of the Great Shepherd, again made their appearance. The there began a fettlement. trustees, under whom the fettleAbout the year 1712, the Pa- ment of that colony commenced, pifts commenced a new perfecution promised them, agreeably to the against them; their goods were provifion made, by act of parliafeized by the Jefuits, and they ment, exemption from all perfonal were imprisoned, and tortured with fervices in war. But on the Spangreat violence and inhumanity. In ifh invafion of that colony the inthis diftreffed fituation, they fought habitants obliged them to take up an afylum, where they might en- arms. This was fuch a grievance, joy reft and liberty of confcience. that they left their fettlement and Count Zinzendorf, in upper Lu- poffeffions in Savannah, and in the fatia, gave them countenance, and fpring of the year 1741, began to leaving their houses and farms, they build Bethlehem in the forks of repaired with the small remains of Delaware, in Northampton countheir property, which had been ty, about fifty miles north of Phikept from the hands of the Jefu- ladelphia. This is their principal its, to him; and fettling on his ef- fettlement in the United States. tate, built Hernhuth, now a place In the year 1793, they had twenof confiderable fame, in the Sax-ty-five fettlements and churches on dominions. But even here, within the limits of the United their reft was but of fhort contin- States. Their whole number at uance. The imperial court, dif- that time within faid limits was pleased with the emigration of the computed at 4,700.† Each of Moravians, made complaint to the king of Poland, then elector of In 1740, the Brethren purchased Saxony, and Count Zinzendorf 500 acres, in Pennsylvania, for a settlement at Bethlehem. Since that was banished the Saxon dominions, time feveral other confiderable puron account of the protection which chafes have been made. This is fituahe had given to thefe oppreffed ted on the river Lehigh, the western Proteftants. Exiled from Saxo- branch of the Delaware, in lat. 40o, ny, he fought for places in other 37. It is built partly on a high rifing kingdoms, where the Moravians ground, and partly on the banks of a fine creek, called the Manakes. This and Bohemians might find an afy-affords trout and other fish. The fitlum. Upon this new difperfion, numbers of the United Brethren emigrated to the British dominions and were admitted to certain exemptions and privileges by act of parliament. Particularly an act was paffed for their encouragement to fettle in the North-Amer1.olonies. This granted them an exempt from oaths and from In uation is healthy and pleasant. In 1741, they purchased the Barony of Nazareth, 5,000 acres, of the Rev. George Whitefield. This is in Penrfylvania, and the fettlement began the next year after the purchase. In 1749, they made a purchase of 100,000 acres of Lord Granville, in his district, in North-Carolina. This is fituated between Dan and Yadkin rivers, about 10 miles fouth of Pilot mountain, in the county of Surry. It is called Wachovia, after an eftate of Count perfonal fervices in war. Their affirmation is taken inftead of an oath. Their first arrival in North-A-Zinzendorf in Auftria. They have merica, was in 1735. A colony commenced 1753, called Bethabara fix fettlements on this tract. The first came to Savannah in Geogia, and the fecond, Bethany 1759; the third the congregations, tho' fmall, has a particular minister. With refpect to doctrine, they fay, "We agree with the doc• trinal articles of the Lutheran church, as they are laid down in the Augfburg confeffion, which the brethren have adopted every • where, being perfuaded that they ⚫ are conformable to the holy fcrip• tures. The xxxix articles of the English Epifcopal church harmonize with it. We differ ⚫ with all doctrine that is against the holy fcripture, in regard to the fall of man, of redemption by Jefus Christ, of the operation of the Holy Spirit, and fuch as tends to deny the Godhead of Jefus Chrift. We differ with them who preach reprobation, or predeftination for damnation. We preach Chrift as the atonement, propitiation for our fins, and the fins of the whole world, and that Chrift is willing and able to fave all; but we also infift on the words, Whofoever ⚫ does not believe fhall be damned. The Brethren never taught perfection on this fide of the grave. The doctrine of Jefus and his apoftles, as plainly expreffed, in the holy fcriptures is 'the only ground of the faith of the brethren, the only rule of their faith and their life." Baptifm is administered to children, in a public meeting, as foon as poffible after their birth. After a fhort difcourfe, the child to be baptized is prefented before the communion table, and the minifter makes a prayer in its behalf. The water, in baptifin, is poured on its naked breaft. There are commonly three, and in fome places five perfons, who are witneffes of the baptifm, and who with the minifter, after the adminiftration of it, lay their hands upon the child and bless it. The holy communion is celebrated in all the churches of the brethren once every month. Those who adminifter it are clothed in white raiment. After the confe cration, the communicants receive the bread ftanding; a piece is broken in two, and given to two brethren, and fo fucceffively until all have in like manner received their portion. None cats of the bread until all have received it, that they all may eat together at the fame inftant When the diftribution is finished, the communicants inftant Salem 1766. These are the principal fettlements, on this tract. Salem is about the center of it, and is the chiefly proftrate themselves and eat upon fettlement. In 1769, the brethren purchafed 1000 acres for a fettlement in Weft-Jersey. This is called Hope, and the fettlement began immediately after the purchase. In Lancafter county they purchafed 500 acres the preceding year. This is called Litiz; its fituation is in the township of Warwick 8 miles from Lancaster, and about 70 weft of Philadelphia. These are the fettlements of the brethren in the United States-Their whole number at this time may amount to five or fix thoufands. A great proportion of them are mechanics. They are an induftrious, peaceable, inoffenfive people; and by their arts are beneficial to their neighbours. their knees, the minifter repeating the words of the inftitution, Take, eat, this is my body, &c. During the whole tranfaction, fuitable verfes of pfalms or hymns are fung. Much in the fame manner the cup is received, and all the communicants drink of it. The whole is concluded with the kifs of peace, or charity. But as the males and females are kept entirely in diftin&t places, there are no promifcuous falutations between brethren and fifters. The holy fupper is ad. ministered on Saturday evening; and on the fucceeding fabbath there | is, what the Brethren call a poft communion, when thofe who had not an opportunity, on the preceding evening, are allowed to participate. rection, and an eternal fellowship with all thofe who have died in the Lord, is called to mind. With refpect to their general mode of worship it is Lutheran, and differs not effentially from that of the Epifcopalians. It is not however abfolutely fixed, and entirely the fame in every place. They fay, "In the mode of worfhip is no fixed rule. And it is to be obferved in general, touch The Brethren have a preparatory meeting before the adminiftration of the Lord's fupper, as is ufual in most of the New-England churches. They also keep Agape, or the love feaft, before the communion. In this the congregationing the rights and ufages in the is entertained with the finging of fpiritual fongs; and each perfon receives a fmall loaf or cake and a cup of tea or coffee. They have alfo the ceremony of the Pedelavium, or feet wafhing, in conformtyi, as they imagine, to the command of Chrift, John xiii. 14. Ye alfo ought to wash ene anothers feet. This is now but rarely practifed, except on paffion weck. It is performed by each fex among themselves, in different apartments or at different times. During the ceremony, hymns are fung, reprefenting cleaning by the blood of Jefus. They ufe the Lot, in doubtful cafes, as a religious rite, but if any are diffatisfied, and unwilling to fubmit to it, they do not oblige them. congregations of the rethren, that they do not remain, in all places and at all times the fame,' without any alteration. The 'brethren have reserved to themfelves the liberty to alter and to amend, which the ancient brethren in Bohemia and Moravia 'made ufe of when they regulated their church difcipline, agreeable to the canon. The difference in ceremonies does not "break the unity of the church.” Each congregation, in towns and villages, fettled by the United Brethren, is governed by a conference of elders, who have a watch over the whole congregation, with refpect to the doctrine, walk and converfation of its members. They appoint the times and order of their meetings for divine worship. These they fay, "Are intended for the daily and neceffary nourifhment of the inward man, by the gofpel, and the closer appli'cation thereof to the heart " They have meetings for worship every day. Thefe are partly doctrinal meetings into which all, not only their own denomination, but even strangers, are admitted; part There is another ufage, which feemspeculiar to themfelves. They affemble on Eafter Sunday, in the church, at the rifing of the fun, when the minifter addreffes the congregation in thefe words, The Lord is rifen. To which all the brethren reply, The Lord is rifen indeed. Then the brethren go in proceffion to the grave yard, with inftruments of mufic, and the fif-ly fpecial meetings of the comters follow them, and all place municants, or of the choirs, of themselves about the graves. The the married people, the fingle minifter then reads what is called brethren, the widows, fingle fifthe confeffion or Eafter liturgy, inters, and of children. The fabwhich the hope of a joyful refur. bath is wholly devoted to spiritual edification. On this folemn day, the public worship commences with the church litany, which the minif ter prays over, and is accompanied with the whole congregation by refponfes. For example, when the minifter prays, Lord God, our father which art in heaven, the whole congregation adds, Hallowed be thy name, according to the mode of the Epifcopalian churches. In Bethlehem, their principal fettlement, to the litany, or morning prayer, fucceeds the children's meeting, to which alfo adults may have admiffion. After finging, a short discourse is delivered on the doctrinal text for the day. Then follows public preaching to the whole congregation. If the difcourfe to the children has been in English, then the more public preaching is in German, and fo vice verfa. After the preaching a hymn is fung and a fhort prayer made, and the public worship is clofed by a speech on the gofpel of the day and the church bleffing. Thefe are the exercises of the forenoon. In the afternoon is lecture, or liturgy meeting, in which an hymn is fung to the Father, Son and Holy Ghoft. In the evening is another meeting, which is termed the congregation meeting. In this the daily texts are more largely and particularly treated of, and the great grace which God manifefts to a congregation of Jefus Chrift, and to all its members is reprefented, and how they should walk before him according to their heavenly calling, until his appearing. Their finging is melodious and animating. Their hymns are fung alternately, by the brethren and fifters. Some lines are fung by one and fome by the other, others are fung by them conjointly. Sometimes a line or feveral lines are fung by the minifter only, or by a choir of fingers. By this means their mufic is diverfified, engages the attention, and is rendered more agreeable. With refpect to difcipline, they reprefent, that from the beginning of their union, to the prefent time, it has been their fole aim and earneft endeavor to restore the true original Christianity, in doctrine and practice; and that all evil might be prevented in the congregation, and that every thing which might give rife to fin, fhould, as far as poffible be removed from the church. With this view, uncommon attention is paid to the instruction and good government of their children and young people. Parents are not only abundantly enjoined and exhorted to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, but where it is neceffary they are particularly inftructed how to do it, and are affifted in it. Schools are appointed for boys and girls refpectively under the infpection of the minister and elders of the congregation, in which they are inftructed, in the rudiments of human knowledge, by teachers of their own fex. Befides the inftruction of the schools, that the children and youth may, in their tender years obtain just impressions of the corruption of human nature, and of the recovery by Jefus Chrift, they are inftructed by the minifter of the congregation, in the rudiments of Chriftianity, and examined with refpect to the knowledge which they have obtained. Befides thefe ufual schools there are particular Economies, as they are called, for the education of the children of fuch parents, as by means of their occupations and peculiar circumftances, cannot fufficiently inftruct their children and fervants; in which the name of freethinking, yea, every thing which can prove a 'hurt to fouls, or a lofs of the glory in Chrift, are tranfgref fions which fall under church 'discipline." If perfons who have given offence, can by ferious every thing neceffary for their out- The young people are not only thus inftructed and watched over from their childhood until manhood, but their marriages are all regulated by the minister and congregation, their confent as well as that of parents is always neceffary. None may marry until the brethren have fully examined the difpofitions of the perfons, their circumstances and relations, and have determined that it may be for their comfort and benefit, and the welfare of the congregation. All marriages are publicly celebrated, and the young pair are recommended to the divine care and benediction by the united prayers of the whole congregation. Further, fo much ftrefs is laid upon the difcipline and regular walk of all the members of the congregation, and upon knowing the real state and conduct of every individual, that befide the watch and care of the minifter, particular perfons are chofen from among both fexes, to vifit and watch over the people, to obferve their morals, attend the fick and infirm, to prevent and heal divifions, to pro [To be continued.] to be MESS'RS. EDITORS OF THE CON. mote harmony, piety and good to you the following fummary of walk, feducing to the works of • the flesh, or to what is called by a converfation, between a certain Clergyman, and one of his Parishioners. I am yours, &c. Parifioner. S G. IR, I really fear that yon difo |