BRETHREN-L Archives

Archiver > BRETHREN > 2007-11 > 1196085489


From: "William Thomas" <>
Subject: Re: [BRE] United Brethren
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:58:09 -0500
In-Reply-To: <474AB09E.7010103@rtkonline.com>


The Moravian movement had its origins with the Hussite's, a group of
reformers from Boehemia that pre-dated Martin Luther by about a century.
The Hussite's were nearly wiped out of existence during the 30-Years War.
Durnbaugh's book 'The Brethren in Colonial America' has a chapter on the
relationship (more like a feud) between the Church of the Brethren (German
Baptist) and Moravians. Two COB leaders who became Moravians were Andrew
Frey and Joseph Muller. I recall that the Moravians founded the towns of
Bethlehem and Nazareth in eastern PA.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist denomination, had his famous
Altersgate experience while meeting with a group of Moravians in London.
The Moravians influenced Wesley, but his overall theology was primarily
Anglican (at his death he was still an Anglican minister).

Bill Thomas

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
On Behalf Of Merle C Rummel
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 6:40 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [BRE] United Brethren

The Moravians (Unitas Fratrum - Latin for "United Brethren") were the
other church with the Church of the Brethren/German Baptist Brethren to
come from the Pietist Movement (the Methodists resulted from the
Moravians). The Pietists called each other "Brethren" - as Brothers and
Sisters in Faith.

Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf, leader of the Moravians, came to the
Americas (1741), to unite the German Pietist Brethren. George Adam
Martin was sent to the synod, and returned, advising that we refuse.
The refusal of the Baptist Brethren (our first Annual Meeting -1742) led
to the collapse of the attempt at unification, and brought a stinging
rebuke from Count Zinzendorf.

Merle C Rummel

> You are correct.....However, the Moravians were not associated with the
> Church of the Brethren either, and in fact were a rival denomination.
>
>
> I think that the land grant for the "Society of United Brethren" was
> actually for the Moravians ("Unitas Fratrum"),


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