
John Baptiste de AlbertinL
1866, he gives 97 Bishops of the
123
1815
Jacob Van Vlcck.
124
1818
George M. Schneider.
Renewed Church.
.
125
tt
F. W. Foster.
No. „ Y™r **. Bishops.
Consecration. '
126
a
Benjamin Reichel.
71 1735 D ivid Nitschman.
127
1822
Andrew Benade.
72 1737 Lewis Count de Zinzendorf.
123
1825
John Wied.
73 1740 Polycarp Mueller.
123
«
Lewis Fabricius.
74 1741 John Nitschman^sen.
130
"
Petor F. Curie.
75 1743 Frederick Baron De Watteviile.
131
u
John Holmes.
76 1744 Martin Dober.
132
1S27
John D. AnderB.
77 1745 Augustus G. Spangenberg.
133
18C5
Frederick L. Koelbing.
10

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

134 1835 John C. Bccliler.
135 1SG6 C. A. Pohlman.
136 " II. L. [lalbcck.
137 " Jacob Levin Reichel.
138 " Daniel F. Gamus.
139 " "William Henry Van Vleck.
140 " John King Martyn.
141 '• John Ellis.
142 1843 John M. Nitschman.
143 " C. C. Ultsch.
144 " John Stengaerd.
145 1844 William Wisdom Essex.
146 1845 Peter Wolle.
147 1846 John G. Herman.
148 " Benjamin Seifferth.
149 1848 C. W. Matthiesen.
150 1852 E. Joachim Nielsen.
151 " John Rogers.
152 1853 John C. Breutcl.
153 " Henry T. Dober.
154 " George Wall Westerby.
155 1854 John Christian Jacohson.
156 1857 Godfrey Andrew Cunow.
157 " William Edwards.
158 " Charles William Jahn.
159 " Henry Rudolph Wullschlaegcl.
163 1858 Samuel Reinke.
161 1860 Geo. Ered'k Bahnson.
162 1862 Ernest E. Reichel.
163 " E. W. Croeger.
164 1863 James Latrobe.
165 1864 Henry A. Shultz.
166 " David Bigler.
167 1866 G. T. Tietzen.
Since 1866 there has been no new Bishops
appointed in the church.
In March 1730, Count Zinzendorf was ban
ished from Saxony, under the pretext of his
disseminating false doctrines on religion,
and having given protection to the commu
nity at Hernhut, against whom there were
many like complaints. Driven from his
home, he visited England and the missions
of the Society in America, during which
time he visited Bethlehem, and was present
at the ever memorable celebration at that
place on Christmas Eve, 1741. In 1743, he
returned to Europe, and in 1747 obtained
permission from the King of Saxony to return
to Hernhut. During his absence the govern
ment had sent a commission to investigate
charges against the community of the Breth

ren, but their report proving favorable to
the usages, social forms and religions prac
tices ofthe people there, they were not dis
turbed. In 1756 the Countess Von Zinzen
dorf died, and the Count, in about a year
after her death married Anna Nitschman,
who had accompanied him and his daughter
in their travels in America. The Count and
his wife both died in 1760, within twelve
days of each other ; and were buried side by
side in the cemetery at Hutberg.
Anna Nitschman was a daughter of " Old
father Nitschman," one of the original emi
grants from Moravia, who died at Bethle
hem, and is interred in the cemetery there.
She was a very remarkable woman, and at
tracted as much attention and respect from
those who were acquainted with her, as did
the celebrated Zinzendorf. At the early age
of fifteen she was an Eldress ofthe Sisters at
Hernhut, and became quite eminent in the
performance of ministerial duties. It was
not uncommon at that time for women to
speak and pray in unofficial life.
Many of the hymns used by the Moravi
ans in their religious services were composed
by Zinzendorf, and he has so completely
identified himself with their Society, that it
has become impossible to make even a brief
sketch of it, such as this, without a continual
reference to him, and in a great measure,
giving a history of his life.
The Count's eldest daughter, the Countess
Henrietta Benigna Justina de Zinzendorf,
who accompaniedher father during his visit
to America, was married in 1747, to Johan
nes Baron de "Watteviile, a Bishop ofthe Mo
ravian Church. The Count had twelve chil
dren by his first marriage, six sons, and six
daughters. The Countess Erdmuth took as much in
terest as her husband in the little communi
ty at Hernhut, and during his banishment
she was the chief counsel and recourse ofthe
Society there. "The family of Zinzendorf
appears to have been of very remote antiqui
ty in the Duchy of Austria. As early as the
eleventh century, it was numbered among the
twelve noble houses, which were the chief

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

11

support of the Austrian dynasty. From its
founder Ehrenhold, to his descendant, the
subject of this sketch, were reckoned twenty-
two generations. .The dignity of Count of
the Holy Roman Empire was conferred on it
by the Emperor Leopold in the year 1662.
The first member ofthe family who embrac
ed the doctrines of the Reformation, was
John, the second of the name who died in
1552. Of his descendants, several families re
mained in the Austrian dominions, and were
distinguished by their adherence to the Pro
testant faith, not less than by their civil and
military services. It is a remarkable fact,
that Luke Bakeneister, Doctor and Professor
of Theology, who ih the reign of the Empe
ror Rudolph II, held a visitation of the
Churches in Austria adhering to the Augsberg
Confession, found four flourishing Protestant
congregations, duly provided with Pastors
established on the estates of Zinzendorf fam
ily at Lung, Charlsutten, Pottendorf and
Orth, near Markfeld. The grandfather of

the Count, Maximilian Erasmus, emigrated
from tis native land and settled at Oberberg
near Nuremberg, esteeming the loss of all his
estates more than counterbalanced by the
superior liberty of conscience which he thus
obtained. His son George Lewis, the father
of the Count, having moved to Dresden, en
tered into the service of the elector of Saxo
ny, and died as stated in the narrative, in
the year 1700. The head-ship of the family
which fell to the Count in 1756, on the de
cease of his elder brother, he ceded with all
his rights and immunities to his nephew, as
soon as the necessary forms could be gone
through. The motto of the house of Zinzendorf, de
rived from Count Albert the Prime Minister
of the Emperor Leopold, was : " I yield to no
one, not even to the whole world." See a
note to a poem by Count Zinzendorf, on his
brother Frederick Christian's second mar
riage, German Poems No. 63, page 176, in
which he makes a striking allusion to this
motto.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

THE OLD INDIAN CHAPEL,
BETHLEHEM, PA., 1765.

CHAPTER II.
The Descendants op Zinzendorf, Louis
David de Schweinitz. — The Old Indian
Chapel. — The Unity", Doctrine and Mis
sions of the Moravian Church. — A List
of the Inhabitants of Bethlehem. — The
Indian Troubles.
/j)c*ount Zinzendorf left behind him three
(\^P daughters, the only survivors of a family
of twelve children, (six sons and as many
daughters,) most of whom departed in in
fancy. The eldest, Henrietta Benigna Jus-
tina, became the consort of Baron John de
Watteviile,- the second, Maria Agnes, of
Maurice Count Dohna; the third, Elizabeth,
of Baron Frederick de Watteviile. By the
two alliances last mentioned, the Count has
no surviving descendant j the only son of
Count Dohna, Henry Lewis, having died
without issue in 1833.
To Baron John de Watteviile, and his lady,
were born two sons and two daughters ; the
sons died unmarried ; the elder of the daugh
ters, Anna Dorothy Elizabeth, was married
to Hans Christian Alexander von Schwein
itz ; the younger, Maria Justina, to Henry the
55th, Count Reuss, of the house of Kostritz.
By these marriages there are now living four
great grand-children of Count Zinzendorf.
Louis David De Schweinitz, Doctor of Phi

losophy and the celebrated Botanist, was born
in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Penn
sylvania, on the 13th of February, A. d. 17S0.
He was the eldest son of Hans Christian Al
exander De Schweinitz, and his wife Anna
Dorothea Elizabeth de Watteviile. His father
was of an ancient and very distinguished
family in Silesia, in Germany ; he came to
this country in 1770, and filled at Bethlehem ,
the office of Superintendent of the fiscal and
secular concerns of the Moravian Brethren
in North America.
On the 4th of July, 1787, Louis David De
Schweinitz was placed at Nazareth Hall, to
be educated, and remained there as a scholar
eleven years. About the year 1822, he became
the Senior Oivilis of the Society, and also took
charge ofthe Boarding School for young girls,
at Bethlehem. He died February 8th, 1834,
and his remains are interred in the old Cem
etery. He left a widow and four sons, name
ly, the Rev'd Emil A. De Schweinitz, Fiscal
Agent of the Moravian Church in North Car
olina; Rev'd Robert De Schweinitz, Presi
dent of the Provincial Elders' Conference of
the Moravian Church ; Edmund De Schwein
itz, Minister of the Church, and President of
the Theological College at Bethlehem ; and
Bernard De Schweinitz, deceased, who at the
time of his death in 1854, was Minister of the
Moravian Church, on Staten Island, New

BETnLEnEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

13

York. These, and their issue, are the only
living descendants of the Count in America ;
in Europe there are living, some four or five
cousins of the De Schweinitz family.
In Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, of
June 13th, 1835, page 369, it is alleged that
" Count Zinzendorf in a, Latin speech at
Philadelphia in 1742, formally renounced
his title of Count, and resumed his original
family name of Von Thurnstein." Be this
as it may, Zinzendorf did, certainly, during
his nsit to America in 1841-42, go by the
name of S. Lewis Thurnstein, Knight.
There can be no valid objection to a noble
man using, or travelling nnder, his family
name, if he feels so disposed ; and, although
the Count may have honestly intended
to renounce his rank and title, he will
always be known in history, and in the Mo
ravian Church, as Count Zinzendorf; and his
eccentricities and peculiarities can in noway
alter the fact, that in his life and actions he
did much good in the world ; and that his
memory is revered and fondly cherished in
the Church, and by the descendants of the
people among whom he lived and labored.
On the monument erected to his memory
in the famous and beautiful cemetery at Hern
hut, is the following : " Here rests the re
mains of that never-to-be-forgotten man of
God, Nicholas Ludwig, Count and Lord of
Zinzendorf and- Pottendorf, who by God's
grace and his own faithful untiring efforts,
in this the 17th century, most worthily re
vived and re-organized the United Brethren.
"He was born in Dresden, the 21st of May,
1700, and entered into the joy of his Lord on
the 9th of May, 1760.
" He was appointed to bring forth fruit,
and fruit that remains."
The Old Indian Chapel, a view of which
illustrates this chapter, was an old log house,
torn down in the fall of the year 1868, to
make room for the erection of a new struc
ture. It stood in Market street, on the south
side, the second house west of the Old Grave
yard, and was occupied by William Busch.
It was formerly used as a Chapel for the In
dian Congregation at Nain ; which was a vil
lage of Christian Indians, established by the

Moravians. And in this old chapel, they
were taught, and preached to in their own
language. The village was situated about
three miles north-westof Bethlehem, in Han-
ov"er township ; and -upon the removal of the
Indians in 1765, from Nain to the Susquehan
na, the old chapel and a number of the houses
erected there for their use, were moved to
Bethlehem, and all traces of Nain soon be
came obliterated; its site is however yet
pointed out on the " Geisinger Farm." The
next building to the west, owned, and at pres
ent occupied by Ambroise J. Erwin, is anoth
er of these old log houses. There is a third,
standing at the south-west corner of Cedar
Alley and Market Street. These old houses
were objects of great interest and curiosity,
and it is to be regretted that the Old Chapel,
and the one beside it, had to give place to a
more suitable modern residence.
It is related of the Christian Indians resid
ing at Nain, that whenever a child was bap
tised in the Bethlehem Church, they always
claimed the right to kiss the babe after the
ceremony. So, many of the old inhabitants
had the honor of being kissed by the Red
people when they were christened. The rite
of Baptism was then invariably performed in
the Church.
The proper title of the Moravian Church,
so called, is " The Unitas Fratrum," which
was the name adopted by the Ancient Society
of the Brethren, and is retained by the renew
ed Church. It includes all the provinces, and
missions, of the Church, wherever they may
be situated, as one confederated ecclesiasti
cal body.
During Zinzendorf's lifetime, the govern
ment of the Church depended in a great
measure upon him, and his two distinguish
ed assistants, his son-in-law, John Baron de
Watteviile, and Augustus Spangenberg, both
bishops of the Moravian Church. Since his
death, a more positive ecclesiastical constitu
tion has been adopted. The Synods receiv
ing the supreme power; and the executive
administrations of affairs being committed
to an elective college of bishops and eld
ers, which, in 1769, took the title of "The
Unity's Elders Conference ;" and subordinate

14

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Boards were appointed for the superintend-
ance of the affairs of the American and Brit
ish Provinces.
The Moravian Brethren's Unity is at pres
ent divided into three distinct Provinces.
The American, comprising the Moravian
Churches in the United States; the Conti
nental, including those on the Continent of
Europe; and the British, embracing those of
Great Britain and Ireland.
The American province is sub-divided
into two districts, the Northern and South
ern. To the latter, belong the Moravian
Churches in North Carolina, and to the for
mer, all the rest of the Churches of the Breth
ren in America. Each district has a govern
ment of its own, consisting of a Synod and a
Provincial Board.
Formerly, there were several Church set
tlements in the United States, in which all
real property was held in common by the
Brethren ; this was especially necessary in
the infant state of the Church in this coun
try, when poverty, persecutions, public wars
and civil tumults, required a union of labor
to provide for the support of each little Soci
ety, as well as to enable them to perpetuate
the customs and regulations of their relig
ion. This peculiar feature has however been
abandoned, the common property has been
sold or divided, and the towns are now
thrown open to all who choose to settle in
them. The Moravian Churches are now
without exception, ordinary churches like
those of any other Protestant denomination.
All the Congregations receive the Holy
Scriptures ofthe Old and New Testament, as
theonly standard rule, both of the doctrine
and practice of the church. And they have
agreed that no doctrines shall be delivered
in any assembly of the Brethren, which are
repugnant to the Augustine or Augsburg Con
fession. One of the most laudable objects of the
United Brethren, and their chief aim, is the
conversion of the Heathen, by the establish
ment of missions in all parts of the world.
Their first appearance on the American Con
tinent was in Georgia and North Carolina ;
the settlers in the latter place were not dis

turbed, but those who settled in Georgia
suffered so many persecutions from their re
fusal to bear arms, (which was then one of
the tenets of their faith) that most of them
finally came to Pennsylvania ; although it
was admitted that they did much good
among the slaves.
The establishment of Foreign Missions by
the Church, was begun in 1732, ten years af
ter the first house was built at Hernhut, and
when the entire congregation there number
ed but six hundred. The first mission was
among the negro slaves on the island of St.
Thomas, in the West Indies. Leonard Dober,
and David Nitschman, the first bishops of
the renewed church, were the pioneers in the
good work. They have founded missions in
Greenland, Sweden, and Russia; among the
Hottentots in Southern Africa ; in Persia; in
Australia ; in Surinam ; and in many other
places. The pious intentions ofthe Moravian Breth
ren, seem to have had their effect upon nu
merous other branches of the Protestant
Church. Many of the followers of Wiekliff
left England and joined the Society, as did
the Waldenses in earlier days, and as many
other religious sects have done since.
All these. things have been enumerated
here to show how old and honorable a Church
is that of the United Brethren, and how
praiseworthy are its objects.
In the Pennsylvania Archives, volume 3d,
page 70, under the date of November 29, 1756,
will be found " a catalogue of all the men,
women and children who, for the present,
belong to the Bethlehem Economy."
Bethlehem, Nov. 29th, 1756.
I. OF THE MARTIIED PEOTLE.
Aug. Gottlieb Spangenborg Abraham Duninger
Peter Bolder, Joseph Powel,
Matthajus Hehl , .Toll n Ch ristoph Francke,
Anton Lawatsch, Jaspar Payne,
David Nitschmann, Kobt. Hussey
Abraham Reincke, Nic. Sangerl'iansen,
Martin Mack, Christian Gottfr. Engel,
Joh. Michel Graff, George Partsch,
David Heckewselder, Peter Mordyk,
Matthams Schropp, Michel Muc'ksch,
Christian Henrich, Jacob Eyerie.
Thomas Benzien, Ephraim Coulver,
Bernh. Adam Grube, Knd. Christ,
Prank Christian Lenibke, Potcr Brown
George Neuser, Joh. Ch ristian Richter,
John Jacob Schmick, Gottlieb Bern t,
John Edwin, George Kaske,
Jacob Rogers, Hartman Verdries,
George Weber, John Levering,

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA,

15

John Bohner,
Ernst Gambold,
Albrecht Russmeyer,.
George Ohueberg,
Timothy Horselield,
John Bechtel,
Philip Christian Bader,
John Okely,
Hi'ury Beck,
Fieda-ikOtto, Matthaeus Otto,
Frank Blum,
Tobiiis llirte,
Paul D.m. Bryzelius,
Georgn Klein,
Wni. Thorne,
Joh. Valentin Haidt,
J >hn Jordc,
Win. Dixon,
Christian Stoz,
"Wm. Edmonds,
Christian Eggert,
Thomas Fiaher,
Dan id Kunckler,
Carl Schulze,
John Schmidt,
Meldiior Schmidt,
Bernhard Mullcr,
Gottfried Roemelt,
George Pitshmann,
Wm. Werner,
Joh. Georg Goitner,
John Stoll,
Anton Schmidt,
Michel Schnall,
David Digeon,
Christian Werner,
Audreas Home,
Samuel Maw.
David Tanneberger, sen.,
David Tanneberger, Juu.,
John Schebosch,
Frederik Boeckel,
MatthjBus Wittke,
John Brandmullcr,
Chr. Fr. Steinmann,
Abraham Hessler,
Ludwig Stoz,
Christian Frusche,
Joh. Jacob Hafuer,
Peter Schnert,
Christian Anton,
Andreas Kremser,
Matth. Ilancke ,
Phil. Transou,
Martin Bohmer,
Andreas Schober,
Joh. George Jungmanu,
Juo. II. Moellei,
Anton Wagner,

Iljnrich -Beutel,
Bichd. Utley,
Peter Gotje,
Christ. Fr. Oerter,
Joseph Muller,
Thomas Schaaf,
Martin Luck,
Nicol. Schasfer,
George Schneider,
George Christ,
Henry Frey,
Joh. Nic. Weinland,
John Christi m Weiuert,
Martin Lieb*ch,
Joseph Moller,
Adam Schn-nder,
Paul Fritscho,
Henrich Fritsche,
Melch. Schmidt, morav.,
Elias Ilex,
Wenzel Bernhard,
Euert Enerson,
Joh. Henry. Seiner,
Joh. Matthew Spohn,
Frank Steup,
Valentin Fuhrer,
Joh. Burstler,
Abraham Boiuper,
Michel Hauerland,
John Brucker,
Samuel Isles,
Thomas Yarrel,
Nic. Garrison, Sen.,
Salomon Schumann,
David Bischoff,
Mathi. Krause,
Joh. Fredr. Beyer,
Andreas Brocksch,
Albrecht Kloz,
Henrich Muller,
George Zeisberger,
Uottfr. Schulze,
George Gold,
Daniel Oesterlein,
Rudolph Straehle,
G. Stephan Wolson,
Philip Meurer,
Daniel Neubert,
MicbelJahm,George Nixdorff,
Fredr. Schlegel,
Joh. Hantsch,
Joh. Chr. Lloepfner,
Henrich Biefel,
Carl Opir,
Wm. Graps,
Christoph. Schmidt,
Kunast,
George Schmidt.

No. of Married People, 157.
No. of Children, 288.
II. Widowers.

David Nitschmann, Sen.,
Jacob Till,
Joachim Sensemarin,
Wolfgang Michler,
Mickel Mucke,
Daniel Kliest,
Jonas Nilson,

Andreas Shout,
Joh. Fr. Post,
Matth. Weiss,
David Richard,
Rubel,
John Michler,
Gotlieb Haberecht,

No. of "Widowers, 14.
No. of Children, 16.

III. Widows.

Catharina Weber, A. Mar. Demuth,
Sarah Lighten, A. Elis. Leinbach.
Hosiua Shutsiu,
No. 'of Widows, 17.
No. of Children, IS.
188 persons, 322 Children.— Total, 510.
Nota. There are 96 children more with us,"
some Orphans, others belonging to some
Brethren and Friends, who are not of the
Bethlehem Oeconomy, and therefore their
Names are not mentioned.
IV. Single Men.

Catharine Haber,
Gertraud Bonn,
Cathoriue Brownfield,
Rosina Endtean,
Ana. Mar. Lehnert,
Elizabeth Roaner,

Magd. Elis. Reissin,
Maria Hausin,
Elizabeth Herzerin,
Judith Schurer,
Regina Hantsch,
Rosina Munster,

Nathaniel Seidel,
Gottlieb Bezold,
David Zeisberger,
Otto Krogstry.
George Solle,
Frederic Weber,
Joseph Haberland,
John Schwie.sshaupt,
Gottfried Bossier,
Carl Friederich,
Samuel Herr,
George Meiser,
Andreas Hoger,
Gottfried Bund,
Jacob Herr,
George Schindler,
Christoph. Kioze,
Andreas Albrecht,
Ludwig Hubner,
Joseph Lemmert,
Gottlieb Lange,
Christian Petersen, '
Adam Ilossfeld
Andreas Weber,
Andreas Seifert,
Christian Hoppner,
Jouh Seiffert,
Richd. Poppdwell,
John Merck,
Paul Schneider,
Michel Odenwald,
John Musch,
Joseph Hopsch,
Daniel Sydrich,
Andreas Rillmann,
Puter Drews,
Paul Hennig,
G. Wenzel Golkobsky,
Christian Wedstadt,
Jacob Ris-ler,
Joseph Bocleu,
Joh. Andr. Borbeck,
Christ. Steimer,
John Henr. Grunewald,
Melchior Conrad,
Abraham Hasselberg,
Henrich Schcen,
II. Wm. Schemes,
Christ. H. Lolher,
Nic.Matthiesen,Henrich. Lindemeyer,
Joh. H. Richling,
Philips Meyer,
Johanes Ortlieb,
Abraham Andres,
John Stadtner,
Jens Sherbeck,
George Walter,
Phil. Wesa,
Marc. Kiefer,
Edward Thorpe,
Joseph Willis,
Christ. H. Baremeyer,
S tmuel Saxon,
P. Christian Stauber,
Samuel Johanie3,
Peter Jurgencen,

Carl August Liulwig,
Audreas Jsencke,
Just. Jansen,
Matth. Bacher,
Detloff Delffs,
Mich. Lindstrcehm,
Anton Stiemer,
Joseph Hubscli,
Aug. H. Francke,
Carl Weineke,Martin us,
Henrich Zilhnan,
Jens Wittenberg,
Peter J. Pell,
Jacob Schneidfir,
Curtus Ziegler,
John Thomas,
Clau Colin,
Samuel I, nuk,
Jacob Meyer,
John Knecht,
Lucas Fus,
Loienz Nilson,
Joh. II. Herbat,
Jacob Ernst,
John Klein,
Wm. Okely,
Wm. Edwards,
Michel Ruch,
John Jag,
JohnR gers,
Abraham Bless,
Caspsr Fischer,
Joseph Giersch,
John Wurtele,
Henr. Gers>tberger,
Zach. Eckart,
Jens Kolkier,
Michel Mnaster,
Andreas Hotter,
Fredr. Ziegler,
Jacob Schcen,
Benjamin Brown,
Christian Gierscb,
Henrich Seidel,
Schmalingr
Hans Jae. Schmidt,
Ernst Mensinger,
Casper Hellermann,
Ellert Korts,
Joh. Mich. Rippel,
John Rothe,
John B. Bcenighaua,
John Muller,
Michel Ruch,
James Staal,
Henr. Ollringahaw,
Jacob Frus.
John Nic. Funck,
Gottfr. Schwarz,
Lorcnz Bage,
George Huber,
Joh. Mich. Bizm m:i
Joh. G. Starck,
Martin Schenck,
Joh. G. Green,
Nic. H, fiber! ur J,

16

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Peter Worbas,
Jacob Herrmann,
Adam Koffler,
Phil. II. Ring,
Matth. Gimmeli,
Joh. G. Kriegbaum,
Jacob Heidecker,
David Kuntz,
Jolin Hirst,
Martin Heckedorn,
Joh. Adam Wagenseil,
Jon. G. Bitterlich,
Joh. H. Merck,
Abraham Steiner,
Martin Hirte,
Franz Chr. Diemer,
Joh. Theobald Kornman,
Carl Jae. Dreyspring,
Nic. Anspach,
Christian Schmidt,
George Lash,
Nic. Fleissner,
Matheus Kremser,
Joh. G. Maener,
Fr. Tollner,
Ludw. Dehne,
Marc. Ralfa,
Christoph Bambey,
ChriBtoph Schmid,
Peter Wenzzl,
Dan. Kiimm.
George Caries,
John Kalberlan,
Herman Lossch,
John Nagel,
Thomas Hofman,
George Holder,
Jacob Kapp,
Abraham Strauss,
George Goeptert,
Wm. Angel,
Ludwig Chr. Bachoff,
Michel Sauter,
Hans Petersen,
Cottlieb Fockel,
•Jeremias Shaaf,

Adam Weidel,
Dorffer,
Henr. Strauss,
Stephen Nicholaus,
Christian Seidel,
Jacob LceBh,
Gottleb Hofmann,
Adam Van Erd,
Joseph Bulitschek,
Balthaear Hege,
Jacob Prising,
Henr. Sproge,
Chr. Matthiesen,
Martin Fryhube,
Andreas Brocksh,
Johannes Schf. flier,
Joh. H. Lenzner,
John Lisher,
Christian Pfeiffer,
Jacob Lung,
Fr. Pfeil.
Ehrhard Heckedorn,
Samuel Wutke,
Audreas Gros,
Christian Merkly,
Henr.Feldhauseu.
Erich Ingergretsen,
John Berosh,
Christian Triebel,
Melchior Munster,
Melch. Rasp,
Johannes Ranke,
Andreas Bez,
Jacob Steiner,
Nic. Anspach,
Michel Rancke,
George Baumgarten,
John Richter,
George Renner,
Gottfr. Aust,
Adam Kramer,
Christoph Kirschner,
Stephan Meyer,
Jae. Van der Merk,
Joseph Muller.

V. Single "Womek.

Indians.

Anna Rosina,
Anna Ramsberg,
Hannah Sperbach,
Rosina Schulius,
Juliana Wsekler,
Catharina Bender,
Anna Antes,
Christina Morhard,
A. Mar. Krause,
Margaretha Wernhamer,
A. Mar. Schmuter,
Margaretha Seidner,
Catharina Shugastin,
Catharini Kochln,
Martha, )
Theodora, J
Anna Burnet,
Barbara Krausin,
Henrietta Peterman,
Martha Mans,
Mariana Beyerle,
Gertraud Peterson,
Elizabeth Burstler,
Anna Vander iii It,
A. Mar.0 Beyer,
Mar. Elis. Loesch,
Ana Scheefer,
Felicitas Schuster,
Magd. Mingo,
Catharina Heil,
Catharina Hotter,
Mar. Barbara Eierleh,
Maria Zerb,
Elizabeth Palmer,

Maria Pfingstag,
Elizabeth Cornwell,
Maria, ) T ,.
Christina, j !>»««">«•
Mar. Elis. Minier,
Ana Merz,
Magdalena Schmidt,
Elizabeth Steiner,
Salome Burstler,
Catharina Biez,
A. Mar. Schemel,
Johanna Burnet,
Maria Loesh,
Itegiua Neumann,
Elizabeth Burnet,
Maria Beroth,
Mar. Barb. Hsendel,
Kosina Schwarz,
Magdalena Rederberg,
Agnes Meyer,
Cathar. Klingenstein,
Christina Loesh,
Anna Bender,
Sarah Preis,
C.ith. Elis. Neumann,
Magd. Steiner,
Cathar. Gerhard,
Johanetta Salterbach,
Magdalena Negro,
Ana Rebecca Langly,
Salome Dock,
Cornelia,
Anna Wright.

The single men and single women are
counted in the total 510, as children.

Prepared at Bequest of Gov. Denny, by
Rev. Mr. Spangenberg; — -.see Min. Dec. 8,
1756, Vol. VII. p. 353.
Memorandum.
1. Bethlehem makes out a certain Religious
Society intended for the Furtherance of the
Gospel, as well among the Heathen as Chris
tians. 2. Forty-eight of the above mentioned
Brethren and Sisters are actually employed
for that End among the Heathen, not only
on the Continent of America, as Pensilvania,
New England, Barbice, Suriname, &c, but
also in Several Islands, as Thomas's, Crux,
John's, Jamaica, &c.
3. Besides them mention'd just now, there
are Fifty-four of them employ'd in the Pen
silvania, New York, New England, Jersey &
Carolina Gevernments in preaching of the
Gospel, keeping of Schools, & the like.
4. Sixty-two of them are meerly employ'd
in the Education of our Children at Bethle
hem & Nazareth as Attendants and Tutors.
5. Fourty-five Single men & 8 Couples of
married people, are gone to Carolina to make
a new Settlement there, and fifty-more, who
have come for that End from Europe, will
go there Soon.
6. There are Seventy-two of the above
mentioned Brethren in Holy Orders, viz:
Four Bishops, twelve Ordinaries (Priests,)
and the rest Deacons ; And as many Acoluthi,
who are preparing for the Ministry in the
Congregation, and now and then are made
use of like Deacons.
1. About 90 of the Children at Bethlehem
k Nazareth have their Parents abroad, mostly
on the Gospel's Account.
8. 425 of those in the foregoing List are
under Age.
9. Not all who are named in this Catalogue
live in Bethlehem Township, but some in
Sackona, Some in Liehy, and Some in ano
ther Township joining Bethlehem Township.
10. There are 82 Indians besides those
younj Indian Women who live with our
young Women, and besides the Savages who
are going and coming and Staying longer or
Shorter with us.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

IT

Timothy Horsfield to Gov. Denxy, 1750.
Bethlehem, Nov. 29, 1756.
May it Please Your Honour,
Sin :— According to your Commands, I
herewith Inclose a list of the United Breth
ren & Sisters & Children, &c., &c, Now re
siding in Bethlehem, Nazareth, &c, &c, with
proper Notes to Explain the Same, which I
hope will be agreeable.*
I beg leave to mention to your honour,
that a few Days Since as one of our Indians
was in the Woods a small distance from Beth
lehem, with his gun, hopeing to meet with
a Deer, on his return home he met with two
men, who fas he Informs) he saluted by
takeing off his Hat; he had not gone far be
fore he heard a gun fired, and the Bullet
whistled near by him, which terrified him
very much, and running thro' the thick
Bushes his gun lock Catched fast, and went
off, he dropt it, his Hat, Blanket, &c, and
came home much frighted. The Indians
came to me complaining of this treatment,
Saying they fled from Amongst the Murther-
ing Indians, and came here to Bethlehem,
and Adresst his Honour the Late Governor,
and put themselves under his protection,
which the Governor Answered to their Satis
faction, Desireing them to sit Still amongst
the Brethren, which they said they had done,
and given offence to none. I told them I
would do all in my Power to prevent such
Treatment for the future, and that I would
write tu the Governor and Inform him of it,
and that they might be Assured the Gover
nor would use proper measures to prevent
any mischief hapening. I thought at first to
write a few Advertisements to warn wicked
people for the future how they Behave to the
Indians, for if one or more of them should be
kill'd in such a manner, I feer it would be of
very bad consequence; but I have since con
sidered it is by no means proper for me to
advertise, for as the Late Governor's procla
mation of War against the Indians I conceive
is still in force. I thought it my Duty to
* The remarks are recorded in Colon. Records, Dec.
8, Vol. VII., p. 353, but the names and letter are nbt,
ii ia thought best to keep them together. This was
prepared at Gov. Deuny's request.

Inform your Honor of this Affair, and Doubt
not you will take the matter into your wise
Consideration. I am with all Due Respect,
Your Honour's most Obed't,
Humble Servant,
TIMO. HORSFIELD.
To the Hon. Wm. Denny, Esquire.

Timothy Horsfield to Gov. Dexny, 1756.
Bethlehem, Nov. 30th, 1756.
John Holder came here this Evening from
Allemangle, and Informed me that last Sun
day Evening, ye 28th Inst, three Indians
Came to the House of a certain Man Named
Schlosser, and Nockt at the Door, the People
within called who is there? Answer was
made, A Good Friend ; they Within not Open
ing the Door, they Nockt Again, they with
in not Opening the Door, they Nockt Again,
they Within Answer'd Who is there ? No An
swer being made from Without, Then one of
the Men Named Stonebrook, Lookt Out ofthe
Window, When an Indian Discharged a gun
and Kill'd him oh the Spot. They then
Open'd the Door, the Woman & 2 Children
Endavering to Escape, and the Indians
pursued & took Both the Children ; One
of the Men Fired at the Indians, and Saw
One of them fall, when one of the Gairls he
had possession of, Made her escape from him,
but the other they took away; the Indian yt
was fired at which fell Cryed out very Much,
but in a Short time he got up and made off.
The above said Holder Informs me he had
this Acco't from good Authority, said Schios-
ser's House is situated in Allemangle.
TIMO. HORSFIELD.

An old chronicler says that " During the
Indian troubles in 1756 and 1757, Bethlehem
was in great danger from the savages, every
precaution was taken to guard against it. The
town was surrounded by palisades, which
were made by putting poles from 15 to 20 feet
long, into the ground, close together and se
cured above by hickory withes. Watch tow
ers were also erected, built of logs ; one of
these was back of Louis F. Beckel's store, arid

18

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

another north of the graveyard. Bethlehem
was then the frontier town of the white set
tlements. Those settlers further north and
west, came to the town for protection, in ad--
dition to several hundred christian Indians,
making the number of stranger in our town
about seven hundred, all of whom had to be
fed and clothed. The whole male population
took turns in watching, and everything was
conducted as if the place were besieged;
excellent discipline was kept up by bish
op Spangenberg, and the preservation of
the town was altogether owing to the pre

cautions taken. One dark night, a senti
nel fired at an object which refused to an
swer his hail, it proved to be an ox, but it
was afterwards ascertained that his alarm
had driven off a hostile band of Indians, who
were approaching to assault the place.
The Moravians seemed to have had some
lingering doubts, about even taking up arms
to defend themselves, for the sentinels were
ordered to fire at the legs of an approaching
object. They were tu wound and capture,
and not to kill their fees.

BETHLEHEM, P E N N S Y L V A N I A.

19

EETHLF.HEM, PA.

CHAPTER III.
The Married People's House. — The Indian
Wars of 1755. — Benjamin Franklin as a
General. — His Account of Bethlehem. —
Penn's Walking Purchase the Cause of
the Indian troubles. — Longfellow's Bu
rial of the Minisink.
h e picture at the head of this chap
ter, is a representation of the Mar
ried People's House, with the Water Tower
attached, at its west end, which once stood
on the knoll, now the site of the present large
Moravian Church, at the corner of Main and
Church Streets, in Bethlehem. The drawing,
of which the wood cut is an exact copy, was
made by Mr. Rufus A: Grider, of Bethlehem,
from the original sketch of Mr. Oerter, now
i;i possession ofthe Moravian Historical So
ciety at Nazareth, Pa.
The Married People's House, was erected
among the first buildings in the place,
and built of logs, as was the Water Tower

also. It was constructed for the use and oc
cupation of the Married Brothers and Sisters,
who were not permitted, during the first
days of the settlement, to reside anywhere
else. The Ministers and their wrives lived
together in the Gemein Haus. The house
was also called by some, " the Ancestor's
House;" although the German words, were
used, that is the correct meaning in English.
Yet it was more generally called " the Mar
ried People's House." In Rondthaler's life
of Heckewelder, page 33, it is referred to,
thus," The old School House has disappeared ;
it was a log building, erected on the spot
where the church now stands ; and this house
and the apothecary's shop, were at that time
the only buildings on the east side of Main
Street. On the west side, was the " Farm,"
with its stables, and several other hous
es; the rest of the hill, and the whole of
the site of the present town being covered
with a dense forest." This was in the year
1754.

20

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

The Water Tower, which stood at the west
end of the Married People's House, was the
principal reservoir into which the water was
forced from the celebrated spring, situated
on Water Street, at the foot of the hill near
the old Mill, to give it a head for distribu
tion. From this tower all the lower part of
the village was supplied with water. The
same spring still furnishes all the water dis
tributed in the town, by the Bethlehem Water
. Company. The Tower is said to have been
as high as the steeple of the present church,
but the statement is evidently erroneous, as
can easily be seen from the copy of Mr. Oer-
ter's drawing, and from the fact, that the
water works were only calculated to raise
the water seventy feet in perpendicular
height, when first erected, in 1764, although
the power was afterwards increased to one
hundred and fourteen feet ; besides which,
the spring was at the foot of the hill, on the
banks of the Menokasy, at least forty feet
below the foundation of the Tower.
Crantz says, that Pennsylvania was very
much desolated by the Indian War, which
began in the year 1755. The first event
which materially affected the Moravians,
occurred on the evening of November 24, 1755,
when the savages made an attack upon the
house and plantation of the European Breth
ren, on the Mahony, near Gnadenheutten ;
eleven persons were killed in all, some of
them shot and scalped, and the rest burnt.
The buildings, cattle, furniture, implements
and stock, were entirely destroyed. The
Christian Indians, who lived on the other
side the Lehigh, took flight, and most of
them got safely to Bethlehem.
There was formerly a large Log house,
Btanding on the west side of the Manokasy,
opposite the old Tannery, in Water Street,
which was called the "Indian House.'' It
was built in the early days of the settlement,
as a lodging place for the Indian visitors,
great numbers of whom constantly visited
the town. In 1752, six hundred and eighty
Indians visited the place, at different times
during the year. In 1756 and '57, the num
ber was much greater. Bishop Spangenberp- ,
in a letter to Governor Denny, says :

" May it please your Honour,
These are to return your Hnr, our most
humble thanks, for the Favour of so kind a
visit of y1' Ilnrs at Bethlehem. As we are a
people, more used to the country, then to
cities, we hope yr Hnr will excuse what may
have been amiss. So much I can say, and
this from the Bottom of my Heart, that yr
Hnrs Person and Place or Station, is sacred
unto us. We all do wish unanimously that
yr Hnr may prosper, and meet with a bless
ed success in all undertakings for the good
of this Province.
Mr. Horsefield having told us, that yr Hnr
wants a compleat catalogue of all men, wo
men and children belonging to our oeco
nomy ; I have ordred one to be made, and
have added some Memorandums or observa
tions, wheh I hope will give you a clear idea
thereof. I recommend my Self, and all my
Brethren, who live in this Province, again
in yr Hnrs Protection.
As for our circumstances, we are at a loss
how to act with those Indians, that come out
of the woods, and want to stay at Bethlehem.
They are very troublesome guests, and we
should be glad to have your Hnrs Orders
about them. Our Houses are full already,
and we must be at the Expences of building
Winter-Houses for them, if more should
come ; which very likely will be the case,
according to the account we have from them
who are come. And then another difficulty
arises, viz., we hear that some of our neigh
bors are very uneasy at our receiving such
murdering Indians ; for so they stile them.
We therefore, I fear, shall be obliged to set
watches, to keep of such of the Neighbours
who might begin Quarrels with or attempt
to hurt any of them.
Now we are willing to do any thing that
lays in our power, for the Service of that
Province, where we have enjoyed sweet pease
for several years past. But we want yr Hnrs
Orders for every step we take, and we must
humbly beg not to be left without them ; the
more so, as we have reason to fear, that some
how an Indian may be hurt or killed, which
certainly would breed new Troubles of war.
We had at least a case last week, that some

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

21

one fired at an Indian of Bethlehem but a,
little way from Bethlehem in the woods.
I hope Mr. Horsefield will give yr Hnr a
particular account thereof, and so I will add
no more. Yr Hnrs Most humble and
Most obedient Servant,
SPANGENBERG.
Bethl., Nov. 29, 1756."
As the Bishop feared, so many Indians af
terwards took refuge at Bethlehem, that it
became necessary to assign them a piece of
land, where, with the Brethren's assistance,
they built themselves huts. The settlement
was called Nain. The first house was erected
June 10, 1757, and on the 18th of October,
1758, all the Indians were removed from
Bethlehem to the town, and the " Old Indian
Chapel" was consecrated. The war had re
tarded the progress of the buildings at first,
but by the year 1760, the Indian inhabitants
of Nain, had increased so rapidly that they
could not all be supported there, and the
Brethren were obliged to send a portion of
them to a tract of land on the north side of
the Blue Mountains, on the Wechquatanh,
about thirty miles from Bethlehem, where
they could live by hunting, and dwell to
gether under the direction of a missionary.
In January, 1757, public religious services
began to be performed at Bethlehem, in the
Indian language, the liturgy having been
translated into the Mohican, by Jacob
Sehmick, the missionary. Part of the Scrip
tures, and many hymns, were translated into
the Delaware Indian, for the use of the chur
ches and schools.
The Moravian towns were great obstacles
to the designs of the hostile savages, in their
warfare upon the whites, because they could
not prevail upon the friendly Indians to
destroy the missionary establishments, nor
prevent them from informing the Brethren
when any attempt was to be made upon the
settlements by the warriors, and thus many
schemes were frustrated. Great numbers of
whites, also, took refuge in the different Mo
ravian places, being driven from their homes
3

by the fear of the Indians ; most of these peo
ple were entirely destitute. Not only Beth
lehem, but Nazareth, Friedensthal, Chris-
tiansbrunn and the Rose, were asylums for
these fugitives ; the houses of the Brethren
were crowded, and the empty school-houses,
mills and barns, were alloted to them for
residences. The Moravians, and their Indian converts,
were peculiarly situated • about this time.
The hostile tribes were burning and destroy
ing the white settlements on the Lehigh,
while, on the other hand, the Irish inhabi
tants of the Kittatinny Valley, were exas
perated at the Brethren for protecting the
Indian refugees, and giving them an asylum ;
they also charged the Brethren with being
in league with the French, because they
would not take up arms, and engage in of
fensive warfare. They abused the mission
aries, and threatened to kill the Indian con
verts, so that it was dangerous for the friendly
Indians to leave the towns.
In the fall of the year 1756, the Govern
ment sent proposals of peace to the Indians,
and a proclamation was issued at the same
time, that all who were peaceably inclined,
should have a safe escort to Bethlehem,
Col. Croghan was very desirous that the In
dians should be accommodated at Bethlehem,
and the treaties held there, but the Brethren
justly fearing that all kinds of disorders
might take place among so many savages of
different nations collected together, by which
the Indian Brethren might be led astray,
and their young people contaminated, they
persistently refused, and induced the au
thorities to order that the treaty be held at
Easton. Accordingly, in July and August,
1757, conferences were held with the Indians
at East-town, and a treaty made in the name
of the Ten Nations, with Teedyuscung, king
of the Delawares, and three hundred other
Indians, most of whom belonged to the Mun-
sys and the Delawares.
During the time, however, that the Indians
were at Easton, they made many visits to
Bethlehem, and proved very troublesome
visitors.

00

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

A gentlemen of Bethlehem has an old Day
book, of the " Crown Inn," in which the char
ges against some of the Indians, and the cre
dits given them, are very amusing.
In the Penna. Archives, 3d volume, 242,
will be found a list of the alterations in the
return of the Brethren, dated July 26, 1757 ;
but they are not of material interest; but the
concluding part of the statement has a direct
bearing upon the events of the times ; it is
signed by Matth. Sehropp, and is as follows :
" The Widow Benezet, since the last Tax,
has sold her two five hundred acre Tracts of
Land, adjoining Bethlehem, to the Brethren
for a £1000, and has taken a Mortgage on the
same for the whole Consideration Money,
they paying her yearly 6 ^ cent. Interest,
&c, as may be seen in the Publick Records.
This the Brethren were induced to do that
they might have a convenient Place, near
Bethlehem, to place the Indians upon next
Spring. In these times of Trouble and Danger,
being become the Frontier, the Brethren for
the Defence of themselves and neighbours,
have, under the Governor's Commission for
that Purpose, established Military Watches
in all their Places, and been at a very great
Expense in providing themselves with Arms
and Ammunition, and in strengthening and
securing all their Houses and Plantations
against any sudden. Attack and Surprize from
the Enemy.
In Bethlehem there are 5 Persons, namely,
2 Married, and 3 Singlemen constant
ly kept as a Night Watch, and thereby
rendered' wholly unfit for any Labour
in the Day Time.
Besides the above there are 44 Single-
men and 25 married, who have Arms,
and are always ready by night or Day
in case of any Alarm.
In Nazareth there are 3 Persons who are kept
as a constant Night Watch, Besides
whom all the Inhabitants, mentioned
in the return, except 7 Persons, are
provided with Arms and Ammunition,
and are always in Readiness for the
Defence of themselves and neighbors.

In Gnadenthal there are 2 People employed
as a Night Watch.
All the Inhabitants, except 5, have
Arms and are kept in Readiness as
aforesaid.
In Christian's Brun, there is one Singleman
kept as a Night Watch, and 18 of the
Singlemen have Arms as aforesaid,
and frequently go out with some of the
Indians, who are paid for that Pur
pose, in ranging Parties, for several
miles round the neighborhood and in
the Barrens, to see that no Indians are
lurking about, ii possible to prevent
their coming upon them by Surprize.
In Friedensthal-Mill, They have all Arms
and are constantly on their Guard and
Watch by Turns.
Besides the above, the Brethren, for the
Summer Season, have for the most Part thir
teen of their Indians in Pay, whose Business
it is with some of the white Brethren to
range from Place to Place and be a Guard to
their People in their Harvest and other work
where they might otherwise be exposed to
the Incursions of the Enemy.
Now, considering the above and the pre-
ent helpless and exposed condition our poor
Country has been and still is in, it may with
modesty and Justice be said, that it is owing,
in great measure, to this care and prudent
Circumspection of the Brethren, that the
whole Fort has not long ago been over run
by the Indians; and therefore it is presumed
a Relaxation of Tax proportioned to the
Trouble and great Expence they have been
at, cannot be contrary to the Sense of the
Law, which expressly directs the making
Allowances in Extraordinary Cases.
Added to this, the extraordinary Expence
the Brethren are and must still be at, in
maintaining the Indians, who fled to them
from Gnaden-Hutten (now wholly thrown
upon their Hands and left unprovided for by
the Government,) for whose Subsistance
alone, this year, they have been obliged to
let them have upwards of 50 Acres of their
best Land, (cleared and fenced for them at
the Brethren's own Expence,) to plant their

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

23

Indian Corn, &c. Moreover the Badness ofthe
Times and almost Total Stagnation of Busi
ness, are Hardships, which constrain the
Brethren to declare, that they find themselves
utterly unable to bear the Weight of the Tax
as they have hitherto been rated, and there
fore humbly beg the Hon'ble, the Commis
sioners and Assessors, will please to consider
them accordingly, in laying the Tax not yet
raised." Benjamin Franklin, in his autobiography,
writing of the eventful occurrences of the
Indian Wars of that period, says :
" Tlie Governor prevailed upon me to take
charge of the North-western frontier, which
was infested by the enemy, and provide for
the defence of the inhabitants, by raising
troops, and building a line of forts. I under
took this military business, although I did
notconceive myself well qualified for it. He
gave me a commission, with full powers, and
a parcel of blank commissions for officers, to
be given to whom I thought fit. I had but
little difficulty in raising men, having soon
560 under my command. My son, who had
in the preceding war, been an officer in the
army raised against Canada, was my aid-de
camp, and of great use to me. The Indians
had burned Gnadenheutten, a village settled
by the Moravians, and massacred the in
habitants ; but the place was thought a good
situation for one of the forts.
"In order to march thither, I assembled the
companies at Bethlehem, the chief establish
ment of those people. I was surprised to find
it in so good a posture of defence, the des
truction of Gnadenheutten, had made them
apprehend danger. The principal buildings
were defended by a stockade; they had pur
chased a quantity of arms and ammunition
from New York, and had even placed large
quantities of small paving stones between
the windows of their high stone houses, for
their women to throw upon the heads of any
Indians that should attempt to force into
them. The armed Brethren, too, kept watch,
and relieved as methodically as in any gar
rison town. In conversation with Bishop
Spangenberg, I mentioned this to my sur

prise, for, knowing they had obtained an
act of Parliament, exempting them from
military duties in the colonies, I had suppos
ed they were conscientiously scrupulous of
bearing arms. He answered me, that it wa3
not one of their established principles, but
that, at the time of their obtaining the act,
it was thought to be a principle of many of
their people ; on this occasion, however, they,
to their surprise, found it adopted but by «.
few. It seems they were either deceived in
themselves, or deceived the Parliament, but
common sense, aided by present danger, will
sometimes be too strong for whimsical opin
ions. " It was the beginning of January, when
we set out on this business of building forts.
* l The Moravians procured me five
wagons for our tools, stores, baggage, &c.
i .- * While at Bethlehem, I enquir
ed a little into the practice of the Moravians,
some of them had accompanied me, and all
of them were very kind to me. I found that
they worked for a common stock, eat at com
mon tables, and slept in common dormitor
ies, great numbers together. In the dormi
tories, I observed loopholes, at certain dis
tances, all along under the ceiling, which I
thought judiciously placed for change of air.
I was at their church, where I was entertain
ed with good music, the organ accompanied
with violins, hautboys, flutes, clarinets, <fcc.
I understood that their sermons were not
usually preached to mixed congregations of
men, women and children, as is our common
practice, but that they assembled sometimes
the married men, at other times their wives,
then the young men, the young women, and
the little children, each division by itself.
The sermon I heard was to the latter, who
came in and were placed in rows on benches,
the boys under the conduct of a young man,
their tutor, and the girls conducted by a
young woman. The discourse seemed well
adapted to their capacities, and was deliver
ed in a pleasing, familiar manner, coaxing
them, as it were, to be good.
" I enquired, concerning the Moravian
marriages, whether the report was true, they
were by Lot, and was told, that lots were

24

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

used only in particular cases ; that generally,
when a young man found himself disposed
to marry, he informed the Elders of his class,
who consulted the Elder ladies, that govern
ed the young women. As these Elders of
the different sexes, were well acquainted
with the tempers and dispositions of their
respective pupils, they could best judge what
matches were suitable, and their judgments
were generally acquiesced in, but if, for ex
ample, it should happen that two or three
young women were found to be equally pro
per for the young man, the lot was then re
curred to. I objected, that if these matches
are not made by natural choice of the par
ties, some of them may chance to be very
unhappy. ' And so they may,' answered my
informer, < if you let the parties choose for
themselves/ which, indeed, I could not de
ny." The Indian troubles and wars, which be
gan in 1755, were caused by the dissatisfac
tion of the Minisi and other Indian tribes,
at the result of the " Walking Purchase," so
called, and the encroachments of the whites
upon their hunting grounds north of the
Blue Mountains. Conrad Weiser, in a letter
to the Governor, as early as April 22d, 1749,
called his attention to the matter, saying :
"The Indians are very uneasy about the
white people settling beyond the endless
mountains." Longfellow has written one of his charac
teristic effusions, (which, by kind permission
of Messrs. Fields, Osgood k Co., of Boston,
Mass., the publishers of Mr. Longfellow's
Poems, is inserted here:.1 entitled
THE BURIAL OE THE MINISINK.
On sunuy slope and beachen swell,
The shadowed light of evening fell;
And when the maple's leaf was brown,
With soft and silent lapse came down
The glory, that the wood receives
At sunset in the brazen leaves.
Tar upwards in the mellow light,
Rose the Blue Bills, one cloud of white;
Around a far uplifted cone ;
In tlie warm blush of evening shone;
An image ofthe silver lakes,
By which the Indian soul awakes.

But soon a funeral Hymn was heard,
When the soft breath of evening stirred
The tali gray forest; and a band
Of stern in heart, and strong in hand,
Came winding down beside the wave,
To lay the red chief in his grave.
They sang that by his native bowers,
He stood in the last moon of flowers;
And thirty snows had not yet shed
Their glory on the Warrior's head,
But as the summer fruit decays,
So died he in those naked days.
A dark cloak of Roebuck's skin
Co'.-red the Warrior, and within
Its heavy folds the weapons made,
For the hard toil of war were laid,
The Cuirass woven of plaited reeds,
And the broad belt of shells anil beads.
Before, a dark haireel virgin train,
Chanted the death-dirge of the Blaiu ;
Behind the long procession came
Of hoary men and chiefs of fame,
With heavy hearts and eyes of grief,
Leading the war horse of their chief.
Stripped of his proud and martial dreE'
Uncurbed, unreined and riderless,
With darting eye and nostril spread,
And heavy and impatient tread,
He came, and oft that eye eo proud,
Asked for his rider in the crowd.
They buried the dark chief; they freed
Beside the grave his battle steed,
And swift an arrow cleaved its way
To his stern heart, one piercing neigh
Arose— and on the dead man's plain,
The rider grasps his steed again.
The history of the " Walking Purchase"
is this :— William Penn, in 1686, bought of
the Indians a tract of land, commencing on
the line of his former purchases, and extend-
ind northwestwardly as far as a man could
ride on horseback in two days; this was not
carried out until 1737; when, at a Treaty
held with Indians by the Proprietaries,
Thomas and John Penn, on the 25th day of
August, of that year, at Durham, near Eas
ton, it was stipulated, that the purchase of
1686, be consummated by commencing at
Wrights', in Bucks County, and terminating
at a spot a man could reach in one and a-
half day's walk. Edward Marshall, one of
the walkers, started from Wrightstown at

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

25

sunrise, on September 19th, 1737, and at sun
set, had reached the foot of the Blue Moun
tains, and next day at noon had reached
Tobihanna Creek. He walked 50 miles the
first day. Although not an extraordinary
performance, the Indians were terribly ex
asperated, as they had no idea of selling
their land beyond the Endless Mountains ;
as it was, a rectangular line, drawn from the
terminating point of the walk to the Dela
ware River, robbed them of nearly all the
Minisink country, their favorite hunting
ground. Their dissatisfaction at last ended
in open warfare on the whites, in 1755, and
Marshall's entire family were among the
first victims.
Bethlehem is therefore within the limits
ofthe Walking Purchase
In 1763, the frontiers were again overrun
by the Indians. The- massacre of the New
England people at Wyoming, increased the

fury ofthe white people against the Indians
settled at Nain. On the 8th of November,
1763, the Moravian Indians there were sent to
Philadelphia by order of the Governor, for
protection. And the Indians from the Mis
sion at Wyalusing, were also sent to the same
place, for the same reasons, and all lodged in1
the Barracks.
Wechquatanh was burnt by the white people
on the night of November 18, 1763, and some
incendiaries endeavored to destroy Bethle
hem. The Oil Mill was set on fire, and en
tirely consumed, and the fury of the flames
was such, that the adjoining Water Works
were with difficulty saved.
Peace was finally concluded with the hos
tile Indians, in 1764, when the Moravian
Indians returned in safety to Nain, Wyalus
ing and Bethlehem ; but were soon after, in
1765, removed to the Susquehanna.

26

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

The "Old Mill.:

—BUILT, 1751. — BURNED IN I860.
BETHLEHEM, PA.

CHAPTER IV.
The Old Mill, built 1751, burned in 1869.
— The Bethlehem Water Works. — Revo
lutionary Times of 1776.— Washington
and Bishop Ettwein. — Pulaski's Banner
— Longfellow's Poem. — Visit of Washing
ton. — Lafayette. — Mrs. Keidesel's Ac
count. — Mrs. Friday. — Cotton. — The Fish
ery. — Manufactures. — Main Road to Ohio.
— The Stone Ridge. — Views and Scenery.
I t the head of this chapter will be seen
a correct view of the " Old Mill,"
lately destroyed by fire, which was consid
ered, very justly, one of the most interest
ing curiosities in Bethlehem. It was made
from a photograph, taken by Moulton A.
Kleckner, residing in the town. He has
taken excellent pictures of all the old build
ings of the place, and handsome stereoscopic
views of all the beautiful spots in the vicini
ty. He deserves much credit for the love of
art, and pride of place, which have induced
him to take and preserve for the future, so
many objects of interest.

The following pleasing account of the" Old
Mill," and the more ancient structure, erect
ed by the Moravian Brethren, on the same
spot, is copied from The Bethlehem Daily Time*,
of January 27th, 1869, a newspaper edited by
David J. Godshalk and Wm. Hackett, Jun.,
gentlemen who appreciate the historical
mementoes connected with the venerable
old town in which they live; and who take
pleasure in recording in their spirited daily,
all matters of interest concerning its antiqui
ties, and its local history.
" The Old Mill.— Built 1751.— Burned Jan. 27,
1869.
The Moravians who settled in the Forks of
Delaware, in 1741, had the harvests of that
and the following year ground for bread, at
Nathaniel Irish's Mill, on Saucon Creek,
near its confluence with the Lehigh, (now
the site of Shimersville.) Mr. Irish was a man
of some note on the borders, an agent for Wil
liam Allen, Esq., merchant of Philadelphia,
in the sale of lands, and a Justice of the.
Peace of the county of Bucks.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

27

The erection of so important a building as
a grist mill, for an agricultural people, en
gaged in the establishment of an exclusive
settlement, was taken in hand by the Mora
vians of Bethlehem, in 1743 ; and on the 25th
of January of that year, a site for the struc
ture was selected. In April the work was
already under roof; on the 24th of June the
machinery was put in running order, and on
the 28th of June the first grist was ground.
The wheaten loaf, eaten next day by the
brotherhood, was altogether of their make.
This achievement was a matter of congratu
lation to the infant settlement, as well as to
the neighborhood, which in those days of
scattered farms, embraced a wider area than
at present. For, we are told, in February of
il847, there came neighbors from beyond the
Blue Mountain, (adventurous German farm
ers who had hewed them farms in the very
heart of the Indian country, on the borders
of the Aquarishiccola and the Poeopoco,) to
have the fruit of their toil converted into
bread at the Moravian Mill. One Adam
Schaus, else unknown to fame, was the first
miller. He ran but one pair of stones; but
they ground well, and won Adam » goodly
reputation; and many came from the East
and from the West, and most came from the
' North Countrie,' from the land of pines, and
swamps, and scrub-oaks, to have their grain
made into flour ; and in 1744 there was taken
from these barbarians, as the Greeks would
say, toll as follows :
Of wheat, 222 bushels ; of rye, 170 bushels ;
of Indian corn, 27 bushels ; of buckwheat, 12
bushels ; of barley, 2 bushels.
Mr. Henry Antes, of Frederic, (now Mont
gomery County,) descendants of whom are
still residing in and about Pottstown, was
the millwright employed by the Moravians
in the construction of the mill in 1743. It
was built of stone, and well-built, too, as was
the fashion of those days; yet its walls gave
way under the pressure of the swollen Ma-
nocasy, in the freshet of March 30, 1747;
and although repaired, in the course of a few
years it was thought advisable, to supersede
it by a new and large building.
Preparations for the erection of the second

Moravian Mill, were made early in 1751.
The masons began with the foundation-wall
on the 14th of June, selecting the best of the
limestone that was quarried on Nisky Hill,
for this part of the work. As harvest was at
the door, and the entire force of the settle
ment would be needed during its continu
ance, every nerve was strained to make
headway in the important undertaking just
initiated. By the end of August, the build
ing was under roof, the works in running
order, and on the 2nd of September, 1751, the
first grist was ground by the mill, that ground
its last, on the 27th of January, 1869.
The structure was 90 x 31 feet, and con
tained in addition to one run of stones for
grinding grain, and a granary, a fulling mill,
a clothiers shop, and a dye-house, all under
one roof. The limestone was quarried in the
Nisky quarries, and the laths sawed at the
Gnadenhoch (now Christiantrun,) saw mill.
Durham Furnace supplied the iron work of
the machinery. The water wheel and mill
stones were new. Above the former was the
mill room. In May, 1753, a second run of
stones was added. The ground floor was
laid in tiles, the roof covered with the same
material, and the building furnished with a
sun dial and elevator.
Mr. John Jungmann, a well known mis
sionary among the Indians, who died in
Bethlehem on the 17th of July, 1808, tells us
in his autobiography, he was the^rst miller
in the mill of 1754.
During the French and Indian war, in
1755, and again in 1758, when the part of
Bethlehem, long and still known as Water
Street, and the workshops and institutes on
Main Street, were palisaded and put into a
state of defense from fear of surprises by hos
tile Indians, the old mill was the citidal
within the city, crowded with panic stricken
refugees from the unprotected frontiers.
When, in 17G9, the Moravians in North
America abolished the quasi communistic
system of which Bethlehem had been ths
central point since 1741, the mill was work
ed for the benefit of the settlement solely,
being one of a number of industrial pursuits
retained as sources of revenue.

28

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

In 1830 it was purchased by Charles Au
gustus Luckenback, of the Bethlehem con
gregation of the United Brethren, and of
him by Jacob Luckenback. The late pro
prietors, David & Andrew Luckenback, have
the sympathy of the community in the ca
lamity so suddenly befallen them.
In the sad loss of property occasioned by
the disastrous conflagration of last night, is
involved the destruction of another of the
few remaining monuments of early Moravian
domination in the forks of Delaware. The
old mill carried us back further into the past
than perhaps any other remaining old time
landmark here, excepting the ' stone row' on
Church Street. It weathered the storms of
one hundred and eighteen years, and outlived
the changes that have since then came over
the country in which, and the association by
which it was erected in 1751. Pennsylvania
was then a loyal province of the British
crown, and the Moravians in North America
a society, in an extraordinary sense of the
word, organized to a man for missionary ac
tivity. Its erection supplied the urgent want
of the settlement, and proved a benefaction
to the country around. It was always a busy
place, the old mill down by the creek, with
its face to the sunny South, and yet cool in
the shadow of willows. It was always busy
within with its whirring stones, and dripping
wheel, and trembling hopper, that poured
out untold wealth of golden grain, to be
transformed into the staff of life ; and I can '
even now see how busy the scene without
already in the times of Adam Schues, the
first of a long line of ' dusty millers,' where,
on ' mill days,' a cavalcade of settlers from
the outskirts of Pennsylvania civilization
would dismount, and, tying their jaded beasts
with rope halters, each shouldered his grist,
and, as he crossed the threshold within the
precincts of tbe famous Moravian Mill, did
homage to the mysterious dial that stood
sentinel above; and thus each succeeding
generation repeated the busy scene without,
with only a change of masks. But the life
within the mill was the same; and this ceased
when its restless hour glass, from which the
golden grain of over a hundred years had

poured in one continuous stream, was at last
run out.
And because the life of the mill was a long
life of good to the family of man, hence these
chronicles and hence this pious requiem.
The original mill-stones, used in the ' old
mill' when it was first erected, in 1743, were
found by the Messrs. Luckenback, in remov
ing the ruins left by the late fire."
The Water Works of Bethlehem, are cele
brated as the first of the kind erected in this
country. They were planned and construct-
in the year 1762, by a Danish Moravian, a
resident of the village ; Hans Christian Chris-
tianson, a shoemaker, and a native of the city
of Copenhagen ; and were first put in opera
tion on the 21st of January, 1764. The ma
chinery consisted of three single acting force
pumps, four inch calibre, and eighteen inch
stroke, worked by a triple crank, geared to
the shaft of an undershot water wheel, eigh
teen feet in diameter, and two feet clear in
the buckets. The total head of water was
two feet. On the water wheel shaft was a
wallower of thirty-three rounds, and gearing
into a spin- wheel of fifty-two cogs, attached
to the crank. The three pistons were at
tached each to a frame cross-head, working
in grooves, to giwe them a parallel motion
with the pump, the cross-head was wood, as
well as the part containing the grooves, as
guides. These works were in operation until
1832, when the present works were erected,
and remodelled, upon the principle of the
present Water Works at Fairmount, Phila
delphia, where the horizontal double forcing
pump, the design of Frederick Graeff, was
first used in this country.
The first raising main of the Bethlehem
works, was made of Gum wood as far as it was
subject to great pressure, the rest of pitch
pine. The first forcing pumps were made of
Lignum Vitce, the water was forced up into
the Receiver, in the High Tower, at the west
end of the " Brothers' and Sisters' House ;"
from thence it was distributed into Water
Boxes or Cisterns, partly above ground, from
which it was drawn off for use. The water-
boxes mentioned, were six in number, and
were situated at the following places.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

29

1. In the yard of the Brethren's House.
2. In the yard ofthe Sisters' House, on Church
Street, and still in use.
3. At Simon Rau's, still used.
4. In Market Street, opposite the Old Grave
yard, and still in use.
5. In the Old Farm House Yard.
6. At the " Sun Hotel."
The first pipes laid for the conveyance
of water, were of leather, but not proving
very serviceable, wooden ones were soon
substituted; in 1786 leaden pipes were intro
duced in their stead, and in 1813 these were
changed for pipes made of iron, which are
now used all over the town.
In constructing the first Water Works, ¦<%
very curiously made crank had to be invent
ed, in order to work the three pistons, it was
at first thought to be impossible to make it,
but a celebrated blacksmith of the place,
named Stephen Blum, accomplished it, and
gained great credit thereby.
The Spring from which the supply of wa
ter is obtained, is quite a curiosity in its way,
and that it is able to furnish the constant
demand, is a matter of astonishment to all
who examine it, for it is a very small affair,
not more than three feet square, and two
feet deep, situated near the " Old Mill," on
Water Street, opposite the " Old Tannery,"
yet, small as it is, and despite the constant
use of its waters, there is never, even in
summer time; any perceptible diminution
in the quantity of water in the Spring ;
there being a constant, and almost imper
ceptible flow into it from some unseen
source. And although in 1868, steam power
was introduced to supply the increasing de
mand of the growing town, the Spring still
continues full, without any Bigns of inability
to meet all the wants of the inhabitants, ex
cept in cases of fires.
The lower Mill, where the forcing power is
located, is the Mill where the celebrated
Bethlehem buckwheat flour is made, which
is in such demand in the cities of Philadel
phia and New York. The forcing power
was, previous to the year 1868, furnished by

the water of the Manockasy Creek, which
runs through that part of the town.
The water of tho Spring is very cool and
clear, slightly impregnated with lime, but
not enough so a3 to affect its taste ; it is per
fectly healthful, very pleasant to the pal
ate, and has no perceptible effect upon the hu
man system, that is at all injurious. A large
frame building is erected over the Spring,
which is used by the people of the neigh
borhood, for the purpose of keeping cool and
preserving their meats and butter, during
the summer season,the water passing through
it, keeping the building as cold as an ice house.
The reservoirs in the town, into which the
water is conveyed for distribution, are cov
ered from the sun and dirt, so that it is car
ried to the houses, free from all impurities,
and comes out of the supply pipes as clear
as crystal, and does not need ice. to cool it,
even in the hottest days of summer.
Before the Water Works were erected there
were many attempts made to obtain water,
by digging wells, but as the hill on which the
town is built, is formed of rotten lime-stone,
all was labor in vain. There exists at pre7
sent, in the middle of Broad Street near Main,
one of those wells arched over, instead of
being filled up ; its exact position will be dis
covered unexpectedly some day.
The Rev. C. F. Seidel, thus speaks of the
Revolutionary Times of 1776. "During the
Revolutionary War, the Moravians were di
vided in opinion. The clergy mostly sided
with the Tories, but a portion of the Breth
ren, and nearly all the Sisters, sided with
the Whigs. Brother Ettwein, leader of the
congregation, sided with the Whigs, and was
a great friend of Washington. He was fre
quently consulted by the noble General, and
the Bishop ever found a ready and a stead
fast friend and protector in him.
"The people were prejudiced against the
Brethren because they refused to bear arms.
(The Moravians held it against their con
science to engage in offensive war, resisting
armed force was regarded as a duty,) but
when their position was explained, and their
honest intentions made known to reasonable
persons, no objection could be made to their

30

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

course. They nursed the sick and wounded,
gave up their houses for hospitals, and many
even died from the contagious camp fever.
They visited the sick, supplied them with
clothing, and showed them every act of kind
ness. Religious services were held twice
every week ; but arms they would not bear,
deeming it wrong to kill their fellow crea
tures." "Bishop Ettwein, says: 'In those years,
when the chief Hospital of the United States
army was located at Bethlehem, I was a
visitor to the sick, and a preacher in the
Hospital, and preached twice each week to
five or six hundred, soldiers, and had the
pleasure to observe good fruits.'
" Washington admired the character of the
Moravians, and during an interview with
Ettwein, expressed himself to that effect,
saying : ' I wish I were a simple Moravian.'
— ' Bleib du wo du bist !' — stay where you
are, answered the Bishop, ' you can do more
good where yon are.' The Bishop had great
influence with Washington, he spoke in such
a blunt, straight forward way, that he gain
ed the General's good opinion. Washington
detested unnecessary fuss.
" The Bishop was the first Fremdindiener,
(i. c, Guide or Strangers' Friend,) in Bethle
hem, from 1776 to 1779. An anecdote is told
of him, which shows his active measures in
religious affairs. While speaking to the
congregation, during the Revolutionary War,
on their duties to their God and their coun
try, he remarked that they should not forget
to pray for the Government, and ' Wir besser
tathens gleich,' i. c, ' We had better do so
at once 1' and fell on his knees and poured
out a fervent prayer for the protection of the
Almighty over our country. Then, as now,
the whole congregation done as their minister
did, fell on their knees also. In prayer, none
but those who are sick or disabled, are al
lowed to keep their seats."
Among the Archives of the Society, are
preserved many original and valuable papers
and letters ; a copy of one of the letters is in
serted here, as confirming the foregoing state
ments, and redounding to the credit of this
ancient Church.

" Bethlehem, September 22, 1777.
Having observed a humane and diligent
attention to the sick and wounded, and a
benevolent desire to make necessary provi
sion for the relief of the distressed, as far as
the powers of the Brethren enable them ; we
desire that all Continental officers may re
frain from disturbing the persons or property
of the Moravians in Bethlehem, and particu
larly, that they do not disturb or molest the
Houses where the Women are assembled.
Given under our hands, at the time and
place above mentioned.
John Hancock, Richard Henry Lee,
Nathan Brownson, Henry Laurens,
Nathaniel Folsom, William Duer,
Cornelius Harnett, Richard Law,
Benj. Harrison, Samuel Adams,
John Adams, James Duane,
Henry Marchant, Eliphalet Dyer,.
Joseph Jones, Wm. Williams.
Delegates to Congress."
The " Brethren's House" was taken as the
Army Hospital, of course the Society object
ed, but in vain, and the Brethren had to
live with their friends and relatives in the
town, a necessity which finally led to the
entire abandonment of the custom of the
Single Brethren all living together in one
establishment, although not till some time
thereafter, for it was not till 1815, that the
" Brethren's House" was handed over for the
use of the Girls' School, and occupied that
year for its new purpose, for which it is still
used, being the centre building of the Semi
nary, fronting on Main Street.
It was on the 3rd of December, 1776, .nat
the General Hospital of the American army
was established at Bethlehem, and on the
same day, Doctors Warren and Shippen ar
rived, and took possession of the " Breth
ren's House," and made arrangements for
250 sick soldiers, who came into town the
next day, gaunt, destitute and famishing,
and had not the people supplied them with
food, many would have perished, no gov
ernment supplies having arrived. During the
winter, 110 of the soldiers died ; and were
buried near where Levin J. Krause's large
barn now stands, on the west bank of the
Manockasy, on the north side of the road
leading to Allentown.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

SI

On the 17th of December, General Lee's
division of the army, consisting of 3,000
men, reached Bethlehem, and encamped for
the night on the south side of the river,
General Sullivan in command.
On September 2d, 1777, " The Large Family
House," was taken for quarters for 260 Eng
lish prisoners; the Brethren objected, but
without avail. On the 23rd, the whole of the
heavy baggage of the army arrived at the
place for winter quarters, the train consisted
of 700 wagons, and an escort of 200 men, un
der the command of Colonel Polk. And tho
" Brethren's House" was again used as a
hospital till June, 1778.
In the history of Lehigh Valley, it is writ
ten that, " In consequence of the removal of
the hospital to Bethlehem, in 1776, the place
was visited by many persons of distinction,
among whom were General Washington, the
Marquis de La-Fay ette, Count Pulaski, Baron
De Kalb, Generals Armstrong, Gates, Mifflin
and Schuyler, John Hancock, Henry Lau-
.rens, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and
others." " It was during this time that Count Pu
laski was complimented for his gallantry, by
a presentation of a banner, embroidered by
the ' Single Sisters,' as a token of their grati
tude for the protection he had afforded them,
surrrounded as they were, by rough and un
couth soldiery. The banner was made of
crimson silk. On one side the capitals U. S.
are encircled by the motto, ' Unitas Virtus
fortier,' on the other side, the all-seeing eye
of God, in the midst of thirteen stajs of the
Union, is surrounded by the motto, 'Non
alius regit.' These designs were embroidered
with yellow silk, the letters shaded with
green. A deep green bullion fringe orna
ments the edges; the size of the banner was
twenty inches square. It was attached to a
lance, when borne in the field. The banner
was received by Pulaski with grateful ac
knowledgments, and borne by his regiment
through the campaign, until he fell in the
attack upon Savannah, in the autumn of 1779.
It is now in the possession of the Maryland
Historical Society at Baltimore. Longfellow

has immortalized the incident in a beautiful
poem, which is printed by permission of his
publishers, Field, Osgood k Co., entitled the
HYMN
Ofthe Moravian Nuns at Bethlehem at iheconse-
cration of Pulaski's Banner.
" When the dying flame of day,
Through the chancel shot its ray,
Far the glimmering tapers shed,
Taint light on the cowled head ;
And the censer burning swung,
Where before the Altar, hung
The blood red banner, that with prayer
Had been consecrated there,
And the nuns' sweet hymn was heard the while,
Sung low in the dim mysterious aisle.
" Take thy banner I May it wave
- Proudly o'er the good and brave;
When the battle's distant wail,
Breaks the Sabbath of our vale ;
When the clarion's music thrills
To the heart of these lone hills,
When the Bpear in conflict shakes,
And the strong lance shivering breaks.
" Take thy banner I and beneath
The battle cloud's encircling breath,
Guard it ! till our homes are free !
Guard it! God will prosper theel
In the dark and dying hour,
In the breaking forth of power,
In the rush of Bteeds and men,
His right hand will shield thee th6n.
" Take thy banner I but when night
Closes round the ghastly fight.
If the vanquished warrior bow,
Spare him 1 by our holy vow,
By our prayers and many tears
By the mercy that endears, ¦
Spare him 1 he our love hath Bhared !
Spare him I as thou would'st be spared I
" Take thy banner ! and if e'er,
Thou should'st presB a soldier's bier,
And the muflled drum should beat
To the tread of mournful feet,
Then this crimson flag shall be
Martial cloak and shroud for thee.
" The warrior took that banner proud,
And it was his martial cloak and shroud."
The piece is very beautiful, but it is very
certain that Longfellow never visited Beth
lehem, or any other Moravian town.
An old Sister, writing of Revolutionary

?,<2

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

times, says : " General Washington visited
Bethlehem but once, he intended coming a
second time, but did not do so. When here
he visited the manufactories of the Society.
The Woollen and Fulling Mill, (then in the
old mill on Water Street,) the ' Brother's
House/ the 'Sister's house,' and everywhere
that manufactories were established. At the
'Sister's House,' he stood for some time in
the southeast room, now occupied by Sister
Sally Horsfield, he expressed himself much
pleased with the product of their industry,
and desired to purchase a dress for Lady
Washington, but the Sisters presented him
with the materials for one for her, a dress
pattern of ' blue stripe.' His officers pur
chased finery, but the general supplied him
self with useful articles, among which were
two pairs of stockings."
James Hall, in his manuscript, says, he
remembered Washington well, that he visited
Bethlehem twice, and was welcomed by the
music of trombones, playing in the belvedere
on the " Brethren's House."
La-Fayette came to the town on the 20th
of September, 1778. Charles Beckel, in his
journal, says : " This young French general
lodged at our house. He had been wounded
in the foot at the battle of Brandywine. I
had an aunt, who was then about 17 or 18
years of age. She was the Marquis' nurse.
Being very handsome and lively, my grand
father became -very uneasy for fear of her
forming an intimacy with the volatile and
witty Frenchman."
Mr. Beckel lived in the house now occupied
by Rauch, as a confectionery store.
Frederica Von Massow, the beautiful
wife of Major-General Riedesel, who com
manded the German Auxiliaries, (Bruns-
wicker's/ in Burgoyne's Army, at the time
of its capture at Saratoga, during the Revo
lution, thus speaks of Bethlehem in her pub
lished Letters and Journals, page 163. " Af
ter leaving York, Pennsylvania, we rode
through a magnificent country, and passed
among others, a very well cultivated section
inhabited by the Moravian Brethren; one
place is called the Holy Sepulchre, and
another district goes by the name of the

Holy Land, in which is a town called Beth
lehem, where we found a right good tav
ern. " In Bethlehem, as in all other Moravian
communities, there are separate houses for
the Brethren and Sisters. In the latter es
tablishment they made magnificent embroid
ery, and other beautiful handiworks, and we
bought at these places several articles. A
Miss Girsdorff, » German, who afterwards
resided at Hernhut, had taught the Sister's
all these kinds of work. The houses of this
community are well built, and there were at
this placeall sorts of manufactories. Among
others there was one which dressed leather,
which was as good as that of England, and
half as cheap. The gentlemen of our party
bought a, quantity of it. There were also
very clever cabinet makers, workers in steel
and excellent smiths. While at Bethlehem
we went to church, and enjoyed the splendid
singing." During, and after the Revolution, says Mrs.
Friday ; times were very hard, wages poor,
little to do, and everything high ; 4-4 chintz
sold at $3 per yard. Tea was a luxury none
could enjoy. The sisters collected herbs in
order to test them as a substitute for the tea-
plant. Tea was three dollars a pound, Conti
nental 'money. A species of Sumac berries
were used to flavor meats with, as salt was
not to be had, and provisions were of a very
bad quality ; even as late as 1820.
" Cotton was not then raised in the United
States, but was brought from Jamaica, and
the best from St. Thomas, W. I. The price
per pound paid for new cotton averaged
about 50 cents ; soon after the Revolutionary
War. Among the Sisters, spinning, weaving
and needle work, were the sources of revenue.
West India cotton was spun for the city and
home markets, the cotton had first to be
pulled apart, and the seeds had to be picked
out, then (secondly,) carded into flakes, and
(thirdly,) into rolls by hand, by means of a
spindle. Cotton so prepared, was much
stronger than when machine manufactured.
Working cotton, knitting cotton and thread
were also made; to earn seven cents a day
was considered much.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

" Board at the " Sister's House" cost seven
shillings and three pence per week, includ
ing board for dinner, rent, night watch, sick
room, and the privilege of taking boiling
water. Breakfast and tea they found for
themselves." Fish were caught in the Lehigh in great
quantities. Shad were caught between the
Islands and opposite Nisky Hill; they some
times sold at two cents each, and very large
fish ; many were salted down in barrels.
The Lehigh abounded in shad and bass. In
the Church Diaries of Bethlehem there is
frequent mention of the fact. In the year
1741, the statement is made, that, "at the
end of August we were blessed with such
abundance of Rock Fish, as to enable us to
provide for our guests and friends in profu
sion." In May, 1752, one thousand shad were
taken on the 10th of the "month. May 18,
1785, nine hundred shad were caught. May
5, 1786, seven hundred. May 21, 1787,
"fished for the last time this season and
caught one hundred and eighty shad and
thirty rock fish." The fishing ground used
to be below the upper bridge, the fish being
driven into a pond opposite Mr. Beckel's
foundry ; this mode of capturing the shad
was learned from the Indians, and is des
cribed fully by Loskiel, in his "History of
the Indian Mission."
The Manockasy and Saucon creeks were
both at one time celebrated for their fine
trout. Some are yet occasionally caught in
both streams.
The Manockasy takes its name from the
tribe of Minissink Indians who oncehunted
on its banks, and is a corruption of the name
of that tribe.
Wafers seem to have been a scarce com
modity in Revolutionary times, judging
by the following order from the Honorable
Executive Council of Pensilvania.
Philadelphia, April 5, 1779.
Sir :— I must beg the favour of you to send
by the first good opportunity, half a pound
of common sized wafers, 500 for the Great
Se'al, and 500 or 1000 for the less seal ofthe
State, and I will pay you, or your order for
them on demand.

I am, with great respect, your F'd and
Hon'ble Servant, T'Y MATLOCK, Sec'y.
Directed. Rev'd John Ettwein, at Bethlehem.
The manufactories of the Moravians in
those early times, made them independent
of the outside world. They raised hemp,
flax and wool, grain of all kinds, from which
they made starch, flour, and the buckwheat
meal, which is celebrated even in this our
day. From the flax they made Linsey-
woolsey, for the females to wear, and the
woolen for winter, with the changeable stripe
or plaid of two colors, blue and red. These
same goods, when fulled, were worn by the
men and boys. They had good weavers,
even in the " Sister's House." Letters are
still preserved, which contain orders from
merchants in Philadelphia, directing goods
to be made for dresses for their wives.
Sister Langley, an English Sister, had
charge of the " Sister's House," and they
produced some very handsome and superior
needle-work. Dyeing, spinning, fulling,
weaving, bleaching on grass, making glue
and tanning were carried on to a much
greater extent than at the present day.
The first Tile and Brick Manufactory was
established soon after the settlement of the
town, in 1742, at a place about a mile north
of Bethlehem, on the Manockasy Creek, on
the farm now owned by B. G. Unangst, on
the opposite side of the creek from his mill,
and near the Indian town; itwas then known
as Queer's place. The first bricks used in
Bethlehem were made at this place ; after
wards tiles were made in the town at the
house now occupied by D. Henry Bishop, at
the corner of the Main Street and the road
leading to Allentown. Earthenware was
also extensively made, and in great demand.
An applicant was asked, " How many cows
have you got?" and if more were asked for
than deemed necessary, told, " You must
do with less."
In those days an old finger post stood in
the open space opposite Bishop's store, point
ing down the hill along the narrow, winding

34

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

road, between the two old stone houses, lead
ing west to Allentown, with the foHowing
very indefinite direction inscribed upon it
in quaint old fashions letters.
"MAIN ROAD TO OHIO."
A journey to Ohio in those days was a very
serious matter, as it took from three weeks
to a month's time, according to the mode of
travel, on horseback, or by a Connestoga
wagon. Now the guide post says, " To
Reading 40 miles."
The stone used for erecting most of the
old stone buildings, and for the Old Chap
el and the Church, was brought from the
mountain to the southwest of the " Islands,"
at the present day known as the Stone-ridge;
it acquired that name from the German word
to slide, (Die stein rutscht.) Immense quanti
ties of good building stone were there lying
loose on the side of the hill, and it was only
necessary to slide them down to the water's
edge, float them across the river on flat boats,
and haul them into town for use.
Houses in the olden times were built with
great labor, no saw mills existed, the heavy
logs were all dressed by the axe, even the
studs for the partition walls had to be cut
and dressed in the same manner, the plas
tering laths were split with the axe, the
boards and laths were sawed with a whip
saw, the wood used for all purposes was oak.
The excellence of the work of the mechanics
even in those rude times, was surprising, no
such substantial buildings are erected now.
All the other necessary work was done in
the town.
The mortar ifsed in the old building has
often created surprise, after over an hundred
years, all of it is still in as good condition as
when first put on, despite its exposure to the
weather all that time, and the plastering
inside the houses is smooth and hard, and
has not chipped off, as it does in modern
houses in a few years. This, however, is
easily accounted for; in the old times people
were not in a hurry, they made haste slowly.
The mortar was prepared in the fall of the
year, in a pit in the ground, where it re
mained all winter, covered only by a few

boards to keep out the dirt, so that all the
lime became thoroughly slacked by exposure
to the weather, and when used, it became as
soon as it was dry, a cement as hard almost
as stone.
The view of Bethlehem and the surround
ing country from Rauch's mountain farm,
back of the Stone-ridge, is very fine. The
Blue Mountains, about seventeen miles dis
tant, lie in the form of an arc of a circle,
distinctly visible, with that peculiar blue
haze hanging over them, from which they
derive their name/with indentations in their
otherwise regular formation, known as the
Lehigh Water-Gap, The Little Gap, and the
Delaware Water Gap. In the centre of the
picture looking north, half hid by a high
projection of land, called the Camel's rump,
lies slumbering the Moravian town of Naza
reth, plainly visible to the naked eye. To
the right, and almost at the foot of the
mountain, lies Moravian Bethlehem, and
her lovely islands ; between and around
which winds the clear waters of the beautiful
Lehigh ; on the north bank of which is seen
the canal and railroad ofthe Lehigh Naviga
tion Company ; and on the south, the Lehigh
Valley Railroad; while the broad expanse
of the "Dry Lands," with its now richly
cultivated fields, and its clumps of woodland,
lie mapped out before the looker-on, forming
a scene of surpassing beauty.
The high hills around Bethlehem in the
month of October, present a scene of gorgeous
beauty almost beyond description. The foli
age of the trees contain all the tints of the
rainbow, but are even more beautiful, if that
is possible, because the colors are more dif
fused. Some trees, the pine, the hemlock
and the laurel, still retain their vivid green.
The sycamore, its sombre brown ; the maple,
the beauty of the wood and valley, is parti
colored, its leaves green at first, soon turn
into a brilliant red and yellow; the stur
dy oak is clothed in purple; the gum is
dressed in brilliant red ; the sumac bushes
are covered with leaves of brightest crim
son ; the beech, with those of a delicate pale
yellow, almost white ; the chesnut, a buff;

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

35

while the noble hickory hangs with golden
pendants; the dog- wood has its deep rich
red leaves, and clusters of berries, of a bright
er red.
Walking one day of perfect beauty, in the
Old Cemetery, during the time when the
Lehigh hills wore their glorious autumnal
livery, and the sun threw his golden light
upon them :
 " Through a smoke,
As from a thousand wigwams tells,
The Indian Summer." 

and wanting some one to share my pleasure,
I said to the Old Moravian grave-digger and
overseer, Schmidt, busy at work near by, how
beautiful the mountains look to day 7 " Yah I
Yah!" he replied, "They look just like cali
co." — and so they did.
The splendor of the sunsets at this season
of the year, are only equalled by those of the
spring months; and for a wonder, the in
habitants seem to enjoy those grand displays
of nature as much as the visitors.

36

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

THE "CROWN TAVERN."
(From the North.)
BETIILEnEM, PA.

CHAPTER V.
The "Crown Inn." — The Sun Hotel. — Mar
riages in Olden Times. — The Choirs. —
Dr. John Schopf's Account of his Visit.
— A Sketch from the Boston Magazine
of 1784. — Extract from a paper read
before the Historical Society of Penn
sylvania. ; he first Tavern in Bethlehem was the
" Crown Inn," a view of which heads
this chapter, made from a drawing by Mr. Ru
fus A. Grider. It was built in 1743, near where
the old Lehigh bridge now spans that river,
on the southern bank of the stream. In
1794, on the completion of the bridge, the
Inn was converted into a farm house. It
stood on the lands of the " Crown Farm,"
so called, which consisted of 1200 acres ;
and from that circumstance took its name.
While a Tavern, it was kept by Ephraim

Culver, in 1763, and afterwards by Valentine
Fuehrer. The old Inn was torn down in
1854, and its former site is now occupied by
the new Union depot of the North Pennsyl
vania and Lehigh Valley railroads. Previous
to the erection of the bridge, there was a Rope
Ferry over the river at this point, under the
charge of Massy Warner.
The Ferry across the river was of such par
ticular contrivance, that a flatboat, large
enough to carry a team of six horses, run
upon a strong rope, made fast on each bank,
and stretched across the river; and bythe
mere force of the stream, without any other
assistance, it crossed the river backwards and
forwards; the Flat always being put in an
oblique direction, with its foremost end verg
ing towards the line described by the rope.
In the year 1760, the Brethren completed
the erection of tho "Sun Hotel." It was origi
nally kept by Matthias Schropp, and its first

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

37

license is dated June 20, 1760. There are
many incidents connected with this famous
hostelrie, that should not be forgotten.
Nearly all the patriots who signed the Dec
laration of Independence, have eaten and
slept beneath its roof. Washington, La
fayette, Pulaski, and many other great gene
rals of our Revolutionary army, have par
taken of its cheer; all of our Presidents
have passed beneath its hospitable portals ;
Lincoln, Johnson, and Grant, only except
ed ; and the fairest and proudest daughters
of America, have graced its halls with their
charms. It is one of the most famous Inns
in all this fair land of Liberty, and although
little is left to remind the traveller of its ap
pearance in ancient times, it is still as cele
brated as in days of yore.
In 1777, Just Johnson was the landlord of
the " Sun," and upon making application for
the renewal of his license for the next year,
it was granted on condition that he took the
Teat Oath ; this he refused to do. The " Test
law," which passed in 1777, rendered it
obligatory on every man over 21 years of
age, to take the oath of allegiance to the
United States. About 69 of the Brethren re
fused to stand the test ; professing to have
conscientious scruples against taking an
oath. The Ministers and the older Brethren
opposed the taking of the obligation, while
the younger members of the church sub
scribed willingly ; this created great excite
ment in the church. In 1786, after the war
was over, Johnson, and the other 68, took
the oath; having forgotten that they were
scrupulous. Johnson was a man of a powerful frame,
a host ! within himself. Christian Grubb, an
iron master of Lancaster County, having
heard of Johnson, and being himself notor
ious for his great strength, and also a cele
brated boxer, visited the " Sun," on purpose
to get up a fight with the giant Moravian
Brother ; but it was not until he had been
grossly insulted, that Just lost his good tem
per ; then, suddenly seizing Grubb by his
breeches and his coat collar, he threw him
over the iron railing of the tavern porch,
(which were some feet from the ground,) to
3

the pavement below, saying, " God bless
meiner soul, I drows you over de bannisters."
Grubb was quite a heavy man, and being
very good natured in the main, was satisfied
with Johnson's display of strength, told him
who he was, and why he had visited Beth
lehem, and so together they made themselves
merry over the occurrence.
The " Sun" was also the " head-quarters"
of that famous land speculator, Nicholas
Kraemer, of Allentown ; who held weekly
" courts" there from 1800 to 1817. He bought
and sold lands at exorbitant prices, and in
immense quantities. Sellers and buyers met
here in great numbers at the " Sun" on his
meeting days. He was well acquainted with
the value of all the lands in the surrounding
counties, and his purchases were made as
once ; in selling he named his price instan-
ter, and never varied. He was entirely un
educated, and could not write his name or
even draw a figure, yet he could reckon up
his purchases or calculate his loss or gain,
mentally, in a few moments. His liberality
was proverbial; on his court days, as they
were called, he paid all the expenses at the
Hotel, amounting often to hundreds of dol
lars. His bills at the " Sun" amounted to
thousands every year. The moneyed troub
les of 1817 entirely ruined him, and he died
quite poor.
In 1835, a third story was added to the
original structure ; in 1850 it was further en
larged for the accommodation of the increas
ed travel, by the addition of the present ex
tensive back building, and in 1857, it was
again enlarged, by adding a fourth-story to
the entire building, so great was the demand
for rooms by summer visitors to the town,
and the growing travel arising from the
opening the rich products of the Lehigh
Valley to a market, by the different railroads
built and projected through it.
The old building, as it appeared in former
days, no longer greets the eye ofthe traveller ;
but the curious may see, neatly framed, and
hanging in the reading-room of the hotel,
the original plan and elevation of the an
cient famous structure ; this careful preser-
I vation of old relics, has been from the early

38

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

days of its settlement, a peculiar feature of
the people of the ancient church who settled
the town.
" Sister Sally Horsfield," thus describes a
wedding in Bethlehem in 1780.
" The couple were married in the ' Old
Chapel,' which was open to the whole con
gregation. After the ceremony, the friends
and the invited guests proceeded to the small
chapel, (Kleine Saal,) which was in the se
cond-story ofthe ' Gemein Haus.' The Brothers
and Sisters walked in and sat down on bench
es without leans to them, each sex separate.
The bride and groom proceeded to the minis
ter's room, which was in the same house";
where the bride was divested of her rose-
colored ribbon, and a blue one placed in
stead. The newly married couple then pro
ceeded to the Chapel again, taking their seats
in the face of the congregation, when wine,
diluted with water, into which nutmeg was
grated, was handed to them and the guests.
When they entered, all eyes were fixed on the
bride, in order to see whether she had lost
her ribbon. The cake eaten with the wine
was pretzel."
The females were divided into five choirs,
each choir having its distinctive ribbon, the
order was as follows :
Children wore in their caps cherry or
scarlet— girls wore coclico or crimson — sin
gle sisters pink or blossom— married sisters
light blue— widows wore white ribbon. Thus,
all classes could easily be distinguished by
the color of the ribbon they wore on their
caps. The Elders of the choir were called
choir laborers.
Seats without leans to them were invented
to keep the worshipers from going to sleep,
an excellent remedy; yet improved upon in
some churches in ancient days, by having
the seats of the benches revolve on pivots
so that to slumber and nod, gave the sleepy
victim a violent start, or if the only one on
the seat, a fall over backwards.
The large Moravian church till 1868, had
hard wooden benches, of unpainted pine,
with backs to them, for the congregation to'
Bit on, very primitive in style, very disa

greeable to look at, and exceedingly uncom
fortable to sit upon. But as there was no
earthly reason for continuing the use of such
back breaking machines, and it being ad
mitted that true religion does not require us
to do penance in church, more agreeable
arrangements have been made, adding much
to the beauty of the interior of the building,
and giving more comfort to the congregation.
Dr. John Schopf, in his book entitled,
" Incidents of Travel, dec, in 1783 and '84."
Thus relates his visit to Bethlehem.
" From a distance it rises most impressive
ly on the traveller's view, and after having
passed the last half of the way from Phila
delphia through a tedious sameness of forest
and underwood, with only an occasional
lowly cabin, the effect is almost overpow
ering, on suddenly seeing before him in an
anticipated wilderness, stately buildings,
rising aloft, side by side. There are ur-
wards of fifty (50) houses in the village.
The principal building is imposing, large,
and has two wings. One of the latter con
tains a capacious place of worship, and fur- -
nishes a place of residence for the ministers.
" In the centre is the school for children,
and in the right wing the sisters live. Op
posite stands the Widow's House, and further
down the street the Brethren's House. These,
and all the other buildings, are constructed
of the limestone of the neighborhood. An
air of superlative cleanliness prevades the
Sister's House, spinning, weaving, knitting
and embroidery, occupy the time and atten
tion of its inmates. The Single Brethren are
employed with various trades. In short,
the arrangement of these houses is the same
as that adopted in similar institutions of the
Moravian Brethren in Europe, bearing the
impress of order and industry.
" The congregation numbers about 500 souls,
the majority of whom are Germans. There
are but few English ; and yet almost every
individual is conversant with both langua
ges,— so much so, that a discourse in the
English language is held each Sunday. As
most of the Brethren, and especially their
minister, are of Saxon origin, it is a matter
of no surprise that the purest and most cor-

'THE OLD SUN TAVERN,"
Bethlehem, Pa. (Rebuilt.)

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

39

rect German of which America can boast, is
spoken here at Bethlehem, and in the other
Moravian settlements.
" The Right Rev. John Etwein and the
Rev. John Andrew Heubrer, are at present
the acting clergymen. The former was ab
sent. In the latter I found an agreeable and
amiable gentleman. He is an ardent lover
of botany, but his pastoral duties leave him
little leisure for the prosecution of this sci
ence. Dr. Otto attends the community in the
three-fold capacity of physician, surgeon and
apothecary. There is only one Inn, and it
belongs to the congregation. Its accommo
dations are not inferior to those of the first
hotels, in America. Everything about the
establishment is excellent, and the traveller
is surprised at finding in this remote and
secluded village, what he cannot obtain in
towns as large, and even larger, on the pub
lic highways. The house is seldom without
visitors, in addition to transient travellers.
Philadelphians are wont to make excursions
hither, with the two-fold object of viewing
the institutions and social arrangements of
the congregation, and also enjoying the su
perior entertainments afforded by this house.
While sojourning under its hospitable roof,
I made the acquaintance of Baron Hermelin,
an able Sweedish mineralogist, who had
come from Europe to examine American
mines. " In the spring of the year the Lehigh is
wont to swell considerably, from heavy
rains and sudden thaws,— according to the
gauge at the Brewery, generally from seven
to eight feet, and on one occasion, as much
as eleven feet. These freshets frequently
continue for some days, and aid flat-boats
laden with grain and produce, to pass over
the rocks and shallows, which usually ren
der the river unnavigable for such craft.
The Lehigh empties into the Delaware, and
affords by these spring freshets a convenient
communication with Philadelphia.
"In the Lehigh and its tributary creeks are
found muscles, which occasionally contain
tolerably large and pure pearls. * *
On the banks of the Lehigh, around which
gather in bewildering beauty, all the fasci

nations of a truly delightful region, are
crowded together a number of the most
beautiful North American shrubs and trees,
which, with their shadow and boughs over
hanging the banks far into the stream, im
part to the picture a glow of richest ex
uberance. * * * The river does not ex
ceed a hundred yards in breadth — a gentle,
clear and sparkling stream, flowing over a
rocky bed.
" We visited the interesting factories and
mills belonging to the Society, and among
these was a well-arranged Oil Mill and
Grist Mill. The former is newly built, on
the site of an old one, which was destroyed
by fire a few years ago. On the upper floor
of the Grist Mill is a crane, in connection
with the mill works, by which the heaviest
burdens are raised aloft. There is besides, a
profitable tannery, with the requisite bark-
mill, and an extensive dyeing establishment.
"As Bethlehem lies high on a limestone
ridge, it is supplied with water from a single
spring, which, however, is never failing and
pure. It lies far down in the valley, near
the river. The Water Works are admirably
contrived. * * * " * " ~
" Near the river is an ingeniously arranged
brewery, erected under the superintendence
of Sigmund Leshinsky. The water used in
the brewery is pumped from the Lehigh.
The boiler is at such an elevation, that the
boiling water flows downward over the malt,
and is thence pumped by hand into the vat
which contains the hops, from here the in
fusion is drawn off in pipes leading to the
cooling vat, and finally led by others into
casks in the cellar immediately below;
these arrangements, under one or two men,
sufficed for all the necessary work. The
malt is dried in the air. The beer is of su
perior quality. * *
The author of the following sketch, copied
from the Boston Magazine, for May, 1784,
(lately reproduced in the Moravian,) not
having properly understood the purposes of
the different Moravian establishments at
Bethlehem, has made it in many particulars
almost as absurd as parts of Longfellow's
imaginative poem on Pulaski's Banner.

40

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

There is no such a person as an Abbess,
connected with the " Sister's Houses" of the
Moravians, in any part of the world. They
were of course, under the charge of an El-
dress or Matron. They did not live in se
clusion, and although the rules were strict
in former days as regards the association
with the other sex, they visited their rela
tives, received visits, walked out every day,
and at a proper age got married, if they felt
so disposed, which most of them did. The
death-like paleness of the Sisters, existed in
a great measures in the writer's imagination,
although it is a well-known fact, that the
complexions of the inhabitants of mountain
ous parts of North America, do not become
tanned by exposure to the weather, like that
of those who live in the lowlands, and on the
river and seashores. And in regard to their
want of exercise, the writer forgets how the
Sisters worked in levelling the Minister's
garden. The peculiar dress which the women wore,
was, in reality, one of the fashions of that
day. Every religious Society in Continental
Europe had then their own peculiar costume,
or uniform dress. A fashion, rule of their
order, or a custom, which is still adhered to,
even in this, our day, in the United States,
notwithstanding our republican simplicity
of dress, by the Quakers, Shakers, and many
other societies, not forgetting the many singu
lar costumes of the different religious orders
of the Roman Catholic Church. Now, how
ever, in America, the Moravians dress, act
and live as all other reasonable people. I be
lieve it is now an admitted fact, that the dress
worn by the members of the Society of
Friends, was not adopted by them till after
the death of William Penn. See Atlantic
Monthly, October, 1868, page 488.
" My last informed you that we should
proceed homeward by the shortest course,
but the pleasing accounts which we heard of
Bethlehem, greatly excited our curiosity,
and to gratify it we altered our intended
route to visit that terestrial paradise. On the
afternoon of the second day from Philadel
phia, as we were passing solitarily between
two overhanging rocks, we suddenly found

ourselves upon the banks of a winding river,
and the beauty of the prospect that immedi
ately presented itself to view, left us no room
to doubt that we had arrived at the end of
our excursion ; in fact, Bethlehem was situ
ated on the opposite side.
" The vie w of this place strikes the traveller
very agreeably, it is in itself beautiful, and
the pleasure arising from a view of its beau
ties, is not a little heightened by the reflec
tion that you have attained the end of a
very disagreeable ride.
" The town is built in a verdant valley,
plentifully watered by the Delaware." The
Lehigh River was originally called the west
branch of the Delaware.
" The banks of this fresh water river af
ford a most romantic spectacle, as they are
covered to the very water's edge with shrubs
of myrtle, and other verdure, which shoot
up in all their natural luxuriancy. The
almost impenetrable woods on the surround
ing hills, serve not only to give an idea of
an entire seclusion from a wicked world,
but restrain the eye and fix the attention
upon the many beauties brought into one
point of view. I believe there are few who
reach this spot, but stop some minutes to
regale the sight, that most delicious of the
senses. " These reflections occurred while crossing
the river ; during this short passage, strictest
silence was observed, each seeming absorbed
in the contemplation of the surrounding ob-
jects. Upon reaching the tavern, we could
not help congratulating each other upon the
full completion of our most sanguine expec
tations. This building, (the 'Sun Hotel,')
is neatness itself, it is built wholly of stone,
even the partitions between the apartments
are of the same materials, these are plastered
and whitewashed so exceedingly white, as
makes looking upon them painful to the
eyes. The house is divided into a great
number of rooms for the accommodation of
travellers. We were attended with a cheer
fulness extremely pleasing, and had each
wish gratified in so obliging a manner as to
fully compensate for the bad entertainment
on the road. After a refreshing night's sleep

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

41

and a social breakfast, our whole party, con
ducted by one of the Ministers of the place,
went out to view everything worthy of no
tice. " The town contains about 100 houses, be
sides the public edifices, all built of very
rough stone, in the simplest manner. The
Church, Single Sisters' house, the Single
Men's house, and the Minister's house are
the most striking objects. We first visited
the Single Sisters'. At the door of their
house, we were met by the abbess, who with
the truest politeness, conducted us into every
chamber; we were much gratified with the
sight of this temple of industry, each cham
ber, which is large and commodious, is set
apart for some branch of useful manufac
tures ; in one were five or six looms, at which
the sisters were weaving linen of various
qualities, in others, numbers were carding
wool, spinning, knitting and making various
parts of wearing apparel. After looking into
these rooms, we visited the kitchen and bed
rooms; here neatness is most particularly
observable. The kitchen, where two young
women were preparing dinner for the whole
sisterhood, was perfectly cool, clean and
neat, »¦ number of coppers built in brick,
serve to dress each day's provisions, which
are either boiled or baked; roast dishes I
found they were utter strangers to. The
bed-room extends over the whole house, and
in it are placed about one hundred beds,
regularly disposed in four ranges, two on
each side, so as to leave a clear walk in the
middle ; this room has an open window at
each end, which serve as ventilators; a
large lamp is suspended from the centre of
the ceiling, with an opening over it to let
out the smoke. Two young women watch
there every night ; the duty is performed in
rotation, so that each undergoes an equal
share of fatigue.
" After your curiosity has been gratified by
a sight of these apartments, it is their cus
tom to lead you into a room, where a number
of women are busied in embroidery and other
delicate work ; here they spread before you
many neat and curious pieces of nuns' (the

sisters'} work, and so great is the general
admiration of every thing belonging to this
enchanting spot, that few depart without
purchasing something.
"Such is the Single Sisters' house; neat
ness and simplicity are its characteristics, and
piety and industry distinguish its inhabi
tants ; but notwithstanding the pleasure re
ceived from the visit, I cannot say that I
formed a wish to partake of such a life.
" To the sisters, their luxuriant valley and
romantic river, seem to have no charms ; the
want of exercise and continual sedentary
occupation have given their countenances a
deathlike paleness. Their dress, though per
fectly neat, does not serve to adorn their
persons. Their habit is a short waistcoat
which covers the neck, and >•¦ petticoat of
white linen : their hair is carried back from
the forehead, and covered by a linen cap of
most unbecoming form ; contrived to cover
the ears, and tie under the chin ; their only
ornament is a plain stripe of muslin about
two inches wide, surrounding the head, and
tied in a small bow behind ; this I call their
only ornament, for though the caps of the
single women are tied under the chin with
a red ribbon, and those of the married with a
blue, I found that this was not intended as
an ornament, but merely as a distinguishing
badge. " This particular account of the Sisters'
house, has anticipated my observations upon
that of the single men; as they are both
built upon the same plan, and in general the
same economy observed ; what we most re
marked in the latter, was the absence of that
extreme neatness so much admired in the
former. This want of neatness in the men's
apartments arises principally from the ex
clusion of females, and I think, proves the
advantage, if not the necessity of social in
tercourse between the sexes.
"We made a short visit to the Minis
ter's house, there being nothing about it
that merits special attention, except the gar
den ; which was laid out on the declivity
of a steep hill, but had been made quite
level by the industry and indefatigable per-

42

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

severance of the single sisters; who with
their own hands raised the lower part many
feet. " Each of the public buildings has a large
garden where nature maintains her place,
and suffers no encroachment from her hand
maid art. We attended at their devotions
in the church. This is built with the same
disregard to ornamental architecture as the
rest of the town. About twenty paintings
representing the principal passages in our
Saviour's life are hung upon the walls; but
that it should not appear they were placed
there with a view to ornament the building,
they are without frames, even of the sim
plest kind. The service was in German, and
consequently not very edifying to me, but
the music was excellent; this being, if I
may be allowed the expression, the language
of nature, and addressed to the feelings, is
intelligible to every nation. The church is
built near the Single Sisters' house, and the
passage between them enclosed with a very
high wall that the sisters may go into church
unobserved. The seats for the men are dis
tinct from those of the women; and this
attention to keep the sexes separate is ob
served even after death ; for even the bury
ing ground is divided into two parts, one for
the males, and the other for the females.
This repository of the dead is laid out with
the most exact uniformity, into beds of seven
feet in length. It is the custom on the
death of a member of the society, to place
the body in a small building at the corner
of the burying ground, until marks of disso
lution are perceptible, then the body is in
terred in one of these beds ; the smallest
infant being allowed the same space with the
largest adult, to avoid breaking in upon the
much loved regularity. Perhaps you have
no idea of children in this society ; or the
distinction between the single and married
sisters, the keeping of the sexes entirely
separate, you look upon as an insuperable
bar to marriage; indeed this is one of their
most peculiar customs. Their ministers or
priests rule over them with an unbounded
sway, and their decisions are regarded as

infallible, tending to the best. It i3 the
custom of the abbess to enquire of the
women if any of them wish to marry ; the
minister does the same with the men. The
names of the candidates are placed in two
lists, and the first of each list proposed as
companions for life ; if the parties do not
approve of the proposed match, they have
a right to dissent, but.have no other choice
till the next is formed. This privilege of
refusal is seldom exercised. So great is
the veneration of the commands of their
superiors, and so firm is their reliance on
Providence, that they think the persons
pointed out, must be in every respect best
suited to them. I am informed that there has
never been an unhappy marriage. This must
arise in a great measure from their high
sense of duty ; for we cannot suppose, that
persons thus arbitrarily joined can feel any
love for each other. As soon as a couple is
married, the society build them a small
house, and advance some money to enable
them to maintain a family. Their children
pass the first years of their life with their
parents, and are instructed at the public
school. At a proper age the girls are ad
mitted among the single sisters, and the
boys are apprenticed to various trades; or
provision is made for them in the Young
Men's house.
" Industry is no less a characteristic ofthe
men than the women. They have establish
ed a brewery for strong beer, which they sell
at a profit lower down the river ; they have
a Fulling Mill, and Oil Mill, and most
handicraft trades are carried on here. They
are exceedingly ingenious and well versed
in the principles of mechanics ; the water
works are a proof of this. A stream of water
turns a wheel with great rapidity, which
working four forcing pumps, raises a body of
water into a reservoir more than one hundred
'feet high, from tbiia the water is conveyed
by leaden pipes into every house in town.
These useful works were contrived and ex- .
ecuted by a German, one of the society, and
so simple is the machinery, that they have

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

43

been continued free from obstruction, and
without needing repair, for upwards of thir
ty years."
In this connection the following extract
made from papers in the office of the Secre
tary of the Commonwealth at Harrisburg,
and read before the Historical Society of
Pennsylvania, March 15, 1826, may not be
without interest.
"The adult unmarried men and boys up
wards of 12 years of age, in the settlement of
the United Brethren, live mostly together in
a house called 'The Choir house of the Sin
gle Brethren.' That also the adult unmar
ried women, and girls upwards of 12 years
of age, inhabit ' Tho Choir house of the Sin
gle Sisters.' There are also choir houses for
the Widows and Widowers.
" Marriages in the congregation ofthe Uni
ted Brethren are made by general agreement,
with the advice and approbation of the El
ders. Whenever a Brother wishes to marry,
he signifies his intention to the Elders. If
they.have no objection, his proposal is sub
mitted to the Lot. If the question proves
affirmative, and the Sister proposed, and her
parents, all give their approbation, the wed
ding is performed.
" At the baptism of children, both the
Witnesses and Ministers bless the infant
With laying on of hands,
" The pedilavium, or washing of feet, is
used by some agreeably to the command of

Christ, ' Ye ought also to wash one another's
feet.' " The most singular custom, is the assemb
ling of the congregations in their respective
burying-grounds on Easter Monday, at sun
rise, when the Litany is performed.
" The United Brethren are remarkable for
their honest simplicity of manners, industry,
economy, and neatness in their habitations ;
kind and affectionate to each other, living
as Brothers and Sisters; They ar^ consider
ed a great acquisition to the Province."
An emigrant passing through Bethlehem
fnl788, says:
" We saw the young females just coming
out of school, their dress was a short gown
and petticoat, while their heads were covered
with sung little white linen caps, giving
them n. very neat appearance. The school
for the boys was kept entirely distinct, and
no intercourse was allowed between the sexes,
except through the intervention of the teach
ers. " 'The Bethlehem Seminary for Young
Females,' was becoming quite celebrated,
and was patronized by many Southern men,
who sent their daughters there to be educated.
It was one of the earliest schools established
for the education of females in America.
" On leaving this pleasant and well-built
village, we crossed the Lehigh by a Hope-
ferry, which was the first of the kind we had
ever seen."

44

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

THE SCHNITZ HOUSE,
BETHLEHEM, PA.

CHAPTER VI.
The Schnitz House. — The Farmers in" Old
Times. — The Object of the Establish
ment of the Moravian Church in Am
erica. — Rochefoucault's Description of
Bethlehem. — The Bethlehem Souvenir.
— Simplicity of Moravian Life in the
Last Century.— Music. — Bishop Spangen
berg.— The Moravian Historical Socie
ty. — Ihe Fifty Year's Celebration, June
25, 1792. — The Old Bridge over the Le
high, 1792. — Sketch from the American
Gazetteer. j H e wood cut at the head of this chap
ter, is a correct representation of the
" Schnitz House," so called from the German
word, schnitz, to cut, or slice. It is a long,
one-story log house, plastered over on the
outside, in imitation of stone, and is still
standing ; back from the street, on the first
lot east of the " Sister's House," on Church
Street. It was erected in the early days of
the settlement, and used by the Sisters as a
place to cut and dry apples, which were then

extensively *used in the winter for pies, by
the inhabitants. There was formerly a large
orchard of apple trees surrounding the house,
and in the rear ofthe " Sister's House." With
the Germans of Pennsylvania, pies of all
kinds seem to be considered one of the abso
lute necessaries of human life ; they eat them
at every meal ; as well as cakes, preserves
and pickels of all sorts. They also drink
strong coffee three times a day, and are not
a nervous people. The Bethlemites make
many kinds of domestic wines, of a very su
perior quality, for family use, of which they
are justly proud; all the fruits and berries
of the country ^repressed into service for this
latter purpose.
The farmers who first took up the lands
around Bethlehem, were very poor, not even
able to buy harness for use on their horses.
So they used ropes for that purpose, made out
of their own hemp. Oxen were used to draw
their wagons, which were made of wood, and
entirely without using iron, for wheels they
sawed logs cross-ways, and bored holes iu

B ETH LE H

PENNSYLVANIA.

45

the centre for the axles, and so they came
into town. The women often came into town
on horseback, without any saddles on their
horses, and riding a-straddle, like men.
The European settlers were few however,
and thinly scattered around the adjacent
country. Some of these were Irish, who,
says Bishop Spangenberg, the Moravians
dreaded more than the Indians. It was by
them that the Moravians were first called
Hernhutters. Mr. Henry, in his history of Lehigh Val
ley, says, that the establishment of the Mo
ravian congregations in America, had in
view the single object of the propagating the
gospel among the Indians. No doubt that
was one ofthe objects ofthe Society, but not
by any means the only one. They were
desirous of escaping the persecutions in
Europe, and were induced to emigrate to
Georgia. From there they came.to Bethlehem
as stated, and thus it became from its beauti
ful position, fine climate, and the rapid in
crease of its population, the chief town of the
Bociety, and naturally its central station,
and as the Moravian church was, and still
is a Mission church for the conversion of the
heathen, it was from this place that the
Brethren took their instructions from their
superiors, and set out to the different mis
sions of the Society, on the Upper Lehigh,
the Susquehanna, and finally into the dis
tant wilds of the Juniata, and the Alleghany
mountains, as well as the inhospitable re
gions of the Ohio. Many of these mission
posts, " Huts of Grace," as they were called ;
originally thinly scattered through the wil
derness, have become in the present day,
prosperous and largely populated towns.
The Duke de RochefoUcault, in his travels
in America in 1785, volume II., page 397,
&c, gives the following facts connected with
the temporal government of the Church in
Bethlehem, at that time.
" In 1740, Count Zinzendorf purchased of
Mr. William Allen, who held of William
Penn, the district now called Bethlehem,
with the view of founding there an estab
lishment for the Society of the Moravians.
Although some trees were cut down in 1741,

it was not until 1742 that the settlement was
begun. One hundred and forty Moravian
Brothers and Sisters arrived from Germany
and settled there. These families were poor,
had no other dependence but their labor,
and everything was to be done to form a set
tlement in this desert. They lived there in
one general community, contrary to the rules
and usages of their Society, but only from the
necessity of circumstances, which would
have rendered the general progress of the
Society more slow, and the situation of the
individual families more inconvenient, if
their labors and productions had been divid
ed. This deviation from the construction of
the Unity, (for thus they call the whole So
ciety,) was prescribed by the Synod, which
makes and alters the laws of the Moravian
people. " Thus, under the orders of the chiefs of the
congregation established at Bethlehem, they
cleared the woods, made roads, and cultivat
ed the lands ; the women spun, wove, made
their clothes, and prepared their victuals.
One single will animated the whole, and the
product of each individual labor served in
discriminately to support the whole Brother
and Sisterhood. The fathers and mothers
being constantly employed in labor, could
not, without inconvenience to the communi
ty, give their attention to the children. The
Society therefore, set apart some of the Sis
ters to take charge of the whole. The au
thority, however, and the superintendence
of the parents, was neither taken away nof
diminished. " At that time, even, notwithstanding their
community of goods, the Brethren that re
ceived any money from their families or
friends, had the predisposal of it. If any of
them invested their property in the common
stock, it was voluntary, and the effect of a
zeal and disinterested act, of which there
were few examples. The Brethren possessed
of any private property, had frequently their
children with them ; they clothed them bet
ter, and the care which they took of their
infancy — a charge considered a relief by the
Society — was a proof that at Bethlehem the
children were not, as has been alleged, the

46

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

property of the community, and that it was
no part of the constitution to make members
renounce all private property.
" In proportion as the settlement advanced
their labor became less urgent, and the vir
tues of man have nearly everywhere the
same character. The active Brethren killed
themselves with work, while the idle took
little trouble. Those who reflected, discov
ered whatever fatigue they endured, their
situation waB nowise ameliorated, and that
industry, the indisputable property of eyery
man, afforded them not » single advantage.
Reflection, then had the same effect upon
the industrious, as natural disposition had
on the idle ; the ardor for labor no longer
continued, and the society did not prosper,
and most of its members were discontented.
These joint considerations induced them, in
1762, to change the system of the Society.
The Society at Bethlehem was now estab
lished on the rules of the societies in Europe,
and, agreeably to the new system, it has
been regulated since that epoch, as well as
all the other Moravian congregations estab
lished elsewhere in America. By the pres
ent ordinances, the communism of property
is done away in favor of the individuals, it
only continues as to the government of the
Society, and exists partially.
" The territorial property, as well as the
profits of the tavern, the store, the farms,
the saw mill, the oil mill, corn mill and
fulling mill, the tannery and the dyeing
manufactory, belong to the Society, which,
from these funds is enabled to provide for
the poor, for the payment of debts, and of
the public taxes. In all other respects every
Brother enjoys the absolute property of
whatever he can earn by his labor, be it
what it may, and of the gifts he may receive.
The government of the Society is vested in
the Bishop, the Minister, and the Intendant,
and the Inspectors, male and female, of the
different divisions of the Society, which are
five in number ; the young men unmarried,
the unmarried Sisters, the widows, the mar
ried Brethren and Sisters, and the schools.
The Intendant has the exclusive adminis

tration of the property of the Society, but he
must advise with a committee composed of
from eight to ten members chosen by the
Brethren at large ; in the name of the Inten
dant they carry on all their transactions,
grant leases of houses and lands, securities
for borrowed money, discharges, kc. All
the houses, however, erected in the town of
Bethlehem, and the 4,000 acres belonging to
it, are not the property of the Society, nor
even the greater part of them ; they belong
to the Brethren who have built upon the
land, for which they pay rent to the Society.
The amount of this rent is two pence the
foot in front, by twenty feet in depth. The
house built by the Brother is his absolute
property ; he can leave it to his wife or chil
dren, in the same way he can his other ef
fects, or he can sell it, only he cannot convey
it but to a Brother who has obtained permis
sion from the Directory to buy it, with the
burthen of the rent attached to it, and which
perpetually remains.
" The Directors having the government of
the Society, must admit those only into their
territory, who they think will not disturb
the Society. In the contract of lease made
by the Intendant with the advice of the
committee, to those intending to build a
house, or to those who purchase a house, it
is always stipulated, that if the proprietors
shall be desirous of quitting it, and shall not
find a purchaser who may be agreeable to
the Society, the Society is to purchase it at
a price declared by law, which also fixes the
terms of payment. Garden ground, or land
in the country, is let at six shillings the
acre. " Besides the government farm appropriat
ed to the benefit ofthe Society, there are six or
seven smaller farms belonging to it. These
are let to tenants who pay a third part of
their produce, and who also pay six shillings
rent for their garden grounds. These ten
ants are all at present Moravians. Some
times the farms are let to other persons,.only
the Society must be satisfied as to their
character and behavior. The town of Beth
lehem is inhabited by between five and six

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

47

hundred inhabitants, all of the Brother and
Sisterhood." In the Bethlehem Souvenir, " a History
of the rise, progress and present condition of
the Bethlehem Female Seminary, by Wm.
C. Reichel," published in 1858, it is very
justly remarked, that " the spirit of pious
simplicity which characterised the social
and religious regulations of the early Breth
ren, while it astonishes us at the present
day, cannot fail to elicit admiration of their
honesty of purpose and determination to
live the life of ' every day' christians. No
occasion, however trifling, but was sanctified
with the ceremonies of religion.''
" In connection with this pastoral sim
plicity mentioned, Spangenberg, iu describ
ing Nazareth farm, in 1746, in his own quaint
style, says in regard to the Brethren and
Sisters engaged there, ' Never, since the
creation of the world, were there made and
sung such lovely and holy shepherds, plough
ing, reapers, thrashing, spinners, knitters,
sewers, washers and other laboring hymns,
as by these people. An entire farmers' hymn
book m^ght be made by them.'" See Ris-
ler's life of Spangenberg, page 221.
James Henry, in his sketches of Moravian
life and character, page 137, writes on this
subject, that, " When travelling, the Mora
vian of patriarchal times had his ' Reiselie-
der,' or travelling hymns. These, sung in
the solitude of the chamber, before retiring
or at rising in the morning, or performed in
agreeable chorus by several pilgrims, added
solace to the journey, and if on a mission of
evangelical labor, assuaged its toils and
hardships." It will be observed that the Moravians are es
sentially a musical people, even at the present
day; although in the olden times music was
more generally cultivated and used by them
than at present. Hymns and music were
used not only in the church and on all festival
occasions, but in the family, at meals, in the
fields, the work shop, and while travelling ;
even yet the good customs in this regard
have not passed away, and the Wiege lieder,
or cradle hymns, may yet be heard sung by

the sweet voices of tho little ones, in the
good old town of Bethlehem.
On the 18th of September, 1792, the venera
ble, beloved and celebrated Bishop Augustus
(Gottlieb) Spangenberg, died in the 89th year
of his age, having been born on the 15th of
July, 1704. The Bishop was, during twenty
years of his life, from 1742 to 1762, the vir
tual head and superintendant of the Mora
vian affairs in America ; he was educated for
the Lutheran Church, and became a Profes
sor of Divinity at the University of Halle,
in 1731, (having received his degree at the
University of Jena, which he entered in
1722,) and was discharged the next year, his
views in religious matters not being agreea
ble to the direction. He then attached him
self at once to the Moravian church, and be
came Zinzendorf's assistant at Hernhut, and
finally a Bishop of the Unity, and in influ
ence second only to the Count. He was emi
nently qualified for the performance of the
onerous duties devolving on hirn in the in
fant days of the Society in America, during
the Indian troubles, and in the pecuniary
difficulties with which the church had at
first to struggle.
In a note to page 9, of the history of Naza
reth Hall, it is alleged that, "A century
ago it was the custom for its Bishops (of the
Moravian church,) to take official names,"
and a note from Spangenberg to Brother
Rogers, dated July 19th, 1760, and signed
" Joseph," is given in evidence to prove the
assertion ; but no other instance is men
tioned, and no other authority adduced for
the statement. The learned author of that
book has been led into an error by making
the peculiar case of Spangenberg, a general
one. The Moravian Bishops did not as a
rule, nor even as a common practice, assume
official names. The case of Spangenberg i3
an exception. He had generally acquired
among all his Brethren the name of " Jos
eph," for the reason, " that he cared so well
for his Brethren ;" in this way, he became
generally well known by his Brethren as
"Brother Joseph;" and finally assumed ita3
an official name, signing himself simply

48

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

" Joseph." It was at that time very usual
for the Brethren to use simply their first or
given names in addressing each other by
letter, as it is even now the custom among
intimate friends. Joseph, is a Hebrew
name, signifying, " He shall add." The
name of Gottlieb, means in English, God-love.
In Ritter's history of the Moravian church
in Philadelphia, is a portrait of the eminent
Bishop, " Brother Joseph," with a/ac simile
of his signature, thus, " Joseph, alias, Augus
tus Gottlieb Spangenberg."
In the published transacticns of the Mo
ravian Historical Society, in the year 1868,
page 72 ; in a note, it is said that the name
of " Brother Joseph" was given to Spangen
berg by Count Zinzendorf, as an affectionate
appellation, " on account of the excellent care
he always took of his Brethren." If this is
so, it finally disposes of the statement that
the Bishops of the Moravian church in for
mer times took official names.
The printed transactions above referred to,
are contained in a pamphlet of 80 pages. It
is the first publication ever issued by the
Society, which is located at Nazareth.
In the year 1857, a number of Moravian
gentlemen met together at Nazareth, in
Pennsylvania; and formed an association,
to which they gave the name of " The Mo
ravian Historical Society;" having for its
object the elucidation of the history of the
Moravian church in America, in particular,
and the history of the church in general,
and its missions, wherever situated.
In the month of November, A. D., 1858, the
Nazareth congregation of the United Breth
ren, presented the Society with a room in
the old stone mansion known as the " White-
field House," erected in the year 1743, and
in this building the Society have ever since
held their annual and special meetings.
Nothing can be more interesting or charm
ing, than to attend the annual Vesper of the
Historical Society at Nazareth. The mem
bers are accompanied by their wives and
daughters; all partake of a meal ; and after
the cakes and coffee, a veritable " love feast,"
historical papers are read, during which the

men smoke and listen, and the women sew
or are quietly attentive ; many pleasant stor
ies of old times are told ; and only darkness
breaks up the happy circle.
On the 25th of June, 1792, Bethlehem hav
ing stood fifty years, or half a century, the
occasion was celebrated by a " Love Feast,"
and a pyramid was placed in the enclosure
where the reservoir of the " Sister's House"
now stands, which was decorated with scar
let, coelico, pink, blue and white ribbons, em
blematic of all the choirs in the congregation.
In the evening a procession, consisting of the
whole congregation, passed through all the
streets of the town, accompanied by music.
The settlement of the town was commenced,
as is well known, before the 25th of June,
1842, but the complete organization of the
congregation as such, dates from that time.
The Lehigh Bridge Company of Bethle
hem was incorporated in the year 1792. The
bridge then erected was an uncovered struc
ture, made of wood, but built in the most
substantial manner, resting on three stone
piers, with a side walk, similar to the pres
ent ones ; for foot passengers ; and the old
rope ferry was then abandoned. The view
from this old bridge is represented to have
been impressively beautiful, but few build
ings were erected near the stream, none
were on the south side of the river but the
" Old Crown Inn ;" so there was nothing to
obstruct the vision, or to take away the beau
ty of the scene. The river, its banks cover
ed with verdure ; the surrounding hills and
mountains, covered with the forest trees ; the
islands, so dear to every Bethlehemite, and
Bartow's path winding along beside the rip
pling waters of the Lehigh, formed a picture
of quiet repose and wild beauty, seldom, if
ever equalled. Modern improvements have
partially destroyed, but not entirely eradi
cated all traces of the former beauty of the
scene. The freshet of the 8th of Jauuary,
1841, washed away the old structure, the
wood work of which had become gray with
age, and worn with travel. During the same
year the present covered bridge was built,
the southern half of which was washed away
by the freshet of June 5th, 1862, caused by tho

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

49

breaking of the dams of the Lehigh Naviga
tion Company, above Mauch Chunk; heavy
and continuous rains occurred on the 3rd of
the month, in the mountains, and the splen
did dams used to feed the Lehigh Canal, gave
way one after another, before the great pres
sure of the water, the dam No. 4, at White
Haven, being the first to break. The destruc
tion of property was enormous, and the loss
of life very serious. The dams were never
rebuilt. A very interesting pamphlet was
printed in 1863, giving incidents ofthe fresh
ets. That portion of the bridge destroyed
was soon rebuilt, and the new part roofed
with slate.
The American Gazeteer, printed in 1797,
says of Bethlehem : " It is a celebrated set
tlement of the Moravians, or United Breth
ren, of the Protestant Episcopal church, as
they term themselves. It is situated on the
Lehigh River, a western branch of the Dela
ware, fifty-three miles northerly from Phila
delphia, and eighteen southerly from the
Wind-gap. The town stands partly on the
lower banks of the Manakes, a fine creek,
which affords trout and other fish. The
situation is healthful and pleasant, and in
the summer is frequented by gentry from
different parts. In 1787 there were 60 dwel
ling houses of stone, well built, and 600 in
habitants. Besides the Meeting House, are
three other public buildings, large and spa
cious ; one for single Brethren, one for single

Sisters, and the other for the Widows. The
literary establishments, as well as the relig
ious regulations, here deserve notice. In a
house adjoining the church, is a school for
females ; and since 1787, a boarding school
for young ladies, who are sent here from
different parts, and are instructed in reading
and writing, (in the English and German
tongues,) grammar, arithmetic, geography,
needle-work, music, &c. The Minister of
the place has the direction of this, as well as
the boys' school, which is kept in a separate
house, where they are initiated in the funda
mental branches of literature. These schools,
especially that for young ladies, are deser
vedly in high repute ; and scholars more
than can be accommodated, are offered from
all parts of the United States.
" There is a genteel tavern at the north
end of the town, the profit arising from which
belongs to the Society. There is also a store,
with a general assortment of goods, an apothe
cary's shop, a grist mill, and on the banks of
the Lehigh, a brewery.
" The Lehigh River rises in Northampton
County, Pa., about twenty-one miles east of
Wyoming Falls, in the Susquehanna River
and taking a circular course, passing through
the Blue Mountains, empties into the Dela
ware River on the south side of Easton, eleven
miles northeast of Bethlehem. It runs about
seventy-five miles."

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

THE FIRST MORAVIAN STORE,
BETHLEHEM, PA.

CHAPTER VII.
The First Moravian Store. — Bethlehem in
1797, from Ogden's Excursion into Beth
lehem and Nazareth. — The Ancient In
stitutions of the Brethren's CHURcn.
; H e illustration which heads this chap
ter, is a correct representation of the
first store belonging to the Moravian congre
gation of Bethlehem, copied from one of M.
A. Kleckner's photographs. It was origi
nally kept by William Edmonds, an Eng
lishman, and a Moravian, who came to Am
erica in 1763. This ancient structure, erected
in the substantial style of the last century,
is still standing, and is situated on Market
Street, immediately opposite to the western
gate of the old Graveyard, on the north side
of the Street; no information can be obtained
as to the time wben it was built, but it must
have been during the earlier days of the
settlement of the town, as the " new store,"
now the Eagle Hotel, which was the second
. building occupied as a store by the Society,

was erected in 1784. Christian R. Hecke
welder was the store-keeper after the remo
val, for many years ; then, Owen Rice,
senior, had charge, and was succeeeded by
his son, Owen Rice, junior. In 1822 tho
store was removed to the building now oc
cupied by the firm of Wolle, Krause & Erwin,
the successors of Augustus Wolle, to whom
the church in 1838, sold the stock and busi
ness. In the " first store," the salesroom was in
the western apartment of the building, vthe
house being a double structure,) and can be
easily recognized in the cut by its large win
dow, with diamond-shaped panels of glass.
Some of the nails and spikes used in the
erection of the store, and which were taken
out in altering it into a dwelling house, have
been preserved as curiosities, from their
immense size. The house, judging from the
thickness of its walls, would have made a
good fort in the olden times; it will now
make a good stone quarry, for it has been
allowed to go to ruin, although situated on

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

51

one of the finest building sites in Bethlehem.
ft is a quaint old building, very picturesque
and beautiful.
The old store room is now occupied tem
porarily as an office, by Captain Owen Luc
kenback, Collector of U. S. Internal Revenue
for the 11th District of Pennsylvania.
The dwelling house next door to the east,
adjoining the " old store," was built in
1750, and was the first building erected on
Market Street. Itwas theresidence of Timo
thy Horsfield, an English Moravian, a noted
and influential man in his day, a Justice of
the Peace, and an eccentric character. His
remains repose in the northwestern part of
the old Cemetery, in the third grave from
the west path, in the first row, on the north
ern side of the second walk from Market
Street; and upon the tombstone the following
words are inscribed.
TIMOTHY HORSFIELD,
Born April 25, 1708,
IN LIVERPOOL, OLD ENGLAND,
. Departed March 9, 1773.
Some of his descendants, (great-grand
children, by the name of Kummer,) are at this
time, living in Bethlehem, and his old resi
dence is now occupied by the widow of the
late John Oerter; and is a substantial old
two-story stone house, with massive walls
like the old building next door.
The following graphic account of Bethle
hem and its inhabitants, is copied from an
old work now out of print, entitled, "An
Excursion into Bethlehem and Nazareth, in
Pennsylvania, in the year 1799, with a succinct
History of the Society of the United Brethren,
commonly called Moravians, by John C. Ogden,
a Presbyter in the Protestant Episcopal Church
in the United States, printed by Charles Cist,
No. 104 North Second Street, near the corner nf
Pace Street, Philadelphia, 1800."
The writer says " The town of Bethlehem
is approached through a large wood, and we
beheld it with agreeable surprise, at some
distance from the summit and slope of high
grounds, which are formed parallel to two
rivers or streams. The bridge, built in 1791,
across the Lehigh, being out of repair, it was

needful to pass the ford, which is safe and
easy. The flat grounds open a way to the
hill, which is ascended by two principal
streets, the road being adorned by trees. A
large and acceptable inn was reached before
the setting of the sun, and an interesting
chain of objects presented to call forth curi
osity and enquiry on our part.
" A venerable man, one of the fathers of
this town, is devoted chiefly to attendance
upon strangers, that the hours of business
among the inhabitants may not be unneces
sarily disturbed by visitants, or the stranger
be under undue restraint and embarrassment
for want of a guide who would give full in
dulgence to a prudent curiosity.
" The inn is a stone building, with four
large rooms on the first, second and third
floors. Those on the second and third floor,
are in part sub-divided into two small, and
one large room. In this way, parties or
gentlemen with servants, are accommodated
almost as separate families. Fifty persons
may be quartered here conveniently.
" Mr. Thomas indulged us with his com
pany around the village. This benevolent
attendant upon visitors is possessed of a large
share of that primeval simplicity which be
comes an Israelite indeed. He is saluted
with a smile, and soft word of affection, under
the paternal title of Daddy. The morning
after our arrival, he introduced me to the
Bishop, an aged grave personage, of great
suavity of manner, such as embellish a father
in the Church, and become that primitive
sincere Christianity, which is professed by
this Society. Assuming no pomp, he appears
to live only to do good, and make others
happy. His residence is in the Congrega
tional House, devoted to the Clergy, and
united to the Chapel. Being a widower, his
daughter is mistress ofthe family. His an
swers to enquiries were made with frankness
and very acceptably. These related to the
foundation, principles and economy of the
Brethren, and the general state of their affairs
throughout America.
"It appears that this is a branch of the
Greek Church, which has preserved Episco
pal succession, with care and c ircumspection

52

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

holding an union with their Synods abroad
Three Bishops reside in the United States.
This person's name is Ettwine.
" Obtaining permission to visit him when
ever his time would permit, we parted. Not,
however, before he had favored us with a
view of the Chapel, and a contiguous Hall.
The first is a plain arched room, furnished
with paintings upon canvass, between the
windows. These present the most distin
guished events in the history of our Lord,
beginning with the visitation of the Angel
to Mary, and the Nativity, and ending with
the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension.
" The seats for the attendants are movable
and divided into two parcels, one for the
men and another for the women. No pomp,
no display of pride, ostentation or wealth,
are attempted. An organ is' in the gallery,
and other instruments of music are often
joined with it on festival,"..
" The second apartment was a Hall adorn
ed with portraits, a half length of Zinzen
dorf, and about twenty of the most distin
guished ministers and missionaries of this
fraternity, who have served among them,
from their first establishment in America.
Portraits of some of the wives of these de
ceased Ministers, who had attended them in
their missions, *re also seen in this Hall.
"From these scenes we passed into the
house devoted to the single sisters. One of
them being called to attend us, we saw their
habitation. They have rooms in this ' Sis
ter's House,' of about twenty feet square, in
which six or eight women make their resi
dence by day. The employments of spin
ning, reeling of cotton, embroidery, painting
and schooling, are in separate rooms. In
the needle work they excel in figure and
shades, both with silk and cotton.
" The Chapel of this choir has an organ
and several pieces of instrumental music,
which are played upon by the Sisterhood at
their devotions. Indeed, in almost every
room we saw some musical instrument, an
organ, harpsichord, or piano-forte. These
are in many private families in this settle
ment and other villages.

" Devotions are attended every morning.
An Eldress presides and officiates. She
sometimes delivers a lecture upon piety and
morals. We were permitted to see the dor
mitory, in which forty of these women sleep
in an upper story. This is a large, lofty,
airy room, with a lamp suspended in the
centre, which burns during the night ; over
it is a ventilator in the wall, which causes
the circulation of fresh air.
" Before we left this house, we visited a
room called the Store, in which are deposited
upon shelves, and in large drawers, collec
tions of the specimens of female industry,
which they constantly vend.
" Our design was to have seen the Female
School, erected for, and devoted to the in
struction of children from other parts of the
States, and the West India islands ; with the
girls of the fraternity, who are of the same
age. But the accustomed hour for this priv
ilege had not arrived, and the friendly at
tendant took me to the great reservoir or
conduit, which receives the water from the
machinery at the bottom of the hill, and
conveys it by pipes under ground, to many
public places.
" In a building formed as a pyramid,
about fifty feet in height, we saw the pipes
which convey water to the tavern, the con
gregation, Sister's, Widow's, Brother's, and
several other houses.. We ascended by lad
ders to the upper part of this edifice, and
saw the summit to which the water was, and
yet might be conveyed. The constant cur
rent prevents freezing in the winter.
" From thence we went to the Common
School for boys, who are under the care of
masters in a house adjoining that of the
Brothers. These children are taught read
ing, writing, arithmetic, and accounts, as
well as the catechism, and music connected
with the religion and devotion.
" Our next visit was to the Brothers' House,
which is but a counterpart to that of the Sis
ters'. Its hall for prayers, apartments for
tradesmen, and a dormitory, are in different
stories of this building. They have their
meals together, in general, some take their
dinners only at the common table. Ap-

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

53

prentices frequently board with their mas
ters in the town. They all sleep in the com
mon dormitory, and every one in a separate
bed. "Their morning and evening devotions
are under the direction of a single Brother
or a clergymen. The office of Warden, and
that of this clergymen, are often united in
one person, when the number of inhabitants
in such houses is small, as is at present in
Bethlehem, Nazareth and Lititz. All boys
from the age of twelve, reside here, as well
as all the unmarried men, unless the cir
cumstances of a parent require the presence
of his children.
" From a walk on the top of this house we
were entertained with a view of the gardens,
neighboring fields, mountains, and the rivers
Lehigh and Manakasy. The mountain in
the rear descending gradually to the lower
grounds, and heightening the view by its
verdure. " The variety of walks, rows of trees, and
the plenty with which the gardens and
meadows were stored, displayed taste, in
dustry, and economy. To preserve the banks
the common willow is planted, and not suf
fered to grow to a great height.
" The Manakasy is crossed by four bridg
es, for the convenience of the gardens and
other places, besides two others, one above
and another below the road and gardens. The
sloping banks formed by nature, and the
walks by which we mount the hill, prepared
by labor, join their varieties to convert this
fertile spot into the appearance of a pleasure
garden. " In a. plain gallery or summer house on
the side of this hill, built for the shelter of
the children, who may be permitted to re
create themselves in a rainy or sultry day,
was an aged missionary busy in preserving
certain seeds and medical herbs; retired from
the labors of his functions for many years,
among the Indians, he resides in a part of
the Congregation House.
" The hour being convenient for visiting
the Girls' School, so much celebrated, a
pleasing groupe appeared in different rooms,

under the care of their tutresses, where
they learn reading, writing, arithmetic, em
broidery, drawing and music.
" Since the applications to receive pupils
from abroad have become so frequent and
numerous, a new building has been erected
for their use, upon a similar model with the
Sister's House. A small court yard or grass
plot is between these buildings. In the rear
of this is another small enclosure, which
forms a broad grass walk, and is skirted on
each side by beds devoted to flowers, which
the girls cultivate as their own.
" In the vicinity of the Chapel is a Corpse
House, designed to receive the body previ
ous to the sepulchre, in order to relieve
the poor, and those whose houses are small,
or when the deceased fell a prey to some in
fectious disorder. After this, in suitable
weather, it is attended with great solemnity
to a grave yard upon the summit of a hill.
" That neatness and decency. which mark
everything here, are conspicuous in the
place of burial. It is surrounded partly
with a stone wall, towards the street, where it
cannot be enlarged, partly with a neat
wooden fence, on those sides where it may
be extended from time to time. The graves
are laid out in perfect order, and each forms
a flat hillock. The grave stones are about
fourteen inches square, and present only
the name, age, and native country of the
persons, without any other monumental epi
taphs or ornaments. This stone lies upon
the grave. The departed members of the
different choirs or orders are buried together
in separate rows. The funerals are attended
with great decorum. The females are dressed
in white, and black is not worn as mourning.
" My guide, Mr. Thomas, brought for my
amusement, Mr. Brailsford's experimental
dissertations on the chemical and medical
properties of the Nicotiana Tobaccum of Lin-
nmus, commonly known by the name of To
bacco. " This disposition to oblige, has made Mr.
Thomas very dear to all who are acquainted
with him. In the Bishop's apartment in the
Brothers' and Sisters' Houses, in the schools,
and among the inhabitants and strangers he

54

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

is saluted by all, with the greatest respect
and affection. In the girls' school, in par
ticular, he was received with peculiar atten
tion by the instructresses and pupils. Upon
the visits of their parents, he escorts them,
that they may not pass the streets alone.
This he punctually observes in the evenings.
" The cloistered life and single state of the
nuns in the Roman Catholic countries have
been subjects of many remarks. The insti
tutions here are not of that nature, as the
women marry, and the single sisters walk
abroad and visit their friends and neighbors
when they think proper.
" The instructresses are treated with due
respect. All females are educated by them,
but all do not leave their fathers' houses,
and families, to enter the Sisters' Houso as
residents. " At one end of the room, in which we saw
the portraits of Zinzendorf, the ministers
and missionaries, a painting on canvass is
hung, which presents the divine Saviour in
the clouds, attended by angels, descending
from the superior regions, and surrounded
by the various converts among the heathen,
who were the first fruits of the Brethren's
missions. " Among the varied enjoyments of this
settlement, is a pleasant walk on the banks
of the river Lehigh. Nature has furnished
a shade by means of the trees which grow
near the margin. But this is improved by
a row of locust trees between them and the
road or walk. Thus, a thick shade is made
for almost the whole day. Seats are placed
for rest, and to enable the visitors to view
the river at leisure. An island also assists
to give beauty and variety, as well as to
afford a retired bathing place. Not far from
these seats, and in full view, is a large br fdge,
supported by piers of stone, and some farm
houses on the opposite shore. Canoes are
stationed here, for conveying such as wish
to visit the island, which is frequently done.
" Near the river is a large brew-house, and
bathing-room, devoted to the female schools.
This last is surrounded and sheltered by
trees in every direction. No one goes into
the water without suitable bathing clothes,

and attendants. A clear stream, convenient
shoal and bottom render the place safe and
useful. " At some distance in the rear, behind the
trees, is a distillery and saw mill, whose
works are set in motion by the small stream
of the Monakasy. The mechanism of these
works is not peculiar.
" The Widows' House, we were told, was
conducted upon the same plan with those of
the single brethren and sisters. Retired
from the world and in the decline of years,
their quiet is seldom disturbed by the visit
of strangers. This is signified as their wish.
" The following morning we visited the
more laborious employments in this colony,
such as those of the grist, oil, fulling, hull
ing, snuff and bark mills.
" These works are erected under the banks
westof the town, upon the waters ofthe Mon
akasy, whose stream is not large, but the
water is husbanded with great care, as it
passes through the various reservoirs, pent
stocks and wheel works ; the waters of this
stream decrease yearly.
" The spring which furnishes the town is
at the foot of this hill, and enclosed within
a small stone vault or cellar. It affords a
redundancy of water, which is raised to the
height of one hundred and twenty-five feet,
by forcing pumps, which are in constant
movement, by means of a small water wheel
supplied from the Manakasy. The main
tube which conveys the water is of lead, and
of the diameter of four inches. It is so cold
that the hand cannot rest upon it but for a
few seconds.
" The brewery is a large building, not far
from the river and bridge. It furnishes two
kinds of beer, which are purchased by the
Inhabitants ofthe neighboring settlements.
" While the society of the Brethren were
few in number, and a combination of labors
and interests were needful to make settle
ments, property was held in common. This
rule is now broken down in part, and indi
viduals may follow their private and sepa
rate business, retain a station with the
Brotherhood, and receive the benefits re
sulting from the public property, and publio

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

55

institutions, according to known and estab
lished rules. They appear to be a prosper
ous, but not a rich people.
" The Widows' House is more immediately
the object of public care. Forty are in it at
present. Many of them were the wives of
the Ministers and Missionaries. Funds are
connected with this institution, which arise
from deposits of a certain sum, paid annually
by their late husbands, and as a fee at en
tering into the order of ministers.
" These women are industrious, and treated
with great respect. Making Bethlehem the
asylum for aged ministers, their wives, chil
dren and widows, affords an opportunity
for gaining information from every quarter,
and explanations of facts and events con
nected with the general welfare.
" Seasons are -appropriated to the reading -
of letters and reports, from every part of the
world, in order to cultivate a general regard
for every branch of their church.
" The afternoon being pleasant, I visited
the island above the bridge. Itis not large,
but affords fine walks and an area for exer
cise, as well as seats and shelters for visitors.
Tea parties sometimes select this for an ex
cursion on a pleasant day. The locust trees
are planted here to assist in forming shade.
" It may contain twelve acres, and is
capable of receiving many improvements
which wealth and fancy might suggest and
form for embellishment. A small school of
boys with their preceptor, were on a ramble
here, after their hours of study. Walking
appears to be the principal recreation for all
age3 and both sexes. On our return to the
main land, we met another party from the
female school, with their tutresses, walking
in the gardens on the banks of the Lehigh.
" This evening we went to devotions at the
Chapel. Previous to the arrival of the min
ister, a voluntary was played upon the organ.
While this was doing, the Bishop came and
took his seat under the gallery, at the head
of a number of elderly men, some of whom
had been missionaries. This appeared to be
the only seat of distinction for him and the
clergy. " We were placed as strangers on a similar

seat, next the wall, on the right hand of tho
minister. One half of this chapel is devoted
to men, and the other to women. Each
choir or fraternity, and sisterhood, sit to
gether. The children, both boys and girls,
are placed in the seats in front of their res
pective sexes.
" The minister upon reaching his seat
near a table, opposite the middle aisle, gave
out a psalm in German, line by line, which
was sung by the whole congregation. He
then read a chapter in German, out of the
Gospel, and a second hymn was sung, ac
companied also by the organ, and the as
sembly was dismissed with a benediction.
The whole congregation stood until the min
ister left the Chapel. He was followed by
the Bishop and other old men, and then the
congregation at large, the men passing out
at one door and the women at the other.
The gravity, decorum and melody in thi3
place are more easily imagined than describ
ed. " In the shop of the barber, who is also a
shoemaker, were glass globes filled with
water. In the evenings they are hung
around a lamp, according to the number
who want light. This increases the bright
ness occasioned by the lamp, the glass and
water, equal almost to the light of day.
These globes are used by the stocking weav
ers and other mechanics, and by such as
sew by night.
" In the public buildings and most other
houses, we find German stoves, made of tile,
which are in general use. Some are totally
formed of tile, and others are part of cast
iron. These last are in greatest esteem on
all accounts, as they are not so liable to be.
injured by putting in of wood by careless.
persons ; the tiles upon the top are so placed
as to form a species of flue, in perpendicular
and horizontal forms, which retains the-
heat, while it circulates longer, and heats a
room more pleasantly and more durably
than sheet iron.
" In the building of the potter who makes
the tile for this stove, he was employed in-
making cheap pipes of clay, which- are in

56

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

great use among the Germans, and ought to
be extended for the purpose of putting an
end to the importation of those articles.
" On Sunday I attended divine worship in
the Chapel, and had an opportunity care
fully to observe the mode of worship. Di
vine service began at nine o'clock. The
members of the Society and different choirs
were present, and in their respective seats.
According to an universal practice, the or
ganist played a voluntary previous to the
arrival of the minister, and beginning with
their church litany. This compendium of
devotions is not unlike that of the English
church, but bears a greater affinity to the
Lutheran, it is composed of short sentences,
versicles, and responses read or sung alter
nately by the minister and congregation,
the responses made with the aid of the organ
and singers.
" The congregation appeared in plain hab
its, the minister in his accustomed garb,
withoutgown,robe, or surplice. The women
were generally dressed in white, and different
colored badges distinguished the respective
orders or choirs. All of them wear a white
cap, and under the chin a ribbon. That of
the widows is white, of married women blue,
and the single sisters pink or red.
" After the celebration of this litany, the
congregation retired for the space of an half
hour, when the bell was rung, which was
the signal for the attendance of the children
and schools upon a service in English. This
was introduced by the organ and a psalm,
followed by a sermon, and succeeded by
another psalm.
" The female school now took the seats gene
rally occupied by the single sisters, and the
sermon was principally addressed to youth.
After this the children gave place and took
possession of the seats at the further end of
the Chapel, and those who were present be
fore the litany, with others, came to attend
offices, which were in German. The order
was an hymn, prayer, sermon, psalm, and
benediction. " This Society observes the accustomed
festivals and solemn days of the church.
Certain meetings are peculiarly set apart for

reading a lesson out of the bible. After the
sermon the meeting is concluded with the
Lord's prayer, an hymn, and the usual bless
ing. " Sunday is entirely devoted to religion.
In the afternoon communications from dis
tant congregations were read, and in the
evening a sermon was delivered by a minis
ter about to set out on a mission.
" Discourses are delivered from time to
time, at these meetings, to married people,
widowers, widows, single brethren, single
sisters, and the children.
All the congregations call themselves The
Unitas Fratrum, or Protestant United Breth
ren of the Augustan Confession. They re
ceive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and
New Testament, as the only standard, both
ofthe doctrine and practice ofthe Unity.
" The first emigrants into England and
America, removed from Moravia, from
whence the have commonly obtained the
name of Moravians."
It would not be within the scope of a work
like the present, to go into any details, re
garding the government of the Ch'-'-ch, their
community of goods, and the reason there
for, in the early days of the settlement of
Bethlehem ; but the foregoing extracts have
been made to give a general insight into the
manners, habits and customs of the commu
nity of the Brethren in those ancient times.
Many radical changes have since then been
made in all these matters, but few of the
old customs have been preserved entirely
unchanged, and in manner of living, and
habits of life, and in dress, the members of
the Society iu no wise differ from other peo
ple of our day in America.
Of the ancient institutions of the Church
in Bethlehem, only the Widows' and Sisters'
Houses remain in operation; and it is to be
hoped that they will ever be continued as
homes for the aged single sisters and widow
ed mothers of (he Brethren, where, safe and
secure from the cold charity of the world,
they may live in quiet comfort, and pass their
delining years in pea^e, happiness and con
tentment, carefully guarded and cherished.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

57

THE MORAVIAN CHURCH,
BETHLEHEM, PA.

CHAPTER VIII.
Description of the Large Moravian Church,
erected in 1803.  the bethlehem archi
VES. — The Gemein Haus, or' Congregation
House. — The First Moravian Church in
Bethlehem.— The Old Chapel, or Second
Ch/jrcii. — The Old School, or the First
Moravian Seminary for Females. — The
Official Seal of the Church of the
United Brethren. — The Addition to the
Old School. — " The Sisters' House." —
The " Widows' House." — Origin of the
Sisters' Houses. — Marriage by Lot. —
Lieut. Aubery's Opinion. — Explanation
of the Lot. — Account of it in the His
torical Collections cf New Jersey. —
The "Great Marriage Act" in Bethle
hem, ArRiL 20, 1757. — Miss Mortimer's
Novel of the Marrying by Lot. — Mar
ried Women, and Ancient Customs. — Re
marks in Stroud's History of Pa. — Act
of Parliament of 20 George 2nd, C
44, for the Naturalization of Foreign
Protestants, <Sic.

his chapter is illustrated with a fine
view of the large and handsome Mo
ravian Church, situated at the corner of Main
and Church Streets, and the Gemein Hans,
taken from an old drawing found among the
papers of an old inmate of the " Sisters'
House," lately deceased, Sister Sally Hors-
field. In the drawing, the roof of the church
is represented as it was originally construc
ted, but which was afterwards altered to its
present form, as it leaked during all rain
storms. The erection of the church was
commenced in 1803, as is set forth on its
vane, but it was not completed till 1800,
when it was said to be the largest house
for religious worship in Pennsylvania. The
cost of the edifice was $60,000; and in
1803, when it was begun, the community
had only a population of 580 souls. It is
the third building in which the Moravians
have held their religious services in Bethle
hem. From the centre of the roof rises
a belfry, containing a fine toned bell, the
cupola, is surmounted by a spire, the base

58

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

of the belfry is occupied by a clock which
strikes the hours and the quarters. In
the eastern end of the building are seve
ral large apartments, one of which is for the
use of the Ministers of the church, and in
another there arepreservedportraits of Count
Zinzendorf, and other celebrated Fathers of
the church, and their wives, together with
the historical records relating to the Society,
the church, and the town. In the centre of
the building is the auditorium, with a pulpit
at the eastern end, and in a gallery at the
western end there is a fine organ, with am
ple room for the singers, and several rows of
seats for the congregation, under this gallery
are several rooms, used in preparing coffee
for the " Love Feasts ;" in them can be seen
some antique chairs and tables, that have
done the church some service.
The Moravians of*Bethlehem have care
fully preserved all the records relating to
the settlement of the town, as well as all
books, papers and documents regarding the
history of the Church, and its missions;
these precious records are stored in a large
room in the second story of the eastern por
tion of the large church just described, tho
apartment has a lofty ^arched ceiling, with
four windows to admit the light; on one side
of the room is the shelving which holds the
library, estimated -at about 2,000 volumes,
of old, rich, rare, and curious works, all
bearing upon the history of the " Unitas
Fratrum." Those books are of inestimable
value. Here are to be found all the publica
tions of the Society ; a full collection of the
writings of Count Zinzendorf, the Liturgies
ofthe church, and the hymns used at differ
ent periods. A rare set of old Bibles, in
several different languages, numerous works
of the Fathers of the church of the United
Brethren, and many valuable records relat
ing to the History of Pennsylvania, and the
treaties with the Indians. There is a large
folio edition ofthe Sacra Biblia, in the Ger
man language, printed in Cologne, in 1630.
But one of the most valuable works in the
whole collection, is a thick little hymn book
in English, bound in red morocco, with

gold edges ; once thr, property of tho Baron-.
ess Benigna de Watteviile, Zinzendorf's
eldest daughter. There is also a rare old
quarto hj'mn book, in good preservation,
which was printed in 1606, "By the Elders
and servants of the Churches of the Brethren in
Bohemia, Moravia and Poland j" on one of the
fly-leaves is the following entry, " This book
our dear Brother Paul Muexster, when he
left all and fled for the Gospel's sake from
his fatherland, Moravia, in ] 729, brought to
Ilernhuf, strapped upon his back, deeming it
the greatest treasure which he owned. At
Hernhut ho gave it to Anna Nitschmann,
(the celebrated Deaconess of Moravian His
tory,) who presented it to Anna Joanna
Seidel,) the wife of the Rev. C. F. Seidel,)
from her Paul Muenster again obtained it,
when he had come again to this place, (Beth
lehem,) and at his death bequeathed it to
our Church Library. He entered into the
joy of his Lord on the 4th day of October,
1792. On the title page is tho autograph of
A. C. Nitschmann."
But the most valuable and interesting of
all the records to the Bethlemite, are*the
Diaries of the church, kept since the year
1742, written with great minuteness by the
Ministers, giving a history of the Church
affairs, of the town, and of the whole coun
try, from day to day. Similar diaries have
been kept in all the Moravian churches,
missions, and settlements in America, from
their earliest origin.
On one side of the library are neat closets,
in which are kept with great care, many
valuable and original letters and documents.
Those of the Revolutionary period, from
General Washington, and others in authority,
during the time that the " Brethren's House"
and other dwellings in Bethlehem, were
used as the "General hospital of the Ameri
can Army," give great praise to the Breth
ren for their attention to the sick and wound
ed soldiers, and are very interesting to the
general reader, as well as extremely grati
fying to the members of the Moravian
Church. The Gemein Haus, or more properly, " The

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

59

Congregation House," is situated at the corner
of Cedar Alley and Church Street, immedi
ately in the rear of the large church, and to
the east of it. The corner stone of this, the
second house, (and now the oldest,) in Beth
lehem, was laid September 28th, 1741, and
the building was completed the following
year. II is a log-house, that is, it is built of
hewn logs ; it is two-stories high, with a steep
roof, with two stories of garrets, and was for
merly plastered over on the outside, with a
heavy coating of mortar, made of lime and
sand, and lined in imitation of stone, but in
1868, this coating was removed, and clap-
boarding substituted, much improving the
looks ofthe building.
The Gemein Hans was erected as a dwelling
place for the Ministers and their families,
and is still used for that purpose. Father
Nitschman was the master builder, as he
was of the '¦ First House." He is sometimes
called the founder of Bethlehem, which is an
error, as his nephew, Bishop Nitschman, was
the founder, having been sent out from Eu
rope expressly for that purpose, by the
church authorities at Hernhut.
An old writer says : " The course of the
Gemein was love and simplicity. Pride did
not exist, and hence wants were few. The
table was supplied with what they had, and
what things they had not, they longed not
to get; all were alike iu the congregation.
When the grandfather of doctor Huebener
came to Bethlehem, he had to cross the Le
high, and ho hailed a person on the other
side, who was watering linen on the bleach,
(then linen was worn altogether,) the person
came and took him across, it proved to be
the noted Brother Petrus Boehler, who
tended the bleach; all were required to be
busy, he, as the minister of the congregation,
set a good example to the others."
The first Moravian Church in Bethlehem,
was a large room on the second floor of the
"Gemein Haus," and was called " Der Saal," af
terwards, " Der Kleine Saal." Its low ceiling
was supported by four wooden pillars, which
are still to be seen in the partition walls of
the four rooms, into which it has been divid

ed. For nine years the congregation held
their services in that room ; and it was there
the first Indian convert David, a Mohican,
was baptised on the 16th of September, 1742.
His remains repose in the old graveyard,
where his tombstone can be seen, in the first
compartment allotted to the men. ]
On the 19th of September, 1742, the corner'
stone of an enlargement of the " Gemein
Haus" was laid, and the addition completed '
in 1743.
On the 5th of April, 1751, the town having
a population of 200 souls, the community
began the stone addition to the " Gemein
Haus," now known as the " Old Chapel."
The first floor contained a new hall for the
" married couples," the second floor being
the chapel. The large buttresses of masonry
on the outside of the building were put up
at the time of the erection of the edifice, and
not since, as is generally supposed. The
dedication of this, the second Moravian
Church in Bethlehem, took place July 10th,
1751, the ceremonies were performed by
Bishop Nitschman, the building having been
entirely completed. In the afternoon, at 1
o'clock, a general "Love Feast" was cele
brated. Love feasts were held every Satur
day in those times.
From May 10th, 1806, until 1815, the " Old
Chapel" was used by the Boarding School
for females, as a place to hold the exami
nations, exhibitions and daily worship. It
was next used as a library, and a place for
keeping the archives of the church ; and
afterwards as a concert room by the " Bethle
hem Philharmonic Society;" and finally,
in 1856, restored to its original purpose, a
place for worship, and became then called,
" The Old Chapel." In 1864, it was renovat
ed, enlarged and improved, as it now ap
pears; and on Sunday, April 2nd, 1805, it
was re-dedicated by the Rev'd Edwin de
Schwinitz, to the worship of God.
The " Old Chapel," when first erected, was
provided with an organ, and at a later day,
its walls were adorned by many interesting
paintings, the works of the Moravian artist
Haidt, representing incidents in the life of

60

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

our Saviour. These valuable paintings for
some unknown reason, were afterwards sold
by the Rev'd Mr. Cunow.
Adjoining the " Old Chapel," immediately
to the east, is the stone structure known as
"The Old School," or the first Moravian
Seminary for females, the erection of which
was commenced in the year 1745, and com
pleted in the year 1746. It had a door and
two windows on the first story, and three
windows in the second, fronting the open
green space, in which now stands one ofthe
old water-boxes employed for supplying the
town with water, and which is still used. The
lower floor of the building contained a kitchen
for the " Married Couple::," and " Single
Brethren ;" and a dining-room for the married
people, who all took their meals at a common
table. The upper floor was occupied by the
married folks.
On the9lh of June, 1740, the belfry was
completed in its present form. The base of
the turret was occupied by a clock, made by
Augustus Neisser, of Germantown, Pennsyl
vania; showing outside a brass face. In the
cupola hung three bells, cast by Samuel
Powell, one struck the hours, the others the
quarters.. The gilded emblem on the vane
of the belfry, of a Lamb with a Banner, is the
device on the official Episcopal Seal of tho
Moravian Church.
The official seal of the church of the Unit
ed Brethren, is slightly oval, and three-
fourths of an inch in diameter. In the cen
tre, on a cartouche shield, which is enclosed
, by carved scroll work, is a Holy lamb, with
a delicate tracery of vines and flowers en
circling it. The whole surrounded by the
motto : " Vicit Agnus nostcr : eum sequamur,''
i. «., " Our lamb has conquered — him we will
follow." The Paschal or Holy-Lamb, passant, with
a staff, cross and banner, is a typical figure
of our Saviour, who is understood to be that
Lamb mentioned in the Apocalypse of St.
John, or the Revelations. The banner is
always charged with a cross. See Clark's
Introduction to Heraldry. The representa
tion of the seal of the church on the reverse

of the title page to De Sehweinitz's Moravian
Manual, published at Bethlehem in 1869, is
drawn in utter disregard of all heraldic
rules; it is unlike the seal it purports to rep
resent; many things being omitted. The
banner is a streamer, and the lamb faces to
the right, instead of the left, which is the
invariable rule.
In 1748," The Old School" building had an
addition made to its eastern end, and in 1749
one to its western gable, connecting it with
the Old Chapel. In 1815 the Boarding School
for females was removed to its present loca
tion on Church Street, and the " Single Sis
ters" took possession ofthe old edifice.
A school for girls was first commenced in
Bethlehem, in the " Old School" building, on
the 5th day of January, 1749, with sixteen
scholars, daughters of the Moravian mis
sionaries, ministers of the gospel, and of
brethren of other Moravian settlements in
America, forming a distinct household in
the community, which was expected to de
fray its expenses by contributions from the
church and individuals, and by the practice
of a prudent economy.
On the 2nd of October, 1785, the school was
closed, and arrangements made in the House
for receiving pupils from abroad. The five
remaining inmates of the school, viz : Anna
and Maria Unger, Susan Bage, Rosina Fried
man and Maria Heckewelder, daughter of the
celebrated Indian Missionary, the Rev'd
John Heckewelder, and the first white child
born in the State of Ohio, and fifteen day
scholars from the town were placed in charge
of three Sisters, as teachers, acd the room at
the southwest corner ofthe second floor was
assigned to them for a dwelling and recita
tions; all these continued at the school after
the reception of scholars from other places.
On the 21st of May, 1786, the first scholar
from abroad entered the Seminary, in the
person of Miss Elizabeth Bedell, of Staten
Island, New York. A full history of the
school will be found in the Bethlehem Soucen-
ier, printed by J. B. Lippincott k Co., of
Philadelphia. The work is full of interesting
information, and contains a full list of all

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

61

the pupils entered in the institute since its
foundation, with some beautiful views of
Bethlehem, of the different buildings occu
pied by the school, and fine portraits of the
principals, and other persons connected with
the institution.
One of the regulations introduced in the
school, was the ringing of the bell in the
belfry of the " Sisters' House," for school in
the mornings and afternoons, and a quarter
before 12 o'clock M., for dinner, a custom
which is still continued, and although the
regulation is no longer applicable to the
Seminary, it is to the scholars of the Mora
vian Day School, and most of the Moravian
families, who still continue to dine at noon.
In 1789, finding that the number of appli
cants for admission to the school was increas
ing so rapidly, that the building used could
not accommodate all who applied, it was
determined to erect another building, to
give additional room ; a site was selected in
the rear of the old school, arid on the 2nd of
May, 1790, the corner stone of the new build
ing was laid by the Rev'd Bishop Hucbener,
in the presence of a large assemblage, in
cluding the pupils of the school, and the
children and members of the church.
The building then erected, afterwards
known as the " Old Castle," was a fine old
stone edifice, an ornament to the town, and
presenting an interesting and venerable ap
pearance in a distantview of Bethlehem, and
ought to have been carefully preserved, but
it was torn down in 1857, and the present
Moravian Day School, for the use of the
children of the Bethlehem congregation,
erected in its place.
The " Old Castle" was 52 by 40 feet, crown
ed by a heavy trip roof, whose lower pitch,
overhanging the eves almost vertically, gave
the building on the north side, where it was
of one-story only, (being built on the de
clivity of the hill,) an air of uncommon
strength and solidity. When vacated by
the pupils of the Seminary, in 1815, it was
occupied in part as a day school for the girls
of the Moravian congregation; (the boys'
school was in the Married People's House,)
and partly as a dwelling place for the

families of several members of the church.
There is a fine picture ofthe old building in
the Souvenier. The " Sisters' House."
The corner stone of the stone structure
which forms the western end of the present
" Sisters' House," was laid August 8th, 1742,
and the edifice was completed in December
of the same year. It was immediately oc
cupied by the " Single Brethren," who lived
there till November 15th, 1784, when they
removed to their New House, the central
building of the present Boarding School for
Young Ladies. And the " Single Sisters,"
who had until then, lived at Nazareth, took
possession of the old building, which has
ever since borne its present name.
In 1752, the eastern wing of the " Sisters'
House," opposite the " Old Chapel," and like
it, supported outside by heavy stone but
tresses, was finished, containing a large sleep
ing hall for the " Single Sisters." ' The wing
was occupied for the first time, on the 10th
of May, 1752, and the occasion celebrated by
a shad dinner, to which one hundred bloom
ing " Single Sisters" and " Great Girls" sat
down. In 1773, the western addition to the " Sis
ters' House," was erected, and the row com
pleted as it now stands ; it was first occupied
October 19th, A. D., 1773.
TnE "Widows' House."
On the south side of Church Street, directly
opposite the " Sisters' House," stands the
" Widows' House," erected in the year 1768,
with an addition made to its eastern end in
1794. It is a large, long, two-story stone
house, built in the most substantial manner.
The building is, as its name, imports, the
residence of the widows of the members of
the Moravian Church. The inmates of the
Widows' and Sisters' houses, are not, how
ever, supported by the church, but are de
pendent upon their own means, or the gene
rosity of their relatives and friends. The
church furnishes them with rooms at a nomi
nal rent, iu all else they are made to find
themselves, if they can afford to do so, if not,
they are supplied outof the Poor fund of tho

62

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Congregation. There used to be set apart in
the " Widows' House," a room in which the
Sisters and Widows exposed for sale, many
beautiful articles of fancy works, of their own
make, and from this source some of the more
dependent added to their little means; now,
however, the articles of their handiwork are
sold at the " Eagle Hotel," through the
motherly kindness of Mrs. Mary Yohe, wife
of mine ancient host Caleb, who has presided
now for nearly twenty-six years over the
varying fortunes of the Eagle, ever ready
"to welcome the coming, and speed the
parting guest ;" his hospitality is unbounded,
and as one of the " Mystic Tie," hefraternally
greets the Brethren of the craft, and grace
fully does the honors of his Lodge.
" When the Junior Warden to refreshment calls us,
And the sun is at Meridian height,
Let us merrily, unite most cheerily ;
In social harmony, new joys invite;
One and all at his call
To the feast repairing
All around joys resound,
Each the pleasure sharing."
Many of the Widows and Sisters who live
in the Congregation Houses at Bethlehem,
are in comfortable circumstances, and aid
frequently the friends and companions of
their youthful days, who are not so fortunate ;
so that they never want for anything ; of
course, the church authorities would extend
assistance to inmates of the Houses in case
of necessity ; for these are the pet institutions
of Bethlehem. Here, in their old age, free
from poverty and care, live the " Single
Sisters" and widowed mothers of this fine
old town, and ancient church ; many reside
there from choice, whose families live in
affluence in the town, there they receive the
visits of their friends and relatives as at
home ; and surrounded as they are by the
playmates of their youth, time glides not
unhappily away; and we can but admire
the affectionate care that is bestowed on
those old ladies, and the loving attention of
their children. May the winds of heaven
deal gently with those time-honored walls,
and may the more vandal hand of man long
respect those venerable halls, built by the
affectionate solicitude and labor of those
who have gone home, yet have left behind

them these monuments of their love for their
wives, sisters, and daughters. When those
old piles of masonry are no more, Bethlehem
will have lost the most interesting objects
within its limits ; and the Moravian Church
its crowning glory, which, more than aught
else, wins our love and admiration.
The Sisters' Houses originated out of a
voluntary act of the Sisters at Hernhut, in
Germany, in the year 1750, who combined to
live together under one roof, agreeing to
serve the Lord, and receive no offer of mar
riage unless it were brought to them by their
Ministers. The " Single Brethren" soon
formed a similar association, and from the
mutual agreement in respect to matrimony,
in tho two associations, arose the "Marriage
by Lot." The sexes in the earlier days of
the Moravian Church, were separated as
much as possible ; the Sisters were not per
mitted to pass the " Brethren's House;" nor
the Brethren that of the " Sister's," if they
accidentally met, they were not allowed to
look at each other. The Sisters were for
bidden to mention the name of any of the
Brethren. Both sexes grew up in ignorance
of each other, were timid in meeting with
strangers, and the Moravians then were, in
deed, a peculiar, religious people.
Lieutenant Aubery, in his " Travels in
America," published in 1778, says of the
Moravians. " They have adopted a sort of
a marriage, but from the manner of its cel
ebration, you cannot suppose those mutual,
tender endearments and happiness, to sub
sist between the parties as with us. A young
man feels an inclination to marry, which
does not proceed from any object he is en
amoured with, for he never sees his wife but
once before the ceremony takes place, it be
ing contrary to the principles of their relig
ion, to suppose it is from the passions of their
nature, but merely to uphold the Society,
that it may not sink into oblivion. The
young man communicates his inclination to
the parent, who, consulting with the Super
intendent, she produces her who is the next
in rotation for marriage. The priest presents
her to the young man, and leaves them to
gether for an hour/when he returns. If they

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

63

both consent, they are married the next day.
If there is any objection, their cases are very
pitiable, but especially the woman's, as she
is put at the bottom of the list, which am
ounts to nearly sixty or seventy ; nor does
the poor girl stand the least chance of a
husband till she arrives at the top, unless
the man feels a second inclination for mar
riage, for he can never obtain any other wo
man than the one he had the first interview
with. This, I am induced to think, is the
reason of there being so many old women
among the Single Sisters."
There are many absurd errors in the state
ment of Leiutenant Aubery, which have
never been corrected. The parties marrying,
were chosen by the consent of the Elder's
Conference, with reference to their fitness
for each other, and then submitted to Lot.
The Brother had also the right to name a
Sister, if he knew one personally, or through
hi3 friends, if not, one was chosen for him;
in all cases the matter was determined by
the Lot. ¦
Mr. Henry, in his sketches of Moravian
life, says : " It was the genius of Moravian-
ism to submit all decisions to the Supreme
will, and, in so doing, the Lot was the most
available agent."
The Lot was not, however, used only in
reference to the marriage tic by the Mora
vians, but is still resorted to on many impor
tant occasions to determine both worldly and
religious matters. It is done after solemn
prayer, asking the mediation and direction
of the Lord and Saviour, in imitation
of the Apostles, when choosing Matthias as
one of the twelve, after the death of Judas.
" And they gave forth their lots, and the let fell
upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the
eleven Apostles." See the Acts of the Apos
tles, 1st chapter and 26th verse.
Iu the historical collections of the State of
New Jersey, edited by John W. Barber and
Henry Hume, published in 1847, in the ar
ticle upon Hope, New Jersey, once a Mora
vian settlement, page 495, it is stated : " The
young of both sexes were not generally al
lowed to associate. When a young man
wished to marry, he would hand in the name

of the lady to the board of Elders. If judged
improper from pecuniary disability, or other
reasons, recourse was had to the lot to decid'o
the question. This was always entered upon
with solemnity, and preceded by prayer.
If favorable, the young lady had the privil
ege of refusal. In extraordinary cases it is
even now resorted to ; for instance, when a
young lady receives proposals of marriage
from a missionary, and is undecided, she
sometimes requests the lot to be taken."
It is undoubted that there were many im
pediments thrown in the way of the Breth
ren and Sisters marrying in the early days
or the settlement of Bethlehem, why, is now
a hidden mystery, yet there were some rea
sons for the restriction. Most of the Breth
ren were pour and unable to support a family.
The Society only allowed one married cou
ple of each trade to settle in the town, be
sides which, the church had not the means
to build houses for all the married people.
The authorities at Hernhut, being informed
that matrimony was notproperly encouraged
among the Brethren and Sisters in America ;
determined upon sending a visitation to the
churches there; accordingly, the Rev'd
Bishop, John, Baron de Watteviile, was sent
by the direction of the Unity's Elder's Con
ference," in Germany, to America, in the year
1756 or '57, his visit resulted in " The Great
Wedding Act," at Bethlehem, on the 20th
day of April, 1757, when fourteen couple
were married, at the same time, in the face
of the whole congregation, in the old place
of worship, " Der Kleine Saal," in the second
story of the " Gemein Haus," sometimes
called the " Minister's House." The names
of the couples married, and the ministers
performing the ceremony, were as follows,
viz: 1. Maria Redenberger to John Schweiss-
haught, by the Rev'd Auton Lawatsch.
2. Samuel Johannes to Magdaline Mingo, by
the Rev'd Frank Christian Lcmbke.
This couple were Africans.
3. Elizabeth Cornwell to Richard Poppelwell,
by the Rev'd I. Michael Graff.
4. John Henry Merck to Catharine Eliza-

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

beth Heil, by the Rev'd Paul Daniel
Bryzelius.
5. Regina Neumann to Matthias Weiss, by
the Rev'd Abraham Reincke.
6. George Meiser to Judith Schurer, by the
Rev'd Augustus Gottleib Spangenberger.
7 Rosina Schultz to Jacob Till, by the Rev'd
Bishop Augustus Gottleib Spangenber
ger.
8. Otto Krogstry to Anna Burnett, by the
Rev'd Petrus Boehler.
9. Barbara Krausin to Wolfgang Michler, by
the Rev'd Bishop Petrus Boehler.
10. George Huber to Anna Maria Lehnert,
by the Rev'd John Christopher Fancke.
11. Salome Buerstler to Abraham Steiner, by
the Rev'd John Ettwein.
12. Jacob Rubel to Catharina Hoetter, by the
Rev'd Bernhardt Adam Grube.
13. Salome Dock to Philip Wesa, by the
Rev'd Phillip Christian Bader.
14. Martin Hirte to Maria Beroth, by the
Rev'd John Martin Mack.
The " Act" was preceded by the entrance
ofthe fourteen couples, accompanied by the
ministers, into the hall of worship, which
the account says, " was a very respectable
prospect;" while the trumpets and trom
bones were played. The Liturgy No. 92,
from the Moravian Liturgy Book, was then
eung. " Wie bring iclCs doch zu wege.''
By the choir, till the second verse, when the
whole congregation joined in. Then follow
ed an address by " Brother Joseph," (Span
genberg,) upon the text of the day ; " / am
the Vine, you the branches." After which, the
entire congregation arose, and sung the hymn
" Ach Gott du Keusches Lammelein."
During the singing the fourteen couples
were united in marriage, in the order given
above, and Bishop Spangenberg then impart
ed the blessing of the Church upon the newly
married people, to which the congregation
responded. Amen !
Then followed congratulations, refresh
ments and an intermission; after which the
newly married couples, and the married
people of the congregation, assembled to- I

gether, and were entertained by some musi
cal performances. The Brother, Petrus Boeh
ler, then sung an original ode, and Brothers
Graff, Ettwein and Reineke, read original
compositions; copies of all of which, are still
carefully preserved by the Moravians of
Bethlehem, as well as of the address deliver
ed by Bishop Spangenberg.
This incident, one of the most remarkable
that ever occurred in the Bethlehem congre
gation, is often spoken of by the older Mo
ravians, as an event never to be forgotten.
It was a triumph for the young people of
both sexes, in favor of their marrying in
greater numbers, a privilege which had been
previously denied them.
" Marrying by Lot, a tale of the Primitive
Moravians," is the title of a work by Char
lotte B. Mortimer, the daughter of a Moravian
minister, who was at one time a teacher in
the Young Ladies' Seminary, at Bethlehem,
it was published in New York, by G. P. Put
nam k Son, in 180S. Perhaps some infor
mation can be derived from it in regard to
this interesting subject, although it is not as
clear and explicit as the curious reader could
desire. The married women were known by wear
ing light blue silk ribbons, as cap-ties under
their chins. The cap fitted close to the face
and head, was made of cambric, with a
broad band of lace tied around the forehead,
to keep it in place ; it was called a Schnepfen
Haube, owning to its being cut in the shape
of a snipe's bill. This cap was worn by all
the females over the age of twelve years ;
and remained in use in the American con
gregation till 1818, when it was abolished, to
the great joy of the married women and sis
ters. The Great Girls wore dark red ribbons
for their cap-ties. The Single Sisters used
light pink in theirs ; and the Widow3 wore
white ribbons.
But all these restrictions to marriage, and
all these ancient costumes are now but me
mentoes of the past. In those days nearly
all the religious societies originating in Eu
rope, had their monkish costumes, and pecu
liar dresses or uniforms; and those of the
Moravians were no more Singular than those

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

65

of many other orders of Christians, some of
which still exist ; and who, unlike the Breth
ren, do good to no man, or woman either.
In Proud's History of Pennsylvania, vol
ume 2nd, page 355, it is written, speaking of
the Unitas Fratrum, or United Brethren, that,
" By this name they were acknowledged by
Great Britain, in the j'ear 1737 and 1739, and
by several other nations and states about the
same period. In the latter of which years,
they received a general toleration, by an act
of the British Parliament, encouraging them
to settle in the American plantations, &c,
by allowing them to take a solemn affirmation
instead of an oath, and dispensing with their
not being concerned in military affairs, on
payment of a rate assessed, kc."
The dates should be 1747 and 1749, respec
tively. The first mentioned Act is so inter
esting and curious, that it is given here en
tire. It was passed in the 20th year of the
Reign of George the Second, 1747, and can be
found in the Statutes at Large of England,
7th vol., chap. 44, p. 08, and is as follows :
ANNO REGNI, GEORGE II, REGIS.
Magnai Brittannice, Francke and Hibcrniai.
vicesimo.
At the Parliament begun and holden at
Westminster, the first day of December,
Anno Domini, 1741, in the fifteenth year of
the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the
Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain,
France and Ireland, King, Defender of the
Faith, &c. And from thence continued by seve
ral Prorogations to the eighteenth day of Novem
ber, 1740, being the sixth session of this present
Parliament. (The Royal Arms of Great Britain as they
now are, 1869.)
London.
Printed by Thomas Baskett, Printer to the King's
most excellent Majesty; and ofthe Assigns of
Thomas Baskett, 1747.

(935.)
Anno Vicesimo.
GEORGE II. REGIS.
An Act to extend the provisions of an Act
made in the 13th year of His august Ma
jesty's Reign, entituled, An Act for Natu
ralizing Foreign Protestants, andothers therein
mentioned, as are settled, or shall settle in any
of His Majesty's Colonies in America, to other
Foreign Protestants who conscientiously
scruple taking an Oath.

Whereas, by an Act made in the thirteenth
year of his present Majesty's reign, entituled
" An Act for Naturalizing such Foreign Pro
testants, and others therein mentioned, as
are settled, or shall settle in any of his Ma
jesty's colonies in America ;" it was enacted,
That from and after the first day of June, in
the year of our Lord, 1740, all persons born
out of the Ligeance of His Majesty, his Heirs
or Successors, who had inhabited and resid
ed, or should inhabit or reside for the space
of seven years or more, in any of His Majes
ty's Colonies in America, and should not
have been absent out of some of the said
Colonies for a longer space than two months,
at any one time during the said seven years,
and should take and subscribe the oaths, and
make, repcUt and subscribe the Declaration
appointed by an Act made in the first 3'ear
ofthe Reignof Ilislate Majesty, King George
the I, entituled, an Act for the further se
curity of his Majesty's person and Govern
ment, and the succession of the Crown in the
Heirs of the late Princess Sophia, being Pro
testants, and for extinguishing the hopes of
the present Prince of Wales, his open and se
cret abettors ; or being of the people called
Quakers, should make and subscribe the
Declaration of fidelity, and take and affirm
the effect of the Abjuration Oath, appointed
and prescribed by an Act made in the eighth
year of the Reign of his said late Majesty,
entituled, an Act for granting the people
called Quakers, such forms of affirmation or
Declaration, as may remove the difficulties
which many of them lie under; and also
make and subscribe the Profession of his
Christian Belief, appointed and prescribed
by an Act made in the first year of the Reign
of their late Majesties, King William and
Queen Mary, entituled, an Act for exempt
ing their Majesties' Protestant subjects for
penalties of certain Laws, before the chief
Judge or other Judge of the Colony wherein
such Persons respectively had so inhabited
and resided, or should so inhabit and reside,
should be deemed, adjudged, and taken to be
His Majesty's natural born Subjects of this
Kingdom, to all Intents, Constructions, and
Purposes, as if they, and every one of them,
had been or were born within this Kingdom:
And whereas, many of the People of the
Congregation called the Moravian Brethren,
and other Foreign Protestants not Quakers,
who conscientiously scruple the taking of an
Oath, are settled in his Majesty's Colonies in
America, and demean themselves there as a
sober, quiet and industrious People, and
many others of the like Persuasion, arc dc-

66

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

sirous to transport themselves thither; and
if the Benefit of the said Act made in the
thirteenth year of his present Majesty's
Reign, were extended to them, they who arc
now there would thereby be encouraged to
continue their Residence in his Majesty's
Colonies, and others would resort thither in
greater numbers, whereby the said Colonies
would be improved, their strength increased,
and their trade extended; be it therefore
enacted by the King's most Excellent Ma
jesty, by and with the advice and consent of
the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Com
mons, in this present Parliament assembled,
andby the authority ofthe same. That from
and after the 25th day of December, 1747,
all Foreign Protestants, who conscientiously
scruple the taking an Oath, and .Who are born
out of the Ligeance of his Majesty, his Heirs
or Successors, who have inhabited and re
sided, or shall inhabit and reside, for the
space of seven years, or more, in any of his
Majesty's Colonies in America, and shall not
have been absent out of some of the said
Colonies for a longer space than two months
r.j': ~jiy one time during the said seven years,
and shall make and subscribe the Declaration
of fidelity, and take and affirm the Effect of
tho Abjuration Oath, appointed and prescrib
ed by the said recited Act, made in the eighth
year ofthe Reign of his late Majesty, King
George the first, and also make and subscribe
the Profession of his Christian Belief, ap
pointed and prescribed by the said recited
Act, made in the first year of the Reign of
their late Majesties, King William and Queen
Mary, before the chief Judge, or other Judge
of the Colony wherein such Persons respec
tively have so inhabited and resided, or
shall so inhabit and reside, shall be deemed,
adjudged, and taken to be his Majesty's
natural born subjects of this Kingdom, to all
Intents, Constructions, and Purposes, as if
they and every of them had been and were
born within this Kingdom ; which said affir
mation and subscription of the said Declara
tion, the said Chief or other Judge ef every
cf the said respective Colonies, is hereby en
able and empowered to administer and take ;
and the taking of every such affirmation, and
the making and subscribing every such
Declaration, shall be in such manner and
Place, and at such Times and Hours, and
such Entries made thereof, and for the same
fees, and under the same Penalties, as in the
said recited Act ofthe thirteenth year of his
Majesty's Reign, are mentioned; and Lists
ofthe Persons who shall take'the Benefit of

this Act, shall be transmitted to the Com
missioners of Trade and Plantations, in like
Manner and under the same Penalties, as
the Lists of the Persons taking the Benefit
of the said Act are thereby directed to be
transmitted. Provided always, and be it enacted by
the authority aforesaid. That no Person
shall be naturalized by virtue of this Act,
unless such person shall have received the
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, in some
Protestant or Reformed Congregation, within
some of the said Colonies in America, within
Three months next before his taking such
Affirmation, and making and subscribing
such Declaration, and shall at the time of
his taking such Affirmation, and making and
subscribing such Declaration, produce a cer
tificate signed by the Person administering
the said Sacrament, and assisted by two
credible witnesses, whereof an Entry shall
be made in the Secretary's office of the Colo
ny wherein such Person shall so inhabit and
reside, and also in the Court where the said
Affirmation shall be so taken as aforesaid,
without any fee or Reward.
And be it further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That the Provisions contained in
the said Act, made in the thirteenth year of
his present Majesty's Reign, with Regard to
the Certificates of Residence, and of having
made and subscribed the said Declaration,
and taken the said Affirmation, and as to
such certificates being made evidence in the
Courts of Great Britain and Ireland, and also
in the said Colonies, and all other the Bene
fits of the said Act, shall extend to Foreign
Protestants, who conscientiously scruple the
taking of an Oath, and who shall be qualified
as aforesaid.
Provided always, that the said Foreign
Protestants shall enjoy the Privileges of
natural born subjects, and all the Benefits
of this Act, and the said Act of the thirteenth
year of his Majesty's Reign
Provided always, and be i t further enacted.
That no Person who shall become a natural
born subject of this Kingdom, by virtue of
this Act, shall be of the Privy Council, or a
member of either House of Parliament, or
capable of taking, having, or enjoying any
Office or Place of Trust within the Kingdoms
of Great Britain and Ireland, either civil or
military, or of having, accepting, or taking
any Grant from the Crown to himself, or to
any other in Trust for him, of any Lands,
Tenements or Hereditaments, within the
Kingdoms of Great Britain or Ireland, any-

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

67

thing hereinbefore contained to the contrary
thereof, in any wise notwithstanding.
Provided also, and it is hereby further
enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
nothing in this Act, or in the said recited
Act of the thirteenth year of his Majesty's
Reign contained, shall extend, or be con
strued to extend to naturalize any Person or
Persons whatsoever, who, by virtue of an
Act made in the fourth year of his Majesty's
Reign, (intituled, " An Act to explain a clause
in an Act made in the Seventh Year of the Heign
of Her late Majesty Queen Anne, for Naturaliz
ing Foreign Protestants, which relates to the
children of natural born Subjects of the
Crown of England, or of Great Britain,) are
declared and enacted not to be intituled to
the Benefit of the said Act of the Seventh
year of her said late Majesty's Reign, but
that all such Persons shall be and remain in
the same State, Plight and Condition, to all
Intents, Constructions and Purposes, what-
sover, as they would have been in, if the
said recited Act of the Thirteenth year of
his Majesty's Reign, or this Act, had never
been made j anything in this Act, or. in the
said recited Act of the Thirteenth year of his
Majesty's Reign contained to the contrary, in
anywise notwithstanding.
The following ancient and interesting
Naturalization Paper, speaks for itself.

Pennsylvania, ss.
I EDWARD SHIPPEN, Jun : Prothonotary of the
5 Supream Courtof the Province of Pennsylvania,
DO hereby certify, That at a Supream Court held at
Philadelphia, for the said Province of Pennsylvania,
the fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand seven hundred and fifty-four, Before William
Allen, Lawrence Growdon, and Caleb Cowpland, Es
quires, Judges of said Court, between the hoursof n;no
and twelve o'clock in the forenoon of the same day,
George Hoffman, of Germantown, in the County of
Philadelphia, bting a Foreigner, and having inhabited
and resided for the space of sovt'n years in his Majesty's
Colonies in America, and not having been absent out
of some ofthe said Colooies fora longer time than Two
months at any one time during the said tfeven years :
And the said George Hoffman having produced to tho
said Court, a Certificate of his having taken the Sucia-
ment of Ihe LorJ's Supper vithin thrcn months before
the said Court, took and subscribed the Oaths, and did
make and repeat the Declaration, (appointed by an Act
made in the first Year ofthe Reign of his late Majesty,
King GEORGE, the First,) according to the Directions
of an Act of Parliament, made in the thirteenth year
of his present Majesty King GEORGE the Second, in
tituled, A n J ct for Naturalizing such Foreign Pro
testants, and others, therein mentioned, as are settled in
any of his Majesty's Colonies in America ; and there
upon was admitted to be his Majesty's natural born
Subject ofthe Kingdom of Great Britain, pursuant to
the Direction and Intout of the said Act of Parliament!
In Testimony whereof, I havo hereunto set my Hand,
and affixed the Seal of the Supream Court, the fifteenth
Day of April, in the year first above mentioned.
EDW'D SHIPPEN, Jr., Prot.
[Seal of the Court.]

68

HISTORICAL SKIlICn OP

THE OLD WATER WORKS,
BETHLEHEM, TA.

CHAPTER IX.
The Eetiilehem Alphabet. — TnE Old Water
Works. — Dr. Mease's Sketch of the Mora
vians.— Derby's Gazeteer, 1827. — 31ns.
Royal's Account, 1829.— Prince Maxamil-
ian of Neuweid's Visit, 1832.— James K.
Beck's Sketches. — Gordon's Gazetteer of
Pa., 1832. — The Centennial Celebration.
U. S. Gazeteer, 1843.— Incorporation of
the Borough, 1845.— "God Save the
Luckenback's." — Act of Parliament Ke-
COGNIZING THE " UNITAS PrATRUM," A S A PRO
TESTANT Episcopal Church.— Origin of the
Moravians. — Some Account of the Settle
ment of Hope, New Jersey, from the
Historical Collections of that State.
THE BETHLEHEM ALPHABET.
By the late Rev'd Louis David de Schweinitz.
A stands for Anders, both Bishop and Brewer.
B " Boehler, and Bier to secure.
C " Crist, whose lady keeps school.

D stands for Doster, the dyer ia wool.
E " Eggert, who works with the saw.
F '• Friday, his Father-in-law.
G " Cuetter, who keeps the "Wooc'-yard.
II " Hillman, who always works hard.
J " John, Jacob, Jundt, and his wife.
K " Kampman, the oldest in life.
L " Lange, both Father and Son.
M " Masliclc and MilchsaeJ.; alone.
N " Ncisser, whose house is but half.
0 '' Oertcr, who biuds books iu calf.
P •' Pfeiffer, who tends the bark-mill.
Q " Quighy, who married Jale Till.
R. " Rauch, liickseclxr and llicc.
S " Schncller, who teaches fur price.
T " TomUer, a Boat is his sign.
V " Vognitz, his shop is his mine.
W '• Warner, the maker of Combs.
X "a lutter which nobody owns.
Y " Toungman, v ho has toys for silo.
Z " ZoUer, who takes around the Ale.
The wood-cut at the head of this chapter,
is a view of the " Old Water Works of Bethle
hem," or rather, of the old building in which

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

69

the first works for forcing up the water were
erected ; taken from one of Kleckner's line
large photographs. The machinery was af
terwards removed to the Oil Mill, so often
spoken of in the accounts of the town, where
the celebrated buckwheat meal is now made,
and which is situated directly to the west of
the old building, on the opposite side of
Water Street, on the banks of the Manockasy.
A path runs along the south side of the
house, up the hill into Main Street, between
the residences of Captain Abbott and Mr.
John Fitz. This old house was the last
building held by the Moravian Society,
when selling out their property in the town,
and it was finally disposed of to Mr. Jedidiah
Weiss, who still retains it ; and whose son
now occupies it as his residence.
The oil originally manufactured was Lin
seed oil, made from the seed of flax, which
was raised in large quantities by the Mora
vians, previous to the Revolution, and before
cotton came into use.
Heckewelder says in his Indian names,
that the word " Manockasy, means in the In
dian language, a stream with long bends, or
many windings." And he spells it Mana-
gassi Recently, in grading Market Street, the
workman came upon the stone foundations
of one of the old Water Towers, in use for
merly to give a head to the water in supply
ing the village. The main tower stood in
the rear of the " Married Peoples' Houses,"
as already stated; smaller towers were erect
ed in different parts of the town ; and the
one above mentioned stood in Market Street
opposite the site of the " Old Indian Chapel."
Morse's American Gazetteer, published in
1797, says, that Bethlehem in 1787, had 60
dwelling houses of stone, well built, and COO
inhabitants. Dr. James Mease, in his work called " The
Picture of Philadelphia," published in 1811
page, 209, says, in reference to the Moravians
or United Brethren.
"The first congregation of this Amiable
Sect, that settled in North America, came
from Berthlesdorf, a village belonging to
Count Zinzendorf, in upper Lusatia. When

expelled from the Dominions of the Elector
of Saxony, they resolved to go to America,
and the Trustees of the Colony of Georgia
having offered, through the Count, to grant
them a tract of land, they set out in Novem
ber, 1734.
" The written instructions given by the
Count, were, ' That they should submit them
selves to the wise direction and guidance of
God in all circumstances ; seek to preserve
liberty of conscience ; avoid all religious dis
putes, and always keep in view that call
given them by God himself, to preach the
Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Heathen ; and
further, that they should endeavor as much
as possible to earn their own bread.' These
principles they have ever strictly followed.
" Having met in London with General
Oglethrope, the Governor of Georgia, they
were provided with all the necessaries for
the voyage to his beloved colony, where
they safely arrived in 1735, and settled on
the Ogecche River : here they obtained the
character which they so properly deserved,
of a peaceful, pious people. Another colony
arrived in the course of the following sum
mer, and settled in Savannah. But in the
following year, 1738, upon the attack of the
Colony by the Spaniards from Florida, they
were forced to leave their flourishing planta
tions, (having early declared that they would not
be concerned in war;) and retired to Pennsyl
vania: part came in 1738, and the remainder
in 1740. They settled in Bethlehem. In
1741, Count Zinzendorf arrived in Pennsyl
vania; and after much pious labor, particu
larly among the Indians, returned to Europe
in 1743.
"In 1742, the Brethren erected a church
in Philadelphia, in an alley running north
and south from Mulberry Street to Sassafras
Street, between Second and Third Streels,
and hence called J/bravian Alley. The church
is 40 feet by 30 feet, and will hold about
three hundred persons. It has an organ.
Pastor, Rev. Joseph Zeslein.
" The principles of the Moravians are con
tained in ' An exposition of Christian doc
trine, as taught in the Protestant Church of
I the United Brethren or Unitas Fratrum, by A.

70

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

G. Spangenberg, with a preface by Benjamin
La Trobe.' They do not differ in the great
cardinal points from other Protestant sects.
They hold occasional ' Love Feasts' in their
churches, for the purposeof promoting friend
ship, mutual love and kindness among one
another. The aliment is ofthe most simple
nature, wine is indeed sometimes used, but
with the most rigid attention to temperance.
They deem the propagation among the heath
en, of the means of salvation by the Re
deemer, a primary object of duty ; and their
zeal in this respect is truly astonishing.
Every part of the Globe has been visited —
nay, settled by their Missionaries ; even the
inhospitable shores of Greenland and Labra
dor ; and the most unhealthy climates of
Africa and Asia have received the benefit of
their pious labors; the frontiers of North
America, which, even at the present moment,
are the hunting grounds of the savages,
were settled by them more than half a cen
tury ago, by a colony under the venerable
apostle, the late Rev. Mr. Zeisberger, and
others. No danger, however great, no priva
tions, or personal sufferings, however severe,
deterred them from steadily pursuing their
benevolent designs; and although the hor
rors ofapredatory war carried on againstthe
inoffensive converts from heathen darkness,
by men who disgraced the name of Chris
tians, often Interrupted the tranquility of
their settlements, and occasioned their per
secution ; yet they availed themselves of the
first opportunity to recommence their labors,
and have joyfully seen their example follow
ed by other denominations of Christians.
" The members of this Society are few in
number in Philadelphia, when compared
with those of other sects. The head of their
government is Hernhutt, in Germany : the
subordinate power of their church, Bishop
Loskiel, resides at Bethlehem in Pennsylva
nia. " For a full account of the labors of the
Moravians in North, America, see ' The His
tory of the Mission of the Unitas Fratrum
among the Indians of North America, by the
Rev. Mr. Loskiel, London, 1794.' "
In Buck's Theological Dictionary, printed

in Philadelphia, in the year 1820, by Charles
Buck, volume II, page 82, &c, there is an
exhaustive article on the Moravians, the man
ner of their Church Government, Missions,
kc, which, notwithstanding its great inter
est, would be out of place in the present
work. It was compiled from Crantz's Ancient
and Modern History of the Church of the United
Brethren, 1780, Spangenberg's Exposition ofthe
Christian Doctrine, 1784. Dr. Haweis's Church
History, Vol. Ill, p. 184, &c. ; Crantz's History
of the Missions in Greenland, Loskeil's History
ofthe Missions to the North. American Indians ;
and Oldendorp's History of the Brethren's Mis
sions in the Danish West Indian Islands.
In Derby's Universal Gazetter, issued in
1827, in the article on Bethlehem, it is stated
among other things, that the population of
the town in 1800, was only 543, and in the
Township, 1343. In 1810, the number in the
Township was 1436, and in 1820, the number
in the Township had increased to 1860 indi
viduals, nearly all Moravians. The number
of dwelling houses in the town in 1820, was 72.
The population of the town itself, is only
given for the year 1800.
From Mrs. Royal's Pennsylvania, printed in
Washington, D. C, in 1829, the following
amusing and really entertaining sketch is
extracted :
" Bethlehem is comparatively a large town
and though mostly built of stone, has some
handsome brick buildings. It is regularly
laid off into handsome streets, and like
Nazareth, stands on a considerable eminence.
It, however, sinks in some places, and rises
in others. The new buildings are showy,
and built in the modern style ; but the origi
nal buildings are roughly built of stone, and
those whore the Societies live, are huce
masses of great size, small windows, and
stone or brick floors, on the lower stories.
The Church, however, and the Young La
dies' Academy, are two of the finest buildings
in the United States.
"Their graveyards are peculiar; instead of
putting the tombstone perpendicular, it 'is
laid horizontally and loose on the top of the
grave, as an emblem of death which levels
all things. They have a house where the

EETnLEIIEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

71

dead are placed and locked up till they arc
interred, and the friends of the deceased
proceed from this house to the grave yard,
with appropriate music.
"The Water Works of Bethlehem, by
which water is conveyed through the town,
aro a great curiosity. It is forced from a
spring 100 feet high into a deep well, and a
number of pipes leading off from the well
under grousd, conveys the water wherever
it is wanted. They keep largo cisterns full
in case of fire.
'Dr. Steckle, of Nazareth, recommended me
to a Dr. Green, at Bethlehem, whom he said
I would find at the stage house, kept by one
Crist. Dr. Green, though he paid mo a
great deal of attention, was not the gentle
man his friend represented him. Nor was I
at all pleased with my quarters. The tavern
keeper was from home, and his wife was an
impertinent, disobliging woman.
" Bethlehem, as well as Nazareth, has long
been distinguished for the excellence of its
schools. The Young Ladies' Academy at
Bethlehem, is so well known throughout,
not only this country, but the world, that
nothing I could say would be of any advan
tage to the Institution, its fame having
reached all parts of the Union.
" I have seen numbers who %vcrc educated
at Bethlehem, and have often seen the work
done by the pupils, which, no doubt, has
reached every part of the United States, and
is doubtless superior to any needle work
done in our country, at least.
" I unfortunately called at Bethlehem on
Saturday, and the first (hing I did after "my
arrival, was to inform the principal, Rev.
Chas. F. Seidel, of my presence. He, very
gentleman-like, waited on me in a few min
utes, and, after communicating my views,
Mr. S. said he would rather I would postpone
my visit to the Academy till the next day,
as the young ladies were always in undress
on Saturday, preparing themselves for the
ensuing week. That Saturday was the
usual day for cleaning up. This being the
case, I had to submit, as I was rcsolvedupon
seeing the pupils and the interior of the
Acadouiy. Mr. Seidel is a middle aged man,

heavy made, full round face and pleasing
countenance. In his manners he excels, if
possible, Rev. Van Vlcck. He is a native of
Germany, but has been in this country
several years ; no ono, however, would per
ceive from his dialect that ho was a foreign
er. I have never seen an American whose
demeanor and manners possessed the same
case and grace of Dr. Seidel, and it would
bo mockery to attempt a description of the
man. His conversation bespoke him a man
of high attainments, and upon tho whole he
is one of the most fascinating men I ever
met with.
'The following day I went to Church in
the first place, as I wished to see their modi)
of worship, and when the sermon was over
I was to bo admitted to the Academy, it
having been so arranged. The Church is
very large, and has a handsome organ. The
men and women sit apart, the men taking
off their hats. These sit on one side of the
house, and the ladies of the place upon the
other, face to face, and the pupils sit in the
middle. The pupils have, however, a place
of worship by themselves, their seats arc at
right angles with the others. The daughters
of the citizens (single ones), sit with the
pupils. '•This was a good opportunity to see the
customs of the whole. Both men and women
were fashionably dressed, excepting, as in
other cases, the aged ; but nothing could ex
ceed the taste and neatness of the whole.
They differ from all other people iu couiu-
tenance, manner and dress. They all have
a smile on their countenance, and none of
I he sameness of the Quakers or the Shakei\->
iu their dress, nor the sadness ofthe Metho
dists, or the fripping flounces of other sect;,
and still less the studied grimness of the
Gray Coats. Some of the citizen ladies were
dressed in white, some ih lead color, somo
in calico, some in bombazine, and some in
silk; their hats or bonnets, (if you please),
were neat, fine and small, and those of the
young ladies were trimmed wTith ribbon, but
chiefly they excel in that art which conceals
art. For although most of them aro learned,
the most learned amongst them approach

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

nearest to nature. The congregation accom
panied the organ in singing, and both men
and women have books in their hands. But
nothing that has gone before can give any
i lea ofthe heavenly smile which sat upon
the face of the preacher, and the beguiling
case of his gestures. If he is not jDerfection,
there is none on earth. Though I am
strongly prejudiced against priests, I could
almost be brought to believe this man was
a Christian, his face was never without
a smile.
"They have none of that silly getting up
and getting down, and continual motion of
other churches, and if I wore to believe,
what I do not, that there were any Chris
tianity in the United States, I would say it
had fled to these Moravians for protection.
In saying this, I wish to be understood that
I have found a great deal of liberality,
generosity, and good feeling, but no Chris
tians agreeably to the requisites of the gospel.
Those who have and are making so much
noise about religion, as they call it, seem to
be more upon the Jewish plan. But this is
no more than an opinion, — to return, if there
be any of the meek religion of the gospel in
our land it is amongst these Moravians. It
was not the Rev. Seidel who preached, nor
do I know his name, he was quite an orator.
" The only singularity I saw was the men
sind women go out of the Church at opposite
points, doubtless to prevent the young gen
tlemen from gallanting the young ladies.
This was tho only church in which I ever
taw window curtains used. The windows
arc of amazing height and width, and every
one has a large, fine, white curtain before
it, with lead fastened to the bottom to keep
it in its place, otherwise the Church is with
out ornament. The pulpit is very high, and
the priest walks into it from another portion
of the Church.
"After Church was out, Mrs. Seidel accom
panied me through the Young Ladies'
Academy, which, like that at Nazareth, does
not consist of one entire large hall, like High
schools or some Academies, but every class
has a hall or class room to themselves. They
dine in one great hall, and sleep in another-;

which plan of all sleeping in one room I do
not approve, for though the room is high
and airy, I am of the opinion that many
human beings, inhaling, as they must do,
each others breath, cannot be healthy. As
respects this Academy, nothing would be
more easy than to throw this largo room into
chambers. " Tho cooking department is also iu the
same building; this is the best constructed
and in the neatest order of any I have visited
in the Atlantic country, excepting that at
the Hospital at Boston.
" As it was Sunday, I lost the pleasure cf
hearing the young ladies play, or of seeing
them at work, though they were all in the
rooms occupied in common for study.
" This was certainly the capstone of the
climax, and what I had for many years
back ardently longed to see, and though
fancy was raised to the highest stretch,
fell short of the burst of innocence, beauty,
and elegance which met my eye at tho
opening of each door. Tho retiring modesty
of some, the polished urbanity of others, the
snowy arm, the delicate hand, the soft
friendly smile, the spiral ringlet, tho dim
pled cheek. I lingered at each door, lost in
admiration. As at Nazareth, they severally
arose from their seats, and made a graceful
courtesy as they were introduced. There
were some from all parts of the United
States, and some from the Islands, some
were small girls and some were grown. I
was much pleased to find Miss Bibbs there,
from Alabama, with whose parents I had
formerly a slight acquaintance.
" There was at this time a thin school, on
account of a vacation, from sickness; if I
recollect, tho first time the institution was
visited with sickness. There are, however,
more applicants than can be accommodated.
This is much to be lamented, as it is cer
tainly the best female seminary in the
United States. It is wholly under the con
trol of the United Brethren of Germany,
who, it appears, do not seek to enlarge it,
though the profits go to establish other
seminaries elsewhere.

B E T n L E H E M, PENNSYLVANIA.

" The young ladies showed me their frames
with the unfinished work, which" surpassed
beauty. They have introduced what is
called ribbon work, recently taught by a
German lady. This is very ingenious, and
has still a richer appearance than the com
mon way with floss silk. The ribbon work
is shaded like the floss, very narrow and
curiously worked into flowers and figures of
all sorts and shapes; it is richer and much
easier done. The ebony work is a very use
ful work and a great curiosity; everything
almost is made of it. The worsted work is
also beautiful, hearth rugs, or anything you
fancy is made of it. But the literary part of
the education is by far the most important.
" Bethlehem is. on the river Lehigh and a
small creek called the Manatee, 54 miles
from Philadelphia. The town begins on an
eminence, and descends to the banks of the
latter, a handsome stream. The prospect is
not so handsome as that of Nazareth, as the
Lehigh mountains approach too near the
town, and confine the view within too nar
row limits. It is, however, a lively town,
the people pursuing a variety of business as
in other towns. It owns a great number of
mills, tanneries and breweries, and contains
. about 3000 inhabitants, (1828). There are
also handsome flower gardens, shrubberies
and pleasure grounds adjoining the academy,
all of which, with pure air, fine water, and
a rich surrounding soil, but above all the
refined and pleasing manners of the inhabi
tants, render it a delightful summer retreat,
and to which numbers of the Southern
gentry resort during the warm months. All
those who travel for amusement or curiosity
ought to visit those interesting towns."
Mrs. Royal writes more at length about
Nazareth and Bethlehem, and seems to have
been much prepossessed in favor of the
Moravians, which speaks well for them, as
she handles "all the world, and the rest of
mankind," without gloves. She, however,
over estimates the population in 1828. In
1830, the town only contained 800 inhabi
tants; and in 1840, but 1,622 souls.
Prince Maxamilian, of Wied, in his trav
els in the interior of North America, in 1S32

and 1833, (a fine work, handsomely illus
trated with eighty-five superb engravings,
translated from the German, printed in Lon
don in 1843, and sold at the rate of $200 per
copy,) thus writes of the undergrowth of
immense Mountain Laurel on the Lehigh
Hills, on the south side of the Lehigh River,
near Bethlehem. "We saw here a thick
covert of the tall Rhododendron Maximum,
which was still, (August 2nd, 1832,) adorned
with magnificent tufts of flowers."
Neuwied, also calls attention to the Cic-
horinm Intybus, with its beautiful flowers,
white and blue, which grows so plentifully
on the roadsides in the vicinity of Bethle
hem ; it would make a handsome garden
flower. Prince Maxamilian remained for some time
at Bethlehem, at what is now known as
" Fetter's Hotel," then kept by Captain
Wochler, an old soldier of the great Napo
leon, and a, Westphalian by birth. The
veteran's remains now repose in the Old
Grave Yard. In his life-time, the Captain
often spoke of" Prince Max," whom he drove
all over the surrounding country, during his
visit to Bethlehem and its vicinity.
Captain Woehler occupied the fine old
stone house in Water Street, opposite the
Tannery. He was a Moravian, and his house
was kept with true German neatness, and
there he dispensed to his guests Lager beer,
wine and pretzles only. His liquids were
kept as cool as ice, by the waters of the cele
brated Spring that supplies the town with
water, and which was on his premises. The
massive walls, the solid oak floorings and
staircases of the house, are well worth.a visit.
No such private buildings are erected in
these degenerate days.
James N. Beck, m his pleasing little sketch
es of " Music by Night, and Trout in the
Morning," published in 1865 ; eulogizes the
polite old- Captain; and of his charming
neice, writes thus: " Luischen, modest, full
orbed waiteress of the Carivansera, a comely
German lass, whose good tempered noncha
lance, at times recalled to my mind Johann
Ludwig Glein's stanza in 'Das Maedchen
vom Laude."

74

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

c: "Wie flicsst die, du Maedchen
So ruhig dasblut I
Du Maedchen vom Lande,
Wiebistdu so gut."
" Louisa I she of the pure German accent,
ever anticipated oui wishes, with a grace as
charming as it was unassuming; may the
murmuring, rippling waters of the Monoc-
kasy outside, serenade her for many ensuing
years." The only copy of Neuweid's work in the
United States, is owned by Mr. Wm. Theo
dore Roepper, of Bethlehem, Professor of
Mineralogy and Geology, in the Lehigh
University. Gordon's Gazetteer, of Pennsylvania, 1832,
say3 of Bethlehem, " The situation on a ris
ing hill is particularly romantic ; a fine mill-
stream and the Leh igh Canal passing through
the lower part of the town, affording con
siderable facilities to business. The number
of private dwellings in the year 1831, am
ounted to 112. The public buildings con
sisted of a remarkably large church, a board
ing school for young ladies, established since
the year 1788, a school house for boys, and
two peculiar establishments, in one of which
a number of widows find an asylum in their
old age, and in the other, unmarried women
chiefly, likewise of an advanced age, board
together under proper regulations, and the
guardianship of the Society. The town con
tains 800 inhabitants, kc." The account is
very long, and particularly interesting, but
it contains nothing not already related and
described. On the 25th day of June, A. D. 1842, it be
ing the Centennial celebration of the settle
ment of Bethlehem, the occasion was ob
served in the Moravian Church with ap
propriate ceremonies, of which the following
is a brief account, kindly furnished by the
Rev. Edwin de Schweinitz.
1. June 24, 1842. In the evening prepa
ratory service was held by the Rev. JohnG.
Herman. 2. June 25, 1842, at 9 o'clock A. M., the
first service of the Centesimal celebration,
Anthem by the choir; hymn by the congre

gation ; reading of a salutatory letter from the
Board of Elders at Berthelsdorf, in Saxony.
Address in German and English, both by
Rev. John G. Herman.
3. Second service, at 101 A. M. Reading of
a Historical sketch of the founding and pro
gress of Bethlehem, in German, by Rev. P.
H. Goepp.
4. Third service at 3 o'clock P. M. ; a Li
turgical service; singing by the congrega
tion, and anthem by the choir, and an
address by the Rev. Mr. Ilccht, Pastor of the
Lutheran church at Easton, Pa. At this
service, Rev. Charles F. Seidel, presided.
5. Fourth service, 8 o'clock, P.M. Held
in the old burying-ground, which was illu
minated by more than 1C00 lanterns of col
ored paper, and consisting of Liturgical
oflices by the congregation and choir. More
than 2000 persons were present.
6. Sunday, June 26, at 9 A. M., fifth ser
vice, for the children, held by the Rev. Peter
Wolle, of Litz, Pa.
7. At 10J A. M., service by the Rev. G. F.
Bahnson, of Lancaster, Pa., in German. Text,
John, 15, 16.
8. At 3 P. M., seventh service ; sermon in
English by the Rev. David Bigler, of Phila
delphia. Text, Habak. 3, 2.
9. At 71 o'clock, P. M., the eighth and last
service was the ordination of four Deacons of
the Moravian Church to the Priesthood, by
Bishop Andrew Benade, as a fitting conclu
sion to so eventful an occasion.
The United States Gazetteer, printed ia
New York in 1843, says : "Bethlehem, which
is characterized by great neatness and order,
is on the north bank of tho Lehigh river, at
the mouth of the Monokacy creek. The
ground rises gradually from the river and
creek, and gives a commanding situation to
the view; it is compactly built on a street
running North and South, and two other
streets running east from the main street
It contains a large stone church, in the
Gothic style, 142 feet long and 68 feet wide,
with a small tower rising from the centre,
and surrounded by a dome. There is a bury
ing ground to the north-east of the village,

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

75

laid out with great neatness and taste, in
which the graves have the head to the
North. " There are about 200 dwelling houses, be
side other buildings. There is abridge over
the Lehigh 400 feet long. This place has
long been celebrated for a female school of
high order, conducted by the Moravians, in
which many highly respectable ladies of
the Middle States have received their edu
cation. " The Lehigh canal passes along the river
through the lower part of the place. It con
tains 4 stores, capital $16,500 ; capital in
manufacturies, $88,000; 1 college, 8 students;
2 academies, 175 students ; 2 schools, 169
scholars. Population, 1622."
Bethlehem was incorporated as a Borough
on the 6th of March, 1845 ; and the first elec
tion for Borough officers, was held on the
third Friday in March, 1845, and resulted as
follows : —
Charles A. Luckenbacb, Burgess.
Philip H. Goepp, Councilman.
Benjamin Eggert, "
Ernst F. Bleck, "
John M. Micksh, "
Christian Luckenbach, "
Charles L. Knauss, "
Christian Weber, Treasurer.
Samuel Brunner, Clerk.
Matthew Brown, Supervisor.
Augustus Milchsack, "
Charles W. Rauch, High Constable.
The late Rev. Louis David de Schweinitz,
one of the most learned and eloquent divine
of the Moravian Church in America, wrote
some interesting and instructive little
sketches for the amusement of his children;
one of these, the Bethlehem alphabet, has
already been inserted, and the following, re
lating to one of the most influential and nu
merous of all the families of Bethlehem, is
full of wit, and proof of the assertion.
My First Visit to Bethlehem.
" On my late journey to Wilksbarre, I was
pleased with the prospect of spending an
afternoon at the pleasant village of Bethle
hem. I had been detained at Quakertown,

so as to miss the morning stage, and was
upon the point of giving up my plan, when
I was informed -that ¦ a Mr. Luckenbach
(David) from Bethlehem, who kept a hack,
was ready to start for that place, having but
one passenger. I eagerly embraced the op
portunity, and found that passenger an old
friend of mine. As my friend was intimate
ly acquainted with Bethlehem, and its im
mediate vicinity, I gladly acceded to his
proposal, when we reached the summit of a
hill within a near view of the town, to alight
and walk on foot, in order to enjoy the de
lightful scenery. After walking a few paces
my attention was arrested by a young man
in the adjoining field ploughing unusually
deep furrows, and remarking to my friend
that they appeared so to me, he replied that
Mr. Luckenbach (George) was noted for his
deep ploughing.
"Continuing our walk we soon arrived at
the bridge over the Lehigh, and were civil
ly stopped at the gate by the toll-keeper, an
old Mr. Luckenbach, (Adam) to receive the
toll, and while we were making some inqui
ries of him concerning the rise of the river
at the late freshet, a young gentleman on
horseback came up, whom my friend shook
hands with, informing me that he was a,
Mr. Luckenbach, (Charles Augustus) who
had recently purchased the Mill property. I
confess I began to wonder at the frequency
of the name, and was just going to remark
on it, when we came up with a person car
rying a fowling-piece, accompanied by two
dogs, whom my friend addressed as Mr.
Luckenbach, (Samuel) telling me he acted
as Forester to the town.
" On the bridge across the canal we stopped
to admire this fine work, and were contem
plating anew house just erecte'd there, when
I was surprised to hear a person call out Mr.
Luckenbach I (Jacob) to the master builder,
who was sitting on the rafters, and make
some inquiries of him. We then went down
the tow-path of the canal, and walked up to
the Lock to see a couple of Ar7;a just passing.
The lock-keeper, I immediately understood,
was a Mr. Luckenbach, (Samuel, Sr.) and I
observed to my friend that it was strange

7G

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

that we should meet all the Luckenbach 3 of
the town before we entered it. I found my
self, however, mistaken, for the first sign
board which struck my sight in town, in
formed me that there lived a Mr. Lucken
bach, (William B.) a, coppersmith. When
we approached the " Eagle Tavern," we saw
a number of persons assembled before it, and
understood that they were the Committee,
under whose care and superintendence are
the various water-works, by which water is
introduced, and my friend, with a smile,
pointed out to mo a Mr. Luckenbach, (Chris
tian) the Chairman, as a person remarkable
for his knowledge on such subjects.
"By this time it began to grow late, and
the church bell ringing, I learned that a
marriage was to take place in the church ac
cording to the Moravian custom. Desirous
of witnessing the ceremony, I repaired
thither, my friend accompanied me, and
took pleasure in increasing my astonish
ment, by informing me that the young man
who was to be married was a Mr. Lucken
bach, (William Jr.) a cabinet-maker. Being
invited to remain when the meeting broke
up in order to be present at the ceremony
which with the Moravians is in the place of
a wedding dinner, I accepted. After some
time, the company being seated, a middle-
aged clergyman entered and occupied the
usual place of the minister; after he had ad
dressed a few words of congratulation to the
young couple, he commenced singing, du
ring which wine and biscuit were handed
around. My friend told me that the clergy
man was the Rev. Mr. Luckenbach , (Abra
ham) a highly valuable missionary among
the Moravian Indians in Canada, now on a
visit to his friends in Bethlehem. And I
ceased to wonder at the number of Lucken-
bachs, and their various occupations, when
I was informed that at chis wedding all the
relatives of the parties had been invited, and
there was present on the part of the bride
groom, 1 grandfather and 1 grandmother; 3
great uncles and 3 great aunts : 1 father and
1 mother; 17 uncles and 18 aunts; 10 bro
thers and sisters, and 21 first cousins, ma
king 80 near relatives, members of the

Society, and all descended from old Mr.
Luckenbach , who had been dead for upwards
of 80 years. God save the Luckenbactsl"
The following Obituary is copied from The
Moravian. "Died, at Bethlehem, Pa., December 1,
1867, very suddenly, Mrs. Elizabeth Luck
enback, relict of the late David Luckenbach ,
in the 85th year of her age.
" The deceased was one ofthe oldest mem
bers of thechurch at Bethlehem. For35 years
she lived with her husband on one of the
river farms, belonging to the church, in tho
old homestead, the site of which is now oc
cupied by the Railroad offices of the Lehigh
Valley Railroad in the present borough of
South Bethlehem.
" She was the mother often children all of
whom are living, and had sixty-six grand
children, and forty-threo great grandchild
ren, together one hundred and nine child
ren's children, of whom, however, thirty
died before her. Direct descendants to the
number of eighty-nine survive her."
The Act of Parliament of 22 George the
Second, 1749, in 7th Statutes at Large, Chap.
30th, page 155, ka., hereinbefore alluded to
as recognizing the Unitas Fratrum as a Pro
testant Episcopal Church, is as follows : —
" An act for encouraging the people known
by the name of Unitas Fratrum, or United
Brethren, to settle in his Majesty's Colonics
in America."
" Whereas many of the people of the
church or congregation called the Vr.itas
Fratrum or United Brethren, are- settled in
his Majesty's Colonies in America, and de
mean themselves there as a sober, quiet and
industrious People; and many others of the
same persuasion are desirous to transport
themselves to, and make larger settlements
in the same Colonies at their own expense,
provided they may be indulged with a full
Liberty of Conscience, and in the exercise of
the religion they profess ; and several of the
said Brethren do conscientiously scruple tho
taking of an oath, and likewise do conscien
tiously scruple bearing arms, or serving in
any military capacity, although they aro

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

77

willing and ready to contribute whatever
sums of money shall be thought a reasona
ble compensation for such service, and
which shall be necessary for the defence
and support of his Majesty's Person and
Government :— And whereas the said Congrega
tions are an Ancient Protestant Episcopal Church
which has been countenanced and relieved
by the Kings of England, your Majesty's
predecessors. And whereas the encouraging
tho said People to settle in America will be
beneficial to the said Colonies; therefore
may it please your Majesty at the humble
petition of Abraham, Baron of Gusdorff ; Lewis
Baron Schrautenback free Lord of Lindheim ;
David Nitschmann Syndic; Charles Sebachmann
Baron of Hermsdorf , and Henry Cossart, agent,
Deputies from the said Moravian Churches,
in Behalf of themselves and their United
Brethren, that it may be enacted ; and be it
therefore enacted by the King's most Excel
lent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal,
and Commons, in this present Parliament
assembled, and by the authority of the
same, that from and after the 24th day of
June, 1749, every person being a member
of the said Protestant Episcopal Church,
known by the Name of Unitas Fratrum, or
the United Brethren, and which Church was
formerly settled in Moravia and Bohemia and
also now in Prussia, Poland, Silesia, Lusatia,
Germany, the United Provinces, and also in
His Majesty's Dominions, who shall be re
quired upon any lawful occasion to take an
oath in any case where by law an oath is or
shall be required, shall, instead of the usual
form, be permitted to make his or her sol
emn affirmation or declaration in these words
following: —
" ' I, A. B., do declare in the presence of
Almighty God, the witness of the truth of
what I say.' "
" Which said solemn affirmation or decla
ration shaU be adjudged and taken, and is
hereby enacted and declared to be of the
same 'force and effect, to all intents and
purposes, in all Courts of Justice, and other
places where by law an oath is or shall be
required, within the kingdoms of Great Bri

tain and Ireland, and also in all and every of
his Majesty's Colonies and Dominions in
America, as if such person had taken an
oath in the usual form."
There are seven other sections of the Act.
Penalty for false affirming. Not to extend
to criminal eases. Moravians summoned
to do military duty to be discharged on
payment of the rate assessed; and that any
person claiming the benefit of the act should
produce a certificate of membership, signed
by some Bishop of the Church, &e., all of
which are now without interest to any one.
In a work entitled the " Pictorial Sketch-
Book of Pennsylvania," edited by Eli Bowen,
and printed in 1853, is a note on page 300,
on the Origin and History of the Moravi
ans, from which the following extract i-;
made; the first part of which must be taken
cum grano sails, as no authority is given for
the statement. The Ancient Brethren's
Church dates only from the 1st of March,
1457. " In the 9th century, a sister of the
King of Bulgarvia, being carried a prisoner
to Constantinople, became a Christian, and
through her means, on her return to her na
tive land, a Christian church was estab
lished in her native country, of which the
king of Moravia and the duke of Bohemia
were members. A part of these churches
were afterwards forced into the Roman
Church, but a select few still refused to be
merged into it. This little remnant, adher
ing to the pure and simple doctrines of tho
primitive church, suffered a variety of per
secutions for several centuries, but were at
length permitted to live in a wasted pro
vince on the borders of Moravia. Here they
established a church in 1457, on what they
deemed the rule and law of Christ, calling
themselves at first, " Brethren of the law of
Christ," and finally, the " United Brethren."
As there are other denominations styling
themselves United Brethren, they are now
usually called Moravians.
"The celebrated missionary, Count Zin
zendorf, was not the founder of the Mora
vian church, as many have supposed; but
was merely the Protector of some of the

78

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

members when driven from their native
land. They were allowed to settle in his
village of Bethelsdorf. He assisted to re
organize their church, and after fruitless
attempts to induce them to join the Lutheran
church, he became himself a convert to their
doctrines, and subsequently their leader
and guardian, especially iu temporal af
fairs." The Moravians are referred to in several
places in the same work, and a mythical an
ecdote is related of Count Zinzendorf, copied
from Chapman's History of Wyoming Val
ley, p. 246, &c, of a rattlesnake which crawled
over his feet, without harming him, while
he was sitting before a fire in an Indian
tent, during one of his missionary visits to
the Shawanese tribe of Indians of Wyoming
Valley. An occurrence not at all unlikely, as
it was a cool evening, and the snake was
seeking the warmth ; but the story sounds
very much like the account of St. Paul shak
ing the viper from off his hand into the
fire, on the Isle of Melita. See Acts of the
Apostles, 28 Chapter, and the first six verses.
Chapman says in a note, that the occurrence
is not mentioned in the Count's memoirs,
lest the Brethren should think that the
conversion of a part of the Shawanese In
dians was attributable to their supersti
tion. The following interesting account of Hope,
is copied from the " Historical Collections of
the State of New Jersey," by William Barber,
and Henry Howe, published in New York,
in the year 1847, p. 491, &c.
"In 1769 tho Moravians from Bethlehem, Pa.,
purchased a tract of about 1000 acres at this
place of Mr. Green, who lived in a log house on
tho hill, a few rods from the Christian church.
The Moravians who Jived here were remarkably
honest in all their dealings, but by trusting
too much to the honesty of those with whom
they had business, suffered in their pecuniary
affairs. In 1805 or 1806, they returned to their
settlements at Bethlehem and Nazareth. While
here they erected a church and a tavern, which
last stood where the Christian church is now
erected, and was burnt a few years since. The
annexed engraving is a representation of the
Union Hotel in the village, built of limestone.

This structure was srected in 1781, and was
originally the Moravian church, being sur-
mouiated by a cupola, which has since been
taken down, and a portico added.
"In the village burying-ground at Hope, aro
the graves of about 40 or 50 Moravians; a slab
of grey stone about two feet long is placed ho
rizontally over each grave, each with a simple
inscription recording the name, birth, and
death. The following is a copy of two of tho in
scriptions. No. 33.
CONRAD OMENSETTER,
Born December 18th, 1740,
In Germany.
DEPARTED July 2, 1792.

MARIA SALOME BLUM,
Born June 11th, 1718,
In Hope,
DEPARTED,
August 30, 1778.
" The United Brethren, or Moravians, derive
their origin from tho Greek Church in the 9th
century. The Society, as at present, was
placed on a permanent foundation in 1722, by
Count Zinzendorf, a German nobleman. At
the commencement of the last century, after
more than 200 of their congregations had been
destroyed or dispersed by persecutions in Mo
ravia, a small remnant found refuge on his es
tates in Saxony, and through his patronage
built Hernhut, now their largest settlement.
Count Zinzendorf, the instrument of renewing
their church, was subsequently consecrated one
of their Bishops, and from thenceforth devoted
his life to the cause. Individuals of all relig
ious denominations united with them, and gave
rise to such a diversity of sentiment, that it was
considered judicious to unite upon some general
rules of agreement. Accordingly, under the
guidance of the Count, certain articles of union
were concurred in, which omitting the distinc
tive doctrines ofthe various Protestant denom
inations, adopted only the generally admitted
fundamental truths of Scripture. The United
Brethren, therefore, object to being considered
as a separate sect, inasmuch as their own pecu
liarities arise principally from their social or
ganization. Individuals of all Protestant de
nominations, consequently, have always been
admitted into their communities without re
nouncing their peculiar creeds. Discussions
relating to the Trinity, and other speculative
truths are carefully avoided; but they make

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

70

tho merits of the Saviour the principal theme
of their discourses, and the only ground of sal
vation. High wrought emotions engendered
by momentary impulses, aro not considered as
sura testa of piety as a daily upright and hum
ble deportment. Tho Moravian Church ia
Episcopal, and has a liturgy, but their Bishops
possess no pre-eminent authority.
"Tbe Brethren early turned their attention
to'this country, with the view of propagating
tho gospel among tho Indians. In 1735 they
temporarily established themselves in Savan
nah, but abandoned and returned (?) to Penn
sylvania, in consequence of being obliged, if
they remained, of taking up arms with tho
Spaniards against the English. Here ifc was,
it is believed, that the great founder of Metho
dism, John Wesley, became acquainted with
them, from whom ho imbibed some of his pecu
liar sentiments. In 1741 they settled near the
forks ofthe Delaware. Count Zinzendorf, then
on a missionary tour in America, visited this
place at Christmas, in that year, and lodged in
a log hut attached to which was a stable. From
this circumstance the name of Bethlehem was
given to the settlement.
"The Count was undoubtedly pre-eminently
fitted for a pioneer in (he cause. He U repre
sented to have been one of the most extraordi
nary divines that has appeared since the Re
formation — a man of fervent piety, powerful
imagination, original genius, and extensive re
quirements, and a sound, though perhaps,
eccentric theologian. In his portrait he was
dressed \:\ a plain, singlc-brcastcd coat, a man-
lie partially thrown over the shoulder, and a
white cravat, gathered in a simple fold; the
hair dark, smoothly parted on the left side, and
hanging in graceful ringlet3 down the neck
and shoulders; the forehead high and even;
eye- penetrating ; no3e, long and aquiline ;
mouth large, but well formed, and the general
expression highly intellectual, denoting purity
of thought and benevolence. "When here, he
travelled much among the Indians, generally
on horseback, but not unfrcquenfly on foot.
Onre or twice he narrowly escaped being slain
by them.
'¦¦ No people have probably done so much in
the cause of missions, in proportion to their
means, as the Moravians. The sufferings and
devotedness of their missionaries have been
without a parallel, and- many interesting anec
dotes are given of them. They have gone
forth single-handed and unknown, among the
savage population of the West Indies, the sour,
licentious hordes of Greenland, and the savages
of our own country. In some instances tent in

others nearly fifty years have elapsed ere they
saw any fruit; yet they continued t> labor, full
of faith, struggling against misrepresentations,
suffering and loss of lifo.
" The number of missionaries, with their
wives, employed in 1333, was 230. These had
51,000 souls under their caro, of whom 16,000
were communicants. Owing to their simple
mode of living, and tho practice, in some in
stances, of supporting themselves by personal
labor, this great sehemo of missionary effort
has been conducted on a very economical
scale. Tho annual outlay of tho Society for
the support of their 42 stations, ponsions to
returned missionaries and widows, and the
education and apprenticing of their children,
and other expenses, amounts to about $50,
000. " There are at present in the United States
several societies of Moravians, besides their in
dependent communities ; but as they do not
come under their social regulations, cannot in
the fullest sense be considered as belonging to
them. Their communities are at Bethlehem,
Nazareth, and Litiz, in Pennsylvania, and at
Salem, in North Carolina.
" Bethlehem, their largest town, has about
1000 inhabitants, who are mainly of German
descent, and speak and worship in that lan-
guago. The village is romantically located,
compactly built, and combines the attractions
of both town and country. Their government
is administered by a Board elected biennially.
Tbe land belongs to tho Sjciety, and is let out
for building-lots, and other purposes, at a tri
fling annual rent. This enables them to keep
their village free from unworthy persons; but
they ever admit of the temporary residence of
such as are willing to conform to their external
regulations. The inhabitants are engaged in
the usual mechanical, mercantile and agricultu
ral employments, and some have acquired con
siderable property. It was formerly the custom
here, and is still in Germany, to have separate
establishments for such as had not families,
viz., the 4 Single Brethren's House/ for young
men and apprentices, where they lived and
carried on their respective employments ; the
* Sister's House,' for the abode of unmarried
females; and the '"Widow's House.' But a3
the Society has increased in wealth, the neces
sity for them has vanished, and it is believed
they do not now exist any where in the Union.
" Meeticgs are held every evening in the
week. Sunday mornings the litany is read,
and a sermon delivered in the church ; services
are also performed in the evening. Certaii
festival days, such as Easter, Penticost, Christ-

80

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

mas, <5sc, are celebrated. As usual among the
Germans, great attention is paid to music; and
almost every dwelling has its piano, and it
forms one of the most interesting features of
their public worship. Before the Lord's Supper
they have a Love Feast, when all assemble ex
pressly to listen to vocal and instrumental mu
sic, interspersed with hymns, in which the con
gregation join, while they partake of a eup of
coffee, tea, or chocolate, and light cakes, in
token of fellowship and brotherly union. Easter
morning is dsvoted to a solemnity of a peculiar
kind. At sunrise the congregation assemble in
the grave-yard ; a service accompanied by music,
is celebrated, expressive of the joyful hopes of
immortality and resurrection, and a solemn com
memoration of those who in the course of the
last year, have gone to heaven.
" Soon as a person dies the event is announced
by solemn instrumental music, from a band
stationed in the church tower. Different tunes
are played, signifying the sex, age, and condi
tion of the deceased, so it then usually is known
who is dead. These death hymns, sounding as

they always do, upon the still morning or even
ing air, must have a singularly melancholy
effect upon the hearer, reminding him that ho
too is mortal. Their funeral services are usually
performed in the Church, from thence the con.
gregation march to the grave preceded by a
band of music. If the deceased is a female, tho
ladies follow first after the coffin, if a male, the
reverse. They consider death as no evil, but
the entrance to eternal bliss, and therefore do
not mourn for friends, nor wear insignia of
grief. Iu alluding to the departed, they use
the expression " heim gehen," signifying that
they have gone home. The grave-yard, like
most of this denomination, is laid out as a gar
den, and planted with trees, under which arc
scats for visitors. The graves are void of tho
disagreeable coffin-like shape of our own, but
resemble flower-beds, and in many cases are
covered with myrtle and other ornamental
plants. The monuments are small slabs, laid
horizontally on the graves, the inscriptions
uppermost, and bearing simply the name, age,
and place of decease."

B E T II L E II E j\I, PENNSYLVANIA.

81

BETHLEHEM.

CIIAPTEI1 X.
Moravian Memories. — Modern1 Bethlehem.
— the Old Grave Yard. — Funeral Cere
monies of tee Moravians. — Tschoop. — Ta-
deuskung, anecdote of the chief, the fl-
cure on Indian Rock on the "Wissahicon. —
David Nitschmann. — Dr. Robert Dudley
Ross. — Mourning Dress not worn by the
Moravians. — Tub Passing Bell. — Easter
Morning Celeehation. — Drives, "Walks,
and places of interest near bethlehem.
— Dr. Maurice C. Jones and tiieFuemden-
eiener's. — Moravians in early times.
MORAVIAN MEMORIES.

BY GEN. WM. EMIL DOSTER. 185G,

There yon Church tuwer's summits high and hoary,
Point, like gray-mantled Prophets, up towards the sky
Where speaks yon dyme Moravia 3 olden glory,
Sarene and high.
r.?herc sounds mysterious, soul-enthrallir.g numbers, *
Melting in sunlight, as sad Mcminn's voice of old—
boftas the mermaid's strain that wooes tlie twilight
slumbers, Are gently rolled.
Ye have heard them blending with your matin dream
ing,
Yo have caught their cards ling'ring o'sr the lea,
Yo have heard them tell, in voices mors than seeming—
" 'Tis well with me !"
Yet fraught, thoss strains, with wild and fearful mean
ing,
The listeners pause, and muse with wondering tread—
* The Trombone choir announcing a death frcm the
gtecple cf the Church.

Hath lierc the reaper paused, — forever gleaning
Amongst the dead?
Yes ; to a holier, calmer meditation
Some soul has passed — some spirit of our love
Wakened amidst that wondrous revelation
That waits above I
Gone,— gone forever ! Brother ! well betide thee I
Sing on where holier lays shall call thee blest;
Singon 'till we attune our harps beside thee
In peaceful rest.
And each departed hath its own sweet token, f
Whispered to loved ones in that trumpet tone,
Distilling dew o'er hearts with sorrow broken —
From Ileav'nly home.
Memento beautiful I that breathest consolation ;
No shrieking, clanging, horror-brooding knell,
Nor hail'st despair, nor sick'ning desolation
Liko tolling bell.
0 glorious ritual ! Essence of Heaven's creation
In melody to mourn the sainted dead.
Pouring, like Israel's bard, his harp's oblation
O'er Absalom's head.
Elysian lyres, ye are fountains forever flowing
O'er drooping flowers — echoes of angel's choirs,
Where white-robed fouls are chanting, and forever
glowing With Heavenly fires !
And still sublimer far, y3 sound to sad affliction
As wild as trump, triumphant o'er ths blast,
Shall sound to our great final resurrection Creation's last I
That Grave-yard chant on resurrection morning J
Floating like peon towards tli' uprising sun-
Emblem of Christ's triumphant Earth returning—
The slaughtered One I
f Each class has its peculiar hymn tune performed by
the Trombonists. There are eight classes.
;£ Easter morning celebration in the Giave Yard.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

.These voices, coo, appear h.:."1. .-..ary s weeping.
Her farful offr'ng o'er her Saviour's tomb —
Swinging above the beds of minstrel's sleeping
In Htaveniy bloom,
That grand eld anthem, pride of Christmas even,*
Around yon Church's arches carolled near and far ;
Such songs sung th' angelic hosts, hailing on orient
heaven That morning Star!
Shall these all perish like the dew cf morning,
To vapory homes recalie !, — to Islands far away ;
Or shall their fragrance hallowed Earth adorning
Endure for aye?
Yes, let these melodies forever breathe their numbers —
r\-:ilt my soul to purer, nobler love,
'fill I awake the harp that luver slumbers,
Iu realms above !
Then sweep o'er my soul with entrancing emotion,
When they carry me there where the willow's sad wave.
O, chant one last dirge, ere I sleeo in Lethe's ocean,
And dreani it's last eclu iu tlie gljoni of tlie grave.
Bethlehem is not now, as in days of old,
approached from the south through a wood,
by a bridle-path, or by the rough stage route,
but by the more modern innovation of the
" ^North Pennsylvania Railroad." The train,
on leaving Ilellertown — famous for its trout
and trout suppers — winds around the eastern
base of the Lehigh Mountains, on the south
side of the river of that name; and to the
north-west, situated on a declivity, you see
the houses, schools, and churches of that
famous old town.
The first object that particularly attracts
the eye, is the imposing school edifice, situ
ated on the top of the hill. Near it looms
up in the distance, the spire ofthe large Mo
ravian church, and the belfry, from which
the trombones sound the call to that joyous
festival, the "Love Feast," or announce the
death of one of the members of the breth
ren's church. Sounding from on high in
tho air, the sad, yet sweet dirges of the trom
bones, fill the hearer with a pleasing melan
choly. It is one of those outward religious
ceremonies which the Moravians still ob
serve. May it long be cherished, and ever
remain as a mark of their gentle faith, far
tco many of the form3 and time-honored cus
toms of the Church, have been abandoned,
by the town and people becoming American
ized. *Rev. Y. P. Ha-an's h™u:iful anfh?m— « Mornin"
Star the darkness break."

It is related, "That onee upon a time,"
when a band of hostile Indians had at night
fall secreted themselves on the south bank of
the Lehigh, with the intent to destroy the
place, and massacre its inhabitants, one of
the brethren having died, tho trombones, as
usual, were sounded from the belfry of the
Church, to communicate the loss to the in
fant settlement. Those sad, sweet dirges,
three in number, announcing the sex, age,
and condition in life, of the departed, breath
ed in mournful cadences upon the evening
air, like tho wailing tones of an iEolean
harp, falling upon tho ears of the lurking
superstitious sa cages — who were watching
the rites 1 f their Medicine Man — seemed to
them to be a warning from tlie Great Spirit.
Thrilled with terror, they deserted their am
buscade, abandoned their murderous project,
and with silent, rapid steps, plunged into the
depths of the forest, and soon left far behind
them the spot and people protected, as they
supposed, by the great Manitou."
The air of Bethlehem is provocative of a
good appetite, and it must be confessed, that
the inhabitants encourage it as much as pos
sible, and then endeavor, with the utmost
success, to gratify the desires they have ex
cited. The housekeepers are all excellent
cooks, and provide abundantly. Visions of
" apple cake," " Moravian sugar cake," and
other delicacies that continue to provoke the
appetite after the solids have been eaten, still
linger in the memory. For good living, better
cannot be had than is obtained in the Hotels
of this ancient borough.
The first visit of the stranger in Bethle
hem, is naturally to the Moravian Cemetery,
situated near the centre of the town, and oc
cupying about five acres of ground. It is
handsomely laid out with walks intersecting
each other at right angles, having trees of va
rious kinds planted on the borders, principal
ly consisting of Poplar, Locust, Maple and
Dog-wood." Beneath those rugged elins, that yew tree's shade,
"Whero heaves tlie turf in many a mouldering heap ;
Each in his narrow cell forever laid—
The rude forefathers of tho hamlet sleep."
This sacred spot is entirely free from all

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLTANIA.

£3

those ghastly monuments usually erected in
burial grounds, to beautify them ; but which
render them places to be avoided by the sen
sitive, and fill tho casual visitor with a thrill
of dread in the day time, and with sensations
of horror in the night ; and sometimes scare
the wits out of nervous people. It is said
that on one occasion lately, it being neces
sary to change the place of repose of a de
parted brother, the grave-digger took advan
tage of a fine moonlight night to effect that
purpose; it was quite late at night, and on
reaching the coffin he found it would be ne
cessary to have a rope, for which he dis
patched his son, who was assisting him, but
who remained away so long on the errand,
tho old man became very impatient; hear
ing at last footsteps approaching on one of
the walks near him, he supposed it was his
dilatory assistant; stripped of his coat, in
his white shirt sleeves, his hat off, and his
long white hair streaming iu the wind, he
raised up from the grave his tall white
ghostly-looking figure, and with his deep
voice sarcastically said, " Komst den bald?"
(i.e.), are you coming soon? Imagine the ter
ror of tho belated wanderer, who was taking
a short cut home— a yell, a rush of footsteps,
and a wild jump which cleared the paling of
the enclosure, was the answer to this sum
mons from the grave.
The bravest-hearted would naturally hesi
tate about passing a night alone in the Ceme
teries of Laurel Hill, or the "Woodlands, in
Philadelphia, or in any of those in our large
cities, no matter how beautiful they might
be in broad daylight ; but in Bethlehem, the
children play all day in the grave-yard, and
go home at night with reluctance. Ladies
sit on the benches in the shade at their sew
ing, at all hours of the day; and at night
lovers oft wander under the trees, and linger
side by side in this lovely place, forgetting
all but themselves ; even the fact that they
a-e in u, place sacred to the departed. AH
this is easily accounted for; the Moravians
have striven to make their grave-yards as
attractive as possible, and they have succeed
ed ia that in which all the rest of the world

have failed ; and it is very pleasant to know
that it is so. Each grave is marked by a
small marble slab, about a foot and a half by
two feet in size,laid flat upon it; emblematic
that death levels all, and that all are alike.
Each stone has cut upon it the name, age.
and birth-place of the departed. If a mar
ried woman, her maiden name. Sometimes
a verse of a hymn, or a quotation from the
Scriptures is added. Flowers are planted on
many of the graves, and vases with wreaths
and bouquets of flowers are common tokens of
affection to be seen on the little slabs that
cover the remains of some loved one, gone
from the earth forever. Time soon takes off
from the marble tablets their glaring white
ness ; the grass grows around them, and they
are almost hidden from the sight, and the
visitors see only blooming flowers, trailing
vines, luxuriant grasses, waving trees, and
comfortable benches to sit upon. They hear
the songs of the birds, see the children play
ing upon the walks, and lured by the beauty
and novelty of the scene, forget entirely
where they are, or to be sad and mournful.
And thus the Moravian grave-yard becomes
a place of cheerful resort to the living, and
the Eweetest spot on earth in which to place
the remains of the loved ones who have gone
home. Beneath dear Bethlehem's sky may
my remains to earth committed be, when
this life's weary journey 's o'er.
Although Heine has so sadly, yet so sweet
ly sung in immortal verse :
""Wo wird einst des Wandermuden
Lctzte ruhestatte seiu 1
Unter Palmen in dem Suien?
Unter Linden an dem Ehein?
" YVerd' ich wo in einer Wuste
Eingescharrt von fremder Hand?
Oder ruh' ich an der Kuste
Eines Meeres iu dem Sand ?
<¦ Immerhin ! mich wird umgeben
Gotteshimmel, dort wie liier,
Und als Todtenlampen schwebon
Naclits die Sterne uber mil ."

'¦ Where shall then this weary wanderer,
When the soul is parted, lie ?
Under 000*1 and dusky Lindens,
With the blue Rhine sweeping by ?
Or where stately Palms aro waving
'Gainst the cloudless Southern sky ?

84

HISTORICAL SKETCH OE

" Shall a grave be fashioned for me,
By a cold and alien hand-
Where no bird will sing abova mo
In that wild and desert land?
Or, the lonely shore receive me
'Neath tlie sea-coast's barren sand?
" Let me rest — God's heaven above me,
Full of love, shall ever be —
In this world — and that immortal.
Ah ! my Spirit will be free —
And like Death's pale lamps will quiver,
Solemn night-stars over me."
The men and women are placed in sepa
rate divisions of the ground, in regular or
der, the heads to the north. The first
interments of the bodies were evidently
commenced at the north-west corner of
the grave-yard; and one can read the names
of the ancient fathers of the Church, or of
some Indian convert, buried there. At first
the tomb-stones were very small, and con
tained only the number of the interment on
them Those who love the neat simplicity of the
Moravian system of burial, will perceive
with regret, that in later years the Memorial
Stones upon the graves are being made larger
and larger; and are led to fear that the
Church will at some future day depart from
their ancient custom in this regard, and adopt
the monumental piles of masonry used by
other sects, which are only evidences of the
pride and wealth of the living, and not
marks of esteem for the dead.
At the eastern extremity of the Cemetery
is a large grove of trees, a famous resort for
flocks of birds of all kinds, but particularly
the Black-birds, who make it their especial
roosting-place at nights; although you may
see there the beautiful Baltimore Oriole,
Robins, Flickers, Thrushes, Cedar-birds and
other kinds. Towards sunset they begin to
arrive by flocks, squads, or in pairs, and set
tle in the trees, each kind of birds take pos
session of different trees, from which they
make raids on each other, causing the air to
resound with therushing noise of their wings
as they wheel in rapid flight, or with their
twittering cries and songs, till the evening
is far spent; in the morning the ground, and
walks are covered with their beautiful feath
ers, which soon become the spoil ofthe child

ren. Nothing in Bethlehem is more illustra
tive of the peaceful character of its people
than this Ecene. The birds seem to know
that they will not be harmed, and the place
is always full of them, even in day time, es
pecially the Robins, which arc so tamo that
they scarcely seem disturbed by the presence
of human beings.
Immediately adjoining this grove in the
garden of Doctor Abraham Stout, stands an
old majestic pine tree, which, although shorn
of some of its lower limbs by vandal hands,
and a portion of its upper trunk by the
fierce storms of winter, is still a prominent
object in an approaching view of Bethle
hem, and a thing of great interest to the
towns people. In the early Spring, flocks
of Black-birds fill its branches with their
nests, and the Orioles swing there their
gourd-like Summer home; where high in air
they are secure from molestation. A very
handsome stereoscopic view of the " old Pine
tree," is included in Kleekner's views of
Bethlehem ; and in the Moravian of March
22d, 1866, the "oldest inhabitant" thus re
lates its history:
"About the year 1793, two citizens of Beth
lehem, viz.; the late Joseph Ilorsfeld and
Frederick Fuehrer, made a trip to the Pocono
Mountains. On their return they observed
many small Pine trees growing at the way
side. Mr. Ilorsfleld said to his friend " come
let us pull up a couple of these, and plant
them when we come home, we may perhaps
live to see them grow up large enough to
furnish wood for our coffins." They brought
two along, Mr. Fuehrer planted his a short
distance cast of the late "Old Crown Inn."
He survived the tree by three days. It was
blown down by a storm. The other one now
standing was planted by Mr. Horsfield. Tho
ground upon which it stands was formerly
known as his nursery.
"Have pity on the Black-birds 1 they are
becoming more domesticated than formerly.
They may steal a few seeds from your gar
dens, but at the same time they relieve us
from the thousands of insects more to be
dreaded than all the harm done by the birds.
Prudent farmers of the present day welcome

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

85

the appearance of the Black-birds, and even
entice them with food.
" May we 'not, with very slight change, ad
dress Bryant's words to the water fowl, to
these birds in their migrations hitherward
'¦ All day your wings have fann'd,
At that far height the cold, thin atmosphere.
Yet stoop not weary, to welcome land,
Though the dark night is near."
' And soon that toil shall end,
Soon shall you find a Summer home, and rest;
And scream among your fellows,— Pines shall bend
Soon o'er your sheltered nest."
And add the moral:
He, who from zone to zone,
0 uides through the boundless sky your certai n fligh t
In the long way we must tread alone,
Will lead our steps aright."
In the north-western part of the Cemetery,
in that portion of the ground allotted to the
men, will be found the graves of many In
dian converts. Among them, conspicuous by
having at its head a rose bush, that in Sum
mer bears a white rose, which was planted
there by Miss Mary Eyre, a daughter of the
late Manuel Eyre, lie the remains of Tschoop,
said to be the father of Uncas, who, under the
name of Chin gach gook, is one of the char
acters in Cooper's series of novels, called
" Leather Stocking Tales." The tomb-stone
bears the following inscription.
" In Memory of
Tschoop,— a Mohican Indian,
Who in holy baptism, April 11th, 1142,
received the name of
JonN.
One of the first fi-uits ofthe
Mission at shekomeko, and a
remarkable instance of the power
of divine grace, whereby he
became a distinguished teacher
among las nation.
He departed this life in full
assurance of faith at Bethlehem
August 21th, 1747.
" There shall be one fold
and one Shepherd. — John x. 16.''
There are altogether 58 Indian converts
buried in the Cemetery. A ludicrous anec
dote is to}d of the celebrated Indian Chief
Tadeuskung, a Moravian convert. "While the

Chief was on a visit to Philadelphia, after
his conversion, he was found one Monday
morning, by a well known Friend, Anthony
Benezet, sitting on -a, curbstone, in. Market
street, with his feet in the gutter — very
drunk. " "Why, Tadeuskung, I thought thee
was a good Moravian 1" said the Friend ;
" Ugh 1 Chief no Moravian now, Chief joined
Quaker meeting yesterday," replied the fa
cetious savage.
Tadeuskung is described as having been a
tall, portly Indian Chief, proud of his posi
tion as the loader of the Delawares, or Lenni
Lenape tribe; an earnest talker about his
State and Nation, and over-fond of "fire
water." The Delawares once roamed over
our hills in pursuit of game, or held their
Councils in the valleys of the "Wissahicon
and Manatawna, as the Schuylkill was origin
ally called. Man-a-taw-na, (i. e.) the place
where they drank.
On the eastern side of "Wissahicon Creek,
nearly opposite the "Indian Rock" Hotel,
may be seen the figure of an Indian chief
fastened upon the face of a high perpendicu
lar rock, which commands a fine view of tho
surrounding country. This rock is peculiar,
having a pulpit-like recess formed by nature
in its perpendicular front, with astone table
in' the centre like a pulpit desk, which tra
dition says, was used by the Chief (Tadeus
kung) when addressing his tribe. From the
papers of Joseph Eastburn Mitchell, one of
Philadelphia's antiquarians, to whom tho
public is indebted, in a great measure, for
this memorial to that celebrated Indian
Chieftain ; much of the information hero
given concerning him is due. Mitchell spells
the old Chieftain's name Tedyuscung, but I
have preferred to follow Cranz ; see his His
tory of the Brethren, page 476. The figure
of the Indian Chief was placed there on
the 18th of July, 1856, in commemoration of
Tadeuskung's last visit to the spot, which oc
curred just 100 years previous, and is said to
be a correct representation of a Delaware
Chief. This "Indian Rock" and "Indian
Hill," as it is called, on which it is situated,
was venerated by Indians as a place sacred

8G

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

to the Great Spirit, and Tadeuskung and his
band of warriors often frequented the spot;
endeared to all the tribe, as the place where
their forefathers had offered up their sacri
fices to the great Manitou ; for the Lenni
Lenape's were the former owners of all these
lands, from the Delaware to the foot of the
" Endless" mountains.
Of the old Chief it may be said :
" Once a mighty Chief, whoso many bands
Hanged freely o'er these shaded lands ;
But now there's scarcely left a trace
To mind us of that faded race 1"
And of the' Red Men who once lived here,
it truly has been written :
"  that all have passed away,

The noble race — and brave ;
That their light canoes have vanished,
From off the crested wave 
That 'mid the forests where they roamed,
There rings no hunter's 6hout ; 
But, their name is on your waters,
Ye may not wash it out.
Near the grave of Tschoop, towards the
west, are interred the remains of the Foun
der of Bethlehem, and upon the tablet dedi
cated to his memory, is engraved :
" DAVID NITSCHMAN
FOUNDER*
of Bethlehem, who felled the first tree, and
built the first house.
Born September 18th, 1676,
in Mora via,
Died April 14th, 1758.
This second
Memorial was erected
June 1853."
On the 22nd of February 1751, Johanna,
the first wife of the very Rev. Bishop John
Nitschman, Sr., departed this life at Bethle
hem. Her husband was then the ruling
spirit here, being the successor of Spangen
berg. She was an extraordinary woman, one
of the eighteen single women, who at Hern
hut, formed that covenant, out of which grow
* Tlie above, commonly known as '¦ Father Kitsch-
man," page 6, was the Master-builder. His nephew,
Bishop David Nitschman, was the Founder, see page
69, also tho ''Transactions of tho Moravian Historical
Bi-ciety, ' page 126, in a note.

the class, or choir, of" Single Sisters" ofthe
Moravian Church. She was buried jn the
(then) exact centre of this old burial ground,
in the middle path.
The middle path was then the second one
from Market Street, running east and west.
Mrs. Nitschman was the 153rd person buried
in those grounds. The mound over the grave
was subsequently levelled, owing to the fact,
that it was in the path, and became en
croached upon, and the tablet defaced. She
was laid there because of her exemplary
christian life and character. She was then,
and still is called" a hand-maiden of the Lamb ;"
and by some, " The Congregation's Mother;"
and her memory is honored in the church.
She was thus buried, not at her own request,
but by those in authority, as an honor, and
a bright example to others. Her grave is
directly opposite (north of) No. 114, and
south of No. 169.
In the north-eastern portion of the Ceme
tery is a stone, on which is the following :
" Louis David
De Schweinitz,
Senior Civilis.
He was born
The 13th of February, 1780,
at Bethlehem, Pa.
Departed this life
the 8th of January, 1834."
In the southern section of the ground, set
apart for the males, beneath the shade of tho
grand old American tulip trees, which orna
ment this quiet home ofthe departed ones, lie
the remains of a boyhood friend and fellow-
student-RoBERT Dudley Ross, M. D., a neph
ew of John Ross, the late celebrated Chief of
the Cherokee nation. The grave of tho old
Chief's eldest son, James McDonald Ross, is
near by. The inscription on his tomb is very
singular. Bethlehem was until very lately, tho resi
dence of many families, descendants of the
American Indians.
Among the Indian converts buried in this
old Cemetery, there is one particularly de
serving remembrance, namely : the aged
Brother Michael. In his younger days, this

BETHLEHEM, P E N N S Y L V A N I A.

TT

old Savage, was one of the most experienced
and undaunted warriors of tho Munsey tribe.
Ho was baptised in 1742, and led until his
death, a, consistent christian life. He was
styled " The crown of the Indian Mission."
The serenity of his countenance, when laid
in his coffin, formed a singular contrast to
the warlike characters scarified and tattooed
upon his face when he was a noted Indian
brave. On his right cheek and temple was
the representation of a rattlesnake ; from
the under lip a pole was drawn, passing over
the nose and up between the eyes, to the top
of his forehead, ornamented at every quarter
of an inch with round marks, intended to
represent the number of scalps he had tak
en ; upon his left cheek two lances, crossing
each other appeared; and upon the lower
jaw was delineated the head of a wild-boar.
All these figures were executed with a re
markable degree of artistic skill. He died
July 25th, 1758.
Thefuneral ceremonies ofthe Moravians arc
of a peculiar character. The coffin contain
ing the remains of the departed, is generally
placed in the "Dead House," a neat little
building back of tho church, and in front of
the "Old Chapel." After tho funeral servi
ces in the church, appropriate to tho occa
sion, the coffin is placed on a bier, covered
with a white linen cloth, and taken part of
the way up the path towards the cemetery,
whore it is then set down atthe northeastern
corner of a square plot of ground, in the cen
tre of which is growing now a magnificent
weeping willow; each side of this square is
bounded by gravelled walks, on which the
mourners take their stand, forming in mili
tary parlance, a hollow square, the family
of the departed one, forming the eastern
line. The Minister stands at the head of the
bier, and reads aloud the following hymn,
lino by line, and the congregation sing it,
accompanied by the trombones :
" Oh, let me when expiring,
Recline- upon Thy breast ;
Thus I shall be acquiring,
Eternal life and rest."
When this is finished, the procession

moves on to the place cf interment, whc.o
the corpse being placed beside the grave
the Minister sa}-s :
'; Lord have mercy upon us."'
And the people respond :
'• ChrLt have merzy vpnn us.
Lord havo mercy upon us,
Christ hear us.''
Then follows the Lord's prayer, with the
solemn Litany :
LordGod, Son, Saviour ofthe world,
Be gracious unto us.
By thy human bir h,
Ey thy prayers and tears,
Bless and comfort us,
Lord and God.
Lord God, Holy Ghost,
A bide with us forever.
Then follows the prayer, beginning : " I
am the resurrection and the life, saith tho
Lord, <$rc." After which the assembly sing,
to the accompaniment of the trombone choir :
" Now to the earth let these remains,
In hope committed be.
Until the body changed attains
To immortality."
During the singing of this verse, tho body
is deposited in its last resting place; and
after the Minister has read the remainder o
the solemn service, the people sing :
" Tlie Saviour's blood and righteousness,
My beauty is, my glorious dress ;
Thus well array'd, I need not fear,
When in His presence I appear ."
And then the congregation are dismissed
by the Pastor with the usual benediction ;
and some linger long around the sacred spot,
endeared to so many of them by sad and
tender recollections, of their loved ones bu
ried there.
The mournful accompaniment of the trom
bones on such occasions, never fails to remind
the hearer ofthe beautiful lines of the Epis
copal burial service : 1 Cor., xv, 51-2.
" Behold I show you a mystery : we shall
not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at tho
last trump ; for the trumpet shall sound, ar.d
tho dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed."

88

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

H Yd gladly hear the trombone's sound,
Td gladly sinlc beneath the ground,
And mingle with the dead who lie,
So still beneath this Bethlehem shy."
The Moravians do not put on mourning for
tho dead, they consider it wrong in princi
ple, deeming neaven tho final abode of all
God's chosen creatures; they esteem it a
blessing "to go home."
This is an example which it would bo well
for all other denominations to follow; for
independent ofthe fact that the wearing of
mourning is but an outward show, it is an
useless expense, even to those in comfortable
circumstances, while many others who can
ill afford the outlay in this regard, spend
the means to be in the fashion, which are
needed for the common necessaries of life.
The pomp, parade, and expense, of funeral
displays, are much to be deplored, their ef
fect is vicious, for the poor will imitate their
wealthier neighbors.
It is the custom in Bethlehem, to an
nounce the death of a member of the congre
gation by the music of the trombones, per
formed in the belfry ofthe church ; no matter
where they may die.
" And each departed hath its own sweet token,
Whispered to loved ones in that trumpet's tone,
Distilling dew o'er hearts with sorrow broken,
From heav'nly home."
Three dirges are always performed, the
first and last being the same air, (T, 151, A.)
and are selected from the appropriateness of
those hymns for such an occasion. The se
cond air is varied, as it designates the sex,
and condition in life of the deceased, or in
Moravian phraseology, the choir to which
the departed belonged. In the German Li
turgy Book, where tho order for these an
nouncements of death are given, (pages 217,
218 and 219,) the hymn which suits for each
choir is appended ; and by the old Moravian
i s at once recognized. They are as follows :
R3. D. for Married Men.
79. " Married Women.
132. A. " "Widowers.
149. A. " Widows.
185. " The Single Brethren.

37. A. for The Single Sisters
23. " Youths.
14. A. " Maidens.
39. A. " Little Boys,
82. D. " Little Girls.
The following interesting account from the
Moravian of September, 24th, 1868, will bet
ter explain the meaning ofthe funeral dirges,
which are as interesting to the strangers
as they are dear to the Moravians :
" "We will say that a brother in the middle
age of life has departed. The sad event is
soon after touchingly announced to the con
gregation, by the trombones, who ascending
to tho church tower, play at brief intervals,
/7i?'cc solemn dirges. How affecting the soft
funeral tones, attracting the attention of the
most careless; the busy hum of life is for a
moment arrested, as the hurried question is
asked : — " "Who is dead 1" The notes of the
music are not blown at random. They give
utterance, as it were, to a living Voice. Each
dirge has reference to a special hymn, which
is expressive of particular declarations in
reference to the departed, or of the prayerful
wishes of the survivors. Thus the first
hymn makes the announcement of the de
parture, which freely translated from the
original German, is :
A pilgrim soul released
From sorrowr, care, and pain, —
Has e'en now left our covenant,
" Gone home /" with Christ to reign.
The hour of consummation
For him has struck,— thrice blest!
Wo wander still, — all weary, —
Our lov'd one is at rest.
The second dirge denotes the class, and pe •
riod of life to which the deceased belonged,
and intimates what are the sentiments of
the dying Christian at tho hour of depart
ure. The tune here is varied to suit the age
and sex of the person. In the present in
stance, that of the man of middle life :
Jesus Christ as I go hence
Still is near mo 1 This inspircth
Ever living confidence
Yea, — even as his love requircth
IIopo with dust, rests on my grave ;
Uis full likeness I shall have.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

89

The closing dirge i3 to the same solemn
turn as the first, and is tho believer's practi
cal response to the sad announcement:
Lord at my dissolution,
Do not from me depart ;
Support at the conclusion
Of lif ¦, my fainting heart ;
And then, though I be dying,
'Midst sickness, grief and pain,
I shall, on thee relying,
Internal life obtain.
From June 2Sth, N42, to February 9th,
1853, or d-jrinr 111 years, 1672 persons died
in Bethlehem and its vicinity.
The Moravians do not toll the bell at fu
nerals, but before the services are held in
tho church, the bell is rung in the usual
manner to call the congregation together.
On the tenor bell of the Parish Church of
Abbott's Leigh, Somersetshire, England, are
the words :
' I to the Church the living call,
And to the grave doth summon all."
Tho " Passixg Bell," was so named be
cause it was tolled when any one passed
away from this life. Ileneeit was sometimes
called the Soul's Bell, and was rung that
those who heard it might pray for the soul
of the dying person. This custom was con
tinued till the time of Charles II.; it arose in
the darkest ages. The ringing of bells was
supposed to drive away the evil spirits which
might assail the dying; the tolling of the
bell, it was thought, struck them with terror.
Now the '• Passing Bell" is no longer rung
in England, but on tho morning after the
death of any person, the bell is tolled; and
at tho end of the tolling in Yorkshire, and
Dorsetshire, 9 knells are tolled for a man, 6
for a woman, and 3 for a child. In Somer
setshire, 3 knells aro tolled for a man, and
only 2 for a woman.
In some of tho parishes of England it was
customary to ii:ig out the number of bells
corresponding to the ago of the person who
had died. So says tho author of " A Brave
Lady," in chapter 12. And such was the
custom in the parish of St. Paul's Episcopal
Church at Choste:, Pennsylvania, in my

boyhood. So that the announcement of
death by the music of the trombones, by tho
Moravians, is but an observance of an an
cient custom of the Christian Church, al
though in another form. How old a custom
it is, it would be difficult to say, but as horns
were used before bells, it ia without doubt
the more ancient.
On Easter morning at sunrise, the Mora
vian congregations assemble in their respec
tive grave-yards, and sing their Liturgy. A
friend thus wrote on April 19th, 1867 : " On
Easter morning you will recollect, that wo
in Bethlehem generally go into the grave
yard, singing our Liturgy for the occasion.
Mr. Jedediah "Weiss, and Mr. Charles F.
Beckel, will have played as members of the
trombone choir for fifty years this Easter
morning. This is a rare occurrence." Both
of these fine old Moravian gentlemen are
still living, in excellent health, and have
played in the choir three Easter mornings
sines the above was written; may their
days be long in the land.
In this connection, the following may not
be without interest :
(Special Correspondence of Tho Press.)
Bethlehem, March 29, 1869.
Yesterday morning being Easter Sunday,
the accustomed Litany was performed, with
other services, according to immemorial lo
cal practice, in the Moravian church, con
ducted by the Rev. E. de Schweinetz, assisted
by the Rev. L. R. Iluebner. These services
began at 5 A. M. in the church, with singing
and the litany for Easter morning. By day
break the whole congregation, consisting of
2,000 persons, proceeded to tho burial-ground ,
preceded by the trombone choir, and a largo
open square was formed, after which, with
musical accompaniment, the choir began
with —
The graves of all His saints Christ blest,
And soften'd every bed ;
W"beie should the dying members rest,
But with the dying Head.
There is another verse, after which the
congregation joined in with
Then let tho last trumpet sound,
And bid our kindred rise
Awake, ye nations under grouud,
Ye baiuts, ascend the tkies

90

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Then the minister followed, with excerpts
from the Holy Scriptures, the congregation
giving the"' Amen," the choir again chiming
in, and the congregation, minister, and choir
thus alternating to the close of this singu
larly interesting service."
The following Obituary of a departed
Brother, copied from the " Moravian," is in
serted here, that all may see how among the
Moravians, a friend who hath left, is mourn
ed and honored: " In Memorial.
Departed this life at Bethlehem, Pa., Octo
ber 14th, 1868,. Amos Comknius Clauder, son
ofthe Rev. Henry G. Clauder, and manager of
the Moravian Publication Office. Aged thir
ty-three years.
" Our deceased brother has left behind him
a record of sterling virtues, and christian
goodness, which will long remain a cherish
ed remembrance. Exemplary in all the
relations of domestic and social life, of a
bright and cheerful temperament, an hon
orable and industrious man of business, a
conscientious and devoted agent of the
church, his loss will bo widely felt, and felt
more deeply as time elapses.
* Sleep in peace!
All thy earthly toil must cease,
For death's night hath closed around thee,
And its peaceful slumbers'bound thee,
'Till His voice all eyes release.
Sleep in Peace !
Sleep in peace 1
'Till the eternal morn appear ;
By the risen Saviour's merit —
Thou endless life inherit,
By the power of His word
Called to life.
Besides the large Moravian church, and
the Old Chapel, there are Lutheran, German
P.eformed, English and German Methodist,
md Catholic places of worship in Bethlehem.
An Episcopal church is now spoken of, as
intended to be erected at the corner of Market
pud High Streets. In South Bethlehem there
is a handsome Episcopal church, and par
sonage adjoining, occupying a prominent
* Sa:ig ot his funeral bythe Arion fTocic-
ty, of which ho was a member."

site; and also a handsome Catholic church,
and a fine large Moravian church. The
building known as " Christmas Hall," on the
grounds of tho Lehigh University, was for
merly a Moravian church.
The Lutheran congregation have a large
place of interment at High and Church Sta.,
adjoining Nisky-IIill Cemetery. It only
needs a small expenditure, and somecxercise
of taste to make it a very pretty spot.
Bethlehem, proper, covers quite a large
area of ground on both sides of the Manoc
kasy Creek. That portion of the town south
of the Lehigh River, being called " South
Bethlehem," and incorporated under that
name. The most interesting part, however,
is that portion occupied by the old town,
on the hill to the north of the river Lehigh,
which is tho old Bethlehem of history,
containing tho old Moravian buildings,
churches, schools, stores, and the old tav
erns, made famous by the writings of trav
ellers. There are many handsome resi
dences, and many more very comfortable
ones in this part of the town, nearly every
dwelling has a fine yard and garden attached,
containing many varieties of fruit trees.
Fruit is raised in abundance in this section
of the State, and in riding through the coun
try around, and by the hill farms, tho stran
ger cannot fail to realize the fact. In the
mountains, cherry trees abound, both wild
and cultivated, their fruit serving to feed
the small birds that aro so numerous in tho
hills, and the country around Bethlehem,
where they are not much disturbed fortu
nately, for game birds aro very scarce in tho
Lehigh Valley, and consequently the country
is not infested by sportsmen, who generally,
when they cannot get better game, slaughter
every insectivorous bird they come across.
A few partridges and squirrels, are occasion
ally to be seen in tho fall, these, with some
wild pigeons, aro tho only .game to tempt
the gunner to a " day's shooting in the coun
try." Tho valley and the mountains arc-,
however, beautiful, and the lover of nature
cannot but enjoy tho many beautiful walks
and drives in the vicinity of the town, and

8C

---^^M^M^-'.l^

NAZARETH HALL,
Nazareth, Northampton County, Penna
Rev. EUGENE LEIBERT, Principal.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

91

will not soon tire of the many charming
views that open around him in every direc
tion. The favorite ride for visitors to Bethlehem,
is to "Bauer's Rock," the highest point on
the mountain range to the south of the town,
and about eight miles distant. It is about
1060 feet above tide water, and from the two
high rocks which crown the summit of the
ridge, there is a beautiful view of Saucon
Valley to the south, and with a good glass, it
is said, Chestnut Hill, near Philadelphia,
can be seen on a clear day; while to the
north, are splendid views of the Blue-ridge,
the Lehigh "Water Gap, and the mountains
beyond and aroundMauch Chunk; theLittle
Gap, Allentown, and the Lehigh River wind
ing in the distance like a silver ribbon.
From here, a ride to Allentown, and a visit
to the curious spring which furnishes the
town with water, is the usual programme.
At the spring the water rushes out of the
side of a hill in an immense volume, falling
first into quite a small basin, clean, cool,
sparkling and delicious, thence flowing into
a small pond stocked with a large number of
trout. From this pond the supply necessary
for the town, which has a population of 17,-
000 inhabitants, is drawn, and yet enough
flows off from it to fill quite a large dam,
which furnishes sufficient water power for
tho use of several large mills. In its way
it is a greater curiosity than the spring at
Bethlehem; a handsome hotel was erected
in 1868, near this spring, for summer board
ers. Then there is the drive to Ilcllertown,
about four miles from Bethlehem, where
there i3 a hotel, with an excellent cook ; par-
tics go thereto enjoy a trout supper, waffles
and spring chicken. Make your first drive
here, for trout are very scarce, and very ex
pensive. To the northeast of Bethlehem, and about
ten miles distant, is the quiet Moravian vil
lage of Nazareth. In this latter town is
located the Pedagogium, or Boarding School
for Boys, instituted by the Moravians in the
year 1759. in which, now, as in many other

schools of a like character in the United
States, military tactics are taught; and the
pupils are dressed in a grey uniform, some
what similar to those worn by the cadets in
the U. S. Military Academy at "West Point.
There are some quaint old buildings in
Nazareth, and a day or two can be profitably
be passed there by the stranger in visiting
the many places of interest in the town, and
its vicinity. The drive to it from Bethlehem
is through a very beautiful country, and fine
views reward the beholder on all sides. The
view of the surrounding country from the
old Moravian grave yard, is especially wor
thy of note.
The Pedagogium, or Boarding School, bet
ter known as Nazareth Hall, stands on a
commanding site in the western extremity
ofthe village, its front having a southern ex
posure, with a fine large lawn in front, in
tersected with walks, embracing to the south
a view of a landscape of exceeding beauty.
In front of the Hall stands a handsome
monument, erected in 1868, to the memory
of the graduates of the institution who laid
down their lives in theservices of their coun
try during the late rebellion of 1861-65. A
fine old piece of woods to the west of tho
Hall, partly on the rising hill, has been re
served as a, play-ground for tho boys, it is
neatly laid out with walks, having a spring
and a small stream of water running through
it, with some small ponds of water, seats and
arbors abound under the old hickory, oak
and chestnut trees which ornament tho
grounds ; tho Moravians beautify and adorn
some such spot as this in all their towns and
villages, quiet, shady retreats, attractive
alike to the young and the old.
" Nazareth Hall," was erected as a Manor
House for Count Zinzendorf, in hopes of his
taking up his permanent residence there.
It was intended to accommodate the Count
andhis coadjutors, and was designated as the
'•Pilgrim house." The corner stone was
laid on the 3rd of May, 1755, and the struc
ture completed in 1756. The Hall is a mas
sive structure of blue limestone, now rough
cast with mortar and gravel, with anunsight-

92

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

ly brick addition, lately added to its eastern
wing, out of all architectural proportion and
taste. The ancient portion, with its double
pitched roof and two rows of dormer win
dows, with the balcony and belfry which
surmount it, give it a venerable appearance
well becoming its antiquity. On the east
side of the open square in front of the Hall,
stands the old " Sisters' House."
On the 6th of June, 1759, Nazareth Hall
was opened as a boarding school for the sons
of the Moravian Brethren, with 92 scholars.
In 1779 the school was closed, owing to the
inability on the part of the Church to defray
the expense of educating, as they did, almost
gratuitously, so many children. The Breth
ren, having about this time involved them
selves in so many expensive missionary en
terprises, this step was indispensably neces
sary. But on the 3rd of October, in the year
1785, the institution was again opened as a
boarding school for boys of all Protestant
denominations, and has ever since enjoyed
an increasing patronage, with successful re
sults. Boys are admitted to the school from
nine to fifteen years of age. The necessary
expense of the scholastic year is $280. This
does not include music, drawing, painting
or the foreign languages, for each of which
a small extra charge is made of about $20
per year.
The situation of the town, and the healthy
air of the adjacent country, render Nazareth
a very eligible location for a boarding school ;
but a more quiet country town cannot well
be imagined. " Sleepy Hollow," is a lively
place in comparison; by staying there a few
days one gets an idea of life in Bethlehem
a hundred years ago.
In tho American Gazetteer, published iu
1797, there is a very interesting sketch of
Nazareth, to which tho reader is referred.
And a full account of the Boarding School
will be found in "William C. Reichel's " His
torical Sketch of Nazareth Hall, from 1755
to 1869," published in the latter year, by J.
B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia.
Old Nazareth is situated a short distance
east of the present town of that name. It is

still the property ofthe Society, but no long
er the seat of a Moravian Congregation.
Christian Spring, about two miles to the
south-west of Nazareth, was formerly a small
Moravian settlement, and was named in
honor of Christian Renatus Zinzendorf, a son
of the Count. It was built in a quadrangu
lar form. On the north were the chapel and
dwelling houses; on the east the different
workshops, and a grist and saw mill, pro
pelled by the waters of the Manockasy. All
the buildings enclosed are square and of
considerable size. During the Indian wars
of 1755-56 and 57, it was stockaded, and put
into a condition of defence. The Govern
ment attached great importance to the place,
it being one of the principal outposts of the
white settlements. The buildings are all
still standing, except the mills. It is no
longer a Moravian settlement, although the
property is still owned by the Society.
Gnadensthal, i. e., " The Valley of Grace,"
is situated about half a mile to the north of
Christian Spring. It was formerly a Moravi
an settlement, but is now the property of Nor
thampton County, and the County Poor
House has been erected there.
Friedensthal, or " Valley of Peace," was
another of these little settlements, with
small Moravian Congregations. It is about
two miles east of Nazareth; but the place is
no longer owned by tho Society. See Bond-
thaler's Life of Heckwolder, published iu
Philadelphia in 1847, in the notes to page 34.
The drives to Freemansburg, Bath, Cata-
sauqua, Easton, and Nazareth, are very
beautiful ; the lovely scenery will alone
repay the visitor to either of these places,
passing as tho roads do, thr jugh the " Dry
lands," presenting varied views of river,
mountains, valleys, and richly cultivated
farm lands.
On tho south side of the Lehigh, near
Bethlehem, situated on a plateau of the Le
high Hills, is the celebrated " Water Cure
Establishment," of Dr. Oppelt; during the
Summer months tho house is full of patients,
and boarders from a distance. The situation
is very retired ; the grounds are beautiful,

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

93

and the view of the surrounding country
from the hills in the rear of the place, which
are covered with fine forest trees, is exceed
ingly fine; near the Establishment is a
never .failing spring of water, gushing up
out of a crevice in the rocks, around which
are fixed seats ; close by are swings and a.
bowling alley, for the amusement of the
boarders. This spot would be a splendid
position for a hotel. Adjoining this Estab
lishment to the south, is the handsome resi
dence of the late Mr. Fiot, once a celebrated
music publisher in Philadelphia, now de
ceased. The house has been enlarged, and
is now occupied as a. Boarding School for
young ladies, under the auspices of the
Episcopal Church, with Miss Edith Chase as
Principal — and is called " Bishopthorpe
School." There are many objects of interest in
Bethlehem worthy of a visit ; and as in the
days of old, the stranger was shown over the
town and through the Brethren's buildings
by " Father" Thomas ; so in these later days,
a worthy gentleman has been found to sup
ply the place of that kind old patriarch, now
departed. The writer, and so very many
visitors to Bethlehem, have received so many
marks of attention and kindness, from this
fine old Moravian Brother, that these sketch
es would not be complete, without mention
of his name in connection with this ancient
old Burg. Dr. Maurice C. Jones, is now the
cicerone of the visitors to Bethlehem, a self-
constituted Fremdendiener. He is a retired
physician, of ample means, a "Welsh Mora
vian, who loves Bethlehem, his adopted
country, and his ancient and honorable
church, taking great interest in all the offi
ces of the Society ; and is an agreeable, esti
mable, and courteous gentleman, of fine
conversational powers, justly proud of the
venerable' old town in which he lives, and
its historical mementoes. The same affec
tionate regard is shown to him, in our
modern times, by all who know him, as was
formerly shown to Mr. Thomas, in the days
of his usefulness.
From the early days of the settlement of

Bethlehem,. it has been customary for the
church authorities to appoint some one to
wait on all strangers visiting the town, who
desire to see and inspect the schools, and the
various buildings of the Society. John Et-
wein, afterwards a celebrated Bishop of tho
Church, was the first "Fremdendiener," or
guide to the visitors, more properly perhaps
translated as " The Strangers' Friend;" he
served from 1776 to 1779, and was succeeded
by Nicholas Garrison; how long the latter
acted in this capacity I cannot say, but
Chastellux mentions him in his work, which
was printed in 17S2. After him, John Bonn
was the guide till 1788. He was better
known as " Pappy Bonn," an affectionate
appellation bestowed upon him by the young
girls at the Seminary. His successor was
Francis, more familiarly called " Daddy Tho
mas," at first by the girls, to whom he carried
the letters from fhe post office, and afterwards
by everyone. He was a very amiable and
courteous old man, a great favorite with
all who knew him, and full of old fashion
ed wit. He departed this life in 1822, being
then in the ninetieth year of his age, and his
remains repose in the old grave-yard on tho
Hill. He held his position as guide, and
remained in the employ ofthe Seminary till
his death ; since then no one has been named
to perform such duties. But courteous gentle
men are always to be found in the congrega
tion to act as the " Strangers' friend."
The Moravians were once a very plain,
unassuming people, forbidding vain show
in dress, and economical in all their habits ;
their apparel was simple, clean and neat.
The straight, unlappelled, dark brown coat,
the broad brimmed, low crowned hat, the
knee-buckled smallclothes, the broad round-
toed shoe, were consistent characteristics of
a Moravian Brother ; whilst the plain drab
or black silk bonnet, the three cornered
white kerchief, the plain silk gown, the
comfortable hood furnished cloak, the stuff
shoe, for comfort and convenience, were the
Sisters' attire; and their manners were
bland, courteous and winning. This costume
was continued inviolate until about 1825;

94

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

since then the Moravians have not been dis
tinguishable by dress from any other denom
ination of Christian people.
The air of Bethlehem seems not only to be
very health-giving to invalids, but also con
ducive to longevity, of which there are many
instances among the inhabitants. Eighty-
four is not an unusual age for the people to
attain, as may be seen from an inspection
of the tomb-stones in the old grave-yard.
And there are now many residents of the
place whose ages exceed that number of
years. For the first twenty years after the settle
ment of the town, all property was held in
common by the " Economy." But in 1762,
the Society began to dispose of portions of
their real estate, to such of the Brethren as
were desirous, and able, to purchase home
steads for their families.
The number of people belonging to the
Economy in 1756, was 953. They did not all
live in Bethlehem, but some in Saucon, some
at Lisby, and some in the other Moravian
towns in the vicinity. The Indian converts,
numbering 82, are not included in the enu
meration, nor the young Indian women who
lived with the Sisters. There was quite a
falling off in the number ofthe inhabitants,
after the abolition of the Communist system
in 1762. In 1756 there were 219 "Single
Brethren" living at Bethlehem, Christian
Spring, Nazareth, Gnadensthal and Fried-
ensthal; but in the year 1782, the number
was reduced to 39.
But one person of each trade or vocation
was permitted to settle in any Moravian
town in the United States ; this system was
kept up till 1828, the object being to prevent
rivalry in business. The secular affairs of
the town were govei'ned by a Board called
the " Collegium," who regulated all matters
of trade ; and all members of the Society in
tending to commence any business, had first
to get their permission to do so. The stores,
taverns, and several other branches of trade,
continued to be owned and carried on by the
Society, until within about 25 years ago.
The last business conducted by the Brethren

at Bethlehem, was- the accommodation of
travellers at the " Sun Hotel," which they
sold in 1848, to Charles Augustus Lucken
back. " On the other side of Jordan," at the foot of
South-Mountain, nine miles from Bethle
hem, and five miles south-west from Allen
town, is situated the Moravian settlement of
Emmaus; it is built on a single street; the
town contains one store, about thirty-five
dwellings, and a Congregation House, which
is united to a Chapel. There is also a tavern
in the place. The land on which the village
is erected, was bequeathed to the Society by
two members of the church, for the support
of a minister and a school. Ogden, in his
old work, already referred to, at page 55,
says : " In this place was one of those accom
modations for the lodging of a married cou
ple, which cause so much conversation. * *
According to constant practice, single beds
are used by unmarried persons, from their
youth upwards. "When a couple are united
in holy wedlock, and become heads of a fam
ily, these two beds and their bedsteads, are
placed so contiguous to each other, that they
are covered with one general blanket or
counterpane. This outward covering desig
nates the lodging of some married'persons ;
but this is not an universal custom, as many
use the common large beds. It is conveni
ent, in case of sickness of either party, the
nursing of children, and the poverty' of
young housekeepers, who may not wish to
be at the expense of exchanging or altering
their single beds, bedding or be'adsteads.
The bedstead is not different from that in"
common use, except that it has head, foot,
and side boards."
lam unable to perceive anything singular
or curious in the above related custom, which
it is said, excited a great deal of impertinent
curiosity, and in consequence the usage was
discontinued ; because I know married peo
ple who now sleep upon single beds, arranged
just as the old Moravians fixed theirs, and
for some ofthe same reasons, although they
are persons of wealth ; besides this, it is well
known, or ought to be, that in the better

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

¦95

-circles, of society in England, and Continen
tal Europe, it is customary for man and wife,
although living together amicably under
the same roof, to occupy separate sleeping
apartments. On the 28th of April, 1870, I received the
following communication from my friend
Bertine S. Erwin, of Bethlehem, in reference
to the "Old Pine Tree," mentioned in this
chapter, which had become so decayed in
its upper branches, as to be unsafe; so tho
old land mark had to be destroyed :—
"I have a sad communication to make,
. inasmuch as the old pine tree departed this
life, this A. M. at 8. 05. The chief mourn
ers, the Blackbirds, are congregated in the
grave-yard surrounding the garden.
" The age of the tree is 70 years, or therea
bouts. It took four men 28 minutes to fell
it. Knowing your interest in matters per
taining to Bethlehem antiquities, I thought
it might interest you to hear of this sudden
"pining" away. This old tree was only 80
feet in height, although it looked much
higher, it had, however, lost about 20 feet of
its top in a storm some years ago. The low
est limb was 44 feet from the ground."
In Chastellux's Travels in North America,
vol. 11, page 311. The Translator in a note
says: "It is remarked that on the lands
within reach of Moravian settlements, the
cultivation is superior, and every branch of
husbandry is better carried on, first from the
emulation excited by these industrious peo
ple, and secondly from the supply the coun
trymen procures from them of every neces-
sarv implement of husbandry, kc, fabricated
in these settlements." These remarks are
qlj true to-day, 1870, as they were in 17S0.
" Besides those the Marquis speaks of, I visit
ed some others, not far from Bethlehem, at
one of which called Nazareth, is a famous gun
smith, from whom my friend bought a pair
of pistols, many of which I saw there ofthe
most perfect workmanship. Nothing can be
more enchanting than these establishments ;
out of the sequestered wilderness they have
formed well built towns, vast edifices all of
stone, large orchards, beautiful and regular

shaded walks in the-European fashion, and
seem to combine with the most complete sep
aration from the world, all tho comforts, and
even many of the luxuries of polished life.
At one of these cleared out settlements in tho
midst of a forest, between Bethlehem and
Nazareth, possessing all the advantages of
mills and manufactures, I was astonished
at the delicious sounds of an Italian concert;
but my surprise was still greater, on enter
ing a room, where the performers turned
out to be common workmen of different
trades, playing for their amusement. At
each of these places, the brethren have a
common room, where violins and other in
struments are suspended, and always at the
service of such as choose to relax themselves,
by playing singly, or taking apart in a con
cert." This old work brings us back by easy
stages, from " Moravian Mill" to Bethlehem,
from which we have wandered. The trans
lator, an Englishman, who announces that
he resided in America during the period of
Chastellux's travels, says in a note to page
321, vol. II :— " The first time I visited Beth
lehem, was from Philadelphia; and after
travelling two days through a country alter
nately diversified with savage scenes and
cultivated spots, on issuing out of the woods
at the close of the evening, in the month of
May, found myself on a beautiful extensive
plain, with tho vast eastern branch of the
Delaware on the right, widely interspersed
with wooded islands, and at the distance of
a mile in front of the town of Bethlehem,
rearing its large stone edifices out of a forest,
situated on a majestic, but gradually rising
eminence; the background formed by the
setting sun. So novel and unexpected a
transition, filled the mind with a thousand
singular and sublime ideas, and made an
impression on me, never to be effaced. The
romantic and picturesque effect of this glo
rious display of natural beauties, gave way
to the still more noble and interesting sen
sations, arising from the reflection in the
progress of the arts and sciences, and the
sublime anticipation ofthe" populous cities,"

96

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

and " busy hum of man," which are one day
to occupy, and civilize the vast wilderness
of the new world."
Speaking of the " Sun," Chastellux re
marks : " This tavern was built by the So
ciety of Moravian Brethren, to whom it
f.crved formerly as a magazine, and is very
handsome and spacious;" and in a note the
translator adds : "This Inn, from its exter
nal appearance, and its interior accommoda
tions, is not inferior to the best of the large
inns in England, which, indeed, it very
much resembles in every respect. The first
time I was in Bethlehem, we remained there
two or three days ; and were constantly
Eupplied with venison, moor-game* the most
delicious red and yellow-bellied trout, the
highest flavored wild strawberries, the most
luxuriant asparagus, and the best vegetables,

in short, I ever saw; and notwithstanding
the difficulty of procuring good wine and
spirits at that period, throughout the conti
nent, we were here regaled with wine and
brandy of the best quality, and exquisite
old Port and Madeira. It was at this house
that the Marquis de la Fayette retired, to bo
cured of the first wound he received in fight
ing for America; an accident, which I am
well assured, gave this young nobleman
more pleasure than most of our European
petite maitres would receive from the most
flattering proofs of the favor of a mistress."
The whole account of Bethlehem in the
body of the work, and in the notes, is very
interesting ; but both the writer, and trans
lator, show a lamentable ignorance of the
life, manners, customs, and religious belie
of the Moravian Brethren.

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BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

07

THE MORAVIAN COLLEGE,
BETHLEHEM, PA.

CHAPTER XI.
The Moravian Parochial ScnooL. — The
Moravian College, founded, a. d., 1807
chartered April 3, 1S63. — The Bethle
hem Male Boarding School. — Nisky Hill
Male Seminary. — The Old Bars op the
Congregation Farm. — Sketch op the Beth
lehem Seminary for Young Ladies. — The
Military Record of Bcthleiiem during
the Rebellion.
Mssuing from the Old Moravian Graveyard
by the southwestern gate, the stranger
stands in the rear of the Moravian Parochial
School House, a very large, handsome brick
building, four stories in height, erected in
1857, and capable of holding in its recitation
rooms over 300 scholars. The upper story
is used for concerts, lectures, kc. In it all
the children of the members of the Bethle
hem congregation of the United Brethren,
under 14 yoars of age are educated, all until
they reach that age, receive the same ad
vantages, and at a very trifling cost. The
Moravians take an especial pride in this In
stitution, and very justly so, for the educa

tion imparted in this school is of a very su
perior character, and well qualified to fit its
pupils for the active duties of American life;
not professional. In proof of the above
statement the following short paragraph i.3
inserted from the Moravian of November 1,
1869. "On Saturday evening next the pupils
of tho Moravian Parochial School, assisted
by the church choir, will give an entertain
ment in the hall ofthe school building. Tie
programme consists of recitations in concert
by the different classes of the children, in
English, French, German and Latin, and the
singing of hymns. Among the contributions
of the choir, (which need no praise from us,)
to the entertainment, is the magnificent
solo, ' I know that my Redeemer Liveth,'
from Handel's Messiah. * The entertainment
commences at seven o'clock."
The Moravian College in Bethlehem, a vie w
of which is given at the commencement of
this chapter, copied from an old circular of
Mr. Vankirk's, is situated on Church Street,
near Nisky Hill Cemetery, it is a fine large
commodious brick building, painted lead

98

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

color, commanding one of the handsomest
site3 in the town, overlooking tho Lehigh
River and Mountain, and tha rapidly in
creasing town of South Bethlehem. It is
Eurrounded by a well laid out garden, and a
fine large pleasure ground for the recreation
nf the students. This institution, in the form
of a Theological Seminary, was founded in
the year 1807, and located at Nazareth, Pa.,
and was designed not only to give the young
men of the Moravian Church, desiring to en-
, ter the ministry, a complete course of Theo
logical studies, but also to prepare them to
enter upon it by a thorough classical educa
tion ; hence the institution embraces two de
partments, a. Preparatory School, and a Theo
logical Seminary, In 1850, the Seminary was
moved to Bethlehem, and the house now oc
cupied by Adolph Conradi, in Broad Street
near New Street, taken for the use of the
Institution. In 1855, the school was taken
back to Nazareth. And in 1858, the "Mo
ravian Sustentation Diacony," i. e., the Ex
ecutive Board of the Moravian Church, pur
chased of Mr. Benjamin Vankirk, the pre
sent building and surrounding grounds,
and the Theological Seminary was again re
moved to Bethlehem; its present location.
In 1851, Mr. Vankirk purchased the build
ing in Main Street, now occupied by Charles
"W. Rauch, of Ernst F. Bleck, and continued
there the "Bethlehem Male Boarding School,"
the project proving a successful one; in 1E55,
he purchased the grounds at Nisky Hill, and
erected there the same year the present
building, now known as the "Moravian Col
lege," moved his school thither, and changed
its name to that of the "Nisky Hill Male
Seminary;" not long after this, Mr. Vankirk
was seized with a severe and long continued
illness, (from which he is now happily re
covered, and occupies an important position
as assistant in the Seminary for Young Ladies
at Bethlehem,) which compelled him to dis-
poso of his building, as before stated, and
break up his school.
In the year 1863, the Theological Seminary
and its Preparatory Department, after un
dergoing thesa various changes, were re

organized as a college, and incorporated as
such, by an Act of Assembly of th.3 Common
wealth of Pennsylvania, of the 3rd of April,
1863. See Pamphlet Laws of 1SC3, p. 277;
and also Beitel's Index of Corporations ; with
the power of conferring the usual and scho
lastic degrees, and in 1864, thrown open lo
students of all other Protestant denomina
tions. The act referred to is in these words.
An Act to Incorporate the Morcrian College and
Theological Seminary, at Bethlehem, Pa.
W HEREAS, The Church cf the Cnited Brethren,
(formerly called Moravians.) had, for a long time, a
Collegiate and Theological institute connec ted with the
bearding school at Nazareth, but in the year 1858, re
moved the same to the Eorougk of Bethlehem, and
established in said borough a college fur the education
of male persons in tho various branches of science,
literature, and the ancient and modern languages, us
likewise a department of the Bame for training and
preparing of young men for the gospel ministry. And
whereas, It is deemed by ths authorities of the said
church, to be desirable and necessary for tbe conve
nient management of tbe concerns of said college, to
have said college incorporated ; therefore,
Sec. I. — Ee it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives ofthe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by
authority of the same. That the Eight Eevcrend John
Christian Jacobson, Bishop, and the Eevsrend Frar.cij
Florentine Ilagen, and the Reverend Sylvester "Woi'.c,
all of tho Borough of Bethlehem, duly elected by the
Synod of the Northern District of the American Pro
vince of the United Brethren, a Board of Direction if
the Ecclesiastical affairs of said Church, in said Disti ict,
and likewise constituted by the virtue of their office,
the Board of Trusteeo of said College, and such otlur
persons as may be hereafter appointed their asscciutis
or successors, according to the rules and regulations c f
the said branch of the Church of the United Biethren,
be and they are hereby constituted a body politic and
corporate, in fact and in law, by the name and stylo of
tho " Moravian College and Theological Seminary," and
by that name shall be capable of perpetual succession,
may sue and be sued, may have and use a common
seal, and alter and change the Bame at pleasure, and
shall also be capable to accept, and take, by devise,
grant, bargain, salo or otherwise, any estate, or pro
perty, real or personal, and tho same to hold and cnjny,
or to sell and convey, lea=e, or mortgage, as fully and
absolutely, in all respects, as any natural person mighi
do. Provided, however, That the clear annual income
of tho estates and properties of said Corporation, exclu
sive of any lands and tenements that may bo occupied-

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

09

by said College for its accommodations, or that of its
officers or professors, and exclusive of income from
ctudents, shall not exceed tho Bum of Ten tlwusand
dollars. Sec. II. — That (the Trustees already appointed, or
who shall hereafter be appointed in accordance with
the fundamental statutes which govern the Church of
tin United Brethren iu the said Northern Province of
tho United States of America, shall have the care and
management of said College, and of its estates and
properties, and shall have power to make all needful
laws and regulations for the appointment of competent
professors and teachers, for the fixing and payment of
all salaries, for tho fixing of the prires of bo;ird and
tuition of students, fur studies and exercises ofthe stu
dent-", and for the general well being of s:iid College.
Provided, Tbat tho said statutes, by-laws and regula
tions, shall not be inconsistent with the Constitution
and laws of this Commonwealth, or of tho United
States, or the enactments of tho Synod of said Church
ofthe United Brethren.
Sec, III. — That no misnomer, or misdirection of the
said Corporation, in any will, deed, grant, or other in
strument cf writing, shall vitiate or defeat the same,
but that tho same shall take effect in the tame manner
a3 if said Corporation were rightly named therein.
Provided, That it is sufficiently described to ascertain
the intention of tho parties.
Ssc. IT. — That the Trustees, in connection with tbe
f.culty of the College, shall have power to grant and
confc: such degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, or
such branches thereof, to such students of the College,
or others, as from their proficiency in learning, they
may socm justly entitled to buch honors, and such as
are usually gi anted by institutions of a similar kind,
and to grant diplomasand certificates under their com
mon seal, as mny authenticate and perpetuate the
memory of such graduation.
Approved April 3. A. D., 1863.
From the catalogue of the College, issued
in 1848, the following additional facts are
derived. {i To the two already existing de
partments was added a third — the grammar
school. The design of this branch is to pre
pare students to enter upon the course of
study pursued in the College. In it particu
lar attention is paid to Latin, Greek and
Mathematics. Tho grammar school and
College are in the same building, and under
the same faculty, thus enabling a student to
pass through the entire course with the same
instructors, and rendering attention to the
known wants of the individual possible to

the professors. No student ia admitted into
the Institution under 13 years of age."
Besides the usual course of studies in simi
lar colleges of like character; any student
can, without extra charge, take lessons in
Drawing, German, French, Natural Philoso
phy and Chemistry ; these are, however,
elective studies. For instruction in vocal or
instrumental music, an extra charge is made,
for the number of lessons taken. The scho
lastic year is divided into three terms, of
from twelve to fourteen weeks each. There
is a short vacation at Christmas, and at Eas
ter, and one of seven weeks in July and
August. A.limited number of students can
reside in the College. No student is per
mitted to board at a hotel, and in all cases
the boarding places are subject to the ap
proval of the faculty. The expenses of a
student residing in the College, including
tuition, room, boarding and washing, is about
$100 per term. Those boarding outside, pay
only $25 per term to the College for tuition,
use of room, light and fuel. Payment of the
regular expenses are required in advance.
The Board of Trustees is the Provincial
Elders' Conference, and the members of the
Faculty are the Rev. Edwin de Schweinitz,
Pastor of the Moravian Churches at Bethle
hem, President; Professors, the Rev. William
II. Bigler, Rev. Charles B. Schultz and Rev.
Edwin G. Klose.
The old stone building on Main Street,
mentioned as having been first used by Mr.
Ernst F. Bleck, for his "Bethlehem Male
Boarding School," was originally the barn
of the Society's farm. It was struck by
lightning during a thunder storm in the
summer of 1762, and set on fire, but it was
extinguished without materially injuring
the building; which was afterwards altered
into dwelling houses, and occupied by three
families. In tearing down tlie northern part
of this old structure, in 18C9, lately occupied
by Michael Stuber, the manufacturer of
the old fashioned Bethlehem chairs, now so
much in vogue; the rafters of the old barn
were found to be blackened and charred, and
the evidences -ef the fire as fresh as oh tho

100

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

clay cf the occurrence, one hundred and
teven years before. Mr. Bleok founded the
Bethlehem Male Boarding School in 1839,
and carried it on with groat success until
1S51, when he sold out to Mr. Vankirk.
The old farm house was originally attach
ed to the barn to the north, and it still stands
in excellent order, quite as good as when it
was first erectud. It is now used by Am
brose Rauch, as a confectionery store. And
but few of the gay and happy throngs of
beautiful women and gallant men, who re
sort thither to flirt over ice-cream and cakes,
know what sacred memories are connected
with the old building, wherein once lay
wounded the gay, noble and ehivalric La
fayette. On the south side of Church Street, facing
Main Street, and opposite the large Moravian
Church, stands the celebrated " Bethlehem
Seminary for Young Ladies," where, not
only the daughters of the members of the
Moravian Church, residing in the town, re
ceive their education ; but hundreds of others
from all parts of the United States, the West
Indies and the Sandwich Islands. During
the session of 1863, and 1864, this school had
263 pupils, and the total number that year
attending tbe schools in Bethlehem, includ
ing the public school, was 985.
The Moravians make the education ofthe
young, one of their specialties, and there are
cchools for young ladies in each of their
principal settlements in America, namely,
at Litiz, Pa. ; Salem, North Carolina, and at
Hope, Indiana; and at Chaska, Minnesota,
for boys and girls ; and one at Nazareth, Pa.,
for boys.
The children of the Moravians are so edu
cated, that they are not only kind and cour
teous to the stranger, but they are loving,
obedient children. This is not only evinced
by their amiability at home, but by their
correct deportment abroad. Grape vines,
loaded with their treasures, (the favorite
place for them seems to be over the doorways
ofthe dwellings,) and trees whose limbs are
laden with ripe fruits, stand temptingly in
the streets, yet the children and people of

the town never touch them, without the
permission of the owners.
This is another beautiful illustration of the
character of these people, once so little un
derstood, but new, each day becoming to be
more fully appreciated by the good and think
ing in all classes of society. Bethlehem has
ceased to bo a Moravian settlement, but it is
to be hoped that their influence may long be
felt among the people of this pleasant town.
The boarding school for girls consists of
three large adjoining buildings on Church
Street, with a handsome chapel in the rear.
The centre building in front, three stories in
height, with its steep roof, and two rows of
attic windows, is a well preserved relic of
the old style of Moravian buildings. It was
originally " The Single Brethren's House,"
and reminds one of a first class "Man of
War," (before steam came into vogue,) on
the stocks, the windows resembling her open
ports ; it was erected before the Revolution
ary War, of 1776, and was used during that
period as the general hospital by the Ameri
can forces. Many distinguished American
officers were inmates there at different
times, either as patients or visitors; among
them, General Lafayette, suffering from the
wounds he had received at the battle of
Brandywine. On the brow of the hill, to the right hand
of the public road, leading to Allentown,
and west of the Manockasy, lie the remains
of about one thousand American soldiers, who
died in this hospital during the war; no
monument has been erected to their memory,
and no stone marks the place of their repose.
From the annual catalogue issued by the
"Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies,"
the following facts that cannot be refuted,
are gathered. It is an establishment under
the direction of the Moravian Church, and
has been in successful operation as a board
ing schoolsince the yearl'?85, and is believed
to be the oldest institution of the kind in the
United States. Located in ahealthful section
of the State, in the midst cf the charming
scenery of the Lehigh Valley, among a peo
ple distinguished for a high moral tone of

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101

character, and of a superior education, this
school possesses external advantages that
cannot be surpassed. The Seminary play
grounds are large, and laid out with taste.
The many lovely places of resort in the vi
cinity are frequently visited by the scholars
under the care of their teachers.
Since the foundation ofthe Academy, more
than five thousand of its Alumnce have spread
its reputation over all parts of the Union.
More scholars are offered nearly every year
than can be accommodated. The course of
instruction, while it keeps pace with the
progress of society, and the advancement of
science, has in its leading principles and
mode of government, been in no wise changed
since its establishment, and anything that
would give it the reputation and character
of a fashionable boarding school, has been
carefully avoided. Everything is done to
discipline and develop the mind, to instil
moral and religious principles, give a heal
thy physical development to the body, and
fit the pupils for a useful life. The school is
conducted on religious, but not sectarian
principles. The scholars attend service only
in their own chapel, and in the Moravian
Church. The scholastic year begins in Sep
tember and ends in July. The total charge
for the year is about $275. The educational
books are an extra charge. The foreign lan
guages, musie, drawing and ornamental
needle work, are considered elective studies,
for which an extra compensation is required.
One of the most interesting occasions at
the Seminary, is the annual "entertain
ment," generally held about the 1st of July
of each year, when the town and hotels are
crowded with anxious mothers and fathers,
and other relatives ofthe young ladies. The
exercises were formerly held in the large
Moravian Church, but are now given in the
" New Chapel" attached to the school, which
was built during the summer of 1868. As a
matter of course, a programme of one of these
great occasions is given. Bethlehemites
are great on programmes, every thing is
done decently, and in order, in this good old
Moravian town.

ORDER OF EXERCISES AT THE
MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT
Given by the Young Ladies ofthe Mnravain Seminary
at Bethlehem, Wednesday Evening, July 12, 1SG5.

Chorus — 95th Psalm. Mendelssohn.
" 0, come let us worship and kneel before the Lord."
Recitation— Far away. " The land that is
very far off." Is. 33. 17.
Mai-y McOrn, New York.
Song — "Rose, how enchanting art thou."
Spohr.
Mary Ecky, Philadelphia.
Piano Forte — Reigen der Sylphen.
Mary Geissenhainer, Bethlehem.
Song — Das bettelnde Kind. Gumbert.
Kate Selfridge, Bethlehem.
German Recitation — Dergerettete Juengling.
Herder.
Sallie Baker, Quincy, 111.
Piano Forte — Unefleuranimee. Carl Mayer.
Jennie Senseman, Nazareth, Pa.
Trio—" Hearts feel that love Thee." Men
delssohn.
1st Soprano — Sarah Henry, N. Y.
Ernestine Schmid, N. Y.
May Saul, N. Y.
Mary Chew, Millville, N. J.
2d Soprano — Marie Belloni, Harlem, N. Y.
Jennie Senseman, Nazareth, Pa.
Mary Holland, Bethlehem.
Lizzie Adams, Newark, N. J.
Alto— Julia Baker, Quincy, 111.
Larry Belloni, Harlem, N. Y.
Kate Glover, Harrisburg, Pa.
Recitation — The Evening Walk.
Lizzie Mitchell, N. Y.
Quartett — Piano Forte a 4 ms., Violin. Vio
loncello.
Anuie SteiD, Bethlehem.
Kate Selfridge, Bethlehem.
Piano Forte — Chant du Bivouac. Ketterer.
Mary Holland, Bethlehem.
French Recitation — Noces et Festins.
Georgie Davy, Newark, N. J.
Agatha Schurz, Bethlshem.
Alice E. Tine, N. Y.
Quartett — " As pants the hart." Thomas.
Amelia Furman, South Amboy, N. J.
Maria "Wunderling, Nazareth, Pa.
Messrs. Kau and Goth, Bethlehem.
Piano Forte — Etude. Carl Mayer.
Fannie Jenks, Brookville, Pa.

102

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Song — The Wanderer. Schubert.
Julia Baker, Quincy, III.
Tiano Forte Duett — La Balladine. Lysberg.
Lizzie Adams, Newark, N. J.
Lizzie Kenton, Newark, N. J.
Chorus — From " Paradise and the Peri."
Schuman.
Recitation — Story of Blue Beard.
Tauline Demonet, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Callie Spivey, Savannah, Ga.
Ernestine Schmid, N. Y.
Althea Schmid, N. Y,
Bertha Balmer, St. Louis, Mo.
Clara Downing, Downington, Pa.
Ada Spivey, Savannah, Ga.
Isabel Roberts, Philadelphia.
Larghetto — From 2d Symphonie. Duett with
Melodeon accompaniment. Bethoven.
Carrie Cessna, Bedford, Pa.
Addie Mercur, Towanda, Pa.
Duett — " Speed my bark." Neukomm.
Mary Ecky, Philadelphia.
Maria Wunderling, Nazareth, Pa.
Piano Forte — Ernani. Prudent.
Nettie Corey, Newark, N. J.
Trio — " Lift thine eyes." Mendelssohn.
l.^t Soprano — Mary Jenks, Brookville, Pa.
Fannie Jenks, Brookville, Pa.
Jessie Davidson, Yonkers, N. Y.
Sarah Henry, N. Y.
Kate Selfridge, Bethlehem.
2d Soprano — Mary Belloni, Harlem, N. Y.
Laura Wolle, Bethlehem.
Mary Holland, Bethlehem.
Jennie Sensemeu, Nazareth, Pa.
Ellen Laubach, Danville, Pa.
Alto — Kate Glover, Harrisburg.
Julia Baker, Quincy, 111.
Georgie Benneson, Quincy, 111.
Larry Belloni, Harlem, N. Y-
Recitation— " The Little Heartease."
Agatha Schutz, Bethlehem.
Arie — From Freischutz. Weber.
Mary Jenks, Brookville, Pa.
Piano Forte Duett— The Huguenots. E. Wolff.
Sallie Baker, Quincy, 111.
Prof. Agthe.
Song— The Erl King. Shubert.
Jessie Davidson, Yonkers, N. Y.
Recitation—" Along the Path of Life."
Nettie Corey, Newark, N. J.
Chorus-" Come, enjoy this day of pleasure."
Concone.
Madam Dressler's Pupils.

Recitation — Midsummer's Eve.
Lizzie Arms, Philadelphia.
Piano Forte — La Juive. Prudent.
Mary Jenks, Brookville, Pa.
Recitation — The Owl.
Isabel Lange, Bethlehem.
Chorus — " 0, hail us ye free !" from Ernani.
Verdi.
Hymn —
Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing,
Fill our hearts with joy and peace ;
Let us each, thy love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace ;
0 refresh us, :||:
Trav'ling through this wilderness.
One of the young gentlemen who was at
this entertainment, after his return home
from the visit, thus described it in the Eas
ton Argus, a few days later, heading his ef-
effusion :
" ' Brother Charlie's' account of his visit to
the Bethlehem Seminary entertainment.
" ' The man that hath not music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treason, stratagem and spoils,'
" Shakspeare's opinion is ours also. Music
always has charms for us, and beauty in-
invariably attracts us ; therefore, we deter
mined to attend the entertainment last week.
" About half-past six, we arrived at the
church, and found it already crowded. What
a galaxy of beauty, was there assembled 1
" The stage was very tastefully decorated
with greens. At the rear sat a number of
gentlemen assistants, while on either side,
were the young ladies, looking very happy,
and very, very beautiful.
" The exercises opened with a shortaddress
by the Principal, the Rev. Francis Wolle,
in which he gave a summary of the last
year's work, and stated the prospects of the
Seminary for the ensuing year.
" Then followed both vocal and instrumen
tal music, interspersed with recitations.
" The pieces were all so well executed, that
to make particular mention of one, wero to
do injustice to the others.
" Upon that rostrum, all the divisions of
our glorious Union were represented. Penn
sylvania and her neighbors may well be

B E T II L EH EM, PENNSYLVANIA.

103

proud at being able to say, that such an in
stitution is within their borders, and that so
much beauty and talent can be displayed by
their daughters : while our elegant and ac
complished Western sisters can never bo
surpassed. The Southern States may be
glad that they have yet some to show to the
world, what they were, and might yet have
been; while, withour Eastern friends, it were
impossible to find fault.
"At the conclusion of the entertainment,
wo adjourned to the Eagle, where soon wo
were gaily tripping through the mazes of
the giddy dance. Here, many of us, had the
pleasure of meeting near and dear relatives,
while the rest consoled themselves with the
agreeable task of promenading, dancing, or
chatting merrily with friends."
The Moravians were much annoyed dur
ing the Revolutionary War of 177C, on ac
count of their refusing to bear arms, from
which they were exempted by an act of Par
liament of Great Britain, and because, like
the Quakers, it was a part of their religious
discipline at that time to do so; they con
sidered it wrong in principle to engage in
offensive warfare, they suffered in conse
quence on all sides, but remained firm in
their determination. This article of their
faith seems now to be abandoned, for a more
patriotic people do not at this time exist in
the United States. They proved this in the
great rebellion that has been lately suppress
ed ; when the town was almost drained of its
young men, most of whom were Moravians.
Tho 46th regiment of Pennsylvania volun
teers, consisted almost altogether of men
from Northampton County ; one company, C,
being from Bethlehem and its immediate
vicinity. General Knipe was the original
colonel, but being promoted for bravery,
Brevet Brigadier-General, James L. Selfridge,
the first captain of the Bethlehem Company,
became' its commander, and led it through
the entire war ; ending its glorious career by
accompanying General Sherman on his
"grand march to the sea."
There was also a part of a company from
the town, in the 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy

Artillery, which was commanded by my old
friend and comrade, Colonel Augustus A.
Gibson, of the regular army.
Bethlehem also claims amongst her heroes,
Generals Schurz, Sigcl, Schimmelfcnniug
and Doster, whoso families lived in the town
during the rebellion. The latter is a Mora
vian, and now a distinguished member ofthe
Easton bar.
Several other military organizations, be
sides those mentioned, had Bethlehemitcs
ameng their members; and during each rebel
raid on Pennsylvania, the borough furnished
a full company of men on 24 hours notice,
fully armed and equipped for the defence of
the State.
We insert hero a portion of the memorial
of the Bethlehem Company in the 46th regi
ment, and a complete list of all the com
missioned officers serving in all arms of the
service, during tho late civil war, a record
of the bravery of her sons, of which the old
town has a just right to be very proud of.
THE SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.
Company C, 46th Regiment Pennsylvania
Veteran Volunteers.
Company Officers.
William H. Stolzenbach, Captain.
Wounded July 20, 1861.
James McQuillan, First Lieut.,
Wounded May 24, 1SC2.
Owen B. Sigley, Second Lieut.,
Wounded Juno 16, 1S64.
SERGEAXTS.
Isaac Davis.
James A. Peifcr.
John J. Davis,
Wounded and taken prisoner August 9, 1862.
William H. Eichelberger,
Taken prisoner May 24, 1S621.
Daniel Davis,
Wounded September 17, 1862.
CORPORALS.
Levi Benner.
Hugh Lj'on",
Wounded August 9, 18S2.
John C. Abbott,
Taken prisoner August 9, 1862*
Wm. H. McMonagle,
Wounded Juue 9th, 1S64.
John Moore,
Wuunded July 20, 1S64.
Julius A. Bealer,
Taken prisoner M;iy 2, 1862.

104

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

John Patrick,
Taken prisoner ~May 2, 1CC2.
Daniel Bi'.liai'J.
Edward Trcxell — musician.
David Bachman — wagoner. Transferred.
Joseph Moclictr, First Lieut., to Captain of Co. I.
Edmund Cramsic, Sergt., to Second Lieut, of Co. 11.
Promoted.
Horace B. Jones, to Second Lieut. Co. G.
Thomas B. Gormau, to Sergt. Major.
Levi Tice, to Keg't Quarter Master.
Charles B. l-'cCarty, to Serg't Major.
James T. Adair, to Ass't Surgeon 77th P. V.
Franklin Weaver, Corp'I, to Veteran Kcservc Corps.
Discharged.
Owen A. Luckenbach, Captain, October 20, KC2, fji-
wounds.
William B. Thomas, First Lieut., March 4, 1SC2.
John C. Fetter, Second Lieut.
Robert B. Dentry, Serg't, December 15, 1S62.
Henry B. Levers, Serg't, November 22, 1SC2.
Benj. II. Weaver, First Serg't, Oct. 21, 1862, wounds.
Eob't E. Williams, Corp'I, Nov. 10, 1S62, wounds.
George A, Yohe, Corp'I, December 12, 1SC1.
Our space will not permit the insertion of
the honorable record of the private soldiers.
On the Memorial it is stated :
" TheregimentarrivedatCampKalorama,
Washington, D. C, September 18, 1861, and
were soon after assigned to General Wil
liam's Brigade, Bank's Division, on the Up
per Potomac. Tho regiment took part in all
the campaigns of General Banks ; andwas iu
the Division when it was assigned to the
army of Virginia, under General Pope, suf
fering severely at the battle of Cedar Moun
tain, losing fully two-thirds of its number.
Took part in the Rappahannock campaign;
also, the Maryland campaign, ending with
Antietam. The old division of General
Banks having been transferred to the 12th
corps, under General Sloeum; took part in
all the varied campaigns ofthe Army ofthe
Potomac, until the fall of 18C3, when the
11th and 12th corps were transferred to the
Army of the Cumberland.
The regiment re-enlisted in January, 1S64,
and returned to Pennsylvania on a 30 days'
furlough. In the Spring of 1864, the 11th
and 12th corps were consolidated, and form
ed the 20th corps, under General Hooker,

and participated in all tho subsequent cam
paigns of General Sherman through Georgia
and tho Carolinas, ending with the surrender
of Johnstone's Rebel Army, and tho march
from thence to Washington, where it par
ticipated in tho Grand Review, May 24, 1SC5.
Mustered into the United States' service
September 4, 1801, at Harrisburg. Re-mus
tered as veterans, January 13th, 1GC4, at
Dcchcrt, Tennessee. Engagements.
Winchester, Va., March 23, 1SC1.
Jliddletown, Va , May 25, 1861.
Winchester, Va., May 26, 18C1.
Cedar Mountain, Va., August 9, 1SC2.
Sulphur Springs, Va., August 27, 1EC2.
South Mountain, Md., Sept. 4, 1S62.
Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1SC2.
Chancellorsvillc, Va., May 1, 2, 3, 1863.
Gettysburg. Pa., Julyl, 2, 3, 1SC3.
Kcsacn, Ga, May 15, 1S64.
Cassville, Ga., May 19, 1S64.
Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1S64.
Tine Knob, Ga., June 9, 1864.
Culps Farm, Ga., Juno 22, 1864.
reach Tree Creek, July 2D, 1S64.
Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 0, 1864.
Cypress Swamp, Ga., Dec. 8, 1864.
Savannah, Ga., Dec. 21, 1864.
Chesterfield C. II., S. C, March 2, 1S65.
Averystoro, N. C, March 14, 1S65.
Bentonsville, N. C, March 19, 18C5.
Coon Run, N. C, April 10, 1S65.
The Soldiers' Memorial is printed on a
handsomely illustrated sheet, surrounded by
warlike implements and scenes, including a
spirited sketch of an engagement in the field.
Jas. L. SlLrRiDGE.— Captain of Co. A, 1st Pa. Vols.—
three months service — April 20, 1S61.
Re-entered as Lieut. Col. of the 4Cth regiment Ta.
Vols. August S, 1S01 ; promoted to Col. May 10, 1SC3 ;
served in the Army of the Potomac until the fall of tho
year 1863, wheu his regiment joined the Army of tho
Cumberland under General Sherman, and formed a
part of tho forces who made the grand march to tho
sea. Ho was promoted to Brig. Gen. by Brevet, March
16, 1805 ; mustered out of service July 16, 1865. He
was afterwards Collector of Internal Revenue for the
11th District of Pa., and is now Clerk of tho House
of Representatives of Pennsylvania.
Rev. W. Henri Rice.— Chaplain of the 129th regi
ment Pa. Vols., entered the nine months' service Aug
ust 16, 1862, Eth army corps of the Army of the Po.
tomac; mustered out May 18, 1£C3.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

105

The Rev. Mr. Eire was the only Moravian minister
who acted as an army chaplain during the war.
Capt. It. Motjlton Goundie. — In the three months'
service, Second Lieut, of Co. A., 1st regiment Penna.
Vols., mustered April 20, 1801. Re-enlisted in three
years' service as First Lieut, of Co. G, 2nd Pa. Heavy
Artillery, promoted to Captain, and mustered out with
. regiment. Now civil engineer, Bethlehem, Pa.
Doctor Frickhardt had two sons in the 2nd Pa. Ar-
t'dlrry, Augustus and Frederick, who died in the ser
vice, aged respectively, eighteen and twenty years;
they were privates, unused to tho hardships of a sol
dier's life, and diedin c .mp before seeing active service.
William II. Stolzenbach. — Entered the service April
17, 1SC1, il private of Co. A, 1st regiment Pa. Vols.,
three months' service. Entered the three years' service
as First Serg't Co. C, 46th regiment Pa. Vols., Septem
ber 4, 1SC1; promoted to Second Lieut. September 5,
1SG1; First Lieut. March 4,1862; Captain, November
1, 1862. Served under General Banks, Hooker and
Pope, of tho Army of the Potomac ; and re-enlisted un
der Sherman with his regiment, as veteran volunteers,
and was painfully wounded at the battle of Peach Tree
Creek, July 20, 18G4, losing all the fingers of his right
hand, during the grand march to the sea. Rejoined
his regiment at Raleigh, N. C, and mustered out July
16, 1865.
Owen A. Luckendach.— In tho service three months
under the first call. Entered the three years' service
as First L!cut. Co. C, 43th regiment Pa. Vols., August
17, 1SC1; promoted t? Capt. Sept. 4, 1SG1; discharged
on surgeon's certificate, October 23, 1SC2. Ilavingbeen
wounded ut the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9,
1SC2, and his right leg amputated. Now United States
Collector of Internal Revenue fjr the 11th District of
Pennsylvania. John C. Fetter. — Entered tho three years' service
August 17, 1S61 ; promoted to Second Lieut. November
1,1862, of Co. C, 4CM* regiment Pa. Vols.; resigned
September 10, 1SC3.
Owen B. Sigley. — After the three months' service,
entered the 46th regiment Pit. Vols., August 17, 1SG1;
promoted Second Lieut. May 22, 1SC5; mustered out
with his company, July 1G, 18C5. Now publisher of
the " Weekly Progress," of South Bethlehem, Pa.
Charles B. McCartt. — In the three months' service ;
entered the three years' service with Co. C, 16th regi
ment Pa. "Vols. ; promoted Serg't Major February 12,
1S63 ; mustered out with regiment. lie died May 20,
186?, and on his tombstone in the old Cemetery, is the
following inscription.
In memory of Charxf.s B. MCarty, lato
Sergeant Major ofthe 4Gth regiment of
Penna. Veteran Volunteers,
Eorn March 24th, 1838,
Died May 20th, 1867.
Forever with the Lord.

Thos. B. Gorman. — Iu the three months' service with
1st regiment Penna. Vols. In three years' service with
4Gth regiment Penna. Vols. Promoted to First Lieut.
Co. II., February 1, 18C2. Dismissed the service by
v:rdict of a Court Martial.
Orville A. Grider.' — Entered the nine months' ser
vice August 15, 1S62, as Second Lieut, of Co. C, 120th
Pa. Vols. ; promoted to First Lieut. March 28, 1SC3 ;
mustered out with company.
Robert E. Abbott. — Entered nine months' service
August 15, 1862, as Captain of Co. G, 132nd regiment
Pa. Vols.; severely wounded in the face at the battle of
Antietam. Honorably discharged January 13, 1SC3,
on account of his wound. Now one of the proprietors
of an iron foundry at Bethlehem,
Edward Hammann. — Enlisted as a private in Knapp's
celebrated battery of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and roso
to the rank of First Lieut, of artillery; mustered out
of United States service with his company. Now a
conductor on the North Pennsylvania Railroad.
Dr. Abraham Stout. — Entered United States ser
vice October 1, 1862, as Assistant Surgeon of the 153rd
regiment Pa. Vols., of the Army of tho Potomac ; mus
tered out July 24, 1863. Now a practising physician
at Bethlehem.
Dr. Charles E. Humphreys. — Entered the service
May 14, 1863, as Assistant Surgeon of tho 142nd regi
ment Pa. Vols.; promoted to Surgeon ofthe 143rd regi
ment Pa. Vols., March 17, 1865 ; mustered out with
regiment, June 12, 1865. Now Physician at Bethlehem.
Alexander W. Selfridge. — Private in Co. A, 3Sth
regiment Ta. Vols., June, 1861; promoted Second
Lieut. Co II, 4Cth regiment Pa. Vols., February 6, 18G2.
Served in the Shenandoah Valley under General Banks.
Was twice captured, escaped tho first time ; on the sec
ond occasion, accused ot violating his parole, hut ac
quitted ofthe charge and sent to '¦ Libby Prison" with
the rest of General Pope's officers. Exchanged in four
months, joined his regiment in the field, and was pro
moted tu Captain of his company. Served with Sher
man during his great inarch to the sea. At Altoona
was appointed acting Commissary of Subsistence on
General Knipe's staff. Then on tho staff of General
Eroughton, in 'tho same capacity, and afterwards on
the staff or General Selfridge, (his uncle,) Breveted
Major March 13, 1SG5, for his gallantry during the Avar,
and honorably mustered out of service August, 1SG3.
Horace B. Joxes. — Entered tbcnlne months' service
September 1, 1SG3, as First Lieut, of Co. G, 4Cth regi
ment Pa. Vols.; resigned September 23, 1S61.
Joseph A. Frt. — Entered the service October 7, 1SC2,
as Captain of Co. B., 153 regiment Pa. Vols., Army of
the Potomac. Mustered out July 24, 1863.
Henry J. Oerter. — Entered the service as Captain
of Co. C, 153 regiment Pa. Vols., October 7, IS62; mus-

106

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

tered out July 23, 1SC3.' Now deceased, and buried in
tl-eold Moravian grave yard at Bethlehem.
Bexj'x F. Eoter.— Entered the service for nine
months', as Second Lieut. Co. C, 153rd regiment Pa.
Vols. ; resigned January 22, 1S63. Now merchant in
Fethleheni. John Frederick K. Frueabff.— Entered the service
April 20, 1861, as First Lieut, three months, afterwards
in the nine months' service, with the 153rd regiment
Pa. Vols , as Major. Assistant Inspector General for
General McLaws; mustered out with regiment July
21, 1863. Now attorney-at-law, Litiz, Pa.
Owen Rice, Jr. — Entered the nine months' service
in 153rd regiment Pa. Vols, as Captain of Co. A, Octo
ber 7, 1862 ; mustered out with regimeut, July 23, 18C3.
Wounded at Chancellorsviile. Now a druggist at
Lancaster, Ta.
Andrew A. LncKEXBACH.— Entered tho service as
private in Co. A, 1st regimeut Pa. Vols., April, 1801,
three months; re-entered service August 10, 1862, as
First Lieut. Co. C, 123th regiment Pa. Vols, nine
months; promoted to Captain March 18, 1S63, and
mustered out May 18, 1863. Now miller at Bethlehem.
William D. Luckenbach.— Entered the service for
nine months, August 12, 1862, as private in Co. C, 129th
Pa. Vols.; re-entered service September 4, 1864, as
First Lieut, and Adjutant of 202 regiment Pa. Vols, for
one year; promoted to Assistant Adjutant General to
General Albright, of the Army ofthe Potomac; mus
tered out of service August 4, 1865. Now attornej--at-
law, Allentown, Ta.
Captain Joxathan K. Tatlou has the following re
cord engraven on his tomb, in tho old Bethlehem grave
yard :
<¦ To the memory of Captain JONATHAN K. TAYLOR,
Co. C, 129th regiaent Pa. Vols, son of David nud
Hannah K. Taylor, who received a mortal
wound at the battle of Fredericksburg,
December 13, 1862, and died at George
town, D. C, March 28, 1S63, aged
20 years, 11 months and 20
days. By his comrades
in arms."*
Cut upon a shield, surmounted by the American eagle,
-and ornamented bythe national flag, and the batallion
colors. Lieut. Col. Samuel Wetherill entered the United
States service as the Captain of Co. II, which he raised
by his own exertions, on the 25th of September, 1861
and served with distinction until the end of the war
when he was mustered out October 2, 1864, haying
attained the rank of Major. On tho 13th of March,
1865. Ho was breveted as a Lieut. Col. for distinguished
tervices during the war. He is a son of the late ec-
entric John Price Wetherill, of Philadelphia, who was

in his day a prominent man, and a popular member of
the Masonic fraternity.
Tho Rev. Mr. Kevin, late Rector of the Protestant
Episcopal Church of the Nativity, in South Bethlehem,
was the commander duriDg the war, of Nevin's cele
brated Battery of Light Artillery. He is now in chargo
of the American Chapel at Borne, in Italy.
The following short sketch of company A,
4th regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, is in
serted, to give some idea of the nature and
extent of the duty performed by our soldiers
in the field. It was in this company, as
will be seen, that General William Emil
Doster entered the service.
Company A, 4th regiment, Pennsylvania
Cavalry, was recruited on the" Sand Island,"
Bethlehem, in August, 1861, from Bethlehem,
Easton, "VVeissport, Summit Hill and Mauch
Chunk. The company left Bethlehem 11G
strong, and was mustered into Harlan's Cav
alry, (afterwards the 11th Penna.,) at Phila
delphia, August 15, 1SC1, with the following
officers. Capt. "Wm. Emil Doster, Bethlehem.
First Lieut., Herman Horn, "Weissport.
Second Lieut., Edward Tombler, Bethlehem.
The company was transferred to the 4th
Penna. Cavalry, commanded successively by
Cols. Compbell, Childs, (killed at Antietam,)
Kerr, Doster, Covodc, (killed at St. Mary's
Church,) and Young ; and served to the close
of the war, in 2nd Brig. 2nd Div., Cavalry
Corps, Army of the Potomac, being at differ
ent times under the command of Gens. Keyes
Stoneman, Averill, Pleasanton, Kilpatrick,
Gregg, Duffie and Sheridan.
It participated in the following engage
ments :— Gaines' Hill; Charles City Cross
Roads; Hedgeville; Antietam; Markham
Station; Kelley's Ford; Chancellorsviile;
TJpperville; Middleburg; Aldie; Snicker's
Gap ; Gettysburg ; Sheppardstown ; Bealton ;
Rhappahanock Station; Beverly Ford; Cul
pepper; Trevilian Station; Todd's Tavern;
Sulphur Springs; Deep Bottom ; St. Mary's
Church ; Ream Station ; Stony Creek ; Boyd-
ton Road; Wyatt's Farm, and Bellefield.
Eighteen of the company were captured
at Sulphur Springs, and died at Anderson-
ville, including A. Walton, of South Eethle-

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

107

hem, First Serg't, and Josiah McHose, of
Hanover. Capt. Tumbler served through all the cam
paign before Richmond, noted for bravery
and discipline. On the march before Gettys
burg, he succumbed to chronic diarrhoea, and
was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps,
cf which he commanded a batallion to the
close of the war, at Evansville, Indiana.
Capt. Andrews succeeded Capt. Tombler, and
was breveted Major, he commanded the
company until the death of Col. Covode.
Capt. Andrews was succeeded by Capt. Hynd-
man,of Mauch Chunk, who was also breveted
Major. Capt. Doster was, in October, 1861, pro
moted to Major, in March, 1862, assigned to
duty on the staff of Gen. James S. Wads-
worth, and appointed to succeed Gen. Porter
as Provost Marshal of the cities of Washing
ton, Georgetown, and Alexandria. In March,
1S63, he took command of his regiment as
Lieut. Colonol. During Stoneman's raid
before Chancellorsviile, he was put in com
mand of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade. At TJp-
perville, Va., during a charge on Filzhugh
Lee's cavalry, he was captured, but by kill
ing his captor, succeeded in rejoining his
command. He was subsequently transferred
to the Colonelcy of the 5th Penna. Cavalry,
and breveted Brig. Gen. for gallant and
meritorious conduct at Gettysburg. Now
attorney-at-]aw, at Easton, Pa.
Col. nENRT Coppee, L. L. D, President ofthe Lehigh
University, and now a resident of Sauth Bethlehem,
was, during the rebellion, aid de-camp to Governor
Curtin, of Pennsylvania, and iu that capacity, being a
graduate of West Toint, was cf great service to the
State. He also, during that time, edited the United
States Service Magazine; cud after the war, wrote an
excellent life of our President, General TJ. S. Grant.
John n. Pice, of Bethlehem, was the Second Lieut.
of Co. H,llth regiment Penna. Cavalry.
David A. Luckexeacu was the captain of a company
of boys during tho rebellion, who were handsomely
equipped, and exceedingly well drilled, and deserve
mention. He served as Orderly Sergeant on three
different occasions in tho companies of militia raised in
Bethlehem during the rebel raids on the State; when
he declined tbe office of Second Lieut, the first time,
that of First Lieut, on the second, and that of Captain

on the third, for either of which positions he was well
qualified, saying that he could be of more service as Firs t
Sergeant. Now one the proprietors of the old Mill at
Bethlehem. From the Bethlehem Daily Times the follow
ing account of the proceedings on " Decora
tion Day" of May 29th, 1869, is copied, viz :
" Decoration. Day. — In all ages of tho
world and in all nations, it has been the cus
tom of the living to honor the memory of
the dead, who lost their lives in battle for
the defence of their country. Yesterday and
Saturday were set apart by the highest au
thority in the Grand Army of the Republic
for the decoration of the graves of soldiers
who lost their lives in the Union armies
during the late civil war, as also of those
who at any time fell in the defence of the
country and under her flag. In this exer
cise it was designed that all citizens should
unite. Owing to the fact that comparatively
short notice had been given for praparation
for the decoration of the graves of Beth-
lehemites and strangers who lie in soldiers'
graves in and about the town, it was feared
that the turnout of citizens would be meagre ;
but such was not the case. A goodly num
ber of those who thought they could spare a
quarter of » day from labor to honor the
graves and memory of those who died that
they might labor whole days iu peace and
safety, were present. For some reason, to
us unknown, the citizens were not marshaled
in line, and therefore did not add their num
bers to the line of the procession. A drum
corps with fife, members of the G. A. R.,
young ladies with boquets for the graves,
and numbers of the firemen from all the
companies, formed the order of procession.
We have only to add that those who partici
pated in the decoration of soldiers' graves in
and about Bethlehem, on Saturday, May 29,
1869, were abundantly satisfied with the
exercises, and that, now that Post 182, Grand
Army of the Republic, is fully organized,
they expect on all occasions ofthe kind here
after, to be fully prepared to do honor to
their fallen comrades.
" When the last graves had been decorated ,
in the old Moravian Burying Ground, Gen.

108

HISTORICAL SKETCH OP

Selfridge, the Chief Marshal, introduced Rev.
Mr. Nevin, of the Church of the Nativity, of
South Bethlehem, who made a short address
full of comprehensive patriotism, of honor
to the dead soldier and sailor, and of hope
for peace and harmony in our great country,
and of exhortation to be true to the spirit of
our institutions, the permanence of which
depends upon the citizen soldiery of the coun
try. " We cannot more fittingly close these
hasty words concerning what Bethlehem
and her surviving soldiers and citizens did
to honor the memory of their dead comrades
and protectors than to quote these words of
the poet Montgomery:
" Give me the death of those
TVho for their country die ;
And oh ! be mine like their repose,
"vVhen cold and low they lie !
Their loveliest mother earth
Enshrines the fallen brave ;
In her sweet lap, who gave them birth,
They find their tranquil grave."
" The following is a list of those soldiers
whose graves were decorated with flowers in
the old Moravian Burying Ground.
Capt. J. K. Taylor ; Capt. J. n. Rice : Lieut.
Merrill ; Clarence Kampman ; F. Fickardt ;
Hiram Yohe; Henry Haas ; Capt. H. J. Oer-
ter ; Lieut. E. Doster; Serg't Maj. McCarty ;
E. A. Slolzenbach; A. Fickardt; Jno. C.
Hagen ; J. B. Vail, (navy.)
In Nisky Hill Cemetery.— Albert C. Cort-
right; John Jones.
In the Lutheran Grave Yard.— Edward
Troxell; Tobias Jones.
In the Methodist Grave Yard.— Unas
Dodder;  Hess;  Schwabb.
In the year 1860, the Military Companies
of the town, consisted of the " Bethlehem
Artillery," Captain William Wilson, 31. D.,
now deceased. The company had a fine ar
mory in the large brick structure in Broad
street, east of New street on the north side;
the building was erected for that purpose.
The Masonic Lodge of Bethlehem now hold
their meetings in the upper portion ofthe
house. The "Washington Grays," comman

vet Brigadier General of U. S. Volunteers,
was then organized as a company of Infant
ry. There was also a company of Cavalry,
known as the "Bethlehem Cavalry,'' under
Col. Geo. Wenner.
In this connection I cannot refrain from
relating an incident which occurred during
Lee's advance on Pennsylvania in 1863, just
preceding the battle of Gettysburg. One Sun
day morning, in the latter part of June,
whilst the congregation were at worship in
the Moravian church, a telegraphic message
was received from Governor Curtin, calling
for a. company of volunteers from Bethle
hem. The church bell was rung, creating
the most intense excitement among the con
gregation. The drum corps was ordered out,
marched through the town, arousing all the
inhabitants, who flocked to the " Eagle Ho
tel." As the people came from the church a
meeting was organized, the wishes of the
State authorities made known, volunteers
called for, and enough men to form a com
pany, quickly enrolled their names. As each
gave his name he hurried home to equip
himself for the field, and say good-bye to the
loved ones there. Some, however, came
ready to march ; the long roll of the drums
had told them their country called, and like
most men of the day they were ready to take
the field at a moment's notice, for none knew
how Boon they might be called. So like the
old soldier all were ready to " fall in'' when
the order was given. A company fund was
freely subscribed by the citizens and paid
over to a treasurer selected by the meeting.
Company officers were elected, viz., Frank
C. Stone, captain; Wm. H. McCarty, 1st
Lieutenant; Henry Schelly, 2d Lieutenant;
together with five sergeants and eight cor
porals. One gentloman, David 0. Luckenlail;
was nominated for 2d Lieutenant, but de
clined, saying, " I would rather be orderly
sergeant, I know the duties of that position
best." He was accordingly elected to tho
desired position.
In one hour from the lime of soundin" (he

j„j ^ r t ¦ I a!arm> ninety-four men fully equipped and
ded by Captain James L. Selfridge, now Bre- ' ably officered fell in, at the ordl, ready for

B E T II L E II E M, PENNSYLVANIA.

109

service in tho field. A short, stirring, and
patriotic speech was made to the company,
by the eloquent physician, Doctor Frederick
A. Frickardt ending, " God bless you
boys 1 Go 1 we know you will do your duty
to your country." Then the drums beat;
parents, relatives and friends cheered, many
with tears in their eyes, and choking sobs
in their voices, as they heard thestern com
mand, " shoulder arms," " right face," "for
ward march 1" and saw those they loved
going from their sight perhaps forever. So
many of those who but a short hour before
were engaged in the service of their God,
marched ready to serve their country in the
hour of her direst need.
When the company reached Reading, it
was incorporated into the 34th Regiment of
Pennsylvania Militia, under Col. Albright.
Abm. S. Schropp, one of the members of the
Bethlehem company, was elected Adjutant
of the regiment with the rank of Lieuten
ant. Edmund Doster (now deceased) another
private, was elected Regimental Quarter
master. On a previous call for volunteers by the
authorities of the State, a full company of
militia was raised on a few hours notice, and
dispatched the same day to the front. The
company consisted of eighty-six privates
and non-commissioned officers. David 0.
Luckenback being 1st Sergeant. The com
missioned officers were Joseph Peters, Cap
tain; F. J. Haus, 1st Lieutenant; Abraham
S. Schropp, 2d Lieutenant.
It was thus all over the country, that the

nation's gallant sons rushed to arms, and
we astonished Foreign Nations by showing
them that a free people could assemble a
well-disciplined militia force in the field
with the same marvelous rapidity, that they
could put in motion their large standing
armies; and we afterwards increased their
surprise by disbanding a million and a half
of soldiers in afew months ; returning them
quietly to tho pursuits of civil life, and pay
ing all expenses of a gigantic civil war,
without foreign aid of any kind, but much
opposition. It is only in a republic, such a3
ours, where every man is free and unfettered
in mind, body and estate, that such things
can be accomplished.
0, thus be it ever, when freeman shall stand
Between their loved homes, and tho wars desolation ,
Blessed with victory and peace, may heaven's rescued
land;
Bless the Power that hath mado and preserved us a
Nation. '
Bethlehem was full of soldiers during the
war. Recruiting offices for all arms of the
service were open. Recruits, veterans, sol
diers and officers,. sick, discharged, on duty,
or on leave, gave the place the appearance
of a Garrison town; and the uniforms of the
U. S. cavalry, infantry and artillery were,
common in the streets. And during tho
long winter evenings as we gathered around
the fire at the Eagle, "old soldiers" of twen
ty-four or younger, related the stories of
their battles to their friends, and to each
other. May they all live long to tell their
stories over again for many years to come.

no

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

THE CHURCH AND SEMINARY. — 1830.
BETHLEHEM, PA.

CHAPTER XII.
The Enterprises op the Moravian Church.
— Their Schools. — Their Publications. —
The Text-Book. — Birth Days, and their
Celebration. — The First Printing Office.
—The Newspapers op Bethlehem in
the Past and Present. — " Pennsylvania
Dutch." — Love-Feasts.'' — The Moravian
Christmas Putz. — The " Youns Men's
MissioNAr.Y Society," and Christian As
sociation of Bethlehem.
he enterprises of the Moravian Church,
are Home and Foreign Missions, Edu
cational Institutions, and Publications.
The Educational Institutions ofthe Mora
vian Church in America, are very justly much
esteemed, and enjoy the public confidence in
a high, degree; their schools are liberally pa
tronized, and many thousands of pupils not
belonging to the communion of the church,
have received their education in Moravian
boarding schools. The Moravian College, and
the Seminary for females at Bethlehem, have
already been referred to. Nazareth Hall

0

Boarding School for Boys, went into opera
tion in 1785, and and has been in succsssful
operation ever since, at Nazareth, Pa., with
an average attendance of ninety-six pupils.
Linden Hall, at Litiz, Pa.", a school for Girls,
was founded in 1794, and has an average of
100 scholars per year. Salem Academy, for
Females, at Salem, North Carolina, where
scholars were first taken in 1802, has had to
this time over 4,000 pupils. Hope Academy
at Hope, Indiana, was founded in 1866, and
Chaska Academy, at Chaska, Minnesota, was
established in 1865, both for the education
of females.
The publication office, and store of the
Church are located at Bethlehem, Pa., of
which my good friend, Henry T. Clauder, is
the amiable and efficient head, where all of
the historical and religious works of the
Moravian Church, can be obtained.
The publications ofthe Church in America
are "The Moravian," in the English lan
guage, and "Der Brueder Botschafter," in
the German, the former a weekly, and the
latter a bi-weekly newspaper ; and both now

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

Ill

ably edited by the Rev'd Herman A. Brick-
enstein. "Der Brueder Botschafter," or Brotherly
Messenger, is intended for the German Mo
ravians. It contains exhaustive reports of
the Missions ofthe Church, and copious ex
tract s from appropriate German publication s-
The first number was issued in the month
of September, 1860.
" The Moravian," in 1856, took the place
of " The Moravian Church Miscellany," a
monthly publication of the church, which
was issued from 1850 to 1855, inclusive. At
first it was an eight page folio, but in 1862
it was enlarged, and then again in 1864, to
its present size. Previous to " The Miscel
lany," the church printed " The Missionary
Intelligencer," from the year 1821 to 1850.
The Provincial Elders' Conference, having
been authorized by the Provincial Synod,
are now erecting a building for the use of
the Publication Office, in Bethlehem. The
site selected is on Main Street. The build
ing will be four-stories high ; the book-store,
counting-house and editor's office being on
the first floor, and tho composing-room, and
bindery on the fourth. The press-room will
be in the basement. The middle floors not
being at present required for the uses of the
establishment, will be fitted up as offices.
The present expenses for rent is quite equal
to the interest of the money to be thus in
vested. And the rent of the offices will pay
all the necessary outlay required for repairs
to the building, insurance, taxes, kc.
The Moravians were the first people who
employed the art of printing for the publica
tion of the Bible in a living tongue. And
from the Moravian Publication Office at
Bethlehem, they print and issue all Devo
tional boooks of their Church, Sunday-
Schools and Missions in the United States.
It has been the custom of the Brethren's
Church, since the year 1731, to issue annu
ally a little volume called the " Text-Book,"
consisting of a selection of verses from the
Bible for each day, with appropriate collects
taken from their hymn book. To which has
been added a reference to the Bible lessons

for the day, as will bo seen by reference to
the " Text- Book" of 1870. The first verse or
"Daily Word," contains a short sentence of
prayer, exhortation or promise. The second
or " Doctrinal text," is intended to enforce
some doctrinal truth or practical duty. This
custom arose out of another, which was ob
served in the first congregation of the Re
newed Church, at Hernhut, of appointing
for each day some persons, whose duty it was
to go from house to house and greet tho in
mates with a text from the Bible, which was
to serve as a subject for meditation during,,
the day, and furnished the topic of discourse
in the evening meeting ofthe congregation.
This arrangement afterwards gave place to
the annual issue of this little manual, which
is now (1870) in its 140th year. It is thus
prepared: "the Elders Conference of the
Unity," at Hernhut, select each year many
hundreds of suitable Texts, from these they
draw by Lot, one from each Testament, for
each day, of the coming year; to each cf
these Texts is added an appropriate stanza
from the Moravian Hymn Book. Then the
Text Book for the coming year is printed and
furnished at a trifling expense to the Menr-
bers ofthe different Moravian Congregations,
and Missions throughout the world. There
appeared in 1869, in the German, 39,750 copies
of this work. In English, 4,800 copies. In
French, 5,600 copies; Negro-English, used
in Surinam, South America, 600 copies.
Nearly 50,750 copies were printed. Being
usually read at the early morning meal, or
in connection with tho private or family
devotions, the texts afford food for reflection,
and often prove of the most striking appli
cation, and encouragement to the pious and
attentive heart, (see appendix to Text-Book
of 1869.) This' ancient and beautiful custom
is still retained in all true Moravian house
holds in Bethlehem. At the breakfast-table
the selections from the Text-Book, are read
before eating, and the" Birth-day Book" is
laid beside the plate of the head of the family,
with the " Text- Book." In this latter book,
or on the margin of the " Text-Book, is gene
rally entered a record of all the birth-days

112

HISTORICAL SKETCn OF

of the members of the family, and all of their
friends, so that, if on the way to business,
or during the day, the relative or friend is
met, he or she can be congratulated.
As an example of the daily devotions, the
following is copied from the " Text-Book" of
1S70, under date of April 7th, viz :
" Thursday 7. Num. xi., 21-35.
" ' He shall come down like rain upon the
mown grass, as showers that water the earth.'
Ps. 72, vi.
as rain oversti'.eaming the parched
^ground. — With plenty now teeming, spreads
verdure around.  the promised blessing
its influence diffuses. 739. 1.
'Take no thought for to-morrow; for the
morrow shall take thought for the things of
itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof.' — Matt., vi. 34.
What thou' shalt to day provide,
Let me as a child receive,
What to-morrow may betide,
Calmly to thy wisdom leave :
'Tis enough that thou wilt care,
Why should i the burthen bear ?
—164. 2.
1735.— Departure of the first Missionaries to
Surinam.
1735.— Arrival of Spangenberg with the first
Colony ofthe Brethren, at Savan
nah, Georgia."
From Roudthaler's Life of Heckewelder,
page 141 , the following information contained
in a note, is copied.
" The volume of ' Daily Words,' or as it is
called in the German, the Watchword of the
congregation, is published every year. Its
contents are two texts for every day in the
year, one taken from the Old, and the other
from the New Testament. To each is sub
joined a suitable verse, or part of a verse
from the Moravian hymn book. Nothing
finds a place in such a volume that does not
tend to real edification. All texts that might
conduce to useless disputing, or subtile dis
tinctions of doctrines, which those often un
derstand the least who busy themselves most
about them, are omitted. Inspection will
show such subjects as the Love of Christ, his

Sufferings and Death, his guardianship of
the Christian Church, Love to Christ, Holi-
n%ss of life, Surrender of the heart to him,
Confidence in God, the Happiness of the life
to come, kc, to form the contents. These
yearly volumes have done much towards
promoting unity of spirit and simplicity of
faith in the church. In the earlier times of
the Renewed Church of the Brethren, these
' Daily Words' were not printed, butannounc-
ed every day in the different houses in Hern
hut. They were to serve as a watchword in
the daily warfare of the soldiers of Christ,
by which to cheer, as well as exhort one an
other. Hence the name ' Loosung,' (Watch
word,) by which they aro still known in the
German Congregation."
Among the members ofthe family and their
friends in Bethlehem, it is the universal cus
tom to celebrate all the birth-days, by pres
ents and a little home Love-feast. The an
niversary of marriages are also celebrated in
a like manner. These little social courtesies
render life more happy and attractive to the
older ones ; and to the little ones these are
periods of unalloyed happiness.
Sometimes these social festivals have a
deeper meaning, taking the form of a " Sur
prise Party," with music and singing ; some
times presents to a worthy minister, at an
other time to celebrate a father, mother or
friend's fiftieth birth-day, or the Golden
Wedding of some beloved old friend or con
nection. On such occasions, the friends and
relatives of those to be honored or surprised,
are all in the secret, a meal is prepared and
floral tributes adorn the well loaded table.
I remember such an event, a friend's fiftieth
birth-day had arrived, and everybody retired
to bed early, much to his annoyance, so at
last, he went grumbling off to rest, as he
supposed, and when the light was out in his
room, busy hands prepared the festive table,
with suppressed voices and half-choked
laughter; at midnight, beneath his window,
the old Bethlehem Band played " Should old
acquaintance be forgotten;" and then, until
morning, music, fun and jollity reigned su
preme.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

118

From the " Moravian" of February 25th,
1869, is inserted here, from an editorial item,
a beautiful description of
'¦ A Golden Wedding at Litiz, Pa. — The
following account of the golden wedding cele
bration of Brother and Sister John Beck, of
Litiz, was prepared at our request. The friends
of tho pair aro so many in all parts of the
Church, that it will bo read with much interest
and hearty sympathy.
"Dear Moravian. — Tho name of the 'Old
Schoolmaster' of Litiz, is a familiar and beloved
ono in many u. family throughout the length
and breadth of our land, and his occasional
communications in our church-paper have been
pursued with interest and delight, so that a
brief account of the celebration of his Golden
Wedding, which took place on Tuesday, Feb.
2d, in the dear old village of Litiz, may not be
out of place.
" The afternoon and evening of the previous
day brought children, grand-children and
friends to the old homestead, where, for fifty
years, from the very beginning of their married
life, the now venerable couple have resided. It
was a delightful reunion, and the usually quiet
rooms were full of life and gladness. After the
old people had retired for the night, loving
hands made the preparations for the morrow's
celebration. Kind friends in town had con
tributed freely of their floral treasures, and
these, with wreaths of evergreen and ivy, were
used in decorating the parlor. There were flit-
tings in and out, mysterious whisperings, and
stifled laughter, lost suspicion might be awak
ened. The table was draped with white and
tho gifts spread out to tho best advantage. At
last all was done, and with bright anticipations
for the morrow, the company dispersed. The
quiet of the early dawn was broken by the
sweet strains of the ' trombones, arousing the
dear old folks from their slumbers and calling
down a, benison upon their heads. The choir
was led by one of the sons, and the beloved
mother's favorite tunes had been selected as the
first sounds which should greet her ears on this
happy morning. Then followed the delighted
surprise as the parlor was entered ; the happy
mornm" meal, the loving congratulations, com

munications in poetry and prose from absent
friends, and cordial interchanges of thought
andfeeling. There was 'holyjoy and children's
glee,' merry laughter, and sometimes to a brim
ming eye, as allusions were made to the ' loved
ones gone before.' The remembrance of those
sainted ones was no check upon our happiness;
it only served to hallow the joy;and remind us
that we have a 'better country, even an heav
enly,' and that this is not our rest.
" Then followed the grand dinner at the Litiz
hotel, the dining-room of which was for tho
time exclusively at the service of the school-'
master's family. Around one table the older
portion of the company were gathered, children,
friends, and all the resident ministers with their
wives. At the other, the sixteen grand-chil
dren did justice to the profusion of good things,
which bespoke not only the liberality of our
venerable friend, but also the culinary skill of
the hotel hostress. Before partaking of the
meal, the pastor, Rev. E. T. Kluge, proposed
that the company unite in singing, in the old
Moravian style, a hymn expressive of our good
wishes for our old friends. Accordingly all
present with united voices sang,
" 'Be their comfort which ne'er faileth, &c.'
"After the repast the old schoolmaster was
called upon for a speech, which he made in his
happiest style, relating various experiences
connected with the first opening of his school,
and giving God the glory for oil the success
with which he had met. By request, Rev. E.
Frueauff replied in the German language. Ho
had been one of the old schoolmaster's first
scholars, and paid an eloquent tribute to his
former instructor's faithfulness, interspersing
his remarks with some incidents of the olden
time, which caused bursts of merriment.
" Later in the afternoon the company gather
ed again in the homestead, when two little
grand-children received tho rite of holy baptism
from the hands of the pastor.
"At 7 o'clock, P. M., the congregation had
been invited to partake of a love-feast in the
church, ^ printed psalm for which had been
prepared. The pulpit and altar were tastefully
decorated with flowers and evergreens, and a
delightful feeling of joyousness and love per-

114

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

vaded the whole assembly. The relatives of
the old schoolmaster occupied the front pews,
while he and his beloved wife sat on the same
spot before the minister, where they had plight
ed their troth fifty years before. We would
fain speak of the beautiful humility visible in
every feature of her face, but we know these are
flowers which love best to bloom in the shade,
a-:d so wo forbear. Before singing the psalm
the pastor in a very neat address told the con
gregation why they had assembled there : then
spoke to tho aged couple about the faithfulness
with which their Lord had led them through
days of prosperity as well as adversity, and
finally pronounced over them the Old Testament
benediction. The congregational singing was
delightful; every voice seemed tuned for the
occasion. A serenado from the Litiz Sextette,
later in the evening, closed the happy day, and
with peaceful and happy hearts all sought their
rest that night. It was a never to-be-forgotten
time. Not the slightest thing occurred to mar
the festivity, and the true, old Moravian spirit
of unfeigned love and simplicity seemed to per
vade the whole day. The Saviour's presence
and His approving smile was felt throughout
the day, and those who returned to their homes
next morning, did so with hearts encouraged
and refreshed.
" God bless the dear old couple. May the
light of His countenance beam upon them,
smoothing their declining years, and granting
them at last an abundant entrance into His
kingdom." The first printing office was established in
Bethlehem by Henry Muller, a Moravian,
in 1762. His place of business was in Mar
ket Street, in one of the old log houses near
the old Grave Yard. The first newspaper
printed in the town was issued in 1845, in
the German language, called "Die Biene,"
and was edited by Dr. A. L. Huebener, and
was printed by Julius Held. Commencing
in the year 1853, an English newspaper,
called " Lehigh Valley Times," was published
for five years, conducted by E. H. Rauch.
After its discontinuance, a weekly paper en
titled "The Bethlehem Advocate,,' was
printed for several years, edited by II. Reude.

On the 27th of January, 1866, D. J. God
shalk commenced the publication of a weekly
paper, called the " Lehigh Valley Chronicle,"
of which he was both editor and proprietor.
On the 22d of December, in the same year, it
was discontinued. And on the 4th of Feb
ruary, 1867, he first printed and issued " The
Bethlehem Daily Times," which has been three
several times since then enlarged. And it
has been so successful a publication, that its
editor began on the 20th of June, 1868, the
publication of a weekly issue, under the name
ofthe" Weekly Times and Educator." Under
the latter head embracing articles in favor
of, and support our liberal principles of pub-
lie school education established in this State ;
and of interest to those engaged in teaching.
Which paper receives, as it very justly de
serves, a large and increasing support. Mr.
Godshalk, in connection with the issue of
his papers, has a large printing office for the
miscellaneous purposes of his business.
The peculiar dialect spoken in many parts
of this state by those of German and Dutch
descent,is called " Pennsylvania Dutch," more
properly it should be called, perhaps, '¦' Penn
sylvania German," in some parts. A late
writer says that it " is a South German patois,
a cross between the soft Allemanium or Swa
bian, and tho hard glib low German more or
loss intermingled with Germanized English
words ; in some localities in the State there is
little intermixture of English in the dialect."
This may all be very true, but the name of
" Pennsylvania Dutch" originated from the
patois spoken by the old residents of Reading
and its vicinity, and originating there. Dur
ing the Revolutionary War of 1776, the Anr-
crican forces captured a brigade of British
troops, at Red-Bank, below Philadelphia, in
New Jersey, commanded by Count Dunop
i. e , Done-up, and so pronounced, which
brigad; contained three regiments of Hes
sians, these were sent to Reading, then a
depot for prisoners, and remained there ever
after; the English government refusing to
pay the expense of their transportation to
their homes. Si> they settled, married, lived
and died there. And their descendants

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

115

mingling with the Americans, and being
without education, naturally acquired the
patois, which has extended over the State,
and although now intermixed with German,
is called " Pennsylvania Dutch," a specimen
of which is contained in the following copy
of an advertisement, of an old acquaintance.
Tlie first line means "Just look here once 1"
A favorite expression in and about Bethle
hem. GOOK YUSHT AMOHL DOH!
Monsleit un Weibsleit I !
BUWA UN MiED YUNGY UN OLTY.
ATTENTION II
DER EAGLE DRUG SHTORE 1
Der Besht under Wholfealsht 1
WM. S. SIEOEE, OBBADEAKER.
In der Dritt Shtrose, Sued Bethlehem.
Olsfort uf hond, oily sorta fun de beshty
Drugs un Meditziena, un on de wholfealshty
prices. Also, Paint, Oehl, Glaws, Varnish,
&o. Men- hen aw an neier article dos gor net
gebutta konn wasrra ; es is de bareemt
"SALTED SODA"
un waerd g'used for seaf kocha. Prowiers
amohl — de directions we mers braucht
geana mit. Om Eagle Drug Shtore
is aw der plotz for
PATENT MEDITZIENA, BITTERS, ic,
tc, £e.,
Fun oily ort, un on de wholfealshty prices.
Also, Coal-Oolil, Lompa, Waugha-
shmccr, kc, &c.
Now mind was mer sawya; mer hen olles
uf hond was mer denka konn in unser lino
of bisness. We g'sawt, unser prices sin
wholfealer dos in ennichem onnera Drug
Shtore im County. Ferges't net der platz,
IN DER DRITT SHTROSE UNXICLT. DER LOCUST
SUED BETHLEIIEM.
Now is de tseit; macht eich bei, un judg'd
for eich sclwer; kummt in foor weasa, uf
horseback, uf em Railroed odder tsu foos—
mer sin gor net particular wie, yusht so dos
der kommt on
DER EAGLE OBBADEAK IN SUED BETHLEEEM.
Un bringt eier greenbacks mit. Wholfeal
for Cash— sell is unser style.
WILLIAM S. STEGER, Obbadeaker.
August 28, 1SC9.

The following piece of poetry, in " Penn-
sylvania German," by L. A. WoUenweber, of
Philadelphia, is copied from the Weekly
Progress," of South Bethlehem, under date of
June 23rd, 1870, and will be found in one
of the interesting and very amusing letters of
" Danny Kratzer" (Edward Ebermann,)
" Ains fun Johnny seina boova," which are a
marked feature in the weekly issue of that
paper. "' I bin an en Pennsylvanier
D'ruff bin ich Stolz und froh.
Dass Land is shay, die Leut sin nctt
Bei Tschinks 1 ich mach schier en'ge wett,
' S biets kay Land der Welt.'
Wir Stamme vun die Deutsche her,
Druff bin ich a recht stolz,
Die Deutsche sin arg brave Leut
Sin Sparsam, fleissig und gesheit,
Sic biet ke Folk der Welt.
Do guk nur als de Karta au,
Wie Pennsylvany haisfc,
Wachst do net alles shay un guth,
TJn hutt net yeder g'sundes Blut ?
' S biets kay Land der Welt.
TJn net allainich ufif der Erd
Wachst alles shay und guth,
Au drunne gebbts so ficl ihr wollt,
. Kohle, Eise — may werth wie gold,
' S biets kay Land der Welt.' "
There is a very interesting article in ths
Atlantic Monthly of October, 1S68, entitled
" Pennsylvania Dutch," page473, &c, which
is worthy of perusal.
The ancient and beautiful Christian prac
tice of holding Love-feasts as a religious
ceremonial, has been continued in the Breth
ren's Church from the earliest days of Mo-
ravianism. Love-feast's, and the Kiss of Peace,
were originally connected with the Holy
Communion. Saint C'hrysostom says, " Upon
certain days, after partaking of the Lord's
Supper, they met at a, common table, the
rich bringing provisions, and the poor who
had nothing, being invited." The same
spirit that actuated the early Christians,
still animates the Brethren of the Moravian
Church. All the members of the congrega
tion are invited to the Love-feasts, of the
different choirs or classes, and the expenses
are defrayed by a general collection taken

116

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

up after the service, to which all contribute
who are able, that feel inclined. Formerly,
after a Love-feast, a collector called at each
house, asked how many had been to service,
and collected the amount due, so much be
ing charged for each. Now, the collection
is made at the door, where the "church
servants" are stationed, with small baskets
in which such as choose, drop their offerings.
Whatever balance remains unpaid the con
gregation fund is taxed to make it up.
In the case of the " Single Brethren" and
" Single Sisters' " Love-feasts, at their festi
vals, they invite whom they choose, and pay
their own expenses, so much for general ex
penses, and so much for each invited guest.
The stated times for holding these Love-
feasts, are upon festive occasions, which occur
annually; the different choirs celebrating
their own festivals, and inviting the rest of
the congregation. These Festivals, Prayer-
^days or Love-feasts, are held in commemo
ration of revivals, or some other interesting
events in the early history of the Brethrens'
Church. The refreshments furnished on
these joyous occasions, consists of Moravian
sugar bunns, and coffee only.
The appointed days for the annual Love-
feasts of each of the different choirs of the
Moravian Church, are as follows :
April 30th, for the Widows.
May 4th, for the Single Sisters.
June 4th, for the Older Girls.
July 9th, for the Older Boys.
August 17th, for the Children.
August 29th, for the Single Brethren.
August 31st, for the Widowers.
September 7th, for the Married People (Parents.)
The widows and widowers are generally
associated with the choir of the married peo
ple and parents.
These festivals are always celebrated on
Sunday, and in the church. The services
commencing at 2 o'clock P. M., and lasting
about half an hour. If the anniversary does
not fall on a Sunday, the succeeding Sabbath
is the day on which the festival is held.
On the days ofthe celebration ofthe mar
ried people's festivals, that choir hold a pri

vate meeting, at 9 o'clock, A. M., in the
church, at which there is generally an ad
dress by the minister, suitable to the occas
ion, and to the condition of those present;
concluding with prayer and singing.
In the Episcopal Watchman, volume I, page
143, ofthe year 1827, is published a sketch
entitled, "A MORAVIAN LOVE FEAST."
" The following is an account of one of those
feasts at Bethlehem, Pa., at 7 o'clock on Sun
day morning, five musicians announced tho
day of the feast from the church steeple, by
a solemn air on the trumpets and trombones,"
threeairs are always played. " The ordinary
Sabbath exorcises were performed in the
morning, and at 2 o'clock » large assem
blage was collected for the festival. The
church is large, containing several apart
ments besides the room for worship, having
a lofty ceiling, and large windows hung with
white curtains. One half of the church was
occupied by the female part of the congrega
tion, including more than 120 scholars of the
boarding school ; in white dresses and caps,
trimmed uniform, the sisters' and widows.
" The other division of the church was oc
cupied by the males, among whom were a
number of school boys, arranged according
to size. So large a collection, orderly seated
on benches, and preserving an entire still
ness, had an imposing appearance.
" During the performance of the choir, in
which the organ was accompanied by violins
and trumpets ; six women and four men en
tered the church, each couple bearing a bas
ket of soft cakes, which they distributed to
the whole congregation, commencing with
the clergymen, when these were served, the
same persons brought in coffee in white
mugs, on wooden trays ; which were distri
buted in the same manner, and of which all
present partook ; during the continuance of
the services, which consisted entirely of sing
ing by the choir, the officiating clergyman,
the females, tho children and the congrega
tion, alternately in chorus, excepting two
hymns, tho words were German, as was all
the music.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

117

" Singular as the description of such a
ceremony appears, it was conducted with so
much solemnity and propriety, that no other
appropriate feeling could be excited. Typi
cal of that fellowship which ia the bond of
the Moravians, and from which they derive
their appellation of Unitas Fratrum. This
occasional festival is an opposite emblem of
the social love which has received the beauti
ful eeomium of David, 'Behold how good
and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell to
gether in unity ; it is like the precious oint

ment upon Aaron's beard, which flowed to
the skirts of his garments : like the dew of
Hermon, and like the dew which descended
upon the mountains of Zion; for them the
Lord commanded the blessing, even life for-
evermore.' "
For a more proper understanding of the
exercises and manner of conducting a Love-
feast, a copy of the Fest Psalm sung at the
Single Sisters' Festival in the Moravian
Church at Bethlehem Pa., in the year A. D.,
1870, is here inserted.

ODE
FOR THE

ititiml of ih Singly $i»Mr&

IN BETHLEHEM.

2 tturfjuS,
£> ©jcr beS §errn, ermuntre 3)tcf)
,3" fvo&en Sofcgefangeti !
©ft ftp,
<Pret[' beinen £>etlcmb irtmgitdj)
2Jttt fii&ert greubenftfirtgett,
S5a Sr bid) abermol ein fjeft
3n ©eirtem grteben feiern Ififet.

9M. 90.

Sisters.
Head of Thy congregation,
Kind Shepherd, gracious Lord !
Look on us with compassion,
Met here with one accord :
Accept our thanks and praises
For all Thy love and care,
Which we in various cases
Repeatedly did share.

T. 151 G.

1 lg HISTORICAL SKETCH 0!

G 1) o r.
greucu unb fniy.iJ} miiffen fein in ®ir, bie nadj 35ir fragert, unb
bie £>ein £>ei( lieben, miiffen immer fagen : £>od)gelobt fet @ott : D
toer nur immer bet Sag unb 9focf)t 2)ein ju gentefjen redft fear' be=
badft, ber f)att' olme finbe Don ©IM au fagen, unb Seib unb ©eete
miifst' immer fragen: JBer ift roie 2)u?
Sisters. T. 56.
Nought hut blessings :||: He for us intends,
And His mercy :||: never, never ends;
Let us look unto the cross,
Where He died to ransom us,
On that offering :||: faith alone depends.
Guests. T. 16.
Happy is the virgin's station
Whom he kindly owns as his,
And who counts his great salvation
As her highest good and bliss.
Happy who thus find in Jesus
All their wishes satisfied ;
Ah, to them how dear and precious
Is that friend who for us died.
Choir.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Sabaoth. Full are
the heavens of Thy glory. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and
all that is within me praise His Holy name, Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits ;
praise tho Lord, and bless His holy name ! Hosanna in the
highest 1 (55 a ft e, SRcl ui.
griebe tbau' toon £)ben
Seligg (STjor, auf £)id) !
Sieben, banfen, loben,
©till unb jungfrauud)
9tein toor -3b,m erfdjetnen,
Unter ©einem $uft,
©iinberfcEjaamrott) incinen —
©et ©ein ^eftgenug !
Sisters. T. 168.
Unto Thee, most faithful Saviour,
We ourselves anew commend ;
O look down on us with favor,
To our prayers and wants attend ;

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. 119

Grant us all a tender feeling,
Of thy love and gracious dealing,
That our hearts may truly be
Fill'd with fervent love to Thee. UM. 22.
2td) jiefj' in unfre £>erjen ein,
Unb (afj fie Seine 2Botmung f ein ;
Sltmm ©eel unb Sctb m ®etnen ®nab'n,
S3ctoa&re fie toor allem ©djab'n !
Gfy or*
gg ift ein foftttd) 2>ing, bafe bag §""3 feft toerbe, roelcrjeS gefdjiefjt
butd) @nabe. Sisters. T. 585.
Though unseen we love the Saviour,
He almighty grace hath shown,
Pardoned guilt, and purchased favor ;
Hence, through mercy, we're His own.
Give Him glory :||:
Grace and glory are His own !
2M. 119.
(yiihr' ung buvdf, :||:
gitfir' ung, §>Srr ! burdj'g £b,ranentfjai,
Seiner iperrlidjfeit entgegen,
Sn ben fdjonen greubcnfaal!
£>itf bei unferm Unoermogen,
©lb mm Sreu4ein $raft, mm 2Barf)en 9Jhttf),
S)ann gefjt'S gut. :)]:
AU. T. 246.
Blessing and power and majesty
Through endless ages be to Thee,
Who us by blood hast bought,
In mercy sought,
And to Thy fold us brought.
Amen, Hallelujah !
Hallelujah I
Amen, Hallelujah ! 1870.

120

HISTOB.ICAL SKETCH OF

One of the most interesting of these oc
casions, is when, during the evening of the
day of the celebration of the children's festi
val, they are all assembled in the open air in
front of the church at Bethlehem, and sing,
to the accompaniment ofthe trombone choir,
their Fest Psalm. Nothing can be more in
teresting, nor more pleasing; the sweet
sounds of the voices of the little ones, the
solemn tones of the trombones, breaking
upon the air of a still quiet evening; the
scene lit up by the torches ofthe choir, tho
streets and side walks crowded by the peo
ple, friends, parents and relatives of the
children, who join in the singing, as the
minister gives out the hymns line by line.
Formerly the front of the church was on
these occasions hung and lit up with colored
lamps, much increasing the beauty and in
terest of the scene.
On the last occasion at which the lanterns
were used at the celebration (outside) of the
children's festival, a stranger at Bethlehem,
no doubt pleased with the scene, wrote a
sketch of it, entitling his effusion, "The
Feast of the Lanterns." The Moravian
minister in charge of the Bethlehem con
gregation at the time, became thereupon
dreadfully alarmed for fear the world would
think that the Brethren worshiped the lan
terns, so they were abolished; and iheir use
has never been resumed since.
The lanterns used at the illumination,
were made of tissue paper, red, white, blue
and yellow, pasted over a wire frame, and a
lighted candle placed in each, and these
suspended from a long wire drawn from
tree to tree in front of the church; the effect
was very fine, a mellow light was cast upon
the crowd of spectators, upon the neighbor
ing houses, the street, and open square, and
glimmered among the trees, while the chorus
of childish voices, and the peculiar tones of
the trombones filled the air, sounds, which
once heard, are never forgotten, but linger
still on the ear— in memory. From the
Moravian of August 25th, 1870, I insert a
description of the children's festival at
Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

"A Liturgical Service in* t:ie Moravian
Cemetery at Nazareth. — On Sunday even
ing, 21st inst., a novel and beautiful sight
was presented to the spectator, standing out
side of the southern gate way of the Mora
vian Cemetery. I do not allude to the ex
tensive view of the lovely landscape from
the top of this hill, but to another and most
lovely spectacle, which was exhibited this
evening on looking down in the direction of
the Moravian Church. In front of the church
a largo number of children, and the pupils
ofthe Sunday school, accompanied by their
teachers and many members of the congre
gation had assembled, who formed into a
procession, which ascended the hill to the
cemetery, tho children going before, and
singing several sweet songs of Zion. This
day had been set apart for the celebration of
the " children's festival." All their special
services, including a Love-feast, had been
held in the church. But the evening service
was appointed to take place in the cemetery,
as had been done last year. Punctually at
6 P. M., the procession started from the
church, after singing a hymn of praise.
Upon entering into the cemetery, the choir
played a, soul-stirring choral. The small
army of children having taken their position
in the avenue of evergreens, flanked on both
sides by tho brethren and sisters of the con
gregation, the service of God was opened by
the singing ofthe verse : Gott istgegenwaertig,"
(God reveals his presence,) and, truly, tho
congregation sang with unction and deeply
feeling the presence of the Lord on this sol
emn occasion, and standing around tho
graves of our sainted dead. A very appropri
ate air was then sung by the choir, accom
panied by instrumental music, whereupon
the pastor invoked the throne of grace and
made a brief address. The congregation
were then requested, by singing several
verses, to commend our dear children to
their great and best Friend and Saviour.
This impressive liturgical service was closed
by the chanting of the Benediction on the
part of the whole congregation. "When re
turning from this sacred spot, our children

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

121

sang with cheerful voices and happy hearts ;
' Lord, dismiss us with blessing,' &c, and
' Sing Hallelujah, praise the Lord,' kc."
It is customary on the Sunday immmedi-
ately before Christmas of each year, to have
a Love-feast for all persons engaged in any
capacity in serving the Church. This festi
val is however, somewhat different in its
character from tho festivals of the different
choir3 or classes of the church members ; as
a portion of the time is passed in social con
versation, touching matters pertaining, to
their several duties, the changes to be made,
and a general discussion of church affairs
within their sphere, and improvements to be
made therein. This makes tho occasion one
of the most interesting kind to all those who
take any interest in thewelfare ofthe Church.
It must be distinctly understood, however,
that the Moravian Brethren who do occas
ional duty in the Church, like that to be
presently mentioned, do not ask, or receive
any pay for their services, any more than
the knowledge, and the hope, that they are
performing an acceptable service to their
Brethren and their God.
It was at the close of such a Love-feast
immediately before Christmas, in December,
1868, that the following changes were made
in the "church servants." Brothers Ruben
0. Luckenback, Christian Belling, Herman
Yost, and Edmund Peisert, having served
from twelve to eighteen years in the Church,
asked to be relieved from their positions of
" Saal Diener's." So Brothers Cornelius W.
Krause, Orlanda B. Desh, Ashton C. Bor-
heclc, and Sidney S. Schneller, were named
to take their places. Those gentlemen per
form the duties of ushers, that are in other
churches filled by paid and obsequious sex
tons, in list slippers ; may they long live to
fill their positions acceptably, and to do hum
bly their duty in their Master's house.
There are eight " Saal Dieners" or chapel
servants in the Moravian Church at Bethle
hem ; four of the number did not ask to be
retired from duty, namely, Brothers John C.
Weber, William Leibert, Benjamin F. Schnel
ler, and Isaac Walp. These-gentlemen choose

their new associates in their self-imposed,
aud meritorious labors; and the newly ap
pointed Brethren entered into the duties of
their office in January, 1SC9.
Among the Moravians of Bethlehem, thero
is still retained many of the ancient customs
and usages ofthe Church, and of the people
from whom they are descended. Many of
these customs are simple, child-like and
charming, making life more sweet and
pleasant, and reminding us every day, whilst
we are among them, that men and women
are but children of a larger growth. It is
this charming simplicity of character that
renders life in Bethlehem so pleasing. With
Americans, life is real, life is earnest; and wo
are too apt to forget in the social circle at
home, those little tender, loving kindnesses,
and gentle attentions, that are so dear and
so acceptable to those wo love.
Numbered among the many surprises that
add to the enjoyment of the Christmas holi
days at Bethlehem, there is one that carries
with it pleasure both to the young and old;
for be it known, that the Moravians observe^
the Christmas holidays with peculiar zest,
and great are the preparations for the enjoy
ment thereof. In our principal Moravian
settlements, the Christmas festival lasts a
week, or rather eight days, from Christmas
day to New Year's day, included. It is a
season of free, joyous, social intercourse, such
as no other denomination of Christian peo
ple attempts. And one of the great essential
features of every well regulated Moravian
household, is tho Christmas Putz.
All Christendom has adopted the Chnetmasi
Tree, but the Moravians have brought with
them from the Fatherland, a charming im
provement, denominated " a Putz," which i a
the German means an embellishment, or an
ornament, but in Bethlehem parlance, a,
large Christmas decoration. It is generally
a miniature representation of some loved or
beautiful scene in nature, an entire indoor
landscape. Some of these mimic scenes
are of the most pleasing character, dis
playing great artistic taste and talent. A
varied scenery of mountain and valYy, a.

122

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

tumbling water-fall, near which is often a
mill, with its great wheel in rapid motion,
sometimes a quiet lake, with living fish, a
distant village, with its ancient church,
whose tall spire is reflected in a peaceful
stream flowing near, a'.l forming a quiet
summer scene; oft again, one with the
snow clad mantle of winter; then again a
night scene in the dear old Fatherland,
lighted up by a mimic moon. These are
represented with a faithfulness of detail, and
a genuine skill of arrangement, that excites
our admiration, as much, if not mere than
a beautiful picture, giving frequently a plea
sure that can be exceeded only by some
charming scene in nature.
Behind the bar of the Eagle tavern, at
Bethlehem, in the common room, there has
been a large aperture made in the wall of the
house, ten feet long, by four feet high, open
ing into a room built outside of the house,
about ten feet square, covered over with a
glass roof, as in hot-houses. In this room,
William W. Yohe, son of mine ancient
host, Caleb, erects each fall a Putz; some
miniature winter scene. In the spring he
replaces this by a summer view, sometimes
imaginary, oft times real. On one occasion
lie made a view of a town in Western Vir
ginia, the scene of one ofthe earliest battles
of the late Rebellion, which a Union refugee
.at once recognized as the home he had just
fled from. Mt. Yohe is quite celebrated in
Bethlehem as a Putz builder, of much good
taste. In the Moravian of Christmas week, 186T,
a writer thus refers to " an old time Putz."
" How far back they date we are not pro-
pared to say. They were in the full tide of
their glory when we were a boy, twenty-five
years ago, when we were sufficiently advanc
ed to lend a helping hand, and then the great
Piite-makers were men well advanced in
years, so that it is fair to presume that Putz
making is amongst the ancient institutions
of this venerable town. The taste and in
genuity displayed in these decorations was
often very considerable. We use the word
' decoration' for the want of a better, though

it does not convey a correct idea of the Putz,
which is not-a festooning of the rooms wUh
garlands and wreaths, but a miniature repre
sentation of some scene in nature, imaginary
or real. As we have said, the art displayed
in these mimic scenes was frequently very
creditable. Mountains and valleys, tumbling
waterfalls and peaceful fields, lakes and
villages, in the bright green of summer, or
the delicate snow covering of winter, were
represented with a faithful minuteness of
detail, and in really artistic groupings.
Many evenings, until late in the night, were
devoted to the making of them. Who will
say that it was labor thrown away ? Now-
a-days we fear, you could scarcely gather
together a dozen men who would be willing
to devote themselves to the preparation of
one of these grand Putzes of the olden time,
just because they loved to do this sort of thing,
and the time is now to them so precious a
thing for business, that they cannot spare it
for the purpose of pure and innocent amuse
ment. Are we any the happier or better now ?
are boys any more frank and innocent, or
the girls any more loveable and modest than
they were then ? When, even on a Christmas
Eve, the great Pufe-seeing evening, they
came home at nine o'clock, and were thank
ful for the privilege of being allowed to go,
and to be an hour later than usual.
" Besides these Putzes which were made on
a grand scale, there were smaller ones in
abundance; the humblest home having its
little table, covered with a white cloth, and
backed by branches of evergreens, from
which were suspended glittering stars, wax
angels, bright colored candies, Ac, in pretty
confusion, illuminated by many burning
candles. Who, that ever saw or played at
them, will forget those bright Christmas
scenes? The cave from which issued the
monster bear or lion, the looking-glass lake,
on which ducks and geese of various sizes
sat in motionless propriety, the silver-sanded
road, on which was ranged the contents of
a Noah's Ark, with the patriarch and his
family walking first, and the animals fol
lowing two by two in solemn procession ;
the little village with its church and rows of

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

123

stiff poplar trees; the pleasant minglings of
bird and beast and fish, all in perfect peace
with one another, as became them at Christ
mas time; the stable where the 'blessed
child' was born; the mill hoisting up its
bags and letting them down again, as long
as the hidden machinery remained in work
ing order, whilst the miller smoked his pipe,
and his dog kept up a very energetic, if
somewhat methodical jumping at his feet;
all these, and a thousand other recollections,
rise before the memory, and force us to the
conclusion that Putzes are a great institution,
and ought not to be allowed to die out. And
there are other memories associated with
them, some of which are of too sentimental
a character to be mentioned. The expedi
tions in search of moss, the pleasant prepara
tion for the great Putz, the mysterious dark
ened and carefully locked up room, the anx
ious suspense, the joyous surprise, the happy
hearts and smiling faces, the sweet inter
change of precious presents between the
juveniles, not ofthe same family or sex, the
fortunate and often repeated meetings whilst
going the rounds of visiting the many Putzes,
which it was necessary to see. We wonder
whether the young ones enjoy Christmas as
thoroughly and innocently as they used to
do when Bethlehem was only a little village,
and the outer world was quite shut out."
The lament of our friend is uncalled for,
there has been a revival in Putzes since he
wrote, and the young still enjoy them, es
pecially the lovers, as much as they did in
the good old times of which he writes.
And if my readers want to have some happy
hours, just let them go and pass the Christ
mas holidays at Bethlehem once.
There is one institution in Bethlehem
which is deserving of more than a mere
passing notice. That is the " Young Men's
Misssionary Society." The first stated meet
ing of the society was held September 7,
1840, in the old Moravian school-house, and
the following officers elected. President,
David Zeisberger Smith, the founder and
originator of the society. Vice President,
Henry J. Van Vleck. Recording Secretary,

Augustus Wolle. Treasurer, William War
ner. Directors, A. A. Reinke, E. H. Reichel
and Albert Butner. Soon afterwards, Dr.
Maurice C. Jones was "made Corresponding
Secretary. The following is the list of the original
signers to the first constitution.
David Z. Smith, L. 0. Tombler,
George W. Perkin, Christian n. Belling,
William H. Warner, Francis D. Schnellcr,
Amadcus A. Reinko, Wm. F. Ranch,
Albert Butner, Owen J. Rice,
Andrew G. Kern, Mortimer Warner,
Edward H. Reichel, Wm. L. Brown,
Henry J. Van Vleck, Maurice C Jones,
George A. Weiss, Wm. S. Weinland,
Augustus Wolle, Samuel P. Geehr,
Simon Rau, Levin J. Krause,
Joseph n. Kummer, Benj. F. Schneller,
J. Edward Luckenbach, Charles Schneller,
Reuben 0. Luckenbach, Reuben Clewell,
Francis W. Knauss, Alfred Ricksecker,
Edward C Peisert.
Meetings aro held every month; and the
reading of mission reports was made the cus
tom for several years, but has of late years
been abandoned. On the 24th of January,
1841, the first annual meeting of the society
was held, and an address delivered by Ed
ward II. Reichel. Annual meetings have
been held ever since that time, and the so
ciety still continues in successful operation.
In 1841, the project of forming a Museum
as a source of income to the society, was first
proposed, and at once adopted. In 1843, a,
liberal gift of books from Miss Mary Allen,
formed the nucleus of the library. The as
sociation continued to hold their meetings
in the old town school building till 1858,
when, through the kindness of the Moravian
school-board, a large, convenient room in
the new school house was assigned to the
society, and suitably furnished as a reading
room, library and museum, and the first
meeting held therein on the 17th of April of
that year.
The constitution of the society, which had
been remodelled in 1842, with the motto,
" And above all things put on charity, which
is the bond of perfection." — Colossians, iii,
14 ; was altered, and an entire new constitu-

124

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

tion adopted ; the objects of the society being
stated to be " The furtherance of the Foreign
Missions of the United Brethren among the
Heathen, and the Religious, Literary and
Social Improvement of Young Men."
In the winter of 1858-59, the practice of
having a course of lectures given by popular
speakers before the society and its friends
was first inaugurated. These lectures were
delivered before numerous audiences in the
Gitizcn's Hall, and the number of members
increased to one hundred.
In 1862, the society removed to the build
ing now occupied by Dr. Jaeobson, for his
office, in Market Street. And afterwards to
Broad Street near Main, and finally in 1868,
to the building in Main Street near the Mo
ravian Church, erected by the society in
conjunction with the Young Men's Christian
Association of Bethlehem." This building
is three stories in height, the first floor being
occupied by the publication office of the
Moravian Church. In the rear of the store
ij the Museum of the Missionary Society,
very tastefully arranged, consisting of many
curiosities from different parts of the world,
the presents of the Moravian missionaries,
and numerous ancient relics of the first set
tlement of the town, added to which is the
fine large picture of Zeisberger preaching to
the Indians, painted by Schussele.
In a note to page 232, in the History of
Lehigh Valley, there is a pleasant descrip
tion of the contents ofthe Museum, in which
it is said, " Several of these curiosities de- '
serve special mention. The old 'Sundial,'
the 'old Cannon,' and the 'old Spinnet or
Piano.'" To this list might be added the
"old Cradle" and the " old Chairs," like
1 hose used an hundred years ago in the town,
and still in use in Germany, and sometimes
seen in German paintings. The collection
contains many rare and curious things. The
second story is occupied for the purposes of
the Library, which is free to all who desire
to avail themselves of its privileges, except
the taking out of books for reading at their
houses ; that right is confined to members of
the two societies. The Library is under the

direction of the Christian Association, by an
arrangement made between the two corpora
tions. The third story is fitted up for, and
used as a lecture room, in which the societies
hold their meetings.
The thirtieth anniversary meeting of the
Young Men's Missionary Society of the
Bethlehem congregation, was held on Sun
day evening, January 30, 1870. The Mora
vian report states that :
" The annual report was read by the retir
ing president, Brother A. J. Ilarwi. The total
membership ofthe Society is 315. Monthly
meetings are held, the interest of which dur
ing the past year was considerably increased
by short addresses by different brethren on
the history or present condition of the mis
sions of our church. The direct donations
of the society were made to the congregation
at Estridge, St. Kitts, and the Missionary
Home, Kleinwelke, Saxony. The officers of
the Society for the ensuing year are, Presi
dent, Eugene Weber ; Vice President, Edwin
Bishop; Secretary, Aug. Leibert; Treasurer,
Aug. Bishop. The anniversary address was
delivered by Bro. Wm. Vogler, of the Theo
logical Seminary. May his earnest words
find a response in the hearts of all the mem
bers of the Society."
The ceremonies attending the laying the
corner-stone of the building of the Mission
ary Society and Christian Association, were
performed on August 26th, 1867, and it was
finished and occupied during the next year.
The exercises were began by singing a hymn,
followed by a prayer by the Rev. A. A.
Reinike, a lesson from the Scriptures wcro
read by the Rev. Mr. Kemble, and an ad
dress delivered by Henry J. Seamen, presi
dent of the Christian Association; after
which, another hymn was sung. A list of
the contents of box deposited in tho corner
stone, was read, then followed a hymn, sung
by the congregation, who were dismissed
with a benediction by the Right Rev. Bishop
Jaeobson. The following members of the Missionary
Society were killed, or died in tho service of
their country during the late rebellion.

BETHLEHEM,

SYLVANIA. 125

1856-56— President,

A. J. Erwin.

1856-57—

a

A. J. Erwin.

1857 58—

it

A. J. Erwin.

185S-59—

"

Joseph M. Leibert.

1S59-60—

ii

Joseph M. Lciberf.

1860-61—

it

Edward Rondthalor.

1861-62—

"

Herman A. Doster.

1862-63—

"

Abraham S. Schropp.

1863-64—

"

, Joseph A. Kice.

1864-65—

it

Joseph A. Rico.

1865-66—

«

TV. J. Holland.

1866-67—

a

Henry T. Clauder.

1867-68—

a

Henry J. Seaman.

1868-69—

»

Alfred J. narwi.

1869-70—

tt

Alfred J. Harwi.

1870-71—

tt

Eugene E. Weber.

Samuel Bean, of Quakertown, private in
company C, 129th regiment Penn. Vols.,
killed at the battle of Fredericksburg,
Dec. 13, 1863.
Joseph L. Clewell, of Schoneck, company
F, 132nd regiment Penna. Vols., killed at
Antietam, September 17, 1862.
Edwin Pflueger, of Seidersville, private in
2nd regiment Penna. Heavy Artillery,
Col. Augustus A. Gibson, commanding.
Wounded at Petersburg, May, 1864; died
of his wounds.
Clarence Kampman, clerk to Admiral Lee,
U. S. Navy; died June 4, 1869, on board
U. S. Hospital Ship " Red Rover."
John C. Hagan, private in 2nd regiment
Penna. Cavalry ; died August 7, 1S65, at
Bethlehem, of tho Camp Fever, contracted
in the scrvico.
Arthur Yan Vleck, company C, 126th Ohio.
Taken prisoner at Culpepper, October, 14,
1863. Died in Libby Prison December 21,
1863. On the 21st of April, 1S64, on application
of the members of tho Young Men's Mission
ary Society of Bethlehem, the said associa
tion was duly incorporated by the Court of
Common Picas of. Northampton County, Pa.
The petition was signed by Joseph A. Rice,
Bertine S. Erwin, Joseph II. Treager, Wil
liam A. Erwin, Herman A. Doster, Robert
Rau, Geo. H. Luckenback, T. M. Rights and
J. Albert r^ondthaler.
The following is a list of presiding officers
of the Young Men's Missionary Society,
since its organization.

1310-41— President,
1S41-42— "
1S12-43— "
1S13-44— "
1314-45— "
1S45-46— "
1840-47— "
1847-48— "
1848-49— "
1849-50— "
1850-51— "
1851-52— "
1852-53— "
1853-51— "
1854-55— "

David Z. Smith.
Simon Rau.
Owen J. Rice.
Owen J . Rice.
Owen J. Rice.
Owen J. Rice.
B. F. Schneller.
Francis Wolle.
Francis Wolle.
R. A. Grider.
R. A. Grider.
L. R. Huebener.
E. P. Krause.
R. P. Krause.
J. Burdge.

The speakers at the Anniversary meetings
of the association were : —
January 24th, 1841...Edward H. Reichel.
" 9th, 1842...A. A. Reinke.
" 8th, 1843...Ed. A. De Schweinitz.
" 14th, 1844...Edwin E. Reinke.
" 26th, 1845. ..E. H. Reichel.
" 25th, 1846...Francis Wolle.
" 17th, 1847 ...Bernhard DeSchweinitz.
" 30th,1818...MaxGoepp.
" 14th, 1849...Lewis R. Huebener.
" 13th, 1850...Lewis R. LTuebener.
" 18th, lS51...Bishop Van Vleck.
" 18th, 1852...Parmenio Leinbach.
" 23rd, 1853...L. F. Kampman.
" 28th, lS54...Clement L. Reinke.
" 2Sth, 1855. ..Eugene Leibert.
" — th, 1S56...  .
" 11th, 1857 ...Clement L. Reinke.
" 10th, 1858...Eugene Leibert.
" 16th, 1859...IIerman A. Brickenstcin.
" 15th, 1860...William Bigler.
" 20th, 1861...Samuel Reinke.
" 10th, 1862...W. Henry Rice.
" 25th, 1S63...J. Theophilua Zorn.
" 17th, 1864...Edward Rondthalor.
" 29th, 1865...Ed. A. De Schweinitz.
" — th, 1866...J. Albert Rondthalor.
" — th, 1867...Edw.Rondthaler.
" — th, 186S...Eugene L. Schaefer.
'• — th, 1869. ..Edw. Eegennas.
« — th, 1870...Wm. n. Vogler.
To insert a list of the active members of
the society would not be interesting to the
general reader, so it is omitted, but a list is
given of the LIFE MEMBERS.
Jamea Leibert, John Jordan,
Mrs. Jane Jordan, W. H. Jordan,

126

HISTORICAL SKETCH OP

Miss Helen Bell,
Abm. S. Schropp,
Jos. H. Traeger,
Rev. Henry Van Vleck,
Edw. Bell,
Rev. Sylvester Wolle,
Henry Coppee, L. L. D ,
John C. Schropp,

Miss Sophia Henry,
Jos. A. Rice,
Ewing Jordan,
Miss Emily Bell,
Miss Laura Bell,
Bernhard E. Lehman,
Wm. Schropp,
Col. Forester.

John nill Martin,
The society issued in 1865, an historical
sketch, and an address by the Rev. Edward
de Schweinitz, in a neat pamphlet, to which
I -am indebted for most- of the foregoing in
formation, particularly the lists ; to complete
them, I add that containing the names of the
ministers and missionaries who are members
of the association.
Rev. David F. Smith, Rev. E. M. Leibert,
" E. A. de Schweinitz, " P. R. Leinbach,
'• B. E. de Schweinitz, " E. I. Kluge,
'• George Weiss, " Emanuel Rondthaler,
" Wm. H. Warner, " C. L. Reinke,
" Edward Rondthaler^ " A. R. Home,
" E. H. Reichel, " James Haman,
" A. A. Reinke, " P. Rommel,
" SylveBter Wolle, " Joseph Romig,
" Francis Wolle, " W. Henry Rice,

Rev. E. E. Reinke, Eev. Edmund Oeter,
" Wm. C Reichel, « H. S. Bachman,
" E.P.Greider, " S. B. Simes,
" Joseph H. Kummcr, " H. S. Hoffman,
" H. J. Van Vleck, " Chas. B. Shultz,
'• L. F. Kampman, " S. M. Smith,
" G. W. rerkin. « Edw. Rondthaler,
' II. A. Brickenstein, Mr. W. Spaugh.
Mr. H. Ruedo,
The "Young Men's Missionary Society
and Christian Association," was organized
February 0, 1866, but by a resolution of Sep
tember 3, 1867, became two distinct societies.
At a monthly meeting of the Young Men's
Christian Association,held on Tuesday even
ing, September 13, 1870. The following
gentlemen were elected officers of the As
sociation to serve for the ensuing year;
President, C. W. Krause; Vice Presidents,
Wm. C. Fcrriday, C. H. Kidder, W. R. Smith,
G. V. Snyder, Michael Bitler, and II. T.
Clauder ; Recording Secretary, Aug. II. Lei
bert; Corresponding Secretary, Wm. II.
Vogler; Recording Secretary, Eugene A.
Rau ; Treasurer, Franklin C. Stout.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

12T

CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION AND NURSERY BUILDINGS.-
BETHLEHEM, PA.

-1870.

CHAPTER XIII.
TnE Society for Propagating TnE Gospel
among the heathen. — statistics of the
Unity of the Brethren, January 1, 1809.
List of the CnuncnES and Missions in the
Northern Diccese of the Church of the
United Brethren in America. — An Old
Passport. — Christian Frederick Post. —
Sister " Polly Hickewelder." — Rev.
John Hickeweldep., and his Writings. —
TnE IIorsfield Tapers. — History of
Northampton County, from a Pamphlet.
Official Seal of the Moravian Church,
a correction. — Travels of the Marquis
DE CnASTELLUX IN AMERICA, 1780.  CHAS.
Thompson's theory of the Formation of
tub Wind-Gap. — Curiosities. — The Old
Iron Stove Plates. — Indian Corn Grin
der—The Old Sun Dial.— Old Tiles.—
Old Water Pipes.— The First Market
House. — Old Grave Yard, south of the

Lehigh. — Zinzendorf's visit to Wyoming.
— Formation of Northampton County.
he illustration at the head of this
chapter, which is copied from one of
Kleckner's cabinet stereoscojjic views of
the Lehigh Valley, presents to the right
hand, looking at the picture, a representa
tion of the southern portion of one of the old
iEconomy buildings ofthe Moravian Society,
which I have heretofore described as the
" Old Nursery." It stood on the east side
of Main Street, a short distance .north ofthe
Moravian church, and has just been torn
down to make room for the new publication
office of the Moravian church, a splendid
large four-story structure, with a Mansard
roof. The northern part of this old relic was
demolished in 1867, to make room for the
building of the Young Men's Christian As
sociation of Bethlehem, a view of which is

128

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

also given in the cut. This latter building
was erected in 1867-6S, at a cost of $16,500.
It is 28 feet front by 70 feet^deep, and three
stories in height, built in the most substan
tial manner of brick with brown sandstone
facings. On the first floor is the store and
office of the Publication Society of the Mo
ravian church, and in the rear tho Museum of
tlie Young Men's Missionary Society. Oniho
second floor the Library of the Christian As
sociation. And in the third-story a Lecture-
room, capable of seating 400 people, and
which is used by the two societies that erected
the building.
Among the many societies formed by, and
composed of Members of the Moravian
church in America, none are more ancient
or honorable, or more deserving of commen
dation, than the "Society for Propagating
the Gospel among the Heathen," incorporated
by Act of Assembly of the Representatives
of the Freemen of tbe Commonwealth of
Pcnnsj'lvania, on the 27th day of February,
1788. The first, second and fourth sections
only, of said Act, are necessary to give a
sketch of the purposes of the society; the
others relate merely to the business opera
tions ofthe corporation, and its power to hold
real estate, and receive bequests.
Sec. 1st.— "Whereas, it lias been represented to this
House, by the Rev. John Ettwein, one of the Bishops
of the Church called Unitas Frateum, or United
Brethren, and the Rev. John Meder, Pastor in Ordi
nary of the said Church in the City of Philadelphia,
that since the year of our Lord, 1740, when said Church
began to make settlements in America, the principal
aim of their members coming over from Europe, was,
to carry the glorious truths of (he Gospel to the
Indiana here; that they have without intermission
continued their labors among tho Indians, and not
withstanding the increase of expenses and other diffi
culties, are resolved to pursue and support this com
mendable work, and for this purpose have formed a
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among tho
Heathen, and entered into certain rules of association
fa copy whereof they have subjoined to their Petition.)
and prayed to incorporate tho said Society.
And Whereas, The propagation of the Gospel among
the Indians of America, is of great importance to tho
citizens of this and other ofthe United States, and may,
by the blessings of God, be conducive to the peace and
security of the inhabitants and settlers of our frontiers,

and by living examples of the Missionaries and thti
converts, the Savages may be induced to turn their
minds fo the Christian religion, industry, end socUl
life with the citizens ofthe United States.
And WhereaSj This House is disposed to exercise
the powers vested in tho Legislature of the Common
wealth, for the encouragement of all pious and charita
ble purposes.
Sec. 2nd. — Be it therefore enacted by the Representa
tives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania in General Assembly mett and by the au
thority of the same. That the Rev. John Ettwein,
Bishop; Frederick William Von Marshall, gentleman;
tho Rev. Andrew Unebncr and Paul Muenstcr; Hans
Christian Ton Schweinitz, gentleman ; the Rev. David
Zeisberger, Jr. ; John August Klingsohr; Jeremiah
Denke; Charles Gotthold Reichel; Daniel Koehler;
Christian Bcnzicn and Godfrey Brezel, the present Di
rectors. Tho Rev. Eenhard Adam Grube; Frederick
Peter, Sr. and Jacob Van Vleck, the present Assistant
Directors of the said Society. Tho Rev. John Ilcrbst;
JohnMcdcr; Francis Boehler; James Eirkby;, Lewis
Boehler and Abraham Rcincke, and others, the Minis
ters in the different Brethren's Congregations, and thtir
Successors, and all other members of the said Society
who have and sha"l hereafter subscribe to tho Rules of
the Eaid Society, be, and they arc hereb}' made, declared
and constituted, to be a corporation and body politic
in law and in fact, to have continuance forever, by tho
name, style, and title of "The Society of tho United
Brethren for Propagating the Goapel umong tho
neathen." The third section empowers the society to
hold real estate by purchase, gift or devise,
and to receive bequests of all kinds of j^er-
sonal property.
Sec. 4th.— And be it further enactid bythe authority
aforesaid, That all donations and contributions, rents,
interests and profits, arising from the real and personal
estate of the aforesaid Corporation, Ehall by the said
Directors and their successors, from time to time bo
applied and laid out for tho maintenance and support
of their Missionaries and other Assistants; for building
and supporting places of public worship and schools,
providing books for the better educating, instructing
and civilizing the children of tho converts and others
among tho nations who shall be desirous to commit
their youths to the care and instruction of the said
Missionaries, and for such other pious and charitablo
uses as aro conformable to tho true design and intent
of the said Society.
The fixed seat of the said Society is at
Bethlehem, Pa., where the Board of Directors
meet, and the stated general meetings are
always held.

B E T II L E II E

l'EXNSYLVANIA.

129

Article X, of the Stated Rules of the Society,
says :
'¦As we have no other view or aim hut tho further
ance and propagation of tho knowledge of Jcsud Christ
atnong the poor benighted heathen, and esteem it a
high privilege to support that praiseworthy work to
tho best of our abilities, being constrained to it by the
love of Christ. All tho Directors, Assistant Director?,
and Officers of tho Society, renounce for ever all de
mands and claims for salaries or compensation for
their services."
The 81st Anniversary of the Incorporation
of the Society was held at Bethlehem, Pa.,
on the 9th of September, A. D., 1869, when
the following officers were elected for the
ensuing year, viz :
Sylvester Wolle, President.
Robert de Schweinitz, Vice President.
Edwin G. Klose, Secretary.
William H. Bigler, Corresponding Secretary.
Ernst F. Bleck, Treasurer.
Charles Augustus Luckenback, Henry B.
Luckenback, James T. Borhek, and John
C. Weber, Assistant Directors.
James II. Wolle, Charles F. Beckel, and
Simon Rau, Auditors.
Rev. Sylvester Wolle, President of tho
Society, conducted the introductory devo
tional exercises, Bro. E. F. Bleck acted as
Secretary. The following members deceased
during the past year, Thos. C. Lueders, of
Indianapolis, Ind., George Thomas, Litiz,
and Amos C. Clauder, Bethlehem. Anumber
of new members were elected. The report
of the Board of Directors, containing a re
view of the condition of the Indian missions
in Canada and Kanzas, was read by Rev. L.
F. Kampmann. The receipts ofthe Society
last year were $11,659.64, of which amount
$10,500 was forwarded to the Mission De
partment of the Unity's Elders' Conference.
At tho love-feast in the afternoon, as during
the morning meeting ofthe Society, addresses
on various subjects connected with the work
of missions, were made by the Brn. Robert
and Emil de Schweinitz, A. A. Reinke and
Herman A. Brickenstein, late delegates to
the General Synod.
In the Moravian of August 26, 1869, the
following is given as a Roll of the Living

Members of the Society for Propagating tho.
Gospel among the Heathen, with the date of
their enrolment.
1S10. Teter Wolle.
ISIS. Tc-ter Rickseckcr, Jehu C. Jaeobson, Samuel
r.cinke.
1S19. Jodidiah Weiss.
1822. Charles C. Temblor, Charlis F. Deckel, Hairy
Huebener, William F. Gioring.
1S21. Ceo. Henry Bute.
1825. John M. Miksch, George W. Dixion, Chr. D.
Busse, John Beck, Fred. ItomiDg.
18:6. G:-orgo II. Goundie, Andrew G. Kern, Charles, F.
Kluge, Abraham L. Huebener.
1S2S. John C. Brickenstein, Eugene A. Frueauff,
Ernst F. Bleck, David Bigler, John J. Gioring.
1S30. Jacob F. Sigmund, Geo. F. Eahnson, Henry J.
Kluge.
1S32. Jonas Meyers.
1831. Charles B. Peter, Herman J. Titze, Wm. L.
Lennert, Ambrose Rondthaler, Philip A. Cre-
gar.
1835. Julius T. Eeckler, Philip n. Goepp.
1S36. Henry R. Luckenbach, Matthew Crist, Amos
Dealer.
1837. John Krause, Sylvester Wolle.
183S, J. Chr. Weber, Emil A. do Schweinitz, Lewis F.
Kampman.
1840. James Henry, Wm. Theodore Rocpper.
1S41. Simon Rau, Jos. H. Kummcr, Robt. de Schwcin.
itz, John Regennas, Francis Wolle, Ferdinand
Lennert, Abr. Lichtenthaclcr, Timothy Mass-
lieli, Philip Cann, Jacob Sturgis, Francis W.
Christ, George Grider, Ambrose II. Rauch, John
Graeff, Ferdinand Rickert.
1842. Chas. Aug. Luckenbach, F. F. Hagen, Edw. II
Reichel.
1S43. Reuben 0. Luckenbach, Augustus Wolle, II. A.
Shultz.
1844. Samuel Tost, Bcnj. F. Schneller, Samuel B. Clew
ell, C. Edw. Peisert, Oliver Tomblcr.
1S45. Henry J. Van Vleck.
1S40. Edwin P. Wolle, Kath. S. Wolle, Bcnj. Wilhclro-
1847. James T. Borhek, Edmund D. Schweinitz.
1848. William C. Reichel.
1849. Augustus Belling, Maurice C. Jones.
1850. William Bear, William Kreiter, Henry Rauch.
1S51. Charles Sturgis, Aug. Sturgis.
1852. A. A. Reinke, Charles W. Rauch, Ilerm. Rucu>,
Alex. Sturgis, J. L. Kysenlach, Wm. N.
Moench.
1853. James H. Wolle.
1856. Eugene Leibert, Herman A. Brickenstein.
1857. E. Liuke, Benj. Ricksecker, II. C. Bachman,
Eugene P. Greider, Henry G. Clauder.

130

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

1858. William Leibert.
1859. J. Thil. Rommel, Lewis Tt. Huebner, 0. T. Hueb-
ncr, II. T. Bachman, Owen Rice, James Ha-
man, Albert L. Oerter, John Cennick Harvey,
W. II. Bigler, Ernst Salathe, Jacob Moersch,
Fred. Berger, Fred. Andreae, William Smyth,
Frod. Wilhelm, E. E. Reinke.
1860. Edward Keller, Rich. W. Leibert, Samuel Main
land.
1861. Clem. L. Reinke, John F. Frueauff, J. Edw.
Luckenbach, Wm. Heury Bice, G. F. Oehler.
1862. Jacob Luckenbach, Fred. R. Borhek, John J.
Detterer, Gilbert Bishop.
1S63. Edw. T, Kluge, Lawrence J. Oerter, P. II. Gapp,
Thomas D. Luckenbach.
1804. Richard Wolff, Chas. B. Shultz, J. J. Grocnfeldt,
W. Herman Frueauff, Herman Yost.
1SG5. Ambrose J . Erwin, Allan Hamilton, M. A. Erd-
man.
1SC0. Herman Doster, Edm. A. Oerter, L. P. Clewell,
II. S. Hoffmann, F. II. Holland, J. C. Israel,
A. M. Ivcrson, F. W. Knauss, J. G. Kalten-
brunn.
1SC7. John Praegcr, Isaac Prince, Joseph Romig, Ed-
Ward Rondthaler, Henry Reusswig, Dav. Z.
Smith, Stephen M. Smith, G. F. Uecke, .1. E.
Wuensche, Jno. M. Warman, Abr. S. Schropp,
II. J. Seaman, Joseph Rice, David Rau, Cor
nelias W. Krause, Rud. F. Ranch, Cyrus Erc-
der, Jos. H. Traeger, Oiville Grider, Edw. T.
Meyers, Robert Rau, Fred. A. Clauder, Henry
T. Clauder, Theod. F. Levers, Wm. A. Erwin,
John Schmid, James K. Rauch, Jacob Fulker-
son, Adolph Conradi, Herrn. Jaeobson.
1RCS. Francis Jordan, Cliristion Neu, Charles Nagle,
Joseph Ricksecker.
1CC9. Oustavus Feurig, Edwin G. Kiose, William II.
Jordan, Ludwig Scheele, Haydn II. Tshudy,
Henry E. Weinland, Albert T. Doster, George
W. Perkin, Alfred J. Harwi, Ashton C. Borhek,
Augustus II. Leibert, Robert Peysert, Theodore
Fradeneck, John Samuel Krause.
The statistics of the Unity of the Brethren,
¦January 1, 1869.
Provinces. Communicants. Total.
German, 4,895 7,270
British, 3,280 5,44S
American North, 5,860
South, ],088 6,708 11,885

Total of Congregations in the Foreign
Mission Field, 69,1 :

14,871 24,573
Missionaries among the Heathen, 305
Children of Missionaries, 100

94,101
A list ofthe Churches and Missions of the
Northern Province ofthe Moravian Church
in America.
Bethany, Minn., . . Henry Reusswig.
with Oakridge, Minn., . " "
Bethlehem, Pa., . 1 Edm A. de. Schweinitz
J and Lewis R. Huebener.
Brooklyn, N. Y. . . Edwd. Rondthaler.
Canal Dover, Ohio, . Stephen M. Smith.
Chaska, Minn., . Clement L. Reinke.
with Northfleld, Minn., " "
Ebenezer, Wis., . John G. Kaltenbrunn.
Egg Harbor, N. J., . G. R. S.. Feurig.
Elizabeth, N. J., . . Christian Neu.
Emmaus, Pa., . . Julius Wuensche.
Ephraim, Wis., . John G. Groenfeidt.
with Sturgeon Bay, Wis. " "
Fort Howard, Wis., . Andrew M. Ivcrson.
Freedom, Wis., . Gottlieb TJccke.
Fry's Valley, Ohio, James B. Haman.
Gnadenhuetten, Ohio, . " '
Graceham, Md., . Henry T. Erachmr.n.
Gracehill, Iowa, . . Benjamin Ricksecker.
Gloenhay, Wis., . John D. Detterer.
Harmony, Iowa, . . Lewis P. Clewell.
Hope, Ind., . . William L. Lennert.
with Enon, Ind., . " "
Ilopcdale, Pa., . Charles Nagcl.
nd Oak- 1 „ „
Lake Mills, Wis., . Philip F. Eommcll.
with Mamre, Wis., . " "
and New Salem, . " "
Lancaster, Pa., . David Bigler.
Lebanon, . Edmd. A. Oerter.
Litiz, Pa., . . . Edward T. Kluge.
Moravia, Iowa, . . Francis W. Knauss.
Nazareth, Pa., . . Henry A. Shultz.
New Dorp, S. I., . . Francis F. Hagen.
with Centreville, S. S., " "
New York, N. Y. English, Amadeus A. Reinke.
New York, N. Y. Germ'n, Theodore Sonderman.
Olney, 111., . John F. Warman.
Talmyra, N. J., . . Philip H. Gapp.
with Riverside, N. J., . " «
Philadelphia, Pa., 1st ch., Joseph II. Kummcr.
Philadelphia, Pa, 2d ch., Herman S. Hoffman.
with Harrowgate, Pa., . " «
Schoeneck, Pa., . . John J. Regennas.
Sharon, Ohio, . . David Z. Smith.
South Bethlehem, Ta., . Henry J. Van Vleck.
with English, S. S ,

witli Covevilloand Oak
land,

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

131

TJtica, N. Y., . . John Praeger.
Watertown, Wis., . . John C. Israel.
West Salem, 111., English, Joseph J. Ricksecker.
West Salem, 111., German, Herman J. Titze.
York, Pa., . . . William Henry Rice.
INDIAN MISSIONS. MISSIONARIES.
New Fairfield, Canada, . Edwin E. Reinke.
New Westfield, Kansas, . Joseph Romig.
In this connection, the following copy of
a passport issued during the French and
Indian war, by Gov. Denny to Rev. Freder
ick Post, 1759, will not be without interest.
William Denn v.
To all persons whom it may concern, Greeting.
Whereas, Rev. Frederick Post, a Deacon in the Church
ofthe Unitas Fratrum, has signified to me that now
peace, through the Divine BleEeing, is likely to be
established between his Majesty and the several
Indian Nations with whom wo were lately at war,
he has an earnest desire to go amongst them with
Bome of the Brethren of the said Church, in order to
publish the glad tidings of salvation obtained by our
Lord Jesus Christ, and whereas, I have had good
experience of the loyalty, integrity and prudence of
the said Frederick Post, having employed him on
several important occasions during the war in ne
gotiating with the Indians; I do therefore very
readily grant him my authority and full liseuce
and permission, together with one, or more, of the
Baid Brethren, to pass and repass as often aa he shall
think fit in the Indian country, unmolested and for
the purpose aforesaid, that is to say, to preach the
gospel amongst any of the said Indian Nations, in
alliance with his Majesty, he continuing to demean
himself well, and giving me in every journey, or
immediately on hiB return home, an account of his
doings amongst the said Indian Nations, to whom
he is hereby heartily recommended for a kind re
ception and good treatment.
Given at Philadelphia November 5th, 1559.
By his Honors command, Richard Petehs, Secretary.
Christian Frederick Post, was a Moravian
Missionary among the Indians, a very
courageous man, undertaking the most dan
gerous j'ourneys cheerfully. He assumed
during his travels, the dress of the Indians,
and was much beloved by them. His j'our-
nal was in possession of the late departed
Sister " Polly" Heckewelder.
Johanna Maria Heckewelder was an in
mate of the Sisters' House, in Bethlehem,
Pa., where she departed this life on the 19th

of September, 1868, aged eighty-seven years,
five months and two days. She was the only
daughter ofthe famous Moravian Missionary
to the American Indians, the late Rev. John
Heckewelder, and was born on Easter Mon
day, April 16, 1781, at Salem, a village of
christian Indians on the Muskingum River.
and was baptized the next day by the Rev.
William Edwards, minister at Gnadenheut
ten. She was the first white child born in
what is now the State of Ohio. A few days
after her birth, occurred the events which
ended in the breaking up of the Indian
congregations on the Muskingum. The
Wyandotte Nation took all the settlers prison
ers, and they were compelled to march on
foot to Detroit, which they reached after
many hardships. In 1785 she was sent to
the Female Seminary at Bethlehem, where
she was educated, and in her twentieth year
became a teacher in the Moravian School
for Girls, at Litiz, Pa. ; five years afterwards
her loss of hearing compelled her to resign
her position. Her father died at Bethlehem
in the year 1823, and having then no home,
she found a safe retreat in the " Sister's
House," where she lived a quiet, peaceful
life, and passed her allotted time on earth.
She "was a great favorite with the people of
the town ; and many visitors to the place
called on her, to hear her recount recollec
tions of the past.
Her father, the Rev. John Ileckewelder,
was even more celebrated as an author than
he was as a Missionary.
In the first volume of the transactions of
the Historical and Literary Committee of
the American Philosophical Society, held at
Philadelphia, for promoting useful know
ledge, published in 1S19, will be found the
following works of Rev. John Heckewelder,
" An account of the History, Manners and
Customs of the Indian Nations who once In
habited Pennsylvania and the Neighboring
States," occupying 350 pages. In the same
volume, will also be found 100 pages devoted
to the correspondence between Mr. Hecke
welder and Peter S. Duponceau, Esq., res
pecting " The Languages of the American

132

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Indians." And an article No. Ill, entitled,
'•' Words, Phrases and Short Dialogues, in
the Language of the Lenni Lenape or Dela
ware Indians," by the Rev. John Hecke
welder, of Bethlehem, these take up the rest
of the volume, 12 pages. Preceding these
works, which are invaluable to the histor
ian, is " The Report of the Corresponding
Secretary to the Historioal Committee, on
the Languages of the American Indians,"
and a " List of MS. Donations to the Com
mittee, concerning the Indians and their
Languages." Among these donations are
the following, by Mr. Heckewelder.
1. A vocabulary of the Machicanni, taken
down from the mouth of cne of that na
tion, born in Connecticut — by the donor.
2. A vocabulary of the Shawano, taken down
from the mouth of a white woman, who
had been 20 years a prisoner with that
nation — by the donor.
3. A vocabulary of the Nanticoke, taken down
from the mouth of a Nanticoke chief in
1785 — by the donor.
4. A comparative vocabulary of the Lenni
Lenape and Algonquin — by the donor.
5. Same of the Lenni Lenape proper, the
Minsi dialect, the Mahlcanni, Natik or
Nadik, Chippeway, Shawano and Nanti
coke — by the donor. .
6. Same of the Lenni Lenape and Miami or
Twighticee — by the donor.
7. Names of the various trees, shrubs and
plants, in the language of the Lenni
Lenape or Delaware, distinguishing the
dialects of the Unamis and Minsi — by the
donor.
8. A short account of the Mengwe, Maqua or
Mingoes, (as they are called by the white
people,) according to the sayings and
reports of the Lenni Lenape, Mahicanni,
and other tribes connected with these,
4 to 25 pp. — presented by the author.
9. A short account of the emigration of the
nation of Indians calling themselves
Lenni Lenape, and improperly called by
the whites, Delawares, as related by
themselves, 4 to 28 pp. — presented by
the author.

Among the books in the Library of the
Philosophical Society at Philadelphia, there
are numerous works " deposited by the So
ciety of United Brethren at Bethlehem-''
why they do not reclaim them and keep
them in their own church Library, is a
mystery, they would be much safer in the
church, than in the old building in Fifth
Street below Chestnut, in Philadelphia.
" The Horsfield Papers, a large collection
of original documents and letters from the
principal characters in Pennsylvania, relat
ing to Indians business, at and about tho
period of the war of 1756, deposited by Joseph
Horsfield, Esq., of Bethlehem," are also in
this Library. They ought to be withdrawn
and put in a place of safety.
The Rev. Mr. Heckewelder also wrote " A
Narrative of the Missions of the United
Brethren among the Delaware and Mohigan
Indians," which was published at Philadel
phia in the year 1S20.
From a small business pamphletpublished
'by Frederick k Co., at Lancaster, Pa., in
1869, the following brief " History of North
ampton County," is extracted, viz :
" Northampton County, formed in 1751, is
bounded north by Carbon and Monroe counties ;
east by the river Delaware, separating it from
New Jersey; south by Bucks county; west by
Lehigh county.
"The southern portion is mountainous and
uneven, being traversed by the irregular chain
of hills called the South Mountains. These aro
chiefly composed of gneiss and other primary
rocks, which are overlaid by limestone in some
of the narrow valleys. Magnetic iron oro is
found in several places on tho bills associated
with the primary rocks. North of these hills
is a broad belt of the great limestone formation
of the Cumberland or Kittany valley, which
stretches from tho Delaware south-westward
into Maryland aDd Virginia, having a soil of
the most productive character, and a compara
tively level surface. Iron ore of the brown ar
gillaceous and hematite varieties is abundant
along the south side of tho Lehigh, near the
junction of this limestone with the primary
rocks, and is mined in many places. It is also
occasionally found within the range of limestone
further north. On the Delaware, above Easton,
the limestone belt is divided by a high ridge of
primary rocks, called Chestnut Hill, having

BETHLEHEM, P E N N S Y L V A N I A.

1 ° ~>
J. •->•->

along its southern side serpentine and other
magnesian rocks, associated with which are
found talc, asbestos, tremolite, arogite, neph
rite, zircon, tourmalin and a variety of other
interesting minerals. There aro few places in
the State which offer so inviting a locality to
the mineralogist as the neighborhood of Eas
ton. About three miles north cf Bethlehem is a
small insulated ridge of primary rock, protrud
ed through the limestone, and nearly in lino
with the range of Chestnut Hill. Between Al
lentown and Bethlehem, along the north sido of
the Lehigh, is a hill in which these rocks also
appear, having on its northern side some de
tached portions of sandstone between tho pri
mary rocks and the limestone. Tho northern
border of the limestone formation extends east
ward from the Lehigh at Siegfried's Bridge, by
Bath and Nazareth to the Delaware, at tho
mouth of Martin's Creek, appearing also on tho
north side of the river, to a point nearly oppo
site Belvidere. From this line to the base of
the Blue Mountains the country is composed of
a slate formation, with the exception of a nar
row point of limestone on the Delaware, about the
mouth of Cobus Creek, below the Water Gap,
which, after extending a short distance west
ward sinks beneath the overlaying slate. The
surface of this slate region is generally hilly,
and the soil but moderately productive; being,
however, susceptible of great improvement by
the use of lime as a manure, when aided by ju
dicious cultivation. Extensive slate quarries
have been opened at different places, and an ex
tensive business is carried on. Roofing slate of
a superior quality is obtained in large quantities,
and school slate manufactories have been estab
lished, in which, by tho aid of ingenious ma
chinery, slates of neatness and excellence are
produced at a moderate price. Some of the
lower strata of the slate formation, near its
junction with the limestone, yield an excellent
hydraulic cement, which is manufactured on the
Lehigh. These strata are finally exposed on
the east side of Martin's Creek, near its mouth.
"The Blue Mountain now forms the northern
boundary of Northampton, and is capped by the
compact gray and reddish sandstones of the
formation next above the slate last mentioned.
The Delaware and Lehigh rivers both pass
through this mountain by gaps apparently torn
by the mighty force of the gushing waters from
the country above ; with high and precipitous
cliffs rising almost perpendicularly from the wa
ter, and presenting magnificent views of wild
and romantic scenery on the rivers, as well as a
widely extended and beautiful prospect from the
top of the mountain. Near mid-way between

these two rivers is a singular opening called the
Wind Gap, through which no stream passes; but
the almost level crest lino of the mountain is
hore depressed nearly as low as the conntry on
each side; forming a notch in the mountain of
peculiar convenience for tho passage of travel
ers and teams, and towards which the leading
roads on both sides converge and p.i£3 through
in one great thoroughfare.
" Tho Delaware river flowa along the eastern
s'.do of tho county, in a direction nearly south,
but with a meandering course. The Lehigh
runs south-eastward along the western boundary
to within about five miles of Allentown, where
it passes into Lehigh county, one township of
which lies east of the river. At Bethlehem it
again enters into Northampton county, having
now a north-eastern course to the Delawaro at
Easton. Bushkill creek is a considerable stream,
rising by several branches near tbe Blue Moun
tain, and flowing southward to the Delaware at
Easton. Its mouth is but a short distance above
that of the Lohigh. This stream supplies power
to a great number of mills throughout most of
its course. Martin's creek runs southward to the
Delaware, seven miles above Easton. Tho Mon
ocacy has also a southward course, falling into
the Lehigh at Bethlehem. Saucon creek flows
north-eastward from the southern part of Lehigh
county, and empties on the south sido of tho
Lehigh below Bethlehem. All theso streams,
together with a number of smaller creeks ia
different parts of the county, supply abundance
of water power for mills and manufacturing pur
poses. Ia addition to this, the surplus water
from the clams and canal of tho Lehigh Naviga
tion Company, is let for uses requiring vra'^er
power. " Easton, the county town, is beautifully situ
ated at the confluence of the two rivers, sur
rounded by picturesque hills, having on the
east the majestic Delaware, on the south tbe
wild and rapid Lehigh, and on tho north tho lit
tle Bushkill, winding its way through tho green
meadows, and having its banks studded vrith
busy mills and substantial farm houses. This
town is favorably located for business, being iri
tbe midst of a fertile, well cultivated and popu
lous region, and at the junction ofthe Delaware-
Division of the State canal, with the works of
the Lehigh Navigation Company. It has com
munication with New York by several rail roads
and the Morris Canal on the opposite side of tho
Delaware. The town is rapidly increasing ins
wealth and population, containing about ]4.-
000 inhabitants. The Court House is in the
centre of the town, and other fine publio build
ings, and a number of churches, some of whichi

184

HISTORICAL SKETCH OP

are spacious and handsome edifices. Lafayette
College is a noble building, situated on the hill
north ofthe Bushkill creek, and commanding a
fii:e view of the town, the rivers, the canals and
the picturesque and flourishing country around
for miles in extent.
Bethlehem, on the Lehigh, eleven miles above
Easton, was founded at an early day by the
Moravians or United Brethren, and the town is
still chiefly inhabited by their descendants.
They have a large church, a female seminary, a
school for boys, a widows' house for the support
of indigent widows, and a sisters' house for the
support of indigent unmarried females, <fcc. All
these institutions are admirably conducted, and
a degree of neatness and order is everywhere ob
servable which ishighly creditable to that church.
The schools enjoy a high and deserved reputa
tion, and have a great number of pupils from
the city and various parts of the country. The
delightful situation of this place, the charming
country around it, and above all, the quiet and
order observed by the inhabitants, with their
politeness and general attention to tho conveni
ence and comfort of strangers, have rendere 1
Bethlehem a favorite place of resort during
summer months. The day may be pleasantly
passed in riding through the beautiful country
around, in walks among the hills, in boating or
fishing on the river, while the evenings arc en
livened by music, the inhabitants being distin
guished for their attention paid to music, and
the excellence of their performance in this art.
Bethlehem, or old Bethlehem, contains about
«,00O inhabitants.
South Bethlehem, opposite Bethlehem, on the
south side of the Lehigh, is a very enterprising
town, containingabout4,000inhabitants. There
aro zinc works, rolling mills and numerous other
works of note; also, an extensive mercantile
business, conducted chiefly by young and enter
prising business men. The Lehigh University
is in its limits, it is an edifice that has but
few equals for beauty, health, <tc, and bids fair
at no distant day to bo one of the greatest in
stitutions of America*
The public improvements of most importance
to the country are the Delaware Division of tho
.State Canal, and the canal and slackwater navi
gation of the Lehigh Navigation Co Tbo Dela
ware Division extends from tide-water, atBristol
to Easton, about eight miles of the eanal being in
Northampton county. At Easton it connects
with the Lehigh Navigation, which-extends up
(he river to the north-western corner of tho
county. The benefits received by tho people of
this region from the construction of these works
v, ill be perceived when it is considered, that be

fore they were undertaken the Lehigh was use
less for the purpose of navigation — produce be
ing sent from Easton in long narrow boats,
which descended the Delaware at high water by
hazardous voyages through the falls, and were
pushed back against the current by the inces
sant and fatiguing operation of "setting'' or
propelling the boat by means of long poles
pointed with iron.
Tho roads are generally kept in good condi
tion for traveling, and bridges are built across
the Lehigh at important points. The inhabi
tants aro mostly of German descent, and in
their familiar intercourse with each other gen
erally use their own language, though there aro
few who do not understand and speak English
sufficiently well for the common purposes of con
versation. We cannot make this history com
plete without giving a passing notice of some
of the principal business houses of Bethlehem
and South Bethlehem. In tho dry goods busi
ness we find C. M. Knauss & Borhek, Bethle
hem ; Dr. J. K. Roney, of Pennsylvania Dental
College of Philadelphia; the Photograph Gal
lery of Messrs Osborne ii Malthaner; taking
pictures from carte de visile to life size, Ihey do
work equal to New York or Philadelphia. E.
C. Ricksccker's spacious music store, where a
full assortment of musical instruments and
sheet music is always kept on hand. Again :
tho jewelry establishment of James K. Rauch,
which is equal to any in the larger cities. To
those contemplating going to housekeeping/or
wishing fine furniture, will find it at Messrs.
Zimmclo & Harwi. Any person wishing any
thing in the hat, cap or fur line, can find a well
selected assortment at John B. Zimmelo's. F.
E. Luckenbach, dealer in stoves, tin and house
furnishing goods; II. M. Krause, dealer in hard
ware; Jos. A. Weaver keeps constantly on hand
books, stationery, ka., and the daily papers, op
posite the Sun Hotel. Anthony Goth, dealer
in wall paper, and pnper hanger. Any person
wishing a fine suit of clothes, can be accommo
dated at Messrs. Niekum & Derr, merchant
tailors. Geo. Jones, manufacturer of spirit
vinegar and bitters. J. H. Lilly, dealer in
grain, flour, feed, liquors and wine. Transue &
Buss, planing mill; and the Monocacy Brewery,
In South Bethlehem we find the enterprising
druggist, William S. Sieger."
Seal of the Moravian Church.
At page 60, of these sketches, the official
Seal of the Moravian church is spoken of as
the "official Episcopal seal," which is erron
eous, as the Bishops of the Moravian church
are not clothed with any pre-eminent au-

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

135

thority. They do not govern the church,
and the Seal not being used by the Bishops
exclusively, is not an Episcopal Seal. For
this correction I am indebted to the " Me
morials of the Moravian church," vol I, p.
xiii, where the following description is given
of the Seal of the church, viz : " On a shield
sanguine a Paschal Lamb argent, passant,
carrying a cross resurrection argent, from
which is suspended a triumphal banner of
the same."
I beg to observe that the color sanguine,
murry, or a dark red, is in heraldy a stained
or dishonorable color, see the Encyclopedia
Metropolitana; the color should therefore
be gules, red, expressed by lines perpendicu
lar from top to bottom, in a drawing of the
Seal. The color represented by the book
plate of " The Moravian Book Association,"
is argent ; the banner is without the cross
upon it ; the staff is entirely too long, and
improperly drawn, neither extremity of it
should touch the edge of the shield.
It has always been my intention to place
upon the title page of this work, the official
Seal of the Moravian church ; and with all
due respect to the association, I shall carry
out my original design; although the wood
cut will not express any colors, because the
impression which I have of the "official
Seal" (furnished me by the proper authori
ties ofthe church,) does not bear the heraldic
marks of colors. The true blazon ofthe Seal,
furnished me by Mr. Charles J. Lukens of
Philadelphia, a member of the Historical
Society of Pennsylvania, and the well known
expert in heraldic art, is " Gules, a Paschal
Lamb, (or holy lamb,) proper, upon a Mount
Vert. Motto : — Vicit Agnus, noeter, Eum Se-
quamur, ' Our Lamb is victorious, let us fol
low him.'"
In an old work entitled, " Travels in North
America, in the year 1780, kc," written by
the Marquis de Chastellux, will be found an
interesting account of the author's visit to
the " Moravian Mill" and Bethlehem, com
mencing at page 306, of vol. 2nd, and ending
at page 334.
And in a note to page 401, of the same

volume, will be found Mr. Charles Thom
son's interesting account ofthe formation of
water-gaps in our mountains, in which par
ticular mention is made of the Wind-gap ;
which he thinks was formerly the bed of the
Delaware, or rather an earlier outlet for a
vast inland lake, once existing to the north of
the Blue Ridge ; but that afterwards the wa
ters of the lake having freed' another and
easier opening in the ridge at the Delaware
Water-gap, which entirely drained what was
once the great inland Eea, the Wind-gap be
came what it now is, a dry thoroughfare,
about one hundred feet higher than the
present bed of the Delaware.
Among the books written by Mr. Charles
Thompson, afterwards secretary ofthe Conti
nental Congress, is a rare work, a copy of
which I have in my possession ; showing
the manner in which the Minisink and
Munsey Indians were defrauded of their
lands, having the elaborate title of "An
Enquiry into the Causes of the Alienation of
the Delaware and Shawanese Indians from
the British Interest, and with the measures
taken for renewing their Friendship.
" Extracted from the Public Treaties and
other authentic papers relating to tho Trans
actions of the Government of Pcnnsilvania
and the said Indians, for near forty years ;
and explained by a Map of the country.
"Together with the remarkable Journal
of Christian Frederic Post, by whose Negotia
tions among the Indians on the Ohio, they
were withdrawn from the Interest of tlie
French, who therupon abandoned the Fort
and Country.
"With Notes by the Editor, explaining
sundry Indian Customs, &c.
" Written in Pennsylvania.
London.
"Printed for J. Wilkie, at the Bible
in St. Paul's Churchyard.
MDCCLIX."
On an old cast-iron oven plate, taken from
the cellar of the former residence of Chris
tian Lange, deceased, the following words
are cast, " Richte nicht Auf Das Ihr," i. i-.,

136

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

"Judge not least ye be judged." The sen
tence is not complete, as will be perceived,
the words "Nicht gerichtcd wird," being
omitted. On the lower part of the plate is
the date of its casting, 1756. I deposited
this old relic in the Museum of the Young
Men's Missionary Society, where there are
several others of a like character. These
plates are about 22 by 26 inches. On one of
them there is the picture of a minister in a
pulpit, having a book in his hand, with a
crown in an arch above his head, the arch
being supported by columns on either side
of the pulpit, on the right is a female figure,
apparently entering the church through an
open door, to the left is the figure of a man,
also entering, this representing, I presume,
a marriage ceremony; below on the plate is
the inscription. " Web dar iber nur wil lachen,
Der mao es beser machen,
Tatelen kenen ia ser vil,
Aber beser machen ist das rechte spil."
That is to say :
" Whoever chooses to lavigh over this pic
ture, He shall make a better one. Anybody
can make fun, but to do better, that is the
right way."
There is another plate, bearing the date
1756, on which is the following distach,
" Las dich das bese nicht," meaning, " Don't
let your anger overcome you," or in the
vernacular, keep cool I a cool proverb for the
cook, on a hot plate; for these plates were
used on the front of the ovens, and the sides
of fire places in old times, to ornament them,
while being useful. There is one side plate
in the museum, taken from, the " old Family
House" or "Nursery," as I have called it,
on which is the figure of a stork drinking
out of a high, long necked urn, while a
thirsty fox looks on disgusted. Another
front plate, dated 1751, is so broken that the
inscription cannot be deciphered, although
the plate is the most interesting of the whole
collection, being ornamented with arches,
columns, festoons, boquets and flowers in
pots; in the npper dexter corner is the fol

lowing name, in large capital letters, joined
together, forming a kind of monogram,
LATEST POT.
Meaning John Pott, who was one of the first
iron founders in Pennsylvania, and the
manufacturer of these cast-iron stove plates.
He lived at that time in Germantown, and
was of German descent; his father, Wilhelm
Pott, having emigrated to this country in
1734, and settled at that place, see Rupp's
History of Schuylkill County, &c, page 272,
in a note. From this family the town of
Pottsville, Pennsylvania, takes its name.
The Germans pronounce the name Putt; I
have this from John Vogel, of Philadelphia,
late of Bath, who is of German descent, and
was well acquainted with some members of
the Pott family, and like them, is engaged in
the same business that they were then. Mr.
Vogel says he has one of the old stove plates
above described, of a very large size, bearing
the date of 1745. Nearly every one of these
old plates have the representation of flowers
in pots, on them ; this seems to have been
the trade mark, or the crest ofthe family of
Pott. Mr. Edward II. Rau, showed me one of
these old relics, now in possession of his
family, on which there is the representation
of the temptation of Joseph. Potiphar's wife
is in the act of springing out of a high-post,
curtained bed, clutching with both hands
the flying cloak of the rapidly departing
Adonis ; below the picture are the words,
"DAS WEIB DAS SVCHT
JOSEPH ZV 3NTZVNDE.
IM. I B. MOSE 13 C 1749."
Meaning literally, " The woman she seeks
Joseph to inflame." In the first Book of
Moses, chapter 13, 1749."
Among the numerous curiosities in the Mu
seum aro some that are rare. I purchased
of a lad, Thomas A. Milchsack, a few years
ago, a large stone, pear shaped, resembling
in form a pine apple cheese, only in size a
trifle larger, which had formerly been used
by the Indians to grind corn with, the under

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

137

side, or larger end, is polished smooth from
constant use. It was found in the old In
dian House, on the west bank of the Manoc
kasy, when they tore down that old building.
A gentleman at Nazareth has a large and
valuable collection of Indian relics and curi
osities, numbering 6,000 pieces.
The '•' Old Sun Dial," made of soap-stone,
is another curiosity, this was formerly on
the south side of the Brethren's House, it
has on its face the date, mdccxlviii, at the
bottom of the stone, and at the top the words
" GLORIA PLEURiE," i. c, ¦' Honor to the
pierced side of Christ."
In the Museum there is also many old
Tiles, made in Bethlehem, apart of one has
burnt in on its face, 174 the rest of the date
being broken off. These tiles were used for
floors, mantels, stoves and roofing. Some
were colored, and highly ornamented with
figures and flowers, impressed on them and
burnt in. A specimen of mantel brick or
tile, black in color, and ornamented, is among
those preserved in the Museum. Some speci
mens of the roofing tile formerly used in the
town, are also carefully treasured.
In tearing down the old residence of Mr.
Lange, above referred to, to make room for
the erection of the large building and hand
some drug store of M. M. Selfridge, on Main
Street, opposite the Eagle Hotel, he discov
ered under the pavement in front of the
dwelling, two sections of the old pitch pine
water pipes, laid down there in the year
1766, to supply the Sun Hotel with water.
One section of it was carefully removed, and
found tobe in a perfect state of preservation.
He had it sawed into short lengths, one of
which is deposited in the Museum at Bethle
hem, and another portion sent to Frederic C.
Graff, the engineer of the Fairmount Water
works, Philadelphia. This latter piece has
still attached to it the original iron connec
tion or hub, by which it was fastened to the
next section. The wood, after having been
in the ground one hundred and five years,
emitted a strong smell of turpentine when
taken out. This section appeared to have
been made from the trunk of a pine tree,

with bark on it, and the branches still re
maining some three inches in length, with
a hole bored through the trunk. The hole
had become much enlarged by tbe action of
the lime water, which had eaten out the
heart of the tree. The bark helped to pre
serve the wood, which is sound and perfect,
except the heart, although the bark crumbled
to dirt on being exposed to the air and
handled. In demolishing the old fficonomy Build
ing on Main Street, to make room for tho
erection of the new Moravian Publication
Buildings, the rafters of the old structure
were removed sound and in good condition,
they were of oak, of large size, 24 feet long,
each, and six by eight inches in thickness ;
and were sold for joists, to be be used in
another building about to be erected in the
town There were some curious customs in the
town in the old days of the (Economy, one
of which would sound singular in these times.
The store belonged to the Society, and when
any one called for an article, sugar for ex
ample, the person was asked : How much do
you want? If, six pounds, was replied.
How many have you in your family? Or if
the storekeeper knew, he said, you have only
six, you must do with three pounds, we have
others to supply beside you, we don't get
goods from town, (Philadelphia,) every day.
In the open space of ground to the south
of the Eagle Hotel, now an open green, there
stood in the early part of the present cen
tury, an enclosed frame Market House,
which was torn down about the year 1824;
and an open Market House, with brick pil
lars erected in its stead, on Market Street
near to, and east of Main Street, here meat
only, was sold every morning to the people.
Shortly after the incorporation of the bor
ough, it was determined to grade the streets ;
in doing this it was necessary to cut down
Market Street at that point very considera
bly, so the market had to be demolished.
Since then there has been no public market
in Bethlehem, although one is sadly needed.
The stone Water Tower, which stood further

138

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

east on Market Street, opposite the present
residence of Ambrose J. Erwin, was also
torn down about the same time, and for the
same reason.
There was a grave-yard laid out on the
south side of the Lehigh River, in the year
1747, fcr the interment of persons attached
to the Brethren's Church, who lived in
Saucon. It was on the hill near the ferry
and Crown Inn, on the spot now occupied
by the hot-house of Mr. E. P. Wilber.
The town of Easton, Pa., the seat of justice
of Northampton County, was laid out in
1737, by Hugh Wilson and Col. Martin, com
missioners, and Wm. Parsons, surveyor.
The Moravians had at this place, at an early
period of its settlement, a Brethren's House,
a large stone edifice, now one of the oldest
buildings in the town, forming a portion of
John Bachman's hotel, but it was never used
for the purpose for which it was erected. It
was rendered famous in the Colonial times
by the councils held there with the Indians
and the treaties concluded with them, es
pecially those made with Cau-nas-sat-e-go,
the chief of the Six Nations, and Teduescung,
the celebrated king ofthe Delawares.
Zinzendorf's Visit to Wyoming.
" Zeal for the propagation of the Gospel,
caused the foot of the first white man to
tread tho soil of Wyoming. Long the resi
dence of kings, it may not be improper to
relate that the first white visitor should
have been of noble birth, and of kingly8 (?)
extraction." So admirably is the event re
lated by Mr. Chapman, that I copy his
original and well authenticated narrative
entire. Wm. Penn Miner's History of Wy
oming, page 38, kc. See also Wm. L. Stone's
History of Wyoming, page 100.
" Soon after the arrival of the Delawares at
Wyoming, and during the same season (the
summer of the year 1742,) a distinguished
foreigner, Count Zinzendorf, of Saxony, ar
rived in the valley on a religious mission to
the Indians. This nobleman is believed to
* I never before heard that Zinzendorf was of kingly
descent.

have been the first white person that ever
visited Wyoming. He was the revivor ofthe
ancient church of the United Brethren, and
had given protection in his dominions to the
prosecuted Protestants who had emigrated
from Moravia, thence taking the name of
Moravians, and who, two years before, had
made their first settlement in Pennsylvania.
"Upon his arrival in America, Count Zin
zendorf manifested a great anxiety to have
the Gospel preached to the Indians ; and al
though he had heard much of the ferocity
of the Shawanese, formed a, resolution to
visit them. With this view, he repaired to
Tulpehocken, the residence of Conrad Weiser,
a celebrated interpreter, and Indian agent
for the government, whom he wished to
engage in the cause, and accompany him to
the Shawanese town. Weiser was too much
occupied in business to go immediately to
Wyoming, but he furnished the Count with
letters to a missionary of the name of Mack,-*
and the latter accompanied by his wife, who
could speak the Indian language, proceeded
immediately with Zinzendorf for the pro
jected mission.
" The Shawanese appeared to be alarmed
on the arrival of the strangers, who pitched
their tents on tho banks of the river a little
below the town, and a council of the chiefs
having assembled, the declared purpose of
Zinzendorf was deliberately considered. To
these unlettered children of the wilderness,
it appeared altogether improbable that a
stranger should have braved the dangers of
the boisterous ocean, 3,000 miles broad, for
the sole purpose of instructing them in the
means of obtaining happiness after death,
and that too, without requiring any compen
sation for his trouble and expense ; and as
they had observed the anxiety of the white
people to purchase land of the Indians, they
naturally concluded that tho real object of
Zinzendorf was either to procure from them
the lands at Wyoming for his own use, to
* John Martin Mack, a missionary then, and arter
wards a Bishop of tho Moravian Church. Tho idea of
Weiser introducing Zinzendorf to ono of his own peo
ple, is absurd

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

139

search for hidden treasures, or to examine
the country with a view to future conquest.
It was according resolved to assassinate him,
and to do it privately, least the knowledge
of the transaction should produce a war with
the English, who were settling the country
below the mountains.
"Zinzendorf was alone in his tent, seated
upon a bundle of dry weeds, which composed
his bed, and engaged in writing, when the
assassins approached to execute their bloody
commission. It was night, and the cool air
of September had rendered a small lire ne-
necessary to his comfort and convenience.
A curtain formed of a blanket, and hung
upon pins, was the only guard to the entrance
of his tent. The heat of his fire had roused
a large rattle-snake, which lay in the weeds,
not far from it; and tho reptile, to enjoy it
more effectually, crawled slowly into the
tent, and passed over one of his legs undis
covered. Without, all was still and quiet,
except the gentle murmur of the river at the
rapids, about a mile below. At this moment
the Indians softly approached the door of
his tent, and slightly removing the curtain,
contemplated the venerable man, too deeply
engaged in the subject of his thoughts to
notice either their approach, or the snake
which lay extended before him. At a sight
like this, even the heart of the savage shrank
from the idea of committing so horrid an act,
and quitting the spot they hastily returned
to the town, and informed their companions
that the Great Spirit protected the white man,
for they had found him with no door but a
blanket, and had seen a large rattte-snake
crawl over his legs without attempting to
injure him. This circumstance, together
with the arrival soon afterwards of Conrad
Weiser, procured Zinzendorf the friendship
and confidence ofthe Indians, and probably
contributed essentially towards inducing
many of them, at a subsequent period, to
embrace the Christian religion. The Count
having spent twenty days at Wyoming, re
turned to Bethlehem.
" Count Zinzendorflearningthe supremacy
claimed and exercised by the Six Nations,

applied to their chiefs for leave to visit the
Indian villages, and instruct the natives in
the doctrines of repentance and salvation,
through the merits of the Saviour. He could
not have been received and replied to with
more politeness, at the most refined court of
Europe. The answer is so beautiful in its
simple, yet dignified eloquence, that I take
pleasure in translating it.
" ' Brother, you have made" a long journey
over the seas to preach the gospel to the
white people and to the Indians. You did
not know that we were here, and we knew
nothing of you. This proceeds from above.
Come therefore to us, you and your brethren ;
we bid you welcome among us. Take this
fathom of wampum in confirmation of the
truth of our words.'
" The Moravians who had established
themselves at Bethlehem, were indefatiga
ble in their labor of love to christianize the
Indians. Neither the heats of summer, win
ters storms, the dangers of the entangled
forests, nor the toil in ascending precipitous
mountains, could check the holy enthusiasm
of the missionaries. Eight or ten made
themselves masters of the Indian languages,
with their kindred dialects, thatthey might
be understood. Two bishops, Camerhoff
and De Watteviile, traversed the wilderness
on foot, visited the various tribes and settle
ments on the Susquehanna, preaching the
Saviour, and exhorting to repentance ; the
former sacrificing his life by exposure to the
behests of duty."
By virtue of an Act of Assembly of March
11, 1752, the County of Northampton was
formed. By the Act, Thomas Craig, Hugh
Wilson, John Jones, Thos. Armstrong and
James Martin, were authorized to purchase
land at Easton, on the Leheitan, to build a
court house, <tc, for the public service.
The first court was held at Easton, June
16, 1752, in the 26th year of the reign of
George 2d, kc, by Thos. Craig, Timothy
Horsfield, Hugh Wilson, James Martin and
Wm. Craig, justices of the Lord our King.
Previous to this time, Bethlehem was
within the limits of Bucks County, which

140

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

formerly contained all of Northampton, Le
high, Carbon, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna
and Wayne, and parts of Schuylkill, North
umberland, Luzerne and Columbia.
See I. D. Kupps, History of Northampton,

Lehigh, Monroe, Carbon and Schuylkill
Counties ; copyrighted in 1844, and printed
at Harrisburg in 1845. G. Hills, proprietor,
Lancaster, Pa. ; also, the History of Lehigh
Valley, page 31.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

141

THE WIDOW'S HOUSE.
BETHLEHEM, PA.

CHAPTER XIV.
The Litany of TnE Moravian Church. —
"Bartow's Path." — Nisky Hill. — Fried-
enshuetten.  the indian house.  the
German Barns. — Tecumseh. — The Indian
Missionary Stations. — Haidte's Painting
ofthe First Fruits. — Scheussle's Picture
of Zeisberger Preaching to the Indians.
— The Islands. — The Lehigh, its Fresh
ets and Fisheries. — A Ride on the Switch
back. — American Tea. — The Old Perse
verance and the Fire Apparatus of
Bethlehem. — The Hotels. — The Streets.
— The Old Tannery. — Social Life. — Cen
sus of 1870. — Powder Magazine. — Height
of the Lehigh Hills. — May-day. — The
Masonic Societies of Bethlehem.
ib first Litany that was used in the
Renewed church of the Brethren,
vras Luther's, which was compiled by him

from the ancient forms. This same Litany
was used previously "by the ancient Unitas
Fratrum, and will "be found in their hymn
book, printed in 1566. It is also to be found
in the first hymn book of the Renewed
church, published at Hernhut, in 1735, (for
a translation, see the Moravian of August 3,
1865.) As the congregation at Hernhut be
gan to assume a more assured position as a
church, it was felt that a Litany more ex
pressive of the special wants and freedom
of spirit of the members of the congregation,
ought to be substituted for, or added to the
ancient Litany. Lconhard Dober, while
"General Elder," was the first to give ex
pression to this desire, and John de Watte
viile, (Langut,) one ofthe moving spirits of
the church in his day, made the first draft
of the new Litany, under the direction and
dictation of Zinzendorf, who is to be consid
ered as really the author. In its first form,

142

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

as it appeared in the appendix to the hymn
book of 1742; and printed in almost the same
form in the book of common prayer, edition
of 1744, the evidences of Zinzendorf's style,
and his peculiar method of expression, are
quite perceptible; while the spirit and main
portions of Luther's Litany remain. This
first Litany of the Renewed church, is es
sentially the same in arrangement and sub
stance as that now in use.
"The Wunden Litanie , which was composed
later, in 1744, at the commencement of the
" time of Sifting ;" is of an entirely different
character. The Litany was not altogether
uninfluenced by the spirit which prevailed
during that period of fanaticism, as will be
seen by reference to the Liturgy book, edi
tion of 1755-57. But it also received some
improvements at thesame time,one of which
was the introduction of the Lord's prayer.
The unhealthy elements were, however,
afterwards removed from the Litany, during
a revision of it, which took place under the
direction of Bishop Spangenberg. The Lit
urgy book of 1790-3, contains the Litany as
now used, almost verbatim.
" The names of Luther, Zinzendorf and
Spangenberg, are connected therefore in-
dissolubly with the history ofthe Litany of
the Moravian church. Traces of the style
and mode of expression of thought, common
to each of those great minds, can easily be
distinguished in this beautiful service, whilst
in its general form and spirit, it is similar
to the more ancient Litanies of the earlier
Christian churches. In point of excellence
and beauty, it compares very favorably with
the Litany of the Episcopal church, to which
it assimilates in its Catholic Spirit; its peti
tions for all classes of mankind, and in its
intercessions for all the daily needs of the
individual, and the church, and protection
from all dangers that encompass life. In it
the Brethren's church have an especial
treasure, beautiful and precious, and of which
they are justly proud. The Kyrii, " Lord
have mercy upon us," at the opening, and
the Agnus Dei, '< 0 thou Lamb of God," at the
conclusion of the Litany service, should both

be sung, not spoken, as is the custom in the
Moravian church in America."
Bartow's path, frequently alluded to in
these Sketches, was a lovely walk a mile and
more in length, along the banks of the Le
high River, commencing a little' westward
of where Doster's saw mill now stands, con
tinuing eastwardly, and overshadowed by
the cliffs of " Nisky Hill ;" seats were placed
along the path at intervals under the lino
old trees that lined the river's edge, for the
promenaders to rest upon. The walk was
partially natural, and the remainder along
the foot of Nisky Hill was laid out and con
structed by a gentlemen from Philadelphia,
whose name it bore; and extended to the foot
of "Jones' Ledge," from thesummitof which
there is a magnificent view of the winding
river, Bethlehem and its vicinity to the west.
But this beautiful work like many others,
has disappeared before the destructive march
of commercial enterprise ; it was destroyed
by the construction of the canal of the Lehigh
Navigation Company; the ornamental in
this country has to give place to the useful ;
and but lately the Lehigh and Schuylkill
Railroad has been cut through the eastern
part of Nisky Hill Cemetery, a desecration
which might have been avoided by making
a slight curve in the road.
Freight and produce, to and from "Phila
delphia, before the Lehigh Canal was con
structed, were carried by the way of the
Lehigh and Delaware rivers in Durham boats.
In olden times the country people called the
canal boats, — arks.
Situate in the southeastern part of Bethle
hem, overlooking the Lehigh River and
canal, South Bethlehem and the Lehigh
Mountains, is the famous " Nisky Hill "
once a beautiful park, now a cemetery, a.
portion ofthe grounds being retained by the
Bethlehem Congregation for the interment
of its members, the remainder sold out or
for sale to any who choose or buy, and many
not Moravians, have availed themselves of
the privilege of purchasing lots m this lovely
spot, and already some ghastly monuments,
in execrable taste, disfigure the grounds.

BETHLEHEM, P E N N S Y L V A If I A.

14- J

One tomb looks like a fire plug,
And another like a lounge;
One, a large slab of marble,
Sticking in the ground.
These form a strange contrast to the old
Moravian style of memorial stone, laid flat
upon the grave, which is rectangular in form,
the stone being onlytwelve inches in breadth,
and eighteen inches in length. The church
Diary of the Philadelphia Congregation of
June 28, 1757, gives this as the size of the
tombstone, and says, " Et ist so in Bethlehem
aus gamacht." It is so made in Bethlehem.
It ought to have been made a condition
that all graves should have been marked in
the simple Moravian style, and no enclosed
marks of ownership erected around the lots
sold in the cemetery.
Nisky Hill is a charming place, laid out
with walks in good taste, and thickly plan ted
with trees, some of the original forest trees
have been preserved, and add much to the
beauty of the grounds. The original tract
extended down to the Lehigh River, and
along its banks for nearly half a mile, but
the Lehigh Canal cuts off the approach to the
river. A few years since, a long serpentine
path, similar to the "Lover's Walk" on the
.bank of the Hudson River at West Point,
ran along the banks of the canal, the entire
length of the grounds, from which there was
o, fine view of the river, and the Lehigh
mountains to the south; but even that has
been partially destroyed by the track of the
Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad, made in
the year 1S68. Nisky is one of the most de
lightful spots it is possible to conceive, in
which to take a quiet ramble ; seats are fixed
on the borders of the paths at intervals, on
which to rest. On Sunday afternoons the
walks are thronged with crowds of the young
and old people of tho town, that is the only
day on which they make it a place of resort,
during the fine weather of the summer, the
young ladies from the school, under the care
of their teachers; and the visitors stopping
in the town, add largely to the gay throng.
There are some beautiful views of the sur
rounding country from different parts of the

Hill, but tho most attractive of all, is from
the western walk, looking to the southwest
the Lehigh Eiver is seen in the distance,
winding on its course liko a silver ribbon,
with its lively islands, and in (ho further
distance the outline ofthe mountains covered
in summer with verdure, adds to tho beauty
of tho prospect. In the fall of the year, when
tho trees put on their autumnal livery, the
variegated colors of their leaves make the
scene one of gorgeous beauty.
Iu a note to p. 227, " History of Lehigh
Valley," the reader is informed that Niski n
is a Delaware Indian word, implying a,
swamp, or a wet place, in allusion to the
swampy grounds at the foot of the hill. If
this were so, then " Nisky Hill" would bo an
anomaly ; but the simple fact is, the place
was so called by the Brethren, in remem
brance of the village of Nisky, a settlement
ofthe Bohemian Brethren in upper Lusatia.
On the same page of the same work, it is
stated that, " Along the brow of this hill was
tho Indian town of Friedenhutten, kc."
This statement is erroneous. Friedenshuct-
ten, or " Tents of Peace," 'was built on the
flats below the hill on which the Gas Works
of Bethlehem are now located, on the banks
of the Manokasy. And the Lehigh Canal
now covers a portion of the former site of
that old Indian town, erected by the Breth
ren in 1746, as a temporary home for their
Indian converts who came to Bethlehem in
that year from Shekomcko and other places.
But soon finding it inconvenient to maintain
so large an Indian congregation near the
town, the Brethren some months later, pur
chased a tract of land near the junction of
the Mahony creek with the Lehigh river, and
the Indians were removed to that place, and
the huts on the Manokasy fiats torn down.
The settlement on the Mahony was called
Gnadcnhueiten, or " Tents of Grace ," and was
deemed a more suitable residence for the In
dians, who could there build, plant, hunt and
live in their own way. Their Missionary,
John Martin Mack and some white Breth
ren accompanied them, laid out their town,
and remained with them un'.il the terrible

144

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

massacre on the night of November 24th,
1775, when the settlement was attacked and
burned by the savage Indians under the
French, and eleven of the inhabitants, all
white Moravians, were murdered, viz. : Gott
leib Andreas, his wife and child, Martin
Nitschman and wife, Catharine Senseman,
George Sugart, Christian Fabricius, Leonard
Katermyer, Martin Presser and Frederick
Lesley. The Indian congregations on the
Mahoning and Lehigh were afterwards col
lected together and removed to Bethlehem
for protection; the number of Indian re
fugees soon became very large, and their
presence very inconvenient, so in 1758, Nain
having been built, they were all removed
to that place.
The Indian House, which has been before
described as situated on the west bank of
the Manokasy, was located in what is now
the barn-yard of Levin J. Krause, where he
found this summer (1869) the fire-place, com
posed of quite a number of tho largo bricks,
such as were made for that purpose in Beth
lehem in those days, and specimens of which
may yet be seen by the curious on the en
tries of the first floor of the " Sister's House."
In the first volume of the Memorials of the
Moravian Church, page 230, it is stated,
"the Indian House" that had been built in
October, 1752, on the west bank oi the Ma
nokasy, for the entertainment of visitors
from Gnadenhuetten and elsewhere, just
above the stone bridge that crosses the creek
at Water Street. It was 52 by 40 feet, of one
story, and of stone; and yet within those
narrow limits " the above seventy who escaped"
were domiciled. In the summer of 1756, a
log-house, 63 by 15 feet, containing a chapol,
besides apartments, was built due south of
the other. » * * It was removed in the
early part of the present century. The
spring that empties into the creek immedi
ately above the bridge, rose then in the cel
lar of the " Indian House."
The spring referred to is a. curiosity; it
rises, or rather the water bubbles up from
the bottom ofthe Manokasy into a well form
ed of planking in the bed of the creek, which

keeps the clear cold waters of the spring
from mingling with the waters of the stream.
Some good Samaritan keeps a tin cup placed-
on a post near by, so that the thirsty travel
lers may drink of the cooling waters and be
refreshed. As a specimen of the splendid barns erect
ed by the Germans of Pennsylvania, that of
Mr. Krause, above referred to, is a fair sam
ple in size and color :
These large red barns always remind mo
of the story about the Fairniount Engine of
Philadelphia. At one of tho Company's
meetings, preparatory for a grand parade of
the Firemen, a discussion was entered into
as to what color the "FAIRY" should be
painted for the occasion. One of the mem
bers, a genuine B'hoy, arose and said: "Fel
lers, I'm williu' to paint her any color, so
its red."
The bodies of the Hessians who died in the
General Hospital of the American army at
Bethlehem during the Revolution, were bur
ied on the left hand, or south side of the road
leading to Allentown, and on tho west side
of the Manokasy ; the place of their inter
ment is now partially covered by the barn
and house of Mr. John Krause. Many re
mains were fouud while digging the founda
tion of the barn; they were decently gath
ered up and carefully buried elsewhere. The
statement made before, that these remains
were fouud on the right hand side of the
the road in digging the foundation of Levin
.1. Krause's barn (a son of the venerable John
Krause) is an error, growing out of the fact
that the father's barn is on one side of the
road, and the son's on the other. The re
mains of the American soldiers are buried
on the right hand side of the road, opposite,
but further west.
The Indian converts spoken of as residing
for awhile in Bethlehem, were chiefly ofthe
Delawares, or the Lenni Lenape tribe, i. e., the
" Original people," as they have always call
ed themselves. The only remnant of this
once great and powerful tribe, whose sub
servience to the Six Nations has always been
a great mystery to all interested in the Red

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

145

men, now live at Moraviantown, or New
Fairfield, on the river Thames, in Upper
Canada, seventy miles from Detroit, a place
made memorable by the death of the cele
brated Shawnee Chief, TccuMSEn, shot to death
there in the Ealtle cf the Thames by Col.
Richard M. Johnson, now deceased, late
Vice President of the United States. Tecum-
ech, at the time of his death, was about 40
years of age, six feet in height, erect and
loft}' in his deportment, with a penetrating
eye, and stem of visage, artful, insidious and
bold. He was the pride of tho Indian war
riors of the west.
This, and two others, arc the only Mission
ary establishments of the Moravian Breth
ren among the American Indians. The Mis
sion was formerly under the direction of tho
Rev. Abraham Luckenbach. They worship
from printed books in tho Delaware Indian
tongue, translated by that Missionaiy.
I have in my library a book, printed in
New York in 1838, the title of which is
u Forty-six Select Scripture Narratives from the
Old Testament, embellished with Engravings ; for
the use of Indian Youth. Translated into the
Delaware Indian by A. Luckenbach."
The Rev. E. E. Reinke is the present Mis
sionary in charge of the Station. One of
the other Indian Mission Stations is among
the Cherokees, at Spring Place, near Marys-
ville, Arkansas ; and the third at New "West-
field, Kansas. A concise account of the past
and present Missions of the Moravian Breth
ren among the American Indians can be
found in De Schwcinitz's Moravian Manual,
(2nd Edition) page 44, Arc.
<• Crantz, in his History of the Brethren,
says, (page 333) "About this time, (1747)
John, the first fruits of, and a teacher among
the Mahikanders, departed this life. This
gave occasion to reckon up all the first fruits
of the heathen that were brought to Jesus
Christ through tho ministry of the Brethren,
and, to the year 1747, were fallen asleep in
the faith; and to represent them in a pic
ture in their natural colors, and in the dress
of their country. They are painted as stand
ing before the throne of Jesus Christ with

palms in their hands, given to them by an
angel, with the superscription out of tho
Revelations, Chap, xiv., 4. ' The-.e were re
deemed from among men, Icing the first fui.s.' "
The names of all the converts— heathen in
all parts of the world— represented in the
picture are given, and the account is of much
interest. This ancient painting is carefully
preserved among tho Church Archives at
Bethlehem. It was the work of IIaidt, a
Moravian artist; a valuable relic of tho olden
times, and of the success attending the Mo
ravian Missions among the heathen.
There is now on exhibition in the Museum
of tho " Young Men's Missionary Society" of
Bethlehem, a splendid painting of " Zeisber
ger — the Moravian Missionary — preaching to
the Indians," by C. SchUssclc, of Philadel
phia. There was formerly many lovely walks
in the vicinity of Bethlehem, on the banks
cf the Lehigh, some of which have been al
ready described ; but none were more at
tractive than tho upper and lower paths on
tho south side of the river, west of the old
bridge ; these extended to the brook running
down by the Water Cure Establishment, and
emptying into the Lehigh; and around which
there reigned an undisturbed forest stillness.
The spring was a favorite spot near which
to loiter on a warm summer's day; now
it is arched over, and the hundred trains of
tho Lehigh Valley Railroad daily thunder
over what was once the quiet haunt of the
old Moravians; yet the stream still trickles
down to the Lehigh; a few noble forest trees
rear their heads over the small reservoir be
side tho tract on the river bank; and the
curious visitors who read about the beauties
of the spot in days long past, visits in one of
FAn's boats the spring, to taste of its cool and
limpid waters, hunt for the remains of the
famous cavern, and view the ruins of what
was once a sylvan haunt of peculiar loveli
ness. Of all tho former quiet retreats around
Bethlehem, the only one left to remind us
of tho old times, are tho beautiful and fa
mous " Islands" in the Lehigh, a chort dis-

146

HISTORICAL SKETCn OF

tance above the North Pennsylvania Rail
road Bridge, There are three Islands in the
group; the two smaller are seldom visited;
but the larger, Calypso Island,* is a famous
place of resort for old and young; every visi
tor to Bethlehem makes tho necessary pil
grimage to its quiet shades, and lingers long
beneath its grand old shady trees, wanders
through its open glades, its sheltered coverts,
and at last with lingering looks cast behind,
sighs to think they must leave so much quiet
loveliness of Nature. What a hidden, quiet
place it must have been fifty years ago, we
can well imagine, when it is so beautiful
to-day, although to the north and to the
south tho screaming whistles of the loco
motives, and the heavy thundering thud cf
laden cars, bearing the wealth of Lehigh
Valley, and the treasures of the" Blue Hills"
to a market, disturbs its former calm repose.
The Island belongs to the Bethlehem con
gregation, and it is there that the Moravian
schools hold their annual Pic Nic's, and
nearly every Moravian family take their an
nual meal on the Island, to which their
friends are invited, and only those who have
attended these kindly festivals of the Breth
ren, can tell how pleasant they are, or how
dear is the remembrance of such quiet, hap
py, joyous hours. To the children these are
periods of unalloyed joy, thought of for
weeks beforehand, and enjoyed on the
day of the festival, with games and song,
laughter and childish shouts of pleasure,
mingling their happiness with the rippling
flow of the river, and awakening the echoes
of the hills. And tbe parents and friends
must be old indeed if they do not join
in all the youthful sports, for our German
Brethren do not look on and sigh over
the pleasures of childhood, but enjoy the
present while recalling the past. But the
great event ofthe year is the annual PioNic
of the Sunday Schools of the Bethlehem con
gregation. On that day every true hearted
Moravian visits the Island; it is an occasion
* The name of the larger Island is properlv Catalpa,
not Giilypso, aud was so called by the old Moravians,
flora the great number of Catiilpu trees which were
then, and still are growing, upon it.

of innocent enjoyment for old and young, and
those who care not to play, can talk, feast,
drink coffee, row in the boats on the river,
or recall together with their old friends the
past days spent on the Island. An evening
on the Lehigh, after a day at the Island, has
its charms, floating lazily on the river, sur
rounded by our friends, music and song
naturally following ; such are the happy mo
ments of life. The charms of Bethlehem's
Islands, and the beauties of the Lehigh, aro
still unsung; but tho dear remembrance of
hours passed there are engraven on the
memory of many with an' impression that
can never be effaced, but will remain a joy
forever. The following items are copied from The
Weekly Progress, of South Bethlehem, August
18th, 1870 :
" TnE Children's Festival. — On Sunday
next, the ' Children's Choir' of the Moravian
church, will celebrate their festival accord
ing to a time honored custom yearly observ
ed from the earliest days of Moravianism
to the present time. Each distinct ' choir'
of the church celebrate their festivals at dif
ferent periods during the year, being divid
ed thus : first, the ' Married Choir/ to which
have been combined in later years the 'wid
ower's' and 'Widows' Choir,' ' Single Sisters'
' Single Brethren,' ' Children's' and ' Dieners'
— or ' Servants of the Church,' — all celebrat
ing their respective festivals with a ' Love
Feast.' Several of the festival days of the
church are being observed during the pres
ent month. The ' Gemein Fest,' or ' Love
Feast', for all 'choirs' or classes of the con
gregation united, having been celebrated
last Sunday afternoon preparatory to Com
munion services held in the evening, and at
tended by communicant members of the
church only. Next Sunday the children will
celebrate their love feast in the afternoon,
and in the evening the beautiful and at
tractive open air exercises will be held at
the west end of the large Moravian church
immediately after the evening services have
ended within the sanctuary. These open air
services consist entirely of singing selections

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

147

of such anthems and hymns, which have
been committed to memory by all members
of the congregation, the officiating clergy
merely giving out the opening lines. A full
attendance of instrumental and vocal music
by the Moravian Church Choir is also given
on this occasion, which renders the effect
more soul inspiring and impressive, blend
ing in sweet unison with hundreds of youth
ful voices out in the free open air of a calm
and quiet Sabbath evening. In former years
lighted lanterns of paper in variegated col
ors were strung up in front of the singers.
which added considerably to the effect, but
the custom has been abandoned. The sim
ple and beautiful ceremonies on Sunday
evening next, should the weather prove pro
pitious, will be largely attended, as they
have been in the past, by various denomina
tions within and without the limits of our
town." "TnE Island.— The 'Old Bethlehem Is
land,' or 'Calypso,' as it is perhaps more
familiarly known by hundreds of visitors to
Bethlehem, has this year been more fre
quently visited by Moravian families, and
members of families of other denominations
of this place, than has been the case for the
last few years. We think no better enjoy
ment, for one day in the heat of summer, can
be better appreciated, than by members of a
family, or a group of friends congregating in
good old pic nic fashion in this cool, shady
and secluded spot.
Above the " Old Bridge," leading west, are
yet to be seen traces of a handsome walk,
that leads along tho banks of the Lehigh
to a fine grove of trees. The path formerly
extended a mile or more along the stream,
and a walk along the tow-path of the Lehigh
Canal as far as the first lock above Bethle
hem, shows the visitor how beautiful the
promenade once was, and how charming the
Eccne still is. Along the edge of the swiftly
flowing river grow fine large tree of various
kinds, but many of these were blown down
in a terrific gale in the summer of 1S69. The
disastrous flood on the Lehigh, of June 5th,
1S62, brought down the river large quanti

ties of drift timber, trees, houses, and canal
boats, these destroyed the walk, left by the
erection of the canal ; wounded the fine old
trees along the water's edge by striking and
tearing off the bark, so that now some old
patriarch yields to every severe gale, andy
soon none will be left, for all were injured \
more or less, about twenty feet from the
ground, and the large scars on their sides
give evidence of internal decay. Many new
trees had been planted to the north of the
pathway, and in the grove. Seats were
placed on the river side of the walk for the
promenaders to rest upon, but all these were
damaged or carried away by the flood. In
1868, the bridge connecting the North Penn,
as it is called, and the Lehigh and Susque
hanna Railroads was built diagonally
across the river, completing the destruction
of the Path; and in the grove where the
youngertrees that had been uninjured by the
flood, were growing beautifully, they are
now landing from canal boats, sandstone
curb-stones, and cutting them on the ground.
It is thus all the beautiful walks around
Bethlehem have been eradicated by com
bined attacks from land and water. It was
along this path, in the river, that in former
times were moored the pleasure boats, own
ed by nearly every Moravian family, each
gaily painted and bearing on the stern some
historic name ; now few are left, except
those of Mr. Fahs, who hires his boats out
by the hour to such as desire to visit tho
" Islands," or row on the river.
The Lehigh is a broad and shallow stream
of clear, cold water, flowing over a rocky
bed, from springs in the different spurs cf
the Blue Ridge mountains, in Luzerne coun
ty, near Wilksbarre, and flows one hundred
miles to its entrance into the Delaware at
Easton. In its upper part it is a rapid,
mountainous stream, with many falls; and
like all others of a like character, is subject
to floods after all heavy rains. The destruc
tive flood- of June 5th, 1862, was not the first
by any means, that caused great suffering to
the inhabitants along its banks, and destroy
ed much valuable property, but it was the

148

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

most severe ; at Bethlehem the water rose
to the height of twenty-one feet, and the
back-water flowed up the Manockasy to the
mill dam back of the " Eagle Hotel;" it tore
awajr one half of the northern portion of the
' Old Bridge" over the Lehigh, and covered
the " Islands" with sand, logs, trees, and all
kinds of debris, to the height of twelve or
fifteen feet, so that it took over a year to
clear them off again; it entirely devastated
the upper end of Calypso Island, leaving
only a sand bank, where once had been
beautiful trees, waving grasses, and lovely
wild flowers. It will be many years before
the slow growth of Nature restores the island
to its pristine beauty.
The mode of catching fish in the Lehigh
in olden times, is thus described in the Soutli
Bethlehem Conservative:
" The mode of catching fish was borrow
ed from the Indians. The Indians ran a
dam of stones across the stream where the
depth would admit of it, not in a straight
line, but in two parts, verging towards each
other in an angle. An opening is left at the
point in the middle for the water to run off
— at this opening they place a large box or
basket, tho bottom of which was full of holes.
They then make a rope of wild vines, reach
ing across the stream, upon which boughs
some feet in length were fastened at the dis
tance of two fathoms from each other. Then
a party is sent about a mile above tho dam
with this rope and appendages, which there
begins to move gently down the current,
some guiding the ends while others keep the
branches from sinking by supporting the
rope in the middle with wooden forks. Thus
they proceed, driving the fish before them,
while other Indians with poles and noise
drive the fish through the opening into tho
box, where they were caught and put into
canoes. This method of fishing wa3 adopted
and long continued by the settlers. Strang
ers often inquire what these angular stone
dams aro for, and few are aware that they
are the remains of the ancient fish dams, re
paired time and again, by the fishermen of
modern times.

" Various laws were passed before the Revo
lutionary War, tending to the preservation
of the fish in the Delaware and Lehigh Riv
ers; one of which had a singular penalty at
tached — in subjecting the seller of rockfish
under twelve inches in length, to a fine and
the forfeiture of the fish. In the early period
of the settlement along the Lehigh, before
the erection of dams to render it available
for the transportation of coal to Philadelphia,
it was the resort of shad, which found their
way from the ocean up into its fresh waters
to deposit their spawn.
The Lehigh in the vicinity of Bethlehem,
has many of these fish-weirs, or fish-kcerbs,
built in different parts of the stream; they
are formed by long dams built with the nu
merous pebble stones which form tho bed of
the river. A line of stones are erected diago
nally across the stream, from each bank,
down the river, and converging to a point,
in the manner described above, where the
weir is placed to catch the fish; the weir
resembles in form the body of a cart, the
hinder part up stream, and the bottom form
ed of lathes, placed close together, so as to ad
mit of the water passing freely, but retain
ing in it tbe fish. In the spring and fall
large numbers of suckers and eels are caught
in these weirs. But the dams on the Lehigh
and these fish-korps have destroyed all
other kinds of fish; and there is nothing to
be caught by the angler on the river, ex
cept some small chub and sun-fish, and an
occasional stray trout. When Bethlehem
was first sett'ed, and for many years after
wards, trout were plenty in the Lehigh and
Manockasy, and in season, shad and herring
were numerous, there was a fishery near
the town and on the 10th of May, 1752, for in
stance, 1,000 shad were caught with the
seine. Now these kinds of fish are not to be
found in the river at all ; the dam at Easton
interrupts their upward course from the
Delaware. The people living on the Lehigh
ought to petition the legislature of the State
for an Act, compelling those who have ob
structed the course of the stream, to put up
schutes, slopes or steps, at the breast of every

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

149

dam erected on the river, to facilitate the
free passage of the fish up stream to spawn,
and their return to the ocean afterwards ;
and to remove the fish-weirs, or fish-baskets.
Such an Act has been already passed^rela-
tiye to the Susquehanna river, since when,
the shad, herring, and many other kinds of
fish have returned in large numbers to that
stream to spawn. A great many counties
have also had protective acts passed in re
gard to game and fish, and it is time Lehigh
and Northampton followed suit.
The Act referred to, that of March 13th,
1866, (See Pamphlet Laws of 1866, page 370,)
and its supplements, are very stringent; in
general terms the provisions of the law are,
that there shall be made at all dams, or
weirs, or other artificial obstructions in the
river, sluices, schutes, slopes, steps or other
devices, for the free passage of the fish, and
their fry up and. down the stream. The
dams are to be deemed nuisances unless the
devices are made, and a failure to comply
with the conditions of the Act is to be deem
ed a misdemeanor and subjects the owner to
a fine of $10,000; and it is made unlawful
for any person or persons to place any fish-
basket, fish-trap, or any like device, either
permanent or temporary across the river, or
to draw any seine or net within half a mile
of any of the sluices made for the passage of
the fish, either above or below the same, or
to fish with any seine or other device for
catching fish in numbers, within a given dis
tance mentioned, of the sluices or passage
ways over the dams, or in any manner to
frighten the fish, or spawn, (?) or fry, or in
any manner to prevent their passage up or
down the stream in any part thereof, under
the penalty of a heavy fine, of not more than
$1,000, and imprisonment not exceeding one
vear, at tho option of the court. Some of the
counties make it unlawful to fish their streams
at certain seasons ; others to fish otherwise
than with a hook and line ; and some put a
heavy fine on the use of poisonous bait, cast
nets, or any other device to catch the fish in
numbers. The right of fishery, over half a
mile from the schutes, is not taken away by

Act of March 13th, 1806, from tho owners of
real estate bordering on the Susquehanna.
On the 16th day of April, 1858, an Act of
Assembly was passed prohibiting fishing
with gill-nets in the river Lehigh, between
Bethlehem and its junction with the Dela
ware at Easton, (See Pamphlet Laws of 185S,
page 305.) During the session of 1809-70, 1
endeavored to get the legislature to pass a
Bill for the protection of the fish in the Le
high river, for the removal of the fish korjis,
and the erection of sluices or fish passages
over the dams; but it was objected to, First,
on the grounds that it would be impossible
to raise fish in the Lehigh, as the sulphur
water from the coal mines destroyed the
fish; but as they are caught daily in the
river that objection is evidently subsersvient
to the Second : That the Lehigh Navigation
Company would not like it.
The cobble stones with which the " cart
ways" of the streets of the city of Philadel
phia are paved, were, and still are taken
from the bods of the rivers Delaware and
Lehigh, without any perceptible diminution
of the quantities contained in them. The
stones are rounded and water-worn into many
curious shapes, such as geese eggs, bird's
eggs, cannon balls, and marbles. I have
one the size and shape of a loaf of domestic
rye bread just out of the oven, with the
marks of the pan, in which it was baked,
apparently marked on it; and another in
the form and likeness of a a jewel case, for
which it is often mistaken, as it lies on my
table for use as a paper weight.
The Lehigh Canal which passes through
the lower part of the town of Bethlehem,
formerly connected the head waters of the
Lehigh river, with its mouth at Easton,
where it empties into the river Delaware,
and by the means of dams, locks, and canals,
navigation was open to White Haven, in
Luzerne County, eighty-four and a half
miles ; thirty and a half miles consisted of
pools ; thirty-nine and a quarter of canals-;
two and a half of locks, and the remainder
of sluices. The freshet of June 5th, 1862', de
stroyed all the canal, most of the dams., and

150

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

all the improvements above Maueh Chunk;
and the canal now only extends from that
place to Easton. It forms a most important
communication with the coal regions of this
section of the State, to which railroads are
continued. At Lehigh Gap, where it passes
through the Blue Ridge, the mountains rise
on each side of the river to the height of
1200 feet, and the scene is very grand and
beautiful. The Blue Ridge, or South Mountains, are
the eastern range of the Alleghanies, branch
ing off from the main range in North Caro
lina, crossing the State of Virginia and ex
tending to the Highlands on the Hudson
river. The Indian name of these mountains
in Pennsylvania was the Kittocktinny , now
called Kittatinny, meaning the endless moun
tains. The common name they now bear is
the Blue Mountains.
Mauch Chunk has been called by some
writers, " the Switzerland of Pennsylvania,"
which means that it is well worthy the visit
of the tourist. The ride over the Gravity
Railroad, or " the Switch-back" as it it called,
although there are no switch-backs on the
Railroad now, is one of the most exciting
and beautiful rides in America. At the foot
of Mount Pisgah, the visitors enter small
passenger ears, each holding twelve persons,
and the ears are drawn up the ascent by a
stationary engine on the top of the moun
tain. This plane is a formidable looking
affair, the track seeming to be nearly per
pendicular; it i3 2,322 feet in length, with
an elevation in that distance of 664 feet. A
sharp grade, railroad men call it. .Every pre
caution is taken lo prevent accidents; the
train is pushed up by a safety car fastened
behind it; the conductor sits on the front
car, where he mans a patent safety brake.
The safety car is made fast to two steel bands,
each seven and a half inches wide, either
strong enough to hold and draw the train,
which never exceeds ten cars ; should both
bands break, the safety car has attached to
it two immense steel arms with sharp points,
which, an arrangement made for the purpose
releases from their horizontal position on tho

sido of the car, should it start backwards
these points would then enter the earth and
keep the train stationary. These arms aro
also assisted by a rachet provided for the same
purpose, to prevent the descent of the train
in case it should break loose. This ascent
takes eight minutes. Mount Pisgah is 1000
feet above the bed of the Lehigh river at. its
foot. The view from the mountain top is
very fine, extending on a clear day to School-
ey's Mountains in New Jersey. From here
the train starts on the gravity road, on a
down grade of fifty feet to the mile ; after a
swift and exhilarating ride of six miles, the
foot of Mount Jefferson is reached. The
ascending plane here is 2,070 feet long, over
coming a height of 462 feet. The train is
again attached to a safety ear, and drawn up
to the top of the mountain, 1,144 feet above
the Lehigh ; and after a short ride of a mile,
the cars arrive at Summit Hill, a dreary-
looking town of 7000 inhabitants, with a dis
mal Town Hall, which looks like a French
Bastile. The once celebrated switch-back
railroad begins.here, and runs through fra
iler Creek Valley to the many different coal
mines. Leaving here, the cars descend at
the rate of 221 feet to the mile. The descent
was formerly made by switch-back changes
from one track to another, but now the track
is continuous ; instead of a switeh-back the
cars are carried around a curve by their own
momentum. At the bottom of the Valley
the train generally stops long enough to
permit the passengers to visit the coal
breakers and the mines. The grade of the
track through the valley is sixty feet to the
mile, The immense mountains of useless
coal dust fill the visitor with surprise and
regret; it is to be hoped that some inventive
genius will soon suggest a mode by which
this can be used with profit, so as to enable
it to be transported to a market; it is a great
waste and loss at present, and gives a dreary
look to the valley where these mounds are
piled up, killing the trees, and causing the
creeks to run streams as black as ink.
Leaving here, the train soon reaches the
foot of Panther Creek Plane No. 2, 2,030 feet

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

151

in length, with an elevation of 250 feet; be
ing drawn up this, the cars go several miles
further by gravity, through mining villages,
and past mounds of coal dust to Panther
Creek Plane No. 1, in length 2,436 feet, with
an elevation to be overcome of 375 feet. Af
ter ascending this plane, the train arrives
again at Summit Hill, having made a circuit
of eight miles. It was near here that coal
was first discovered by a man named Gun-
ther, in 1791; and it was also here that the
first mine was worked by the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Company. They supplied
the market without opposition till 1847.
From Summit Hill the cars run by gravity
nine miles back to Mauch Chunk, without
any stoppage; that distance has been made in
thirteen minutes. The cars descending on
an acquiring impulse of a down grade, aver
aging ninety-six feet to*the mile. The train,
however, seldom makes the distance in less
than thirty minutes, giving the passengers
time to enjoy the beautiful distant views,
and magnificent scenery all along the route.
One of the coal mines ne"ar Panther Creek
Valley, has been on fire now for over thirty
years, and all efforts to extinguish it have
failed. As an effort of engineering skill the
planes are unsurpassed, but I am at a loss to
understand why the fact that the cars de
scending the grades by the impulse of their
own weight, or in other words, run down hill
rapidly, is considered so very wonderful a
feat. The ride, however, up the planes,
down the grades, over the mountains, and
through the coal regions, is one no visitor to
Bethlehem should miss; the trip can be
made in a day without fatigue, leaving that
place at seven and a half A. m., and returning
at six p. m. to supper, which will be very
heartily enjoyed, and the day's trip will be an
episode in the most adventurous life. A few
years more and all this cannot be seen or en
joyed, as it is the intention of the Company
to cut a tunnel through the mountain ; it will
be 3,900 feet in length, and the work has al
ready been commenced.
The Moravian, in its issue of January 20th,
1870, had the following interesting item.

" The Slatington News reports the re-discov
ery of a valuable mineral spring, about a
mile from Lehigh Gap, and four miles from
.Slatington. The spring was known to the
Moravians at Gnadenhutten a hundred years
ago, and the water was hauled to Philadel
phia at one time, to cure an epidemic which
was then raging in that city. Dr. II. O. Wil
son, by means of an old draft, succeeded in
again finding the spring, which had been
quite covered with stones and earth. The
spring is marked on the original map of the
Province of Pennsylvania, made by Nicho
las Scull, Surveyor General, in the year 1759.
Dr. Franklin mentions having camped at
this spring on his way to Fort Allen. The
plot of the property on which it is situated,
contains a certificate from Thos. C. James,
dated Philadelphia, February 24th, 1800, in
which the statement is made that the water
is "a pure Chalybeate, the iron being held
in solution by carbonic acid and fixed air.' "
In the first volume of the "Memorials of
the Moravian Church," issued at Philadel
phia, in 1870, at page 30 it is stated that,
" This spring was visited as early as 1746, by
the Brethren, and its waters bottled by them
for the use of invalids in Philadelphia."
One evening, in the latter part of August,
1863, we had on the supper-table at the
Eagle Hotel, in Bethlehem, an infusion of
" American tea." This tea was made from
the leaves of a plant, or shrub, which is in
digenous on the mountain's side, in the
vicinity of the town, and in other parts of
the State; it has been sometimes called
"New Jersey tea," and was so named when
used during the Revolutionary War of 1776,
as a substitute for the Chinese tea, which
was then an expensive luxury; it is still
used by many persons in the country, who
consider it quite equal to the imported arti
cle. I am informed that it is prepared in
Massachusetts in large quantities, and sold
to whaling ships; it consists, however, only
of the dried leaves, which are not properly
prepared. The botanical name of this plant
is Ceanothus Amerieanus.
The tea which we drank was, however,

152

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

made secundum artem, in the true Chinese
style ; that being the only way in which the
real virtues of the leaf can be retained in
perfection. It had all the appearance, taste,
and aroma of the finest imported tea, with
the exception of a slight herby flavor, in
consequence of its newness, not being quite
three weeks old. This peculiarity, we were
informed, would leave it when it acquired
age. A choice sample of this tea was deposited
in the Museum of the "Young Men's Mis
sionary Society," in Bethlehem, for preserva
tion, as a specimen of the first and finest
American Tea ever manufactured.
This tea was made by Dr. Spencer Bonsall
in the early part of August, 1863, at a place
called " China," in the mountains, near Lock
Haven, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, un
der the auspices of the " American Tea Com
pany," incorporated by an Act of Assembly
of this Commonwealth, of April 14th, 1863,
which had for its object the cultivation and
manufacture of tea on an extensive scale.
At the time the tea manufactured was made,
Dr. Bonsall was the Chief Superintendent of
that company, but the undertaking was not
successful. That gentleman was for several
years engaged in the manufacture of tea in
the Valley of Assam, situated to the west of
the Province of' Yannan, in China; and on
his return to this country, he wrote an in
teresting article on the subject, which was
published in the Agricultural Report of the
United States Patent Office, for the year 1S60.
Prominent among the ancient relics and
curiosities, so abundant in Bethlehem, there
is one of which the citizens are very proud.
It is the " Old Perseverance Hand Fire Engine,"
which is preserved, very properly, with
much care. It is one of the oldest appara
tus of the kind in this country, having
been built in London, by Brooks, in the year
1698, and was purchased there by Captain
Christian Jaeobson for the " American Mo
ravian Society," for the sum of £77 12«. 2d.,
and brought by him to America at an ex
pense of £6 18s. 3d., and delivered in Bethle
hem December 10th, 1763. It is not, how

ever, the oldest hand engine in the United
States, for the "Fellowship Steam Fire Engine
Company" of Philadelphia, have an old Hand
Fire Engine, six feet long, and five and a
half feet high to the top of the gallery, which
runs on wooden wheels, and can throw a
stream of water through a three-quarter inch
nozzle, one hundred and fifteen feet high. It
was made in London, by Ham k Rag, in the
year 1694, and is, therefore, four years older
than the Old Perseverance. Nor was the
Perseverance the first Hand engine import
ed into the United States ; for the City Coun
cils, of Philadelphia, imported two Hand En
gines from London in 1730, where they were
first invented in 1663. And previously, on
14th of December, 1719, the city purchased
from Abraham Bickley, a Fire Engine, which
was also, no doubt, imported from England.
See Wescott's History of Philadelphia, Chap
ter 66, Sunday Dispatch of April 5th, 1868.
The Perseverance Fire Engine Company,
No. 1, of Bethlehem, was re-organized in
1848. They have also a fine Hand Fire En
gine, made by Agnew, of Philadelphia, and
an excellent Hose Carriage.
The first hose used in Bethlehem was
made of hemp, and was brought from Ger
many, in 1818. The first leather hose was
purchased by the Reliance Fire Company,
No. 3, in 1838 ; this latter company had the
first Hose Carriage in the town. The only
other Fire Company is the " Diligent Steam
Fire Engine Company, No. 2."
There is also in the town a handsome
Hook and Ladder Company, called "The
Niskey." The Borough authorities own all these
different fire apparatus but one.
Bethlehem is well supplied with Hotels,
of which the " Sun," and " Eagle" have al
ready been described; there still remains
unnoticed the " American," situated at the
north-east corner of Broad and New Streets,
the highest elevation in the town. It is a
fine large building, formerly a private house,
but with very extensive back buildings now
added to it; its rooms are quite large and
airy, and the view of the surrounding coun-

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

153

try from the windows of the upper stories of
the house is very fine; from them the entire
range of the Blue Mountains is distinctly
visible. The scene from the top of the
house, at sunset, on a summer's evening,
presents a panorama of exceeding beauty.
The " Union Hotel" is situated one square
further east, at the north-east corner of Broad
and Centre Streets. It is a fine, large house,
and seems to be the resort of the people from
the surrounding country, whilst on their
visits to the town ; in fact, a veritable coun
try tavern, in all its outward surroundings.
The " Pennsylvania Hotel" is a large brick
building, on the banks of the Lehigh Canal,
in what was formerly called " Old South
Bethlehem," in Lehigh County ; the road in
front of the house runs along the banks of
the Lehigh, and leads to the old Bethlehem
bridge, over which all travel passes to reach
the " Union Depot" of the " North Penn and
Lehigh Valley Railroads."
There is also a good House kept by Mr.
John Schilling, in the north-western part of
the town, attached to which there is a fine
Lager Beer Brewery, and if you wish to
taste that article in all its purity, you must
go to "Schilling's."
There are several Restaurants and Ice
Cream Saloons in the town, which do quite
a large local business. " Rauch's" is the
favorite resort of all strangers and people of
the town who desire to enjoy Ice Cream and
cakes. It was in this House that Lafayette
lived whilst in Bethlehem. In the saloon
there is a small fountain, whose marble ba
sin is surrounded always by flowers, kept
fresh by the falling spray of the flowing
stream, which is continually thrown up; it
is a tasty little affair, and attracts universal
attention and admiration. Mr. Ambroise H.
Rauch, the owner of this large confectionary
establishment, resides in a fine old mansion
on Market Street near Main ; attached to
which he. has a handsome conservatory fill
ed with rare and beautiful flowers and plants.
And although there are many fine, large
stores of all kinds in the town, where all the
necessary comforts and luxuries of life can

be obtained, there are no market houses,
either public or private, in the place, and
the inhabitants are compelled to buy their
meats from the butcher wagons that drive
around each day, and their poultry, butter
and eggs from the farmers, or from the
stores, where such things are taken in trade,
as is usual in our country towns. There are
some small " Provision stores," where veg
etables only are sold. The town does not
need market houses so much as provision
stores where everything necessary for the
table could be kept for sale. The expenses
of living in Bethlehem, before the Rebellion,
were very moderate; but for the last few
years they have been nearly equal to those of
a city life.
The streets of Bethlehem are lighted by
gas, but the lights are extinguished at ten
o'clock, p. m., a capital arrangement for
thieves of all kinds. Until quite recently it
was the boast of Bethlehemites, that they
never had more than one Watchman in the
town at a time; those halcyon days are,
alas I no more ; the town has been divided
into Wards ; they have now a High Consta
ble and several Policemen, whose presence
seem to excite in the unruly a desire to keep
them employed. In old times in this ancient
borough, "the night- watch patrolled the
town with a spear in his hand ;" this contin
ued till about tbe year 1804 or 1805. Rose
was then the Watchman, who on leaving his
beat in the morning, called, "Der Gloclc hat
Seehs Schlag," i. e., Die Glocke hat 6 geschla-
gen ! Brother Rose superceded Brother Stolz
in 1801, as Watchman."
The streets were lighted at nights with
lamps before the year 1800, and so continu
ed to be until Thursday evening, July 13th
1854, when they were first lighted with gas.
The expense of lighting with lamps was
borne and paid by private subscription. The
lights were put out at ten o'clock, as they
still are. Each housekeeper had then, and
still has, a lantern for use on dark nights.
There are some queer old streets in the
town, that branch off from the main thor
oughfares at an angle, winding around the

154

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

hill-side, and ending very abruptly against
it, or turn off by some unexpected outlet into
another winding street or road, or by-path.
Those streets were once evidently foot-paths
in the earlier days of the settlement, and are
on the western declivity of the hill on which
the town is built, and nearly all lead down
to the Manokasy. There are many pleasant
old " short-cuts," or by-paths in other parts
of the town. Market Street used to end at
John Oerter's house, thence east a lane ex
tended, on both sides of which very large ap
ple trees were growing. Church Street for
merly ended at the "Sister's House;" and
from there a lane called the " Sister's lane"
extended eastwardly to Roth's farm ; on both
sides of this lane cherry trees were planted,
which bore excellent fruit. Fruit trees of all
sorts were more plentiful in those good old
times than at present. Apple and cherry
trees ,ire indigenous to America.
Water Street was so swampy when the
Tanner's House was about to be erected, that
it was necessary to lay large logs of wood on
the surface, then stones, and earth on top of
these, to form a firm sub-stratum on which
to build the foundation walls ; these were
six feet thick, and immense labor was re
quired to complete the building. The whole
vicinity then being a swampy wilderness,
full of large rocks, brush and trees, amongst
which the wildrosegrew in greatabundancc,
ard the "Cats-tails" so much used in mak
ing beds, in profusion.
The splendid old willow trees, formerly
growing near the Old Stone Bridge on the
Manokasy, were cut down in January, 1S55,
to make way for the new stone one erected
during that year.
In olden times the inhabitants of Bethle
hem were early risers, as many of them still
are, they took breakfast at six o'clock, and
as they then all worked together, they were
sum moned to their meals by the church bell ;
at nine o'clock they had their make-peace, a
light repast of Moravian cake and beer, on
the principle of our lunch. The dinner hour
was, and still is, twelve o'clock m. At two
o'clock p. m., " Vesper," cake and coffee. At

six p. jr., supper. These customs are not yet
abandoned by all the Moravians.
The census of 1870 having been complet
ed, gives the population of Bethlehem and
its suburbs as follows :

Bethlehem, 

4,512

South Bethlehem, ....

3,556

Old South Bethlehem and West

Bethlehem, . .

890

* Hottlesville, '.....

200

Outside borough limits of South

Bethlehem, 

450

Total, 

9,608

The Old Water Works, illustrated and
mentioned before, were used during the
Revolutionary War as a powder magazine
for the American Army.
The Lehigh Hills, where the Old Phila
delphia road crosses the mountains, is 430
feet above low water mark on the Lehigh
River. The highest point of the mountain
is 700 feet above low water mark ofthe river.
The Canal level is 200 feet above the sea;
and Market Street, at the corner of New
Street, is 110 feet above the Canal.
Bishop De Schweinitz, in his " Life and
Times of David Zeisberger," in the glossary
says, "the Indian name of Bethlehem was
Mena-gach-euenk; ofthe Lehigh River, Lech-
au-week; of Nazareth, Wela-ga-mika." See
also Heckwelder's Indian names in the
Bulletin of the Historical Society cf P.;.,
1 vol., 121.
Among the days formerly celebrated and
made a holiday of in Bethlehem, was " May
Day ;" but of late years the weather has
been unsuitable for out-door enjoyment; this
year, however, the weather was so delight
ful on the first ofthe month of flowers, that
the Editor of the Moravian thus grieves "for
the good old days of Adam and of Eve. '
" It has been many a year since wo have
had such delightful weather at this season
as during the past three weeks. ' May Day'
* Ilottlesville is a new town that iB springing up just
outside of the northern limits of the old borough of
Bethlehem ; from the Nazareth road westward, to the
road leading to Cath. Pronounced Bass by the coun
tiy folks.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

155

has got to be one of the things of the past,
an imaginary season of flowers, warm ver
nal airs and sunshine, on which the young
people kept holiday, and chose their queen,
and had a procession. This year the boys
and girls might, have celebrated it without
any risk of catching colds or making them
selves ridiculous. Bethlehem used to have
such a spring-flower festival, — a good many
years ago it was, and many of the flower-
crowned girls are now substantial matrons,
with boys and girls of their own old enough
to go maying, and the grass has been grow
ing for many a year over the graves of oth
ers. But alas! with our railroads and mis
cellaneous other ' improvements,' the old vil
lage has grown into a miniature city, and
who thinks of ' May Day' now ?"
In the Chapel of the Young Ladies' Semi
nary, I noticed this summer at the entertain
ment, that the bellows of the organ were
blown by toater power, the machinery being
the invention of the Principal, the Rev.
Francis Wolle; and I noticed also that tho
organist was a very handsome woman. She
is a "Single Sister," from Salem, North
Carolina, I believe.
The following Masonic Societies hold their
regular meetings at the Masonic Hall, in
Bethlehem, Pa. a. n. 5870,
BETHLEHEM LODGE,
No. 283, A. Y. M.
Meets Wednesday, on or before Full Moon.

OFFICERS.
Bro. Morris A. Borhek, W. M.
" Homer Stanley Goodwin, S. W.
" Allen J. Lawall, J. W.
" Marcus C. Fetter, Treasurer.
" Bernhard E. Lehman, Sec'y.
PAST MASTERS,
Samuel Wetherill, C. M. Knauss,
Nathan Bartlett, Marcus C. Fetter,
Jesse H. Morgan, Bernhard E. Lehman
Ernst F. Bleck, Abraham Stout, M. D.,
Richard W. Leibert, Adolph Conradi,
Louis F. Beckel.
Constituted 1854.

a. i. 2400.
ZINZENDORF CHAPTER.
No. 216, H. R. A. M.
Meets Second Monday of each Month.

OFFICERS.
Comp. A. N. Leinbach, M. E. II. P. ;
" C. C. Tornbler, King;
" H. A. Wiltberger, Scribe;
" C. M. Knauss, Treasurer;
" Bernhard E. Lehman, Secretary.

PAST HIGH PRIESTS.
Jesse II. Morgan, Bernhard E. Lehman.
Constituted 1868.

anno dep. 2870.
BETHLEHEM COUNCIL.
No. 36, R. S. E. and S. M.
Meets First Thursday in each Month.

OFFICERS.
111. Comp. R. W. Leibert, T. I. G. M. ;
" M. C. Fetter, D. I. G. M. ;
" Jesse H. Morgan, P. C. of W. ;
" C. M. Knauss, G. M. of Exeh. ;
" Theodore F. Levers, Recorder.
PAST T. I. G. 31.,
Bernhard E. Lehman.
Constituted 1868.
The town of Bethlehem was formerly
within the limits of Bucks County ; and on
the 10th of March, 1746, the inhabitants pre
sented a petition to the court for the forma
tion of a township, which was granted ; al
though it was not surveyed and laid out
until the year 1762. When it was done by
George Golkowskv. The names of the pe
titioners were Nathaniel Seidel, Henry
Antes, John Brownfield, Samuel Powell,
Matthias Weiss, Jons Okely, Frederick
Cammerhoff, George Neisser, Christopher
Pyrleus, James Bursside, Joseph Powell,
Jasper Payne and Joseph Spangenberg.
After the dissolution of the " iEconomy,"
in 1762, lots in Bethlehem were sold to the
following individuals, each of whom erected
dwellings thereon for the use of their famil
ies, viz :

156

HISTORICAL SKETCn OF

Andrew Borheck, Weaver; William Boeh
ler, Wheelwright ; Ludwig Huebner, Potter;
Daniel Kunkler, Shopkeeper; George Shind-
ler Carpenter; Francis Thomas, Joiner;
Dewalt Koenman, Skindresser.

Some of the houses already erected by the
Society, were also sold, Henry Krause,
Butcher, and Gottlieb Lange, Saddler, and
some others, each purchased a house.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

157

THE SINGLE BRETHREN'S HOUSE. — 1814.
BETHLEHEM, PA.

CHAPTER XV.
Music in Bethlehem.
;he illustration at the head of this chap
ter, presents a view of the " Single
Brethren's House," as it appeared previous to
the erection of the adjoining buildings, to
the east and west, which now detract from
its ancient appearance. It was made from
a drawing especially executed for this work,
by my brother, William Martin, Jr. Origi
nally, the two entrance doors were put in
the centre ofthe building; because one-half
of the house, (the eastern,) was intended for
the " Single Brethren," and the other half,
(the western,) for the " Single Sisters." On
tho marble slab indicated over the doors,
were the words :
" Vater Mutter und Lieber Man
Habt Freud an unserm Junglings plan."
" Father and Mother and Worthy Man,
Take pleasure in our Youthful plan."

The inscription was put there when the
house was erected in 1784. When it was
plastered over is not known. The porch was
taken away, and the doors changed to their
present position about 1814, so say Jedidiah
Weiss and Charles Schneller, two of the oldest
inhabitants of Bethlehem. To the west ot
the Brethren's House, there was a one-story
stone building, used as.a Hatter's Shop.
In wandering about the town of Bethle
hem during a summer evening, the visitor
to the place, is surprised, to hear the sound
of a piano or some other musical instrument,
issuing from nearly every house, no matter
how unpretending its external appearance.
The inhabitants say, however, that there is
not as much attention given to music now
as in former times, although it is still taught
in all the schools.
Mr. Rufus A. Grider, who may be justly
styled one of the antiquarians of Belhlehem,

158

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

has a fine collection of views of the town,
twenty in number; also, views of many of
the old buildings, and the plans upon»which
they were erected ; all full of interest. Being
an artist of no mean merit, his pencil and
brush have enriched the collection with
views, taken in the streets ofthe town, and
in the vicinity. His journals are full of in
teresting records of past events; and he has
a valuable accumulation of poetry, both in
German and English, descriptive of life and
events in the history of Bethlehem. Free
use has been made in this work of Mr. Gri-
der's ancient treasures, by his kind permis
sion ; and from his " Historical Sketches of
Music in Bethlehem," written in 1870, at
my request, for this history, the copious ex
tracts have been made which compose this
chapter. The beautiful and quaint language
needs no apology, but his sketches are en
titled to the highest praise.
Mr. Grider has been connected with the
church and concert choir at Bethlehem for
more than twenty-five years, having been
in former years the leading tenor, and a per
former on one of the flutes in the orchestra,
and is therefore, entirely competent to speak
on the subject about which he writes.
In a sketch written in 1854, Mr. Grider
states that :
" Bethlehem was perhaps, the most musi
cal of all the Moravian Congregations in
America, in proportion to its inhabitants.
There was- no place in the United States that
could compare to it. Music was one of the
institutions which gave character to the
town, afforded intellectual amusement and
pleasure,. both to the performers and hearers ;
the children imbibed the spirit, and the in
fluence of it could be distinctly seen in the
inhabitants. "The Brethren's House was the great
nursery where the males received their edu
cation, and although kept very strict in many
things; in music full scope was given, and
was indulged in by both young and old ; and
if ever democratic principles were practised,
it was in the Moravian towns ; all were alike,
respect was paid to the office and not to the

man. The Bishops of the Moravians were
nearly all musicians, and many of the Minis
ters took their part therein, frequently play
ing the first violin in the orchestra. The
musical performances were either in church
or concert music, but one was distinct from
the other.
" In the Brethren's House, and the 'Sis
ters,' music was the principal amusement.
The Single Brethren had music every even
ing, the married people went there to enjoy
it, and to assist in the performances.
"As an evidence ofthe love of music, and
the simplicity of the early Moravians, it is
recorded in the Church Diary of July 8, 1754,
that, 'Our musicians of the church choir,
performing hymn tunes, accompanied the
harvesters as far as the river, on their way
to cut the rye on the new farm, which was
put under cultivation last fall near the
Crown; as the weather was fine, all who
could assist, repaired to the fields, men, wo
men and children.' "
In his later and more extensive work, en
titled, " Music in Bethlehem," written in
1870, Mr. Grider thus discourses at large :
" It is not known when music in an or
ganized manner was first performed here. It
is recorded that instruments were used by the
Moravians in Bethlehem in their religious
services, in 1743, and that the noted Indian
chief Tschoop, was buried amidst strains of
music, in 1746- An attack by Indians was
unintentionally averted about 1755, by play
ing a dirge on the trombones, the Indians
supposing it meant an alarm. Thus, music
may possibly have saved the town, and the
lives of its inhabitants.
" Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to his
wife in 1756, says, that he heard very fine
music in the church; that 'flutes, oboes,
French-horns and trumpets, accompanied
the organ.' Hence, we may infer that music
formed, previous to his visit, an essential
part of Divine worship and social entertain
ment, and was cultivated to a great extent
by a well organized body of musicians.
"The first organ was obtained when the
present chapel was built, in 1751.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

159

"The first orchestra performers, whose
names are known to us, existed in 1780 :—
Rev. Emanuel Nitschman, Leader; Rev. Jacob
Van Vleck, 1st violin; Abraham Levering,
Matthias Witke, 2di>i'oft»/ Frederick Beck,
viola; David Weinland, Joseph Till, violen-
cello's; Wm. Lembke, Tobias Beckel, French-
horns ; Samuel Bader, Joseph OE-RTEn,flutcs;
David Weinland, Tobias Boeckel, trumpets;
James Hall and Frederick Boeckel, oboes.
"In 1795, a select party, consisting of Rev.
John Federick Frueauff, 1st violin; George
Fredk. Boeckel, 2nd violin; John George
Weiss, viola, and David Weinland, violen-
cello, constituted an organization for per
forming Jos. Haydn's Quartettes, then quite
new. It will be perceived that the music of
that period, though lacking the variety ex
isting at the present day, included all the
instruments then used by European orches
tras. The trombone, double bass, fagotto or
bassoon and clarinet, not having been gene
rally introduced. It can be truly said that
instrumental music here, has kept pace with
that in Europe; the various new instruments
being introduced as soon as used in the lat
ter country.
"As constant accessions were made to the
colony from Europe, the same statement is
true as to compositions; no opportunity was
neglected to obtain all the newest music
which the Brethren in Europe possessed It
is known that the Rev. Emanuel Nitschman,
when he came from Europe, brought the first
copies of Haydn's Quartettes and Symphonies.
It is said that Joseph Haydn, if not directly,
was at least, indirectly, in communication
with the musiciansof this place. John Antes,
born in Frederietrop, Montgomery Co., Pa.,
where the Moravians had a preaching sta
tion, was apprenticed to a wheelwright in
Bethlehem; being a youth possessing much
talent, he devoted himself also to the studv
of music ; performing on all the stringed
instruments ; he also studied.it as a science.
The Musical Library contains fourteen of his
compositions. He was a skilful workman
also, and partially supplied the then existing
want of instruments, by constructing a viola,

violin and violincello; they were used at
Christian-Spring. The viola with his name
inscribed on it, still exists at Nazareth, and
the latter is now in the church at Bethlehem.
Having gone to Europe, he was sent out as
a missionary tp Egypt, where the Turks
punished him with the Bastinado, from the
effects of which he never entirely recovered;
while laid up in that country, he consoled
himself by composing quartettes ; when con
valescent, he returned to Europe. In Vienna
Antes made the acquaintance of Haydn, who,
together with other musicians, performed
his compositions.
" In the year 1S00, Federick BouRGriN, a
new-comer, and a performer, brought with
him the first bassoon. In 1806, a double bass
was added, it cost sixty-eight dollars, it was
paid for partly by a donation from the
church funds, and by proceeds obtained at
a benefit concert. The Rev. John C. Beckler
performed on it the first time, but as he re
sided at Nazareth, Jacob Wolle, one of the
violincellists, became the player; who, after
having perfromed on that instrument, both
at concert and in the church, for a period of
fifty-seven years, was called home in 1863.
" Haydn's greatest work, the Creation, was
obtained in 1810, and partially performed in
1811. It is believed that was prior to its
performance in any other part ofthe United
States. This was the case also with his Sea
sons, the Song nf the Bell, the Seven Sleepers,
Paradise and the Peri, and other German
compositions. The copies of the Creation
were made in 1810, from the score, by John
Federick Peter, and are still preserved.
When the piece was first performed here, the
orchestra was thus constituted: 1st violins,
David Moritz Michael, Leader, John Freder
ick Peter; 2nd violins, John Christian Till,
John Frederick RAucn ; viola] William Bea-
ler; violincello, David Weinland ; contra-bass,
Jacob Wolle; flutes, Joseph Oerter, J. F.
Bourquin; clarinet, John Ricksecker ;bassoon,
J. Samuel Krause; horns, JosEPn Till,,
Daniel Kliest; oboe, James Hall; trvmpet,
Frederick BoECKr.L. Soon thereafter, were
added as new members, Jedidiah and Timo,-

160

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

thy Weiss, Charles F. Beckel, Jacob C Till,
George Fetter, Christian F. Luck, and others.
" The separation of the sexes was a dis
tinguishing feature in Moravian Congrega
tions, until about the beginning of the pres
ent century. We now regard it as an error.
Its effects upon music were such, that no
vocal performances could take place in the
concert room, except those in which male
voices alone took part, until its abolishment.
It exercised considerable restraint even upon
the performance of church music, since the
female singers were required to occupy the
northern part of the church, the present
chapel; while the male performers gathered
around and in the rear of the organ in the
gallery, situated at the southern end.
"From» existing printed and written
psalms and music, used on festal occasions,
¦dating from 1768 to 1795, it is evident that
two cl.oirs of singers existed, a male and a
female, each complete in itself. Some pieces
were sung by the first, others, entirely by
the latter; in some compositions they were
made to respond to each other.
" The building of the new church in 1803,
ended this exclusiveness. It was no longer
deemed improper for Sisters to sing at con
certs. At first, the married a'.one were al
lowed to sing solos, but in time these gave
way to the Single Sisters.
" While the former strict rules were in
force, the Single Sisters had in their house,
for many years, a complete string quartette,
consisting of first and second violin, viola
and violincello- The performers were mem
bers of their own choir, they performed for
their own amusement, and assisted at tho
music in their own Prayer Hall.
"The sources from which the young peo
ple received their musical knowledge, were
the Boarding School for Females, the Sister's
House and the Single Brethren's House.
Instruction was generally imparted free of
charge. Talent was sought for, and when
found, was developed. Persons who prac
tised music were looked upon as servants of
the church ; every one was expected to assist
in performances, whenever called upon to do
so, by the director of church music.

" Practisings were first held in the Breth
ren's House; after itwas abolished as an in
stitution of the church in 1814, they were
held in the large room in the west end of the
new church, now used for keeping the ar
chives of the church. In 1824 they were
removed to the present dwelling of the
Principal of the Moravian Day School ; after
that place was required for school purposes,
they were moved to the old chapel; at pres
ent they are held in the hall of the Moravian
Day School.
" Whit-Monday has ever been held a holi
day in this community. It became the
anniversary day of the " Philharmonic So
ciety" in this manner ; among the accessions
to the colony, was a professor of music, a
member of the church, named David Moritz
Michael; he was a virtuoso on the violin, and
performed well on the French horn, clarinet
and other instruments. The young players
all look lessons of him, and were greatly
benefitted. He was a composer also, noted
more particularly for compositions for wind
instruments, then in vogue, called Parthien
or Harmony Music, composed for five or six
instruments, generally two clarinets, two
French horns and two bassoons. Such music
was generally performed in concerts from
the balustrade on top ofthe Brethren's House,
on week day evenings, in the summer, for
the entertainment of the town's people.
"One of these compositions was especially
composed by the professor for a diversion on
the river on Whit-Monday afternoon, when
the who'.e population could enjoy it. This
was called, "Die Wasserfarth," or the Boat
Ride. The idea was practically carried out
for a number of years, and resulted in mak
ing it tho musical day of tho year.
"The inhabitants assembled on the river
bank, west of the old bridge, about 1 o'clock,
P. M., a large flat bottomed boat or flat, pro
pelled by four men with long poles, and
provided with seats and music stands, re
ceived tbe musicians. A procession was
formed by those who intended to participate
in the pleasures of the occasion. When all
was in readiness, the boat started, the music
began; the party moved up the Lehigh, ac-

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

161

companied by hundreds of listeners, enjoy
ing the music, social concourse and delight
ful prospect. The scenes on that part of the
Lehigh were truly beautiful ; the banks were
studded with buttonwood, oak, hickory,
water-birch, and other trees whose graceful
branches extended beyond, and dipped into
the silent stream. Islands covered with
vegetation, trees and shrubbery, whose shad
ows were reflected in the water, added to the
attractions. " The walk was level, bounded on the north
by fruitful meadows, and cultivated fields
and orchards, on rising grounds; on the south
by the river and adjacent mountains. The
season of bloom then often at its height, the
apple, peach, cherry and other trees, being
then in full blossom, the meadows covered
with violets, the river bank with honey
suckle, lupin, and other flowers. The party
continued westward one mile, to an eddy
caused by a turn of the river, forming a
miniature whirlpool.* The poles no longer
touched bottom, the waters being too deep.
The composer, poet like, supposed a case of
great peril, caused the music to convey the
idea of fear and terror ; the boat was kept in
the whirlpool long enough for the musicians
to act out their part, when it emerged from
the eddy into the placid stream ; the sounds
changed to lively airs and graceful melodies.
The boat meanwhile glided with the current,
and the party wended their way homeward.
" My principal authority for the foregoing.
was the late Mr. Jacob Wolle, who said,
'that about the year 1809 to 1813, he assisted
as a performer of the Boat-ride, and on one
occasion, the performers were John Rick
secker, 1«( clarinet; David Moritz Michael,
2d clarinet; Christian Luckenbach, Peter
Schneller, French horns; Samuel Krause
and Jacob Wolle, Bassoons.'
" Things have greatly changed since then,
the walk has been entirely obliterated, a
canal has been scooped out on its site. The
river, then considered gentle in its charac
ter, has, owing to. the construction of dams
used in feeding the canal, become violent
* Called the deep hole.

and noted as a destroyer ; its floods tearing
away the sodded river banks, uprooting the
beautiful shade trees, and at times causing
scenes of desolation, over which the lover of
the beautiful laments.
" That a musical community existed here,
may be inferred from the following circum
stance ; about the year 1800, the town con
tained about 500 inhabitants, yet that small
number furnished six persons as organists,
who were able to serve the congregation, and
did so, without recompense. Such organists
were required to know about 400 church
tunes, and le able to play them in any key
the officiating minister might start them.
(The minister generally commenced the
singing of the hymn without announcing
the words, the organist and the congregation
joined in as soon as they could catch the
words and the tune.) They were required
to perform concerted music at sight. Now,
tho congregation is about three times larger,
and but three persons aro found able to do
so. It was deemed not only an honor to be
able, but a great privilege to serve the con
gregation in that manner. The names of the
organists of that time, as well as the busi
ness each followed, are here given.
John George Weiss, Watchmaker.
Joseph Oerter, Bookbinder.
John Frederick Peter, Clerk.
Joseph Horsfield, Nurseryman.
Anton Smidt, Tinsmith.
Marcus Fetter, Blacksmith.
The organist ofthe large Moravian church,
at this time, is Ernst F. Bleck, and of the
Old Chapel, Theodore F. Wolle. The or
ganists of the Lutheran is Charles Swartz,
of the Reformed church, George K. Hess;
and of the Catholic, Professo. William F.
Graber. The vocal performers are now
well dril'.ed, resulting from weekly practis-
ings, which have beeii held for a period ot
several years by Ernst F. Bleck.
" The Moravian church has adopted choral
tunes, deeming them the best suited for
congregational singing, ' and although there
is much sameness in style, yet, they are
capable of much variety in expression, and

162

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

indeed many portray in peculiarity of ca
dence, or in combined melody and harmony,
a diversity of emotion suited to the expres
sion of those feelings in which a believer de
lights. Their beauty exists not so much in
the melody "as in harmony, hence they should
be sung in four parts. Their tune books
contain about 495, of which about 400 are
used. They have been gathered from many
countries, from every available source ; they
use ten of Luther's and fourteen of J. C. La-
trobe's composing; the church owes the lat
ter a debt of gratitude, not only for his com
positions, which are truly devotional, but
for the impulse which he gave to many
musical members of his church, in guiding
and elevating their taste.' See Lecture on
Church Music by the Rev. Lewis West, of
Brockwier, England, Fraternal Messenger,
February number, 1858.
" Here in Bethlehem it has been customary
for the organist to play interludes between
the lines, which custom has grown from a
simple turn, into elaborate and highly color
ed passages. Such interludes not only tend
to obscure the melody, but those features
which caused the adoption of choral music by
the churches, — its grandeur and simplicity.
Many object to their use, and they are now
frequently omitted by the present organists.
" Interludes between the verses were first
introduced here by one of our present organ
ists, Mr. Ernst F. Bleck. It was a decided
improvement on the former method of pas
sing from verse to verse without any reliev
ing separation. It is not customary hero for
the choir to lead in congregational singing,
the organ alone leads. Every member of the
church who is able, is expected to sing loud
and heartily. The choir sings only concerted
music, and alone. Anthems are sometimes
sung by the choir, and by the congregation.
" Concerted Church Music, with organ and
orchestra accompaniment, was performed
here soon after the settlement began. 1 1 was
at first, very simple in its style, being chiefly
the compositions of their own people, who*
composed under instructions of those in au
thority, requiring them to simplify. As the

style changed in Europe, the Moravian com
posers were allowed to furnish compositions
of a higher order ; the tastes of their people
gradually improved, until the elaborate
productions of the best masters were regard
ed as appropriate.
" The Musical Library of the Moravian
church at Bethlehem, contains about 750
compositions, 146 with English text, and 611
with German; composed by 89 different au
thors, all are in manuscript, the greater part
having organ and instrumental accompani
ments. Besides which, there is a large col
lection of bound books some containing collec
tions of pieces, and others containing Masses,
by various authors ; the latter have English
and Latin texts, and have been more recently
obtained. Among the manuscript music
composed by members of the church, or by
others not members, but at the request of the .
church, and not known outside of a few Mo
ravian congregations, there are many that
may be classed among the gems of musical
compositions. The favorite authors are
Bishop Gregor, J. Christian Geissler, Dr.
Soerensen, Graun, Bergt, Naumann, Freydt,
Reissiger and Spohr, of Germany; Bishop
J. C. Latrobe, of England, and Bishop Ilerbst
and Bechler, ofthe United States.
" Before the choir sings, it is usual for tho
minister to rise and announce the piece, and
read the text of the composition. It has
been, and is at this time, customary for the
choir to sing at every funeral; several time3
at every Love-feast, and on other festal oc
casions, such as Christmas, Easter, Thanks
giving, &c. Recently, the choir sings every
Sunday evening at the opening of service.
In addition, there are Musical Singi,.g Meet
ings, where no addresses are usual, the choir
and the congregation singing alternately ;
these are delightful occasions, there i3 no
rule as to the compositions and hymns, tho
officiating minis'er selecting such as suit
the occasion. There are also Liturgical Sing
ing Meetings, where the choir, tho various
classes, and the congregation, sing alter
nately or all altogether. These aro in print,
and are only with organ accompaniment;

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

163

and are in the Gorman language. Such
services are generally held in the evening.
" The attractions of the services of Christ
mas Eve are made more interesting by music.
Many suitable compositions exist here. For
a series of years, the services on this occa
sion have been opened by singing that gem,
' Stilly night, silent night,' by the choir, a
sweet composition, calming, and preparing
the large audiences for what follows. The
service lasts about two hours, during which
the Rev. F. F. Hagen's ' Morning star the
darkness break' is sung, alternating between
the choir and the children, always to the
great delight of those present. The anthem,
although simple, and intended for children
only, has taken deep root in the hearts of the
congregation, who never seem to tire of its
performance. " ' For unto us a child is born,' — Handel.
' Sey Wilkommen,' — by Haydn. ' Lift up
your Heads, 0 ye Gates,' — Handel. 'Gloria,'
12th Mass, — Mozart, and other compositions,
are sung.
"At this time the church choir numbers
sixteen female and eight male singers. The
accompaniment to the singing consists of
the organ, two first and two second violins,
viola, violincello, double bass, two French-
horns, two trumpets, trombone and flute,
clarinets are not represented for want of
competent performers.
" New Year's Eve, in Moravian congrega
tions, has ever been the occasion of special
services. Formerly the adult portion of the»
congregation assembled in the early part of
the evening to hear the Memorabilia read.
This was a statement made by the minister
of matters of public interest, or such, relating
to the congregation, which transpired during
the year, and were worthy of record. The
paper is made up from the diary kept by all
Moravian clergymen. The subjects treated
of, embrace the general features of the sea
sons, harvests, health, peace and war, losses
by fire, new buildings. AU births, deaths,
marriages, removals and accessions, each
name being fully recorded. The number of
each class, the losses and accessions, together

with a general review of the whole congre
gation, and a comparative statement, as to
its numbers, its increase and decrease. The
reading of the Memorabilia, at this time,
takes place during the first week in the New
Year. At 111 o'clock, p. m., the congrega
tion assembles for watch meeting. After the
officiating minister enters, the choir sing
Bishop Gregor's solemn composition, ' Lord 1
Lord ! God,' and then the congregation sing;
after which the text for the day is read from
the text-book, and is the subject of the dis
course which follows. Meanwhile the mu
sicians in the choir consult their time-pieces,
and quietly assemble in front of the organ.
The organist also watches the hands on his
time-piece, and sits ready with his feet
poised. As the Year expires, the New is
welcomed by a loud crash of melody from
the organ, and a double choir of trombonists,
by p'aying tune 146, Text, 'Now let us
praise the Lord.' The performance generally
leaves the sentences of the speaker unfinish
ed, but ' Time waits not.' The congregation
rise and join in singing, followed by prayer,
the reading of the text for the first day, and
the singing of a hymn. These meetings are
always largely attended.
"Passion Week Services begin on fatur-
day evening preceding Palm Sunday, with
an introductory address and prayer, and
with the reading of the history of the inci
dents of our Saviour's sufferings. Upon
which occasion Dr. Soerensen's exquisite
composition, ' 0 Bethany, thou Peaceful ha
bitation,' is generally performed. It was
specially composed for the services on that
evening. , It ought to serve as a model in
refined taste, in simplicity, in accompani
ment, and in melody.
"In the services on Maundy Thursday
Good Friday, Great Sabbath, and Easter, music.
forms a prominent part, most of the compo
sitions the'n used were composed to suit the
occasion by devoted Christian men; many
of them persons of high musical culture,
whose works have borne the test of time, and
are greatly esteemed by Moravians, who
always look forward to their performance

164

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

with pleasure. Although various composers
have written for the same occasions, and
changes are sometimes made in those usu
ally performed here during a number of
years, we will notice the favorites 1 For
Maundy Thursday, ' I see thee in thy soul's
deep anguish,' — diFreydt. Soprano solo, and
chorus, with Obligato Bassoon, carrying a
mournful melody, an accompaniment to the
soloist. On Good Friday, 1. 'Jesus bow'd his
head and died,' — di Gregor. 2. ' The story of
his passion,' — di J. C. Geissler. 3. ' The Lord
of life I now sweetly slumber,' — dl Latrobe.
The first, is for Soprano Solo and Chorus, ten
derly accompanied by the organ and orches
tra, while an Obligato Flute continues its
mournful strain uninterruptedly throughout
the entire performance, The second, opens
with a duett for Soprano and Alto, and ends
with full chorus and orchestra accompani
ment. The third, is for Tenor and Basso Solo,
duett and chorus. This is one of Bishop
Latrobe's best compositions. The instru
mental accompaniment is very fine. Two
Obligato Clarinets and two Flutes are promi
nent features therein. The services on Good
Friday evening are intended to be a spiritual
gathering of mourners around the grave of
the buried Saviour. The three compositions
have been performed here for many years,
and have become precious to thoso who have
heard them once each year since childhood.
" In the Love Feast on G reat Sabbath after
noon, three musical compositions are per
formed by the choir, among which is Bishop
Latrobe's ' Holy Redeemer,' for Tenor Solo,
Chorus,and doubleChorus. This composition,
good judges of music deem equal to the best
of Handel's works.
"The Sabbath evening services are simi
lar in character to those of the evening pre
vious. The assembled worshippers are sup
posed to be gathered at the Saviour's grave,
and give expression to their feelings by
strains of sorrow. Th3 choir usually per
forms two pieces, one for female voices in
two parts; the other, one of Latrobe's com
positions, for the same, considered the best
of all his works. Text, ' "Witn thy merito
rious death, &c.' Both Friday and Saturday

evening meetings, close with congregational
singing without organ accompaniment, the
organ after starting the choral, gradually
ceases playing, this is an impressive feature.
On Easter morning, the church services be
gin at 5 o'clock, A. ii., and will be fully de
scribed hereafter.
" By the Moravians music is regarded as
suited to every occasion in life, tho last
moments of the dying are soothed by the
singing of hymns at the bedside, oft-times
selected and joined in by the departing one.
After death the departure is made known to
the congregation by the performance of a
trombone quartette from the church spire ;
at the funeral, when the congregation leave
the church, the trombonists head the proces
sion, who perform while marching, and lead
the singing at the grave.15 The trombones
produce a peculiarly solemn effect when per
formed upon, better and softer melody could
be produced by more modern keyed instru
ments, the Cornet and Alt-horn, &c, but the
trombone was originally selected as the sym
bol of ' the last Trump,' and on that account
has held its place. Four different sizes are
used, known as the Soprano, Alto, Tenor and
Basso. The two smaller have Trumpet Tones.
" Trombones are also used on festal occa
sions, to announce the festival, from the
church steeple, the time being about" 1}
o'clock, a. m. Again at the .opening of the
service at the Love feast, at 2 o'clock, i-. .m ,
and at night, if open air, meetings are held,
as upon theoccasionof the children's festival.
The tunes are varied to suit the occasions.
The services on Easter morning without
the accompaniment of the trombonist's,
would lose much of their solemnity and in
terest. On that occasion the choir is often
increased. Formerly all the instrumental
performers, whether string or wind, took
part; latterly trombones only are used. The
musicians pas3 through the principal streets
ofthe town, beginning about 3 o'clock, A. «.,
in order to awaken the members of the con-
* A full description of tho funeral ceremonies will he
found in chapter 10th, and aro thercf re omitted hero.
—J. II. II.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

165

gregation, greeting them with Hymn, No.
945, represented by Tune 83. The text: —
" ' Christ is risen from the dead,
Thou shalt rise too, saith my Savior,
Of what should I be afraid?
I with him shall live forever,
Can the dead forsake hii limb,
And not draw me unto him?'
" Half an hour before service the spacious
church is usually filled wi;h the congreation
and visitors, who engage in praying the
' Easter Morning Litany,' which embraces the
creed of the church. At the passage, ' Glory
be to him who is the resurrection and the
life,' the minister dismisses the assembly
with the announcement that the rest of the lit
any will be prayed in the burial ground. The
musicians having left previously, greet the
people as they leave the church, with appro
priate hymns suited to the occasion. A pro
cession is formed, led by the children of the
schools and their teachers. 2d, the church
choir singers. 3d, instrumental performers.
4th, the clergy. 5th, females. 6th, males.
They then move on to the grave-yard. The
males then occupy the first path running
parallel to Market street. The clergy and
all the musicians the second path. The fe
males the third path, and part of that ex
tending north and south from Market street.
It i3 so timed, that as the procession entere
the grounds, it is met by the brilliant rays of
the rising sun, emblematic of the time of the
Saviour's rising, and our resurrection. As
soon as tho multitude have reached their ap
propriate places; the services are continued
to their close. The singing is led by the in
strumental performers. In case of a fair
mild morning about 2000 persons usually
attend this really grand and impressive ser
vice. The grounds, which are always kept
neat and tidy, shortly before Easter, receive
a special refit. New tombstones are placed
on the graves of the newly buried, old ones
are cleansed, other graves are newly sodded,
and many are decked with wreaths and
boquets of blooming flowers, as tokens of
endearing affection.

"Trombones were formerly used to greet
celebrated persons. When General Wash
ington visited Bethlehem, he was wel
comed by the trombonists, as a mark of
respect. They were also formerly blown
upon the arrival or departure of clergymen,
and distinguished members of the Moravian
church. General Sullivan of the Revolu
tionary Army was so greeted when he visited
Bethlehem during that war.
" It requires not a little self-denial to serve
as a performer of the trombone choir. He
is required to attend all the services when
they are used. He is obliged to assist in an
nouncing every death which occurs in the
congregation, to play at the funerals, to play
on every festal morning and afternoon, to per
form before the celebration of the Lord's sup
per. He. is in duty bound to go to the grave
yard, or climb to the church belfry at all sea
sons, and in every kind of weather; cold or
rain must not be heeded, he goes through all.
Oft-times the intense cold congeals the mois
ture of the instrument, and renders playing
almost impossible. Yet he is ever ready.
This is done for the love he bears the church.
Although much is required, the congregation
has never been without such a choir.
" We cannot dismiss this subject without
citing the distinguished services of several
who are still serving the congregation in this
capacity. There exists a photograph, called
the ' Three Trombonists,' the fourth, being
represented by his instrument, he having
' gone home.' The three entered the service
as trombonists, on Easter morning, in the
year 1818, having served without interrup
tion, to this date, a period of 53 years. The
names of the surviving three are, Jedidiah
Weiss, Charles F. Beckel, and Jacob C. Till,
the missing brother, Timothy Weiss.
"The trombones are not, we believe, used
in the religious services of any other deno
mination of Christians in the United States.
Those in use here, were made in Neukirchen,
Germany. The Brethren who constitute the
performers at this time, are, Ambroise H.
Rauch, Robert Rau, Soprano, or Discant;
Charles F. Beckel, George M. Beckel,
Alto; Henry D. Bishop, James H. Wolle,

166

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Tenor's; Jedidiah Weiss, and Charles N.
Beckel, Basso' s.
" Serenades have been customary here
from the founding of the town to the present
date. During former times more frequent
than now. Visitors to the town were for
merly greeted with a serenade. Birth-days
were so celebrated. The date of the birth of
each individual in the community was for
merly known to all the inhabitants by a cus
tom which existed, and which is still ob
served in Moravian congregations. We refer
to the keeping of a Birth-day-Book, a record
containing a blank page for each day in the
year. In it was recorded the names of every
member of the congregation, and friends,
and relatives in other places ; distinguished
members of the church both here and else
where — both living and deceased— all such
as they desired to remember, often also, dis
tinguished names in the history of tho world,
such as Luther, Melancthon, Gallileo, Colum
bus, Washington, the Presidents of the Uni
ted States and others were found therein.
" The Birth-day-Book and Text-Book were
placed on the breakfast-table each morning ;
after the text was read, and while the family
were being served, the record was generally
consulted in order to ascertain whose birth
day it was. This custom served as a bond
which held the inhabitants in social union.
No one, no matter how poor or humble was
forgotten, every one was greeted with good
wishes and attentions. Such books of record
also suggested subjects for conversation often
tending to entertaining and useful informa
tion, particularly so, to young persons. Dis
tant persons were greeted by letter, those
near were visited during the day, and saluted
with kiud wishes, sometimes by the singing
of hymns ere they left their bed-chambers.
Poetical effusions were composed and sent;
many specimens of which, still exist in this
community. The best composition of this
class was written by Bishop Gregor, while
residing in America to his daughter in Eu
rope, giving a description of his American
experiences, it is in the German language,
and consists of thirty-six verses, the first
yerse is as follows.-

" ' Aller liebste Christal
Hente kriegst du zwar,
Keine Pest epistel,
Wie die vor'ge war
Die ich du vor'm Jahre
Aus der See gesandt
Denn fur die zeit falu-e
Ich auf trockenem Land.' "
" It was written in 1771, and contains an
account of Bethlehem, Nazareth, and other
Moravian congregations, but the most at
tractive portion, is the description of his
visit to the Indian congregation on the Sus
quehanna river, called Friedenhuttcn, now
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.
"Special pains were taken when tbe 51st
birth-day came, then surprise fo'lowed sur
prise. Serenades wore a part of the pro
gramme. Formerly hymn tunes were per
formed, such music being constantly prac
tised, the musicians were at all times ready
to perform them." Here follows an interest
ing account ofthe celebration of the Golden
Wedding of our friend, Jedidiah Weiss, and
his wife, which occurred on November 26th,
1870, copied from the next issue thereafter
of the Morovian, which is very pleasing but
too long to be included in this brief chapter.
'•The first special organization for sere
nading, which we can trace, existed here in
1840. It continued during many years, and
produced some sweet music; mostly fami
liar airs, arranged by three.of the members,
viz.: Charles F. Beckel, E. F. Beckel, and
Matthew Christ. Their collection embraced
about thirty pieces. The members —Charles
F. B:.ckel, first violin ; Christian F. Luch,
second violin; Matthew Christ, clarinet;
John Siglev, bugle; Lewis F. Beckel,/m(c,-
Ernest F. Bleck, violincel'o ; Henry D. Bish
op, trombone; and at a later day, the same
music was rendered, existing vacancies be
ing filled by Ambroise H. Rauch, bugle ;
James H. Wolle and Charles N. Beckel,
trombones; and Rufus A. Grider,/u(c.
" When the era of brass music came, an
other club was organized, and performed for
several years, during the existence of tho
older ; and then finally took its place. It was
known as the " Sextett Club." Tho instru
ments used were cornets and tubas. It was

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

167

constituted as follows : — Lewis F. Beckel,
Leader, George M. Beckel, Charles N.
Beckel, Bernhard E. Lehman, Matthias
Weiss, Julius N. Weiss, and William H.
Boehler. The music performed by them was
mostly of Professor Grafulla's arrangement.
This organization did the community good
service — the inhabitants of the town received
many a musical treat between their dreams.
" Vocal serenades have been customary
here from the town's commencement. One
organization for that purpose existed here
about 1850. Another called the ' Arion' ex
isted here for several years, using the Arion
collection for mannerchoir It sang its ' last
lay,' at the funeral of Amos Commenius
Clauder, one of its members, who died Octo
ber 14th, 1868. Lately the members of the
Moravian Church choir have serenaded seve
ral of its prominent members upon their en
tering the choir of the ' married people.'
" Military music took its rise here in 1809.
Under the existing military laws, all males
between the ages of 18 and 45 years were re
quired to exercise in military tactics, twice
each year, or pay a fine. The first was called
Exercising, it embraced one of the districts
of a brigade. The second, included the en
tire brigade, and was called ' Battalion drill.'
On such occasions nearly all the males re
ported for duty. Females also came as spec
tators; it was the gala-day of that period.
Shows or circus performances did not then
exist. Fairs also were of a later date. A
nodding plume was an admirable appendage
i n those days. To be an officer of the brigade
was deemed a great honor. Persons attain
ing such positions endeavored to excel each
other in display. Fine uniforms, bright but
tons, large epaulets, plumes, cocked hats,
"and attractive music were required.
"The formation of the ' Bethlehem Band'
was the result of the militia system of that
period. In the book in which the members
recorded their names is found the following
' Preamble to the Constitution' ofthe Musical
Society of the 97th Regt. Pa. Militia. As
this society has been offered by the brigade
inspector and colonel of the 97th Regt. Pa.

Militia, that if the Society will furnish the
regiment with military music on the occa
sion of Battalion parades, the said Musical
Society shall not be subject to any military
fines, and as said Society has accepted said
offer, they agree to be bound by the follow
ing Constitution. Article I. The Company
shall be known as the Columbia Band, kc.
To this instrument are attached 52 names,
some of them, among the most prominent
citizens of the town. In the early part of its
formation the band numbered 12 performers,
but it afterwards increased to 24 members.
The following is a list of the names of the
members, as they stand recorded in rotation
in the book :
Samuel Luckenbach Christian F. Luch,
John Rickseekcr, Benjamin Eggert,
Jedidiah Weiss, William Bice,
David Peter Schneller, Charles F. Beckel,
John F. Ranch, Samuel Luckenbach,
John Oerter, son of Adam,
Christian Luckenbach, George W. Dixon,
Timothy Weiss, Charles Williams, Jr
Jacob Till, David Weinland,
Daniel Luckenbach, Charles C. Tombler,
Gottlot Guetter, Samuel Shultz,
John G. Fetter, John C. Weber,
Ernst F. Bourquin, Charles Neisser,
Samuel Weinland, Charles L. Knauss,
Christian Lango, George II. Goundie,
Henry llillman, John G. Clewell,
Samuel R. Eggert, . Jacob Luckenbach,
Charles F. Kremser, Samuel Erunner,
Phillip Bealer, JBIichel Kreider,
William B. Luckenbach, William Luckenbach,
Herman Hillman, Aug. Belling,
Charles S. Bush, Jos. 0. Beitel,
Benjamin Whitesell, Lewis S. Knauss,
Francis Lennart, .Matthew Christ,
Augustus Milchsuck, John David Weiss,
Andrew Vognitz. "Francis Knauss,
John Alex. Bourquin, Jacob Wolle,
William Neisser, Win. C. Luckenbach,
John M. Miksh, C. Jacob Till.
C. F. Toungman,
"At the beginning of the present century
Military Bands were rare ; few existed out
side of our large cities ; performers were few;
it was difficult to obtain instruments and
suitable music. The present great city of
Philadelphia had at that time but one Band.
Frank Johnson, a noted Bugler, a colored
resident, had organized a Band from among
his own race; it was the Band of that city
for a long time. During the earlier part of
its existence it accompanied the Fencibles,

168

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

commanded by Col. James Page, when on a
visit to Bethlehem, which they reached via
the Lehigh Canal by boat. On that occasion
the Bethlehem Band assisted in welcoming the
visitors to the town. Many of the members
of the Bethlehem Band were skilled orchestra
performers; some of them able to compose
suitable music. Their most effective com
position at that time was a Grand March,
composed by their leader, C. Jacob Till, the
skilful rendering of which did them great
credit. The band was successively led by
John Ricksecker, C. Jacob Till, Charles F.
Beckel, Samuel Luckenbach,* and again
during a short period by Mr. Beckel, until it
was disbanded. It existed during a period
of thirty yeare. The excellence of its music,
and the high social and moral standing of
its members, gained it great celebrity; its
services were sought for in distant parts ;
and it was regarded as equal to any Band in
the Atlantic cities.
" The first Brass Band was organized in
the year 1839. It was led by John Sigley on
the Bugle, and existed only during a short
time, about four years. In 1845 an excellent
Brass Band, led by Peter Pomp, of Easton,
visited the town ; they performed with much
taste, the well known Love Not Quicks'.ep.
The visit was long remembered by the peo
ple of Bethlehem. The immediate effect was
to arouse a spirit of emulation; it was re
marked by the young musicians here, ' Eas
ton shall not outshine us long.' An organ
ization was formed at once by young per
sons ; an existing Reed Band was converted
into one for Brass instruments, with the fol
lowing performers :
Ambroise H. Rauch, Henry D. Bishop,
Amos Bealer, Charles N. Beckel,
Wm. H. Boehler, Harry Bourquin,
Lewis F. Beckel, Julius N.Weiss,
Matthias Weiss, Henry I. Oerter,
Julius W. Held.
This organization was continued under the
lead of Lewis F. Beckel for about 15 years,
After it was disbanded, several attempts were
* Samuel Luckenback was not a performer, he was
the captain of the band, i. e., Drum major. He always
dismissed the performers with the remark, " Gentle
men, the band is dismissed I think."

made to re-organize, but without permanent
success. At this time another attempt is
being made by persons who have not belong
ed to other organizations ofthe town.
" The Philharmonic Society of Bethlehem
was the result of previous musical culture,
and former organization. There was a prior
organization known as the Collegium Musician.
of Bethlehem. Music had been practiced in
the town during a period of seventy-eight
years ; as an art era the new name was as
sumed. About the year 1806 an effort was
made to revive the flagging musical spirit.
A benefit concert was given in 1807, after
which $19.15 was collected, which at that
time was deemed a large sum. No tickets
were sold, and no admission fee charged;
persons deposited their gifts at the door in
a tin box, painted green, and marked ' For
the Support of Music'
" The Treasurer's accounts, which have
been preserved, show the number and date
of the Concerts given during a number of
years, and the amount received after each
Concert. From them the following informa
tion is gathered, viz :

Date.

Concerts.

Ami's rec'd

1807,

17,

$31.47.

1808,

28,

32.00.

1809,

36,

42.86.

1810,

24,

32.00.

1811,

24,

32.60.

1812,

10,

25.58.

1813,

24,

42.00.

1814,

H,

16.41.

1815,

12, ,

7.28.

1816,

10,

12.50.

1817,

12,

10.63.

1818,

H,

10.50.

1819,

13,

8.20.

In 13 years, 241 Concerts, $301.73; averag
ing about one dollar and thirty cents for each
Concert. The Society paid no rent, and paid
for no fuel. It had no other resources except
the free will offerings of its own people, and
yet it was sufficient to purchase candles,
violin strings, and instruments, make need
ed repairs, pay for music paper and copying
music, and the Society had $4.42 iu the treas
ury when it assumed a different organiza
tion, and a new name, in the year 1820.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

169

" Leading members of the Musical Society
and learners practised daily on their respec
tive instruments from fifteen to sixty min
utes after dinner and at night. Quartette
Clubs also existed, which met regularly at
the houses of members and at the Brethren's
House. " On the 19th of May, 1823, The Creation
was performed by the Philharmonic Society,
on a larger scale than ever before in Bethle
hem. Seventy performers took part. It was
sung in the original German text, and the
Concert was deemed a great success. In 1824,
eight Concerts were given. On Whit-Monday,
in 1832, Schiller's ' Song of the Bell,' with
Romberg's music, was rendered for the first
time here, to the great delight ofthe public.
The person representing the part of Master,
was our present veteran Basso, Jedidiah
Weiss, now seventy-four years of age. The
Tenor Soloist was Timothy Weiss, whose fine
voice, and skilful rendering is still remem
bered with pleasure by those who heard him.
The soprano soloists were, Miss Susan E.
Stotz and Miss Lizzette Bleck. The alto
soloists, Miss Charlotte Beekel and Miss
Caroline Brown.
" Things went on prosperously under the
direction of Charles F. Beckel, Matthew
Christ, Jacob Wolle, Ernest Lehman, and
Jedidiah and Timothy Weiss. Perfect unity
of action existed, and rapid progress was
made. The compositions given for a series
of years at the annual festivals were, viz:
1833,  The Creation,  Haydn.
1834,  Spring and Summer,... "
1835,  Winter and Autumn,... "
1836,  The Song of the 'Bell,..Romberg.
1837,  The Seven Sleepers,  Dr. Lowe.
1838,  " " "  "
1839,  The Creation,  Haydn.
"The Society was now in the zenith of its
glory ; ' The Seven Sleepers,' then quite new,
was repeated at public request. The repre
sentations of the Seven Brothers was deemed
highly interesting ; but more particularly
the part of the boy, Malchus, performed by
Miss Lizette Bleck, who possessed the rare
faculty of forgetting self, and throwing her
¦whole soul and feelings into the part she

represented; yet so modest and childlike,
that she has been regarded by those who
heard her, as unequalled in the part in this
place. The Bishop of Ephesus was repre
sented by the Rev. John G. Herman, a Bishop
of the Moravian Church, whose deep, rich
bass voice, had a great effect upon the audi
ence. His official position was poetically
true. It was also a pleasing and unusual
feature. "In 1840, William T. Roepper, a skilful
piano-forte, organ, and violin performer, and
a good tenor singer, became an active mem
ber of the Society ; and soon thereafter was
elected Conductor, which station he filled for
about thirteen years ; during which time
greater efforts were made than ever before
to improve the quality of the music render
ed. The practice of music, however, like all
other undertakings, is subject to ebb and flow.
The Bethlehem public had been surfeited
with music ; the audiences became slim and
indifferent; under such circumstances it
was but natural that the performers should
lose their interest also, and practicings ceas
ed for a time.
" In 1858, an effort was made to revive the
dormant Society. J. P. E. Windekilde, a vio
linist, was elected leader, Frederick Agthe,
Louis F. Beckel and Rufus A. Grider, Direc
tors, and James II. Wolle, Secretary. Miss
Ernestina ILinN (afterwards married to Juli
us N. Weiss), a noted soprano singer, and a
Teacher in the Boarding School, gave instruc
tion to the male and female singers ofthe So
ciety, using the ' Social Glee Book.' It was
intended for open air recreations on the river
in the evenings.
" In May, 1863, the Society again perform
ed The Seven Sleepers, and repeated it the fol
lowing month. Three Concerts were given
in 1864, and the same number in 1865. In
1866, Mr. Roepper reappeared, after a retire
ment of several years. He gave the vocal
performers an opportunity to practice Shu-
man's Paradise and the Peri, in order to grati
fy a taste which he had acquired for the
works of that author, and the pleasure it
would afford others. The offer was eagerly

170

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

embraced. Mrs; Jane R. Krause (the eldest
daughter of Mr. Roepper) took the difficult
and prominent part of the Peri, and sustain
ed it with great success. Miss Annie Stein,
Miss Ellen Lichtenthaler, Miss Kate Self
ridge, and Miss Emily Sieger, also sang
solos; Robert Rau was tenor soloist, and
Jedidiah Weiss and Anthony Goth, bassos.
Tbe accompaniment was performed on the
piano, by Mr. Roepper. It was intended for
social recreation only ; but the performers
desiring to sing it in public, for the benefit of
some charitable object; a Concert was given
in February, 1867, and with such success,
that the public required two repetitions.
"In 1869, a re-organization was effected.
The Society was placed under the direction
of Professor William K. Grabeb, as leader;
during that year, Rossini's Stabat Mater, and
Spohr's Last Judgment, were performed here
for the first time. We copy from the Mora
vian, of March 6th, 1869 :
"'The Concert on Saturday evening last
was in every respect a gratifying success.
The programme was a choice one, the ren
dering of it admirable in every particular,
and there was a crowded house. Part I., of
the programme embraced the following :
Overture, La Cenerentola; Fantasie, Piano,
Chopin (Prof. W. Warner) ; Trio, Piano, Vio
lin and Violoncello, Mendelssohn, (Messrs.
Wolle, Graber and Bleck); Marchia, Piano,
Raff (Prof. Warner); Quintette, Larghetto
and Rondo, Bethoven (Messrs. Wolle, Graber
and Bleck, Charles W. Roepper, and B. E.
Lehman); Prof. Warner received a well-de
served encore, to which he responded by play
ing theL'Eeumedu Mer. Itis seldom, indeed,
that more finished and brilliant performing
on thepiano is heard than that with which the
audience were favored on this occasion. The
'Stabat Mater,' which formed Part II., was
never sung better., The parts were distribut
ed as follows: 'Cujus Animam,' Mr. R.
Rau; ' Quis est Homo,' Miss Kate Selfridge
and Miss Otelia V. Clauder; 'Pro Peccatis,'
Mr. Anthony Goth; ' Eia! Mater,' Mr. Jedi
diah Weiss; ' Sancta Mater,' Miss Ellen
Lichtenthaler, Miss Mary Ann Rice, Messrs.

Robert Rau and Edwin G. Klose; 'Fac ut
Portein,' Mrs. C. W. (Jane) Krause; 'Inflam-
matus,' Miss Ellen Lichtenthaler. A repeti
tion of the last was enthusiastically called for.
It was superbly sung. The solos and choruses
were each given with admirable precision and
expression. It was a most enjoyable evening.
Why cannot the Concert be repeated? We
believe the public would heartily welcome a
repetition, and we have no doubt that all the
performers and singers would enjoy it as
well. It is certainly a gratifying circum
stance that there is still so much musical
taste and ability amongst us, and it will not
be questioned that both ought to be cultivat
ed. It is a pleasant thing to see, and a hope
ful symptom of the healthiness of social life
in Bethlehem, when citizens of all ages and
classes meet together to rehearse such classi
cal music as that embraced in the above pro
gramme, and when without any parade or
affectation, the same is publicly rendered
for the enjoyment of others and for a charita
ble purpose. The Philharmonic Society has
a mission to perform, which we trust it will
not neglect.'
" The first Concert for the benefit of the
Young Men's Christian Association's course
of Winter Evening Entertainments, was given
on Saturday evening, November 27th, 1869.
The musical reporter of the Moravian, in the
issue of that paper of December 2d, writes
enthusiastically of the performance, thus :
"'The Philharmonic Concert on Saturday
evening last was a delightful success. We
have seldom had a Concert in which the pro
gramme was so uniformly well carried out.
The selections were n'.l more or less familiar,
at which some may be disposed to cavil; (to
our taste this wa3 one great merit of the pro-
gramme^, but no one could have failed to be
entirely satisfied with the manner in which
they were rendered. Excepting our memo
rable 'Paradise and the Peri' experience
some winters ago, we have not, for many
years, had so full and well drilled an or
chestra and chorus. Very great credit is due
to the conductor, Prof. Graber, and to the
members of the Society, who have suffered

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

171

themselves to be drilled — a rather rare vir
tue in volunteer performers, be it remember
ed. The evidences of careful rehearsing
were manifest throughout, and there was a
promptness and correctness in time and ex
pression in which our orchestras were for
merly rather deficient. We welcome this
Concert as the beginning of a new musical
era in Bethlehem, which shall do more than
restore its ancient renown, and as for our
selves wo vote for dispensing with the lec
tures announced in this course of Winter
Evening Entertainments,' and substituting
Concerts, even though these could only be
had by repeating some of the previous per
formances. Music that is worth hearing at
all, has nothing to lose, but much to gain by
repetition, and that not only once, but many
times. " 'The orchestral contributions to the pro
gramme were the Overture to La Dame
Blanche, Op. 44, Kalliwoda, Ileimweh (Jung-
man), and some of Strauss' Waltzes, (the
latter, the only portion to which we take
slight exception). The Quartette, from Obe-
ron, was sung' by Mrs. Jane R. Krause, Miss
Otelia V. Clauder, Messrs. Robert Rau and
B. E. Lehman. The Flute Obligato was
finely performed by Mr. Charles W. Roep
per, accompanied on the piano by Prof.
Wolle. The duett from Mendelssohn's
'Hymn of Praise,' was sung by Miss Annie
Stein and Miss Kate Selfridge, the chorus
being very full, about thirty singers. This
was unquestionably the gem of the evening,
and so the audience seemed to think, but it
failed to accomplish a repetition. The 'G^ock-
entoene,'(Proch),was sung by Miss Kate Self
ridge, Mr. B. E. Lehman accompanying on
the French horn, and Prof. Graber on the
piano. It deserved the encore it received.
The Trio, ' Die Sanften Tage,' was very beau
tifully sung by Mrs. Krause, and Messrs.
RoDert Rau and Anthony Goth. The chorus
was composed of male voices. It, too, we
want to hear again. ' The Heavens are Tell
ing,' was splendidly given by the full chorus,
at first a little too slow in time, but the Con
ductor speedily remedied this. Altogether

the Concert was an event, and the public
asks for many more like it.'
" In the Moravian of May 12th, 1870, the
following interesting notice and statement
will be found, viz :
" ' The Philharmonic Society will this even
ing render the Oratorio of ' Tho Seven Sleep
ers.' It has been performed several times
by the Society, the first time being in 1837,
when the solo parts were distributed as fol
lows : Miss Lizette Bleck (afterwards Mrs.
Israel Ricksecker), Miss Susan Stotz (after
wards Mrs. Rev. H. J. Titze), Miss Phoebe
Bleck (now Mrs. Wm. Brown), Miss Louisa
Pietsch, Mr. Chas. F. Beckel, Mr. Timothy
Weiss, Rev. John G. Herman, Rev. Julius
Bechler, Rev. J. C. Brickenstein, Mr. Jedi
diah Weiss, Mr. Beckel being also leader of
the orchestra. As the text of the oratorio will
be for .sale at the Concert, we need not give
the plot. The distribution ofthe solos is as
follows: Sopranos, Mrs. Laura Clauder, Mrs.
C. W. Krause, Miss Kate Selfridge; alto, Miss
Cornelia F. Boner; tenors, Mr. Robert Rau,
Mr. Henry T. Clauder, Mr. Bertine S. Erwin ;
Bassos, Mr. Jedidiah Weiss, Mr. Edwin G.
Klose, and Mr. Anthony Goth. The choruses
are numerous.'
"At a meeting of the 'Philharmonic So
ciety,' of Bethlehem, held on Tuesday, Oct.
6th, 1870, the following gentlemen were
elected officers of the Society for the ensuing
year :
President,, CH ARLFS F. BECKEL.
Treasurer, JAMES II. WOLLE.
Directors,
Theodore F. Wolle, Robert Rati, Charles W. Roepper.
Conductor,
Trof. Wm. K. Graber.
"The society seems to have taken a new
lease of life. Efforts are now being made,
not only to improve the rendering, but also
to bring in new material ; much progress has
already been made, under tho industrious
and genial new conductor, Prof. Graber.
The number of vocal performers at this time,
belonging to the society, is 62, consisting of
33 males and 29 females. The orchestra
numbers 26 performers, viz :

172

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

First violins.

Conductor, Prof. WM. K. GRABER.
f Prof. Theodore F. Wolle.
Mr. S. Erastus Pettee.
" Charles F. Beckel.
[ " Emanuel C. Ricksecker.
Viola, Robert Rau, Matthew J. Schmidt.
f Alfred C. Roth.
c j . ,. Charles Reigel.
Sccondviohns charles h^_
I Augustus Gugatsh.
Violincello, Ernst F. Bleck, John Luch.
Contra-Basso, George M. Beckel.
Bassoon, Jedidiah Weiss.
(" Charles N. Beckel.
Trombones. -j James II. Wolle.
(, Augustus H. Leibert.
Cornets, Lewis F. Beckel, Adolph Degelow.
French Horns, Ambrose II. Rauch, Bernhard
E. Lehman.
Flutes, Charles W. Roepper, Harry II.
McNeal, Rufus A. Grider.
Kettle Drums, Frank A. Stuber.
Organ, Mrs. Louisa Huebener.
"Although the state of music in Bethle
hem, embracing a period of 128 years, has
been sometimes over-rated by visitors, we
believe that up to the year 1825, the Bethle
hem orchestra compared favorably with any
other amateur organization of a like charac
ter in the United States. When the 'Musi
cal Fund Society of Philadelphia,' perform
ed the Creation, for the first time, about 1819,
the trombone parts could not be filled there,
the performers were from Bethlehem ; Mr.
Jedidiah Weiss being one of the three who
performed on that occasion. Mr. Richard
S. Smith, the well known veteran Under
writer of Philadelphia, lately remarked, 'I
was one of the originators of the ' Musical
Fund Society,' when we gave our first grand
concert, in which Trombones were necessary,
we had to send to Bethlehem for the per-
. formers. They, and their large instruments-
were the centre of attraction. Trombones
were a novelty in our orchestra, few in the
audience had ever seen or heard one.' After
the concert, one of our members said he
thought he could learn to play on one of
those big things, if he had one, so one was
accordingly purchased for him, and he took
i t home to practice on it. At the next m eet-
ine he was called upon to report progress ;

which he did as follows : ' I took the trombone
home, and when I got there, the sitting room
looked very cozy; the cat was curled up in
front ofthe fire ; my wife was up stairs, and
the baby was asleep in her cradle. I sat
down to try my new instrument; I blew
vigorously, a discordant blast was the result,
the cat sprung to her feet in affright, with
her hair on end, and her tail much enlarged,
she gave me one astonished look, then tore
furiously out of the room. I made another
attempt, with the same result as to sound,
which awoke the baby, she screamed with
terror, I laid down the trombone, and walked
the floor for an hour, with Miss Roberts in
my arms.' The report created great laugh
ter." These brief extracts from Mr. Grider's in
teresting work, will give some idea of Music
in Bethlehem, and of his interesting work.
In 1859, Mr. Lewis H. Weiss began to
write 'The Annals of the Music of Bethle
hem." But as he had removed from the
town, he abandoned the work ; being too fat
hom the necessary materials, which is much
to be regretted. I have a copy of his unfin
ished manuscript, and the ability displayed,
leads those who have read it, to hope, that at
some early day, Mr. Weiss will complete a
work so well begun.
In 1870, a new band was organized under
the name ofthe Bethlehem Cornet Band, with
the following named persons as performers.
Edward Benner, Leader, E cornet ; Georgs
Beers, E cornet; George J. Maltiianer, E
clarinet; William M. Sigfried, E cornet;
Henry Slider, E cornet; Otto Grovner, B
cornet; Lewis S. Lilly, alto ; Edward Hunt
solo alto; Benjamin Weber, alto; Matthew
Weiss, solo tenor ; W. Bachman, tenor; PniLLip
Sink, barritone; George M. Beckel, solo
barritone ; Samuel Simms, bass; William Ortt
bass; Robert Heckman, bass; Eugene Jacoby
bass drum; Edward Clewell, snare drum;
Jacob Vognitz, snare drum; Stephen Kom-
miller, cymbals.
The Bethlehem Leiderkranz held its first
meeting on Saturday evening, October 29th,
1S70, in the hall ofthe Moravian Day School,

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

173

agreeable to a call of Charles W. Roepper, the
original founder of the "Kranz." Twelve
persons were present, and the society was
duly organized by the election of the follow
ing officers.
President, CHARLES W. ROEPPER.
&c'.y and Treas., GEORGE H. LUCKENBACH.
Directors.
Matthew J. Schmidt, Georoe H. Luckenbach and
Frederick J. Rice.
Conductor, "William K. Graber.
Owning to the bad health of the secretary,
of Matthew J. Schmidt, a director, the resig
nation of the president, and the insertion of a
new clause in the constitution, authorizing
the election of a vice-president, a meeting
of the society was called, and a new election
was held to fill the vacancies, which resulted
in the following choice of officers.
President, ABRAHAM S. SCHROPP.
Vice President, HENRY G. BORHEK.
Sec' y and ZVeos, AUGUSTUS H. LEIBERT.
Directors, Frederick J. Rice, Theodore F. Levers
and James T. Borhek, Jr.
The following is a full list of the members
of the society.
Charles W. Roepper, James T. Borhek, Jr.

Abraham S. Schropp,
William K. Graber,

George H. Luckenbach,
Benjamin Riegel,

Frank L. Wolle,
Samuel Soit,
James M. Schnabel,
Augustus H. Leibert,
Theodore F. Levers,
Caesar Spiegler,
Charles Prosser,
Joseph A. Weaver,
George Hcsb,
Charles Schwartz,
Clarance Crist,
Claranee A. Wolle,
Frederick J. Rice,

Joseph J. Bealim,
Quintus Jacotiy,
Franklin L. Sussdorff,
Frantz Koegler,
Cyrus ]']. Breder,
Henry G. Borhek,
Frederxk Miller,
Edward Welden,
Oliver A. Clewell,
Ammon Gardiner,
Wilton J. Hess,
Adolph Degelnw,
Matthew J. Schmidt,

Bertiue S. Erwin, M. D.
The society meets every Friday evening
for practice, and frequently serenades its
members and friends. It assisted at the
concert of the Philharmonic society, which
was given on March 2nd, 1871, singing the
following German songs, Abschied vom Walde,
" Farewell to the Forest," by Mendelsshon ;
Die Wacht am Rhein, the German campaign
song, which took the audience by storm, an
encore was demanded, but instead of repeat
ing it, the society sung Mein Wunch, i. e., " My
Wish," which gave great satisfaction.
This brings the history of music in Bethle
hem down to the present day, imperfectly,
it is admitted ; but full enough to show how
deeply the love of music is inherent in its
people.

174

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

r/iruft

ftSMI^

THE LEHIGH UNIVERSITY.
SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PA. — 1871.

CHAPTER XVI.
Borough Authorities. — Lawyers and Doc
tors. — The Choice op Bishops by Lot. — An
Account of a "Vesper" op the Moravian
Historical Society. — Old Map op Bethle
hem in the Historical Society of Penn
sylvania. — The Married Peoples' Houses
— Manokasy. — The Apothecary Shop. —
Pottery. — Tobacco. — Silk.— Public Build
ings. — The Vineyards. — The Pennsylva
nia and Lehigh Zinc Co. — South Bethle
hem. — The Paper Bag Manufactory. —
New Street Bridge. — Volunteer Com
panies. — The Lehigh University. — The
Freshet of Oct. 4, 1869. — The First Pub
lic Roads. — David Nitschman and His
Company. — The Great Minnisink Trail. —

The First Post Office.— The Mode of
Travel in the Olden Times. — The " Crown
Inn." — Stage Route from the "Wind Gap
to Philadelphia.

St."iST of Ciiief Burgesses of Bethlehem,
since the year 1845.

Chas. Aug. Luckenbach,
John Matthew Miksch,
Ernst F. Bleck,
Jacob Wolle,
Jedidiah Weiss,
Phillip H. Goepp,

Ambrose J. Erwin.

Benjamin Van-Kirk,
Edward H. Rauch,
Ira Cortright,
Nathan Bartlett,
Charles F. Beckel,
C. Edward Peisart,

Samuel Brunner has been clerk of Councils since
1S45, previous to which time, the municipal afTairs of
the town were under the direction of the Moravian
Church.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

175

LIST OP COUNCILS.
Philip H. Goepp, Charles W. Rauch,
Henry G. Guetter, Louis F. Beckel.
Benjamin Eggert, Solomon Steckel,
Lewis Do.' ter. George Steinman,
Krnst F. Bleck, Henry T. Milchsack,
"William Lnckinbach, Jacob H. Lilly,
John M. Mik-cli, Jonas Snyder,
Charles L. Kmui«fi, Merritt Abbott,
Christian LucUeubach, William Leibert,
Joseph H. Taylor, Josiah George,
Matthew Krause, Charles Blank,
Ch;u«es Aug. Luckenbach, Ambrose J. Erwin,
John F. Rauch, Charles Bodder,
William R. Hnffnagle, Henry S. Sellers,
Jacob Luckenbach, Francis E, Huber,
Matthew Brown, Lewis Doster, Jr.,
James T. Borhek, David 0. Luckenbach,
Aaron George, Isaac Walp,
Ambroise H. Ranch, D. Henry BiBhop,
Christian F. Luch, John K. Dech,
Johu C. Malthaner, Richard W. Leibert,
John Krause, Charles Fred'k Eberlin,
Charles F. Kremser, Wm. Frankenneld,
Dri Abraham H. Huebener, John Opp,
Wiliiam Bu.sh, Jacob J. Hoffman,
Christian Lange, Samuel Snyder,
Charles B. Daniel, Rufus A. Grider,
William F. Ritter, John H. Yost,
John Berger, Charles E. Shoemaker,
Simon Rau, John B. Zimmele,
Edward Weinland, Erwin Mushlitz,
Peter Kleckuer, Simon Kemmerer,
Aaron W. Radley, LouiB Gerlach,
Charles Edward Peisert, David H. Taylor,
C hai-les F. Beckel, Joseph Wendell,
John Walp, Jeremiah Bieber,
Ruben 0. Luckenbach, William B. Rice,
Nathan Bartlett, Jacob Fries,
Daniel Desh.
CONSTABLES.
Chas. W. Rauch, Permania RickBecker,
George Reigh, Gilbert Van Fradeneck,
Augustus Belling, Chr. Lewis Kidd,
Joel Shitz.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, from 1741 to 1871.
Timothy Horsfield, John F. Rauch,
Wiiliam Okely, Reuben S. Rauch,
David Kliest, Samuel C. Shimer,
Joseph Horsfield, James T. Borhek,
Jacob Wolle, Benjamin F. Schneller,
Joseph Rice, Samuel Brunner,
William Rice, Abraham Myers.
LIST OP LAWYERS.
Charles Brodhead, Esq., J. Howard Burke, Esq.,

William Emil Doster,
Alfred Christ,
William F. Hackett,

Lewis H. Stout.
Frank Reeder,
Walter S. Heilner,

In March, 1871, Adolph Conradi was ap
pointed one of the Saal Diener's of the Beth
lehem Moravian Congregation.
At page 131, it is stated that Polly Hecke
welder was the only daughter of the famous
Missionary to the Indians, which is erron
eous. He had two younger daughters, one
of them married Joseph Rice, the other mar
ried Christian Luckenbach. Nor was she
the first white child born in Ohio, as stated,
but she was the first white female child born
in that State.
The Physicians of Bethlehem, in the past,

as well as those ofthe present day, have been
noted for a high degree of professional skill
in their calling. Some of those now depart
ed, were not only eminent in, their profes
sion, but were celebrated for their witty say
ings, or eccentricities, which have caused
their names to be household ones in tho
place. Among these old time doctors may
be mentioned :
Dr. Matthew Otto, Dr. Abraham Stout,*
" John Fred'k Rudolphy, " Frederick Martin,
" Jno. Fred'k A. Steckel, '' Abraham L. Huebener,
•' Eberhardt Freytag, " William Wil6on,
" Daniel Green, " Benjamin Willtelm,
The following Physicians are at present
located in the town.
Dr. Maurice C. Jones, Dr. Charles E. Humphreys,
" Fred'k A. Fickardt " John H. Wilson,
" Augustine N.Leinbach, " John J. Wilson,
" Abraham Stout, " Bertine S. Erwin,
" Edward H. Jaeobson, " George S. Engler,
Dr. John R. Goodman.
Among the notables of Bethlehem there is
an artist of no mean merit, De Witt C. Bou-
telle; hispicture of Niagarais the best repre
sentation of that famous natural curiosity
yet painted. It embraces a view of the
entire Fall, presenting a truthful picture,
faithful to nature, and is exquisitely beauti
ful. The celebrated German painter, Gustavus
Grunewald, resided for many years in the
town, but has now returned to his native
country. Mr. Reuben 0. Luckenbach, who is a na
tive of Bethlehem, and has his residence
there, has painted many beautiful pictures
of the charming views in the vicinity. He
is teacher of Painting and Drawing in the
Young Ladies' Seminary.
The following official notice will serve not
only to complete the list of the Moravian
Bishops, but also to show that the use of the
Lot is still continued in the Church.
" We are officially informed by the Unity's
Elders' Conference, that on the 7th day of
July, 1870, that body took into solemn con
sideration the request of our late Provincial
Synod to have two new Bishops appointed
for our Province, and that after mature de-
* Dr. Stout, the elder, was an uncle of the present
Dr. Stout, and of Lewis H. Stout, Esq. Dr. Maurice
C. Jones studied medicine in his office, and was his as
sistant.

17G

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

liberation it had been resolved to make use
of the Apostolic lot in deciding which of the
four brethren who had been nominated
should be appointed as Bishops. According
ly, after fervent prayer, the names of the
four candidates, viz : the Revs. L. F. Kamp
man, F. R. Holland, E. de Schweinitz and
A. A. Reinke, were submitted to the Lord's
decision by lot. The first name drawn was
that of the Rev. Edmund de Schweinitz, and
then followed that of Rev. Amadeus Reinke.
" These two brethren, Revs. E. de Schwei
nitz and A. A. Reinke, having therefore been
constitutionally elected and confirmed as
Bishops, they will, (D. V.) be solemnly
consecrated to their sacred office, here at
Bethlehem, on the evening of Sunday, Aug.
28, 1S70.
"We hereby cordially commend them to
the prayers of the Church. Let it be our
united petition to the throne of grace that
our Episcopacy may remain precious in the
sight of the Lord, and that He may endow
these brethren, with a large measure of His
Holy Spirit, to the end that ' they may hold
fast the faithful word, and be able by sound
doctrine both to exhort and to convince
gainsayers,' (Titus 1. 9.) and that they may
' feed the Church of God which he has pur
chased with his own blood.' (Acts 20. 28.)
"In the name of the Provinical Elders'
Conference. Robert de Schweinitz, President.
Bethlehem Pa., August 27, 1870."
On Thanksgiving Day, November, 24, 1870,
the Right Rev. John C. Jaeobson, one of the
senior Bishops of the Moravian Church in
the Northern Province in the United States,
departed this life at his residence in Bethle
hem, Pa., in the 76th year of his age. In
Bishop Jaeobson the Church loses one of her
most devoted and active servants. He had
consecrated himself in early life fully to the
work of a minister of Jesus Christ in the
Moravian Church, and the completeness of
this devotion kept him during the long ser
vice of more than fifty years always active
and diligent, always cheerful and hopeful.
He was consecrated a Bishop of the Church

at Litiz, Lancaster County, Pa., September
15, 1854, in which office he served for the
last time at the consecration of Bishops, in
August of the present year.
The funeral of the departed Bishop took
place on Sunday, the first in Advent. The
solemn services were conducted by the
Bishops, De Schweinitz and Shultze. The
choir of the church at Bethlehem performed
with wonderful power and pathos, " Blessed
are the dead which die in the Lord," from
Spohr's " Last Judgment." The coffin was
borne to the grave by six clergymen of the
Church. In the Moravian for October 27, 1870, will
be found the following interesting account
of an "Annual 'Vesper' of the Moravian
Historical Society."
" Many an uncertain mind wa3 gladdened
as the morning of the 19th of October, 1870,
dawned bright and clear, and the sun poured
forth its cheering rays over the varied au
tumn landscape. This was the day on which
the annual ' Vesper' of the Moravian His
torical Society was to be held, and whose ad
vent had so long been awaited by all those
who love to spend an afternoon in the old
fashioned Brethren's style; in talking over
the scenes of former days, and learning from
the experience of the pioneers of our church
in this country. Already in the forenoon
the familiar faces of brethren and sisters
from other congregations could be seen in
the streets of Nazareth, all wending their
way to the old church edifice, where the
rooms of the Society arelocated. After spend
ing some time in examining the museum,
with its numerous and interesting relics of
ancient times, whose history alone would
fill volumes, our thoughts were suddenly
called away from this subject by tho'ringin"
of several oftheold bells, mementoes ofsome
ofthe first Moravian settlements in America.
This was the signal for all to repair to the
tables, and there to enjoy all the pleasures
of a genuine ' vesper.' A few minutes after
two o'clock, the sixty-two members present
were called to order by the President, Rev.
Eugene Leibert, and after singing a hymn,

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

177

were informed that every one should help
himself. Never was business more heartily
and cheerfully engaged in. With such
tempting pieces of real Moravian sugar-cake,
bona fide rye bread, and fresh apple butter
before him, ho w could any one be backward 7
" While the vesper progressed, various
subjects of interest to the Society were dis
cussed, and under the blue clouds of smoke
that soon overhung the assembly, many a
peal of laughter resounded, as some gray-
haired sire recounted some adventure that
he had had many years ago. Nor was more
important business neglected. The proposed
purchase of the old ' Ephrata property' oc
cupied a considerable part of the attention
of those present. This, comprising as it
does, the venerable Whitefield House, would
be a most desirable relic for the Society to
possess, both to preserve it from the impious
hands of modern 'improvement/ and as a
suitable place in which the Historical So
ciety could have its museum and rooms
permanently situated. Although all appear
ed to appreciate the liberality of the price at
which the property is offered ($1,500) and the
appropriateness of our having this interesting
property in our hands, no further action was
taken than to recommend the subject to the
favorable consideration ofthe Board of Mana
gers.* " While this question was being discussed,
a cable dispatch received by the Provincial
Elders' Conference was passed around, and
perused with great interest. It contained a
laconic announcement that Bro. Augustus
Schultze had accepted a call as Professor in
the Moravian College at Bethlehem : ' Shultze
hat angenommen.'
" Several relics also were at this time pre
sented to the Society. A nicely framed
photograph of the old ' Kingsly House' at
Wyalusing, built in 1768, by Moravian Indi
ans, under the direction of Heckewelder
was, presented by Bro. Ed. Welles. Bro.
Wm. Jordan presented a smaller copy of the
same, while Dr. Maurice C. Jones donated a
* The property has since been purchased by a well-
known Moravian gentleman, and presented to the
Society.

piece of wood and some mortar from this
ancient structure. The latter gentleman
likewise donated some Indian relics found
in Wyalusing, and Miss Clara Henry, several
wild plums, plucked from a tree in tho set
tlement. A photograph of the Whitefield
House was presented by Bro. Wm. Jordan.
Another very curious relic, presented by
Mr. Lehr, was a Moravian catechism of the
year 1730, as the title says, 'for the use of
teachers who do not know better.' In read
ing the list of contributions of the last year,
the President remarked that their number
seemed to grow less and less as the Society
grew older, and urged each member to strive
to add to the museum by his personal exer
tions. "As Dr. Jones had, during the course of
the year, made a visit to Wyalusing, he was
called upon to give an account of his trip.
He said that his party had explored the old
'Kingsley House' from cellar to garret, and,
that nothing had escaped their curiosity.
From a tree which Heckewelder had plant
ed, they gathered some apples, which they
pronounced excellent, but Dr. Jones, as he
did not get any, considered them rather
sour. "A very interesting account ofthe fire de
partment of former times in Moravian set
tlements was given by Bro. Jedidiah Weiss,
who had himself risen from the ranks of a
common fireman to the distinguished office
of Fire Inspector. At first, he said, all the
responsibilities of this office rested on the
clergy; but later, when ministers were no
longer as " smart" as formerly, a special offi
cer Had to be elected, whose duty it was to
visit every house in the settlement, to inr
spect all the stoves, chimneys, &c, and to
advise all the house-wives to maintain con
stant caution and vigilance.
" Thus, divided between pleasure and busi
ness, interspersed with a plentiful supply of
wit and anecdote, the afternoon passed swift
ly by, and after a resolution had been pass
ed, requesting the President to appoint some
person or persons to prepare papers on his
torical subjects, to be read at the next annual
Vesper, the meeting adjourned. Slowly and

178

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

reluctantly each one prepared to leave for
his home, and as we separated, there was
none who did not say that the afternoon had
been pleasantly and profitably spent, God
willing, there should not one such anniver
sary be held in the future at which he would
not be present."
At this meeting Part IV. of the " Transac
tions of the Moravian Historical Society"
was issued. It contains a "Sketch of the
History of the Bible in Bohemia," by Wil
liam G. Malin, a very interesting and valu
able paper, and " The Establishment of the
Moravian Congregations in Ohio," by Jesse
Blickensderfer, a sketch that contains much
new and interesting information. All mem
bers of the Society are entitled to a copy of
the Transactions.
The town of Bethlehem was founded with
in the limits of Bucks County, and on the 10th
of March, J 746, the inhabitants presented a
petition to the Court for the formation of a
Township, which was granted, although it
was not surveyed and laid out till the year
1762, when it was done by George Golkow-
sky. The names of the petitioners were, Na -
thanial Seidel, Henry Antes, JonN Brown-
tield, Samuel Powell, Matthias Weiss,
JonNOKELY,FBEDERICKCAMMERHOFF, GEOtlGE
Neisser, Christopher Pyrleus, James Burn-
eide, Joseph Powell, Jasper Payne, and
Joseph Spangenberg.
After the dissolution of the " ffieonomy,"
in 1762, Lots in Bethlehem were sold to the
following individuals, each of whom soon
erected dwellings thereon for the use of their
families: Andrew Borhek, Weaver; Wil
liam Boehler, Wheelwright; Ludwig Hueb
ener, Potter; Daniel Kunkler, Shopkeeper ;
George Shindler, Carpenter; Francis Thom
as, Joiner; Dewalt Kornman, Skindresser.
Some of the houses already erected by the
Society were also sold; Henry Krause,
Butcher, and Gottleib Lange, Saddler, and
some others, each purchased a house.
There is a very valuable and excellent o'.d
map of a part of Bethlehem, drawn on the
1 2th of January, 1757, now in the possession
of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania,

hanging in a conspicuous place in their Li
brary rooms in Philadelphia. The houses
and farm buildings on the west side of Main
Street, and the mills on the Manckasy are
not represented on the plan ; it contains only
that portion of the town situated on the east
side of Main Street, together with some pro
jected buildings, including the Tavern, (now
known as the " Sun Hotel,") which were af
terwards erected, but not altogether in ac
cordance with the plan. It is quaintly writ
ten in German on the western side of tho
map, that " The rest of Bethlehem is down
below here."
The chief point, however, in connection
with this old relic, is the fact, that upon the
lot where the large Moravian Church now
stands, there was, as appears on the map,two
large log houses, and not one, as has been
hereinbefore stated, at page 19. One stood
at the south-east corner of the lot, near the
Gemein Haus, and was called the Married
Men's House; the other stood at the north
west corner of the church lot, and was known
as the Married Women's House. These houses
were used by, and called The Married People's
Houses. Having sought for more light on the
subject, I received a note from Mr. John Jor
dan, Jr., of Philadelphia, the well known An
tiquarian and Bibliographer, in which he
says, "You are correct in your surmise in
regard to the occupance of separate houses
by the married people after the time Bethle
hem was settled, and I think the custom
continued until the change of the CEconomy
in 1762, or thereabout. The separation was
of course but partial, and worked well so
long as the enthusiasm which distinguished
our early settlers lasted."
This explains the foot note to page 189 of
the History of Lehigh Valley, which is as
follows : " Married people met together only
once or twice a week. The Brother lived in
the Men's House, and the Sister in the Wo
men's House. For some years there was a
lack of dwelling houses."
The Rev. Wm. C. Reichel, who is now en
gaged in writing a full and exhaustive his
tory of Bethlehem for the Historical Society

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

179

of Pennsylvania, a Moravian minister, a
resident of Bethlehem, the author of the
" Bethlehem Souvenir," and of the "Histori
cal Sketch of Nazareth Hall," who examin
ed the old map with me, says, " The prac
tice of keeping the married people separate
was abolished about 1747 or 1748.
On the map it will be noticed that Main
Street, as now laid out, is called The new road
to Burnside, and that The old road to Burneide
is also indicated. James Burnside was born
in Ireland, in 1708, emigrated to Georgia in
1734, and in August, 1746, became a member
of the Moravian Church. Ilia farm (now
Benjamin C-. Unangst's) was situated near
Bethlehem, and the road led to it. He was
the first member from Northampton County
in the Provincial Assembly. He died at his
farm-house on the 8th of August, 1755.
The illustration heading Chapter 3rd, page
19, represents the " Water Tower," as attach
ed to the west end of the "Married Men's
House," which was not the case, it only ap
peared so in taking the view. The Tower,
in fact, stood in the centre of the church lot,
and between the Married Men's and Wo
men's Houses.
There was a bird's eye view of Bethlehem,
dated 1755, published for sale at the Fair of
the U. S. Sanitary Commission, in 1864, held
in Logan Square, Philadelphia, which gives
a correct representation of the two old build
ings referred to, and their position on the
Church lot. The " Married Women's House"
was in 1754 used as a school-house for the
boys. (See Life of Heckewelder, page 33,
showing that Mr. Reichel is correct.)
The building on the old map, referred to
in the " Explication" thereon, as the " Boy's
Institute," and which I have called the
" Nursery," was, so says Mr. Reichel, "built
for the use of the Married Men, and was at
one time occupied bjfive divisions of them."
During the Indian Wars, all the children
were gathered together from Nazareth, and
the other Moravian towns, and brought to
Bethlehem for protection; the smaller child
ren were placed in this building in charge of
some of the Sisters of the Bethlehem Congre

gation, detailed for that purpose; hence tho
common name of the old House, torn down
d uring the summer of 1870, to make room for
the new Publication Office of the Moravian
Church. All the old residents of the town
called it " The Nursery;" I have followed
their example. It was sometimes called the
"OldCEconomy Building."
Mrs. Friday says, " The Nursery was an in
stitution which was formed by the necessity
of circumstances. The great amount of labor
to be done in the building of houses, clearing
the lands, farming, procuring building ma
terials, kc, besides keeping constant watch
night and day, made it necessary that every
means should be taken to bring all the re
courses of the inhabitants to bear. The fe
males cou'.d assist in farming, such as rake
hay, spread grass, plant and hoe potatoes and
corn, husk corn, load hay, <S:c. ; but mothers
were prevented by their children. A Nurs
ery was thereupon instituted, where child
ren two years of age were taken and raised
under the supervision of the Chureh. To
this institution many objections were found;
it did not work as well as desired, and as
soon as the (Economy "was abolished, (having
things in common), the Institution was dis
continued. It must be said however, that
although the children so raised had not the
parental feelings as those raised by the affec
tionate mother, yet some of the best citizens
Bethlehem ever had were so brought up. In
those days Economy ruled; in order to save
paper, pen and ink, the children were taught
at school to write with uncut quills on press
ed sand."
In the same " Explication," on the oldmap,
" The Corpse House" is called " The House
for the bodies of the Lambs of God," at least
that is the literal translation of the sentence,
for the " Explication" is written in the Ger
man language. Near the corner of Main and
Market Streets, standing in the street, is an
erection marked 0, which was the " Watch
Tower," built during the first Indian Wars,
in 1755.
A company of gentlemen have recently
purchased the high hill and plain west of

ISO

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Bethlehem, which is separated from the
town by the Manokasy Creek, a.nd have
built a handsome iron bridge across that
stream at Broad Street, connecting their land,
which is now being laid out in lots, with the
town. This new part of the town is called
West Bethlehem.
The Manokasy (this mode of spelling is
my own, and is in accordance with the pro
nunciation of the name) Creek runs through
the town and empties into the Lehigh at the
foot of Nisky Hill. The old Moravians call
ed this creek the Manakes, with an acute ac
cent over the second a. Heckewelder says
the Indian name was Menagassi, with an
acute accent over the first a, meaning "a
creek with many bends." The Rev. Wm. C.
Reichel, the well known Moravian author
and antiquarian, writes the name Manakasy,
with an acute accent over the first two a's in
the name, this gives the word in the German
pronunciation the same sound as my spell
ing, Manokasy. The name has of late been
rendered Monoccacy, while it is pronounced
Manokasy, which 13 absurd. There is a
river in Maryland, and an Island in the
Susquehanna, near Wilks-Earre, both called
the Monoccacy, and I hope the Bethlehemites
will call their creek by its proper name here
after, and write the name as it is pronounced
in English and German, Manokasy.
Manockissee, is another erroneous modo of
spelling the name of this creek. Almost al
ways during the summer months, the bed of
the creek, a few miles north of Bethlehem,
becomes as dry as the surrounding "Dry
lands," through which it has its course. It
owes its existence entirely to the springs in
its vicinity, many of which are in its very
bed, as can easily be seen during the dry
spell of any one of our summers. Monockiccy,
is the way Rupp, in his History of North
ampton County, page 79, spells the name of
the creek.
There was an old Indian Chief, called Mo-
nokghichan, living about 1737, it may be pos
sible that the name of the creek has some
connection with him.
"The Apothecary Shop," or first Dru«-

Store in Bethlehem, was kept in the house
now owned and occupied by Simon Rau, on
Main Street, near the Moravian Church, and
which he uses for the same purpose. Dr.
Matthew Otto was the first Apothecary in the
town, and in the County. He established his
Laboratory about 1745. The medicines were
prepared with great care, and were sent to
Philadelphia, where they were in much de
mand. The profits from this source by the
(Economy were larger than from any other
kind of manufacture carried on in the vil
lage. In 1782, Timothy Horsfield is spoken
of as having been in charge of the Apothe
cary Shop, and after him, Eberhard Freytag
conducted the business for the Society.
There are now many very handsome Drug
Stores in the town; the most extensive of
which is owned and conducted by Matthew
M. Selfridge, on Main Street, opposite the
" Eagle Hotel." Hi3 business is both by
wholesale and retail. Edward T. Myers
owns also a fine Drug establishment on
Main Street. He occupies a portion of the
building as his residence. His lot was for
merly included in the " Sun Hotel" proper
ty, and was purchased by him only a few
years ago.
The manufacture of Pottery was extensive
ly carried on by Lewis Huebener, about the
year 1782, and previously. It was ono of tho
first branches of industry carried on in the
town. Apple-butter making in those days
was universal in the vicinity, and when the
fruit was abundant, the demand for the
earthen crocks, in which it was put, was
often so great, that all could not be supplied.
A most excellent preserve is apple-butter;
but nothing like the quantity is made now,
the apple trees seem to be dying out in Penn
sylvania ; ploughing up the apple orchards
injures the trees and retards their growth.
There are in the old gardens in Bethlehem,
apple trees still bearing immense quantities
of fruit; the size of those old patriarchs is
something astonishing.
Mr. Huebener manufactured tiles for the
floors in houses ; some can be seen in the
"Sister's House;" also tiles for the large

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

1G1

stoves, made after the fashion of those still
in use in Germany. Tiles were also made
for roofing purposes ; and the hardware store
of Henry S. Krause, in Main Street, is
roofed with some of them, which are as per
fect as when first made. Some other ancient
structures are also covered with these old
tiles. Pipe heads were also made in large
quantities. Occasionally small quantities of
tobacco are raised in the vicinity of Bethle
hem, and the manufacture of segars engages
the attention of a large class of people on the
line of the North Pennsylvania Rail Road,
at the present time.
In 1771, the Society for the Culture of Silk,
located in the city of Philadelphia, awarded
the premium of £10 for the greatest quantity
of cocoons above twenty thousand, to Joanna
Etwein, of Bethlehem. Reeled silk was ex
tensively manufactured in Pennsylvania
about this time, and sent to England to be
woven and returned. The Society prepared
during this season, one hundred and fifty
pounds of reeled silk of such quality, as sold
in England for twenty and twenty-five shil
lings per pound, exclusive of the Parliament
ary bounty.
The following article, cut from the Easton
Sentinel, for June, 1834, introduces a well
known inhabitant of Bethlehem and "a
mammoth trout. General Cadwalader and
lady, of Philadelphia, being on a visit to
Bethlehem, Pa., Mr. George H. Goundie pre
sented to Mr. Zeigler, of the Eagle Hotel, one
of the largest brook trout perhaps ever known
in this country, which was served up in his
best style, at a dinner on last Monday to the
General and lady, and a party of ladies and
gentlemen of Bethlehem. The trout meas
ured 22 inches in length, 19 inches in cir
cumference, and weighed 7J pounds ; it was
raised by Mr. Jacob Schneider, of the Lehigh
Water Gap, who has kept it for the last six
years in a trough in the second story of his
house. We understand Mr. Goundie, of Beth
lehem, has about 400 fine trout yet in his
trout house, measuring from 10 to 17 inches
in length."
Dr. John Frederick Augustus Steckel,

wa3 a Swedish Physician, who resided for
a number of years in Bethlehem. He was
full oifun, wit and anecdote. His language
was an odd mixture of Swedish, German and
English, and it was said that " Dr. Steckel
spoke no language." The following lines
are attributed to him, or what is more pro
bable, are written in imitation of his peculiar
mode of speech.

FAREWELL TO BETHLEHEM.
By Dr. John Frederick Augustus Steckel,
November 24th, 1826.
Oh Bethlehem dou'rt not the leasht,
In Judas Coundry in de Easht,
Dou Bethlehem here in Immidashon,
Were Bilgrims come from every nashon
To see the wonders dat are dolt
Wit dose gued friends I oft did go
To show and dell them all I know,
Of Judas lantl could not dell
Where Sheperds mit dere Bheep did dwell ;
But as dis is a new creashon
Of harmless lambs of every nashon,
Who know dere Sheperd's voice and view
De Bath he leads, and him persue
Dat Basture wich did feed dat Flock
Bermitted friends at tree o'clock
Do witness all dere Educashon
Dere science great and recreashon
Mit music charms — Angelic strain
Were Joy and Measure banish Bain,
All dose enjoymentBl dit view
Must leave them all and bit Adieu
Oh Lehigh ! dou shweet stream dat rolls,
Enlivent by dine Arks wit Coals
May prosperous dy commerce free
Dy floating arks returning be,
Wit passengers from ev'ry nashon
To visit Bethlehem's situashon ;
No more dose scenes I shall survey,
Dy burling stream dat flows so gay,
Dy Croves, dy Isle, dy Cryshtall Spring
We wistom shtrength and beauty sing,
Where Choirs of Angels by us glite
Wit dere fair Nurses by their side
Embark in safe Abbottos' barge
And on Kallibso's Island march,.
Enjoy dere habbiness and sing,
Make rocks and vales Bhweet echoes bring
Dose shweet delights I oft dit view
Must leave dem all and bit adieu
And since stern fate has bit me go,
Do all my friends I bit adieu ;
I leave you all wit great regret

182

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Your blessing shall attend my speed
Your symbathetic sorrows klaim
My warmest tanks, accept de same.
Farov/ell my friends, fate bits me go,
Farewell my neighbors all — Adieu
No more I'll Bee dose tender scenes
Were lovely youts widen dere deens
Mit dears of Joy dere frients did meet
Or part wid dem wit sore regret
My heart dit melt wit tenderness
Do see their Joy or sore regret
From scenes like dese I now must go,
And bit my dear young friends adieu;
Your joyful hearts wid mine dit glow
On all cccashons you dit show
When joyfull med on feshdel days
To celebrade our Saviour's praise
Wit music, joyful hymns dit sing
De glory of our heavenly King,
But all is lost 1 Fate bits me go
Farewell fair Bisters all — Adieu,
Now Flora, beautiful and gay,
De dime is come, I musht obey,
I worshib'd dee all day and night,
Dy fragrant blushus were my delight
lHot mine alone, but all mankind
Did by dere bresence pleasure tint
But fate decrees dat I must go,
And leave you now, and bit adieu,
.No more I hear the serenading, !
Mitin thy Bowry consecrating,
Mit soft harmonious symphony,
Mit bleasing notes and cheerful glee.
Uo more dose airs, dat gentle dell,
De shweetest sound, De Convent Bell ;
.From all dose scenes mit grief I go
And Mt lair Flora now adieu.
De signal sounts, it calls me foit,
It points to Sout, I have de Nord ;
Perhaps to Easht, perhaps to Wcsht,
Wich bleases God is for de best,
No wife, no child, laments for me,
From dose afflicsions I am free,
Farewell my fronts, fate bits me go
farewell I Farewell I once riore adieu.

On the 2nd of January, 1871, "The
Widow's Society, of Bethlehem," celebrated
its 100th Anniversary, at that place. One
hundred members ofthe Society from Nazar
eth and Bethlehem, were present at the
meeting and partook of a social Love-feast;
the Right Rev. Brother, Bishop Edmund de
Sehweinitz, presiding.

The name of the Society does not fully ex
press its object, which is, to insure to the
widows of the deceased members, a yearly
dividend, the income being divided pro rata
among the claimants. Members are received
at any age, the custom has, however, been to
permit young men to become members upon
their marriage, on their paying a subscrip
tion fee of fifty dollars. There' are no other
payments to be made to the Society, except
by such as join after they are fifty years
old, in that case, they pay annually, in ad
dition to the entrance fee, one dollar.
The Society was organized January 1st,
1771. The firstpayments amounted to £950,
Pennsylvania currency. That sum was
loaned to James Burnside, on a mortgage on
the Nain Indian Mission property, which had
been purchased by him.
In 1821, the Society was chartered by the
Legislature. The invested assets of the cor
poration now amount to the sum of $32,000.
Any male member of the Moravian Church
in America, being in sound health, may be
come a member of the Society, and his widow
after his death, will receive her pro rata
share of the yearly income of the Society
during the remainder of her life.
The present officers of the Society are :
John Matthew Miksch, President.
Rudolph Rauch, Treasurer.
Rev. Ambrose Rondthaler, Secretary.
Bethlehem has some few public buildings
viz : — The Citizen's, Concert, Masonic, and
Christian Association Halls, used for the
meetings of the respective societies, and for
such other societies as are common in Ameri
can towns.
The first National Bank of Bethlehem has
a handsome banking house on Main Street,
nearly opposite the Sun Hotel, with a fine
dwelling attached for the cashier. Charles
Augustus Luckenback is the President of the
Institution. The Vineyards, on the west bank of the
Manokasy Creek, where the attempt was
made to cultivate the grape, and failed; has
been cut up into building lots, and is now

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

183

covered by the houses and gardens of the
thriving village of West Bethlehem.
In 1853, the Pennsylvania and Lehigh
Zinc Company's works were erected on the
lands of the " Crown Farm," and have be
come the nucleus of quite a large town. It
was first laid out by Charles Augustus Luck
enback, in 1849, and called Augusta, the name
was after changed in 1854, and the town
called Wetherill, out of compliment to Col.
Samuel Wetherill, one of the projectors of
the place. Subsequently the name was again
changed to Bethlehem South, and finally, in
1865, it was incorporated as a borough under
its present name of SouTn Bethlehem, and
Louis F. Beckel, elected Chief Burgess. At
the present time, Elisha P. Wilbur is the
Chief Burgess; and the town contains a popu
lation of about 3,556 souls.
The Zinc Works were put in operation in
the fall of the year 1853. These works were
built by Col. Samuel Wetherill, for the pur
pose of making the White Oxide of Zinc
under his Patents. Spelter was first made
here from Lehigh ores, in 1854, and for seve
ral years thereafter costly experiments were
made by Col. Wetherill, to discover mixtures
of refractory clay which would stand the
heat required to make zinc; in 1858, he dis
covered a satisfactory mixture, and adopted
a plan, which was not completed when the
" Great Rebellion" broke out. Then the man
of science, like a gallant gentleman, dropped
his crucibles and retorts, and entered the
service of his country, as a Captain of cavalry
in the 11th regiment of Pennsylvania volun
teers, September 25, 1861, with a company
raised by his own exertions, and served with
distinction until be was mustered out as a
Major, on October 1, 1804, after having par
ticipated in forty-two battles and skirmishes,
without having received a wound. Cn the
13th of March, 1865, he was brevetted a
Lieut. Colonel for his services before Rich
mond, Va.
In the meantime, the Zinc Company had
imported skilled laborers from France, and
put in practice the French process with great
success.

In 1864, they erected the first sheet zinc
rolling mill in the United States. And on
the 1st of April, 1865, the first sheet zinc
ever made in America, was rolled there un
der the direction of Professor Alexander
Trippel. The Company's mines are situated near
thevillageofFriedensville, in Saucon Valley,
about four miles south of Bethlehem, on the
old Post Road to Philadelphia, and close to
the southern side of the Lehigh Hills. The
ore is hauled to the works, over the Hills by
horse-teams. The largest mine is known by
the name of the Ueberroth Zinc Mine. This
deposit of zinc ore was first discovered by
Wm. Theodore Roepper, (Professor, now, of
Mineralogy and Geology, in the Lehigh
University,) in the year 1845.
The structures erected by the " Bethlehem
Iron Company," in South Bethlehem, for
their Iron Works, are a splendid series of
buildings, of magnificent proportions, and
attract great attention. The works have now
been in successful operation for over ten
years, under the very able superintendence
of Mr. John Fritz, of Bethlehem.
A. Paper Bag Manufactory was started in
Bethlehem in 1854, by Mr. Francis Wolle,
the inventor, and is called the Union Paper
Bag Machine Company.
Bethlehem baskets, very handsome and
very strong, are a specialty with some Mo
ravian folk3 in the vicinity of the town; they
make them of all sizes, and being very dura
ble, they find a ready sale.
There are some comfortable old fashioned
chairs manufactured in the town by Michael
Stuber, called Bethlehehem chairs, which
have quite a reputation in Philadelphia and
New York, and are in much demand. Some
of tho queer old chairs made and used in
Bethlehem when it was first settled, are still
to be found in many old residences, and in
the Museum of the Missionary Society; being
made of boards, they look stiff, and are hard
and uncomfortable to sit upon. They are of
the kind quite common to be seen in German
paintings, even of the present day, and are
still in use in some parts of Germany.

181

HISTORICAL SKETCH OP

Bethlehem has many handsome private
residences, but the most deserving of notice
in that respect, is the one erected by Dr.
Frederick Martin, at the northwest corner
of Market and High Streets. Dr. Martin,
also built afterwards a very handsome house
on the highest point in South Bethlehem,
now owned and occupied by Robert F. Pac
ker. John Lerch has erected a very fine
private residence for his family, on Market
Street; as have also Owen Mack, and
John B. Zimmele. Weston Dodson, Augustus
Wolle, Abraham S. Schropp, Cornelius M.
Knauss, Charles Brodhead, Esq., Ambrose J.
Erwin, Richard W. Leibert, and others, have
handsome residences.
There are but few indications now of
Bethlehem being a Moravian settlement,
In 1842, the " lease system" was abrogated,
and the land sold on irredeemable ground
rents. In 1845, the town was incorporated
as a borough ; and in 1851, the ground rents
were made redeemable ; since then the town
has rapidly increased in size and population.
Portions of the old town alone retain in some
degree its ancient characteristics ; the manu
factories being mostly confined to the vi
cinity of the river, railroads and canal, while
on the Hill are built the residences of the
increasing population.
In 1867, the " N ew Street Bridge Company"
was incorporated, and the bridge, 1170 feet
in length, was constructed of wood, standing
on eight piers, spanning the Lehigh and
Susquehanna Railroad, the Lehigh Canal,
the Manokasy Creek, the Sand Island, the
Lehigh River, and the Lehigh Valley Rail
road, and connects the two towns of Bethle
hem and South Bethlehem. It was first
opened for travel on the 21st day of August,
1S67, although no tolls were, taken till the
first of September. The toll-house, erected
in 1869, is a fine brick office, with a com
fortable dwelling attached, for the family of
the toll-keeper, it stands on the east side of
the northern extremity of the bridge. The
bridge is a very handsome andgraceful struc
ture; and tho fine views from it of the sur
rounding country, make it a place of frequent

resort for all visitors to the town. The origi
nal cost of this bridge was $65,000.
The Broad Street Bridge, which was com
pleted and opened for travel in the month of
April, 1871, connects the old portion of the
town with the new part, now rapidly build
ing, called West Bethlehem. The new struc
ture is of iron, extending across the deep
ravine down which the Manokasy flows in
its course through the town. The bridge
is a very high and graceful affair, with a
roadway for vehicles, and side walks for
passengers; and from it there are exten
sive views up and down the Manokasy. This
bridge was constructed by Samuel R. Dick
son, of New Haven, Connecticut. It is 400
feet in length, and 70 feet above the water.
The superstructure is of wrought iron, upon
cast iron piers, the parts are fastened to
gether with hot rivets, of which there were
38,000 used. The entire cost of the erection
was about $50,000.
The handsome Episcopal church in South
Bethlehem, was built in the year 1864, and
the Rectory in 1866. The Rev. E. N. Potter,
son of the late Bishop Alonzo Potter, of
Pennsylvania, was the first rector, and was
succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Nevin, better
known during the Rebellion as the comman
der of " Nevin's Celebrated Battery of Ar
tillery." The Rev. Cortland Whitehead is
the present incumbent.
Since the insertion of the Military Record
of Bethlehem, there has been quite a revival
in martial affairs in the vicinity. Gen.
James L. Selfridge, having been appointed
by Governor Geary, Division Commander,
with the rank of Major General, and several
volunteer companies formed, viz : — Selfridge
Guards, Company A, organized Dec. 15, 1870,
James R. Roney, Captain; C. O . Zeigenfuas, 1st
Lieut.; Millon A. Beahm, 2nd Lieut.; Ser
geants, Frederick J. Rice, Orderly, Clinton T.
Weaver, George, D. Myers, Ammon A. Gard
ner, Victor A. Desh ; Corporals, Geo. B. Fick-
art, Joseph P. Miller, William F. Beckel,
George M. Wilhelm, Charles Keller, Albert
Kleckner, Edward Borhek, and 43 privates.
Se'fridge Guards, Company B., J. A'fred

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

18.r

Mohr, Coptain ; Daniel Fatzinger, 1st Lieut. ;
Francis Engle, 2nd Lieut., and 49 men.
And in South Bethlehem the Wilbur
Guards, organized in August, 1870, M. J.
Whertie, Captain ; Michael Boyle, 1st Lieut. ;
M. J. Ryan, 2nd Lieut., and 45 non-com
missioned officers and privates.
The LEHIGH UNIVERSITY is located in
South Bethlehem. The college went into
operation on Sep. 1st, A. D. 1865, with a
class of forty-three students, (See programme
of Examination of June 25, 1867,) with Col.
Henry Coppee, L. L. D, a graduate of the
U. S. Military Academy at West Point, as
President. This magnificent institution owes its ex
istence to the generosity of Asa Packer, who
of his own volition, in the year 1865 appro
priated out of his large private fortune, the
sum of $500,000, and fifty-six acres of land
on the north side of the Lehigh hills, for the
purpose of founding this educational insti
tute. The design of the founder in making this
munificent endowment, was to provide for
the young men of Lehigh Valley the means
of acquiring such a complete professional
education, as would fit them for the practical
and active pursuits of this country. This
view is to be kept continually in mind, so
that civil engineering, mining, chemistry,
metallurgy, agriculture and railway con
traction, are to be the chief branches.
" University Day," June 24, 1869, was
held in the chapel of the magnificent pile
known as " Packer Hall," where the first
pupils of the college graduated, their names
were J. Haynes Corbin, Barbadoes, W. I.;
Miles Rock, Lancaster, Pa.; Chas. E. Ron-
aldson, Philadelphia; Charles W. Roepper
and Clarence A. Wolle, Bethlehem, Pa.
Previous to the erection of Packer Hall,
the lecture rooms and students' quarters,
were located at " Christmas Hall," once the
Moravian Mission Chapel in South Bethle
hem, now included in the grounds ofthe Uni
versity. Charles Brodhead, Esq., of Bethle
hem, presented the University with seven
additional acres of ground, and Mr. Robert

H. Sayre erected at his own expense, an
Astronomical Observatory on the grounds of
the Institute, for the use of the students;
The course of study lasts for four years.
The first two years of the student are devoted
to such elementary branches as are needful
to fit a young man for any profession or
business in life he may afterwards see pro
per to follow. The last two years are given
to the study of any particular branch the
pupil may decide upon as the one necessary
to success in the business he intends to pur
sue during life. The approximate expenses
for tuition,* board, books, and washing, may
be set down as a maximum of $350 per year.
There are two competitive scholarships in
each class, which entitle the gainers to room
rent, board and tuition, free for the success
ful academic year. It is to be hoped that
the college may be endowed by men of
wealth with more such scholarships; the
rules of the Institute permit it, and the
scholarship will bear the name of the person
making the endowment. Partial courses
may also be taken by such as desire to study
only some particular branch taught in the
College, in which they desire to become pro
ficient. The faculty of the University consists at
present, ofHenry Coppee, President,
Professor of History and English Literature.
PROFESSORS.

EeV. ELLPHAIiET NOTT PoTTEB., M. A.,
Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy and of
Christian Evidences.
Chaeles F. Chakdleb, successor to
Charles Mayer Wetherill, Ph. D., M. D.,f
Professor of Chemistry.
Htero B. Hekr, in place of
* By a late further gift of Judge Packer, tuition is
given free of charge.
¦f Dr. Charles Mayer Wetherill, Ph. D., Professor of
Chemistry in the Lehigh University, died suddenly on
Sunday morning, March 5th, 1871, of disease of the
heart, at his residence, in South Bethlehem, Pa. He
was a son ofthe late Charles and Margaretta S. Weth
erill, of rbiladelpdia.

18G

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

Edwin Wright Morgan, LL.D., deceased*
Professor of Mathematics and Mechanics.
Alfred Marshall Mayer, Ph.D.,
Professor of Physics and Astronomy.
William Theodore Eoepper, Esq.,
Professor of Mineralogy and Geology, and Curator of
the Museum.
H. Stam/ey Goodwin, C. E.,
Demonstrator of Civil Engineering.
Benjamin W. Frazter, Professor, and
KlCHARD P. EOTHWELL, C. E.,
Demonstrator of Mining and Metallurgy.
Charles F. Kroeh, A. M.,
Instructor of French and German.
Mr. Waxdron Shapleigh,
Instructor in Chemistry.
J. N. Barr, S.B.,
Instructor of Mathematics and Drawing.
William A. Lamberton, A. M.,
Instructor of Greek and Latin.
Founder of the University,
Hon. Asa Packer.
Board of Trustees.
Right Rev. Wm. Bacon Stevens, D.D.,
Bishop of Pennsylvania, President.
Hon. Asa Packer, Maueh Chunk.
Charles Brodhead, Esq., Bethlehem.
W. F. Conyngham, Esq., Wilks-Barre.
Franklin B. Gowen, Esq., Philadelphia.
Mr. George W. Childs, "
II. Stanley Goodwin, Bethlehem.
Rev. Cortland Whitehead, "
Eckley B. Coxe, Philadelphia.
J. I. Blakslee, Mauch Chunk.
Chas. 0. Skeer, "
Rev. L. Coleman, "
Hon. I. W. Maynard, Easton.
Mr. Robert H. Sayre, South Bethlehem.
* On April 16, 1869.— Colonel Edwin Wright Morgan,
Professor of Mathematics and Mechanics at Lehigh
University, died at the Sun Hotel, Bethlehem. H)
entered the U. S. Military Academy at West Point in
1S33, and graduated third In his class in 1837. Served
as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eleventh Infantry U. S.
A. in the Mexican War, after which, he accepted the
Superintendency of the Kentucky Institute, which
riOBt he filled to the opening of the civil war. Colonel
Morgan, by his high attainments and skill, did much
to produce and give excellence to the public works
of Pennsylvania and Kentucky and other States.

Mr. Wm. H. Sayre, Jr., South Bethlehem.
Mr. Robert A. Packer, Secretary, "
G. B. Linderman, M.D., "
Mr. John Fritz, Bethlehem, Pa.
Mr. Harry E. Packer, Mauch Chunk.
Mr. Joseph Harrison, Jr., Philadelphia.
Mr. Elisha P. Wilbur, Treasurer.
Mr. Ed. Tuckerman Potter, Architect.
Capt. James Jenkins, Constructor.
Homo Minister et Interpres Natures.
The Lehigh University is now under the
auspices of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and the buildings are handsome and in good
taste,exceptthe wooden erection covered with
slate, forming a kind of a steeple on the
stone tower at the western end of " Packer
Hall." This should be torn away, and the
top of the stone tower, which is a model struc
ture ; should be embattled, like those of an
cient castles, from which on "High-days"
and holidays, our starry banner could be
given to the winds. Why a university should
have a steeple like a church, as was the
original intention, I am sure I don't know,
unless it is because there is a chapel con
nected with it. It was once the intention to
put a steeple on the Masonic Temple at
Philadelphia, as will be seen by the original
plan, fortunately a protest in the Sunday Dis
patch, prevented the Temple of our Honora
ble and Ancient Order, from being mis
taken for a church.
STUDENTS OP THE FIRST CLASS.
From the fourth page of the Programme
of the LuniGH Universitt.
First UNIVERSITY DAY, June 25, 1867.
Including those who have been in attendance
from Sep't 1, 1866 to Sep't 1, 1867.
Howland L. Ashmead, Philadelphia.
Lehman Preston Ashmead, Philadelphia.
Edward C. Boutello, Bethlehem, Pa.
Richard Brodhead, South Bethlehem.
William R. Butler, Mauch Chunk, Pa.
Richard J. Carter, Tamaqua, Pa.
J. Haynes H. Corbin, Barbadoes, If. 1.
George L. Cummins, Louisville, Kg.
Milton Dimmick, Mauch Chunk, Pj.
E. Albert Dobbins, New Turk City.
J.T. Reynolds Evans, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Frank E. Forster, Muncy, Pa.
Charles W. Forster, Mauch Chunk, Pa.

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

187

John Hunt, Catasauqua, Pa.
George A. Jenkins, South Bethlehem.
Henry 0. Jenkins, South Bethlehem.
*William H. Jenkins, Wyoming, Pa.
William J. Kerr, Jr., New Torlc City.
A. Nelson Lewis, Havre-de-Grace, Md.
Peter D. Ludwig, Tamaqua,Pa.
Lawrence B. McCabe, JSdvre-de-Grace.
Charles McKee, Princeton, 111.
George McMullin, Mauch Chunk, Pa.
Asa A. Packer, Nesquehoning, Pa,
Harry E. Packer, Mauch Chunk, Pa.
William L. Paine, Wilks-Barre, Pa*
Joseph M. Piollet, Wysox, Pa.
Harry R. Price, St. Clair, Pa.
Henry B. Reed, Philadelphia, Pa.
Richard H. Roberts, Bethlehem, Pa.
Charles W. Roepper, Bethlehem, Pa.
Wm. R, Donaldson, Philadelphia.
Jeremiah Ryan, South Bethlehem.
James K. Shoemaker, Mauch Chunk.
John M. Thome, Palmyra, Pa.
Josiah Wertz, Bethlehem, Pa.
Barnet West, Bethlehem, Pa.
Robert P. Weston, Mauch Chunk, Pa.
Charles Wetherill, Phoznixville, Pa.
William C. Wetherill, Bethlehem, Pa.
Clarence A. Wolle, Bethlehem, Pa.
Russel B. Tates, Waverly, JV. Y.
Miles Rock, Lancaster, Pa.
During the Summer of 1821, Joseph Bona
parte visited Bethlehem for the benefit of
his health, and put himself under the medi
cal care of the late Dr. Daniel Green, an
eccentric and noted physician of that day.
The-doctor and the pure mountain air effect
ed a speedy cure of the ills of the former king
of Spain, and he paid his physician what
was a handsome fee in those days, a golden
Joe.% The incident was thus recorded by Judge
Franks, under date of August 23, 1821.
King Joe, it is said, took it into head,
To Bethlehem air to repair, Sir ;
To exhibit his wealth, and to better his health,
Under Doctor Green's medical care, Sir.
Next morning at dawn, king Joe gave a yawn,
And expecting his aches— ope'd his eyes, Sir;
But noble Green's skill had cured every ill,
And the monarch rose up in surprise, Sir.
* Johannes— a Portugese gold coin of the value of
about ($S) eight dollars.

For the doctor he call'd— for the doctor he bawl'd,
To bo knighted at once on the spot, Sir ;
But the doctor was wise, and cast down' his eyes,
And the honor of knighthood declined, Sir.
Said, " a boon will I crave, with your majesty's
leave,
And a grant of it hope I will find, Sir;
In the course of my lift*, and that too without a wife,
I ne'er could save a poor shilling, Sir.
" Now, a great Joe I have saved, and the boon I crave,
Is a little Joe, if you are willing, Sir I
The king in amaze, at the doctor did gaze,
And soon cross'd his hand with the gold, Sir —
Then packed up his purses, wentoff with his horses
Leaving naught but the tale to be told, Sir.
Among the many illustrious travellers
who, about this time, visited Bethlehem,
may be mentioned the Duke of Weimer,
then a fine, handsome looking man, who
was entertained by Dr. Steckel, at the " Eagle
Hotel," and was serenaded by the "Old
Bethlehem Band." The Duke wrote his
travels in America, and mentions Bethle
hem, Leibert's Tannery, its steam engine,
and Dr. Steckel. A copy of this work, in
the German, was presented to the Bethlehem
Library Company, but I have been unable to
find it. I came across in the library, how
ever, an old and valuable History of London,
presented to the Library Company in 1S47,
by Dr. Thomas Horsfield, a former resident
ofthe town.
It was not until 1745 that the first public
roads in this part of the State were laid out ;
yet, even after that, for many years the for
mer mode of travel remained the same; in
fact, until 1782, all business was carried on
by expresses on horseback. A visit by any
ofthe people of Bethlehem to Philadelphia,
was an event of rare occurrence, and was
only undertaken once or twice a year, and
then only by those whose affairs rendered
such a trip absolutely necessary.
David Kitschman and his company, con
sisting of about one hundred persons, came
to Bethlehem in the year 1742, on foot, hav
ing pack-horses carrying all their worldly
goods ; along what was known in those days
as the Great Minnissink Trail, which had
been used for many centuries by the Min-

188

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

nissi tribs of Indians, (who lived in the re
gions beyond the Blue Mountains,; in their
journeys to the Delaware. This trail or path
crossed the Lehigh Eiver at " Jones' Island,'
about one mile east of Bethlehem ; and passed
through the Blue Bidge at the "Wind-gap,
into the wilderness to the north.
Jedidiah Irish built the mill at Shimers-
ville on Saueon Creek sometime prior to the
year 1740. It is the oldest mill in North
ampton County, of which we have any re
cord. In the year 1743, the Moravians of
Bethlehem petitioned the court of Bucks
County for permission to lay out a road from
their settlement to Saueon Mill. The mill
and land attached to it was not long after
wards purchased by John Curry, a Philadel
phia lawyer, who resided at the mill for
many years, and established a ferry over
the Lehigh River near by, which retained
the name of " Curry's Ferry," until the year
1S16, when Henry Jarret built the bridge
over the Lehigh at Freemansburg. Conrad
Omensetter was the Ferryman at Curry's
Ferry during the Revolutionary war.
The following interesting event is copied
from the New York Gazette and Post Boy, of
June 19, 1849.
" The beginning of this month three natives
of Greenland, two young men and a young wo
man, converted to the Christian religion by the
Moravian Missionaries in that country, were in
this city on a visit to the Brethren here. They
left their own country about two years since, in
the ship belonging to that Society, which had
carried a ready made framed church to be erected
there, Greenland offering no wood for building.
This vessel sailed from this port a few days ago
for Davis* Straits, with some of the Green-
landers on board, who have visited Brethren in
several parts of Europe, as England, Holland
and Germany. They were clad in seal skins,
with the hair on, after the manner of their own
country, their eyes and hair black, like our In
dians, but their complexion somewhat lighter.
The Moravians, it seems, have a Mission also at
Barbill, near Surinam, and two Indian converts
from thence, with these Greenlanders, metlately
at Bethlehem, in this province, (a settlement of

the Moravians,) with some of the Delaware In
dians, and some Mohickons, converts also of the
Moravians ; and though their native lands were
so vastly remote as the latitude 5.41 and 65
N. yet they observed that each others hair, eyes
and complexion, convinced them that they were
all of the same race. They could find, how
ever, no similitude in their several languages."
See the first number of the Unitas Fratrum,
Philadelphia, July, 1870.
On the first of July, 1792, the first Post-
office was established at Bethlehem, and
Joseph Horsfield appointed Postmaster, a
line of stages was then started to run between
the town and Philadelphia; the trip occu
pied then nearly two days, but the time was
afterwards reduced, (in the year 1798,) to one
day, by the mail stage. The stages continued
in use until the month of January, 1857,
when the North Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany commenced to run regular passenger
trains. An old writer discourses on this subject as
follows :
" In regard to travelling by private mem
bers of the Bethlehem Moravians, the rules
of the Society made it incumbent upon them
to have the consent and approval of the
clergy to leave the town for even h, day's
time; and the undertaking a journey to
Philadelphia or New York, was first taken
into serious consideration by the Overseer's
College, as well as by the clergy in general
conference assembled.
" Very few of the Moravians availed them
selves of the public stages in the early period
of their use. Their retired habits made it
very uncongenial to them to be in the com
pany of strangers ; and in fact the Moravians
of Bethlehem from 1742 to 1800, whilst they
lived in the world, were not of the world.
Therefore, a more congenial method was
adopted. There was a private stage in Bethle
hem, owned and conducted by one of the
Church members; this was hired by parties
for the purpose. It was customary whenever
any person had a business call from any
town, to defer the attending to it till others
had similar motives inducing them to take

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

183

a journey; in this wise, six or eight persons
associated themselves, and hired friend Adam
Luckenbach and his stage. To carry out
this intention, frequently required several
weeks' negotiations until the company was
formed. Before starting, several days more
were consumed to make the needful prepara
tions for the journey. All manner of cakes
and pies were baked, hams boiled, coffee
ground, <tc. The event created great interest
in the town ; and in the families of the men
of the party, a commotion was observable
that portended an unusual occurence. This
preparation was necessary. Our travelers
did not stop at any of the taverns along tho
road. The stage driver took with him a bag
of oats, which was safely stowed under the
scat of the stage, a. bucket for watering the
horses, swung under the body of the vehicle;
and a trough for feeding them, was tied on
behind. Thus provided, he fed his horses at
a spring or brook alongside the road ; whilst
the passengers regaled themselves out of the
store of provisions in their baskets. Upon
arriving at n, tavern or a farm-house, in the
evening, they asked the use of a coffee or u
tea-pot, the exhilarating beverage being pre
pared by them ; each recurred to his or her
basket, and appeased their appetites out of it.
This manner of travelling was consonant to
the feelings of the Moravians."
The Moravians were always careful in for
mer times, to locate their taverns at some
distance from their settlements, to keep their
people free from contract with the world;
and to avoid as much as possible the prying
curiosity of travellers. At Bethlehem, the
first inn, " The Crown," was erected on the
south bank of the Lehigh. And at Nazareth
the first tavern was built at the distance of
a mile from the town.
In the Northampton Conservative, of Feb
ruary 16, 1870, a weekly newspaper publish
ed by Milton F. Cushing, in South Bethle
hem, which at that date had reached its
seventy-third number, we find the following
interesting account ofthe "Crown Inn."
"In 1743, one hundred and twenty-seven
years ago, the first tavern was built near the

river, where now stands the fine Union depot.
We will picture the place as it then stood, in all
its rural simplicity. Toiling over rough roads
for many Cays, indeed, a three days' journey
from Philadelphia, the eye was gladdened on
coming down the mountain, and following a
small silvery brook, shaded by overhanging
forest trees, and on taking a short turn to the
west, this old hostelry came in view, an old
log house, two stories high, with those small
windows so common in that day, tho low porch
with carved pillars, the peaked roof, the well
sweep, and many different objects that met your
eye on approaching this old retreat, gave a
charm to the landscape around. Down by the
river stood a large sycamore tree, and upon a
hook driven in the tree, hung the horn to sum
mon the ferryman, if you desired to visit the
Moravians on the other side. In those days of
loyalty to the house of Brunswick, it bore the
crown of George II, on the panel of the double
door of the main entrance to this humble
hostelry. On the conclusion of his lonely for
est journey, the traveller could enjoy the frugal
hospitalities of the house, at the following
rates :
Breakfast, with tea or coffee, 4 pence ; din
ner 6 pence, and with a pint of beer, 8 pence ;
supper 4 pence, or if hot, 6 pence ; lodging 2
pence; night's hay and oats, 12 pence. In the
long, low reception room, at the farther end of
which was the bar, wich its few decanters and
glasses, among the rest of bar room furniture
found about the bar in those days, were pow
der horns, bullet-pouches, guns, deer horns,
<&c. In a little 6 by 9 frame, hung tho License,
which was granted in 1746, in the 33rd year of
the reign of the Sovereign Lord, George the
Second, by the Grace of God, king of Great
Britain, France, Ireland, &e., to the Moravian
congregation of Bethlehem.
It was at this house George Washington
stopped over night with his staff on a visit to
Gen. LaFayette, who lay wounded in Bethle
hem. We have still in our possession the old front
door of this house, and tie door of the room in
which Washington slept. The different land
lords, who acted both as landlord and ferryman

190

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

at different times, were Ephraim Culver, in
1763 — Valentine Feuhrer, in 1782 ; and in 1794
the tavern was converted into a farm house —
the old Sun Hotel being built at that time.
Several years ago the house was bought by
our townsman, D. J. Yerkes, who removed
it to make room for the North Penn. Railroad,
but the old structure still remains as the Conti
nental Hotel of this place."
In the 1st volume of the " Memorials of
the Moravian Church," beginning at page
262, will be found the following interesting
statement relative to the old Inn.
"The Crown (Die Krone,) originally the
cabin of a Swiss squatter,Ruetsehiby name,
who settled on the south bank of the river,
in 1742. In February, 1743, the tract of 274
acres on which he was seated, was purchased
by the Brethren of Wm. Allen. They bought
the squatter off and out, leased the premises
to one Anton Gilbert, from Germantown,
then to one Adam Schaues, and in 1745, after
having enlarged the building, opened it
for public entertainment. It was stocked
in May of that year with gill and half-
gill pewter wine measures, with 2 dram
glasses; 2 hogsheads of cider; 1 cask of
inetheglin ; 1 cask of rum ; 6 pewter plates ;
iron candlesticks, and whatever else could
minister to the creature comforts of thetired
traveller. Here he was served with a break
fast of tea or coffee at four pence, a dinner
at six pence, a pint of beer at three pence, a
supper at four pence, or if hot, at six pence ;
with lodgings at two pence, and a night's
hay and oats for his horse at twelve pence.
Jost Vollert was the first landlord for the
Brethren. The sueeession of publicans to
the end of this piece of history were as fol
lows : — Hartmann Verdries, J. Godfrey
Grabs, Nicholas Schaeffer and Ephriam
Culver. In 1794, the sign-board, emblazoned
"with the British Crown, that had often served
as a mark for the arrows of the wild Indian
boys of Tredyuscung's Company, was taken
down, and the old hostelry converted into a
farm house. * % * * * s
At an early day the Brethren built several
houses near the Grown, and thus a small

settlement sprang up on the south side of
the river. A school for girls, and subse
quently one for boys, Auf der Geduld, was
temporarily conducted here."
When the Moravians first settled at Beth
lehem, Loskiel states that there was but two
houses in the vicinity inhabited by white
people. It is said that the two families re
ferred too, were the Kieslsteins, and the Lee's.
The former lived at the foot of the Lehigh
mountains, south of Bethlehem, not far from
the present Zinc Works. Some of the family
were buried at the foot of the mountain on
the north side, and the graves covered by a
large heap of stones, on the place now called
the Trone property. The Lee's lived on the
top of the mountain, south of Bethlehem,
their former residence is called Dillard's
place. Mrs. George Keisling and Mrs. Levi
Fenner, of Bethlehem, are both descendents
of the Lee family.
It is said that a. family named Jennings,
owned and lived upon the property now
known as Geissinger's, above Bethlehem, at
the time of the first settlement of the place,
and may be one of the families referred to.
See Lewis H. Weiss' Annals of the Music of
Bethlehem, and a note by Rufus A Grider,
in his History of Music in Bethlehem.
South Bethlehem has two weekly news
papers. The Weekly Progress made its first
appearance during the week ending March
19, 1870, it was edited by Daniel E. Shoedler,
and published by 0. B. Sigley & Co., it
became a daily in April, 1871. The other
paper is called " The South Bethlehem Con
servative, and its first number was issued
sometime in 1870.
The difference between the mode of travel
in the last century and the present, is ad
mirably illustrated by an old advertisement,
which hangs framed in the office of the Eagle
Hotel, at Bethlehem, cut from the pages of
the Philadelphia Advertiser, of April 5th,
1798, with the insertion of which a labor of
love is ended.
" Philadelphia, Allentown, Bethlehem
and Windgap Stages.
" The subscribers respectfully inform the

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

191

public that they will start a line of stages
to set out at the Wind Gap at Mr. Jacob Hel
ler's, on Saturday, the 18th of April, 1798, at
one o'clock in the afternoon, and arrive at
Bethlehem said evening. Another stage will
start from Bethlehem at five o'clock next
morning, at which time an extra stage will
start from Allentown, from the house of Mr.
Jacob Hageback, and fall in with the line at
Mr. D. Cooper's; then proceeding to Mr.
Samuel Seller's, where another stage will
set out immediately, and arrive at Mr. Ely
Chandler's, Franklin Head, Philadelphia,
same evening. Set out from E. Chandler's
(Franklin Head), Philadelphia, on Wednes
day morning at five o'clock, and proceed
the same route back, and arrive at Allen
town and Bethlehem same evening. Anoth
er stage will leave J. Heller's at one o'clock
said day, and likewise arrive at Bethlehem
same evening ; set out from Bethlehem
Thursday morning at five o'clock, and both
stages take their respective routes, and ar
rive at Philadelphia same evening, and at
Mr. Heller's at nine o'clock the same morn
ing; set out from Mr. Chandler's on Satur
day morning at five o'clock, and arrive at
Allentown and Bethlehem said evening, and
so alternately twice a week from the Wind-
gap to Philadelphia.
"The fare f.r passengers from Mr. Hel

ler's (Windgap) to Bethlehem, for each pas
senger, seventy cents ; from Bethlehem or
Allentown to Philadelphia, three dollars.
Way passengers, six cents per mile, fourteen
pounds of baggage allowed each passenger,
150 cwt. the same as a passenger, and the
same for returning.
" Parcels taken in at the Stage Office at
' Mr. Chandler's, Philadelphia, at Mr. Laver-
ings, Bethlehem, at Mr. Hageback's, Allen
town, and at Mr. Heller's, Windgap. The
smallest parcel twelve cents; two cents per
pound that exceeds fourteen pounds, for
which the subscribers will vouch for their
delivery at their respective places, if proper
ly directed.
'* The subscribers, from the liberal encour
agement received from the public last sea
son, and now by providing several sets of
the best horses and commodious stages, so
ber and careful drivers, they flatter them
selves that the public will continue to give
them the preference, as the line will run
through from Bethlehem to Philadelphia in
one day. George Weaver,
Samuel Sellers,
Philip Sellers,
Enoch Roberts,
Jacob Hellers.
April 5th, 1798.

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