Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-10-24
zdmrastcr fntelLgenrer.
The MOravian Church.

lhe Independent tHlnkS LnaC Lne MO-
ravian church in this country suffers
from the illiberal control of the Unity
Elders Conference, which sits in Ger
many as the head of the church, as well
as from like unwisdOm in the government
of the Provincial Elders Conference,
which is the supreme authority here.
This is natural opinion for a journal of
the Independents view on church gov
ernment, and there may be substance in
it. Perhaps the Moravian church would
grow more luxuriantly if its individual
churches were less restrained and if the
only aim of a church is growth, it must
be admitted that the Moravian has been
failure. The oldest of Protestant
churches is one of the smallest. The
Methodist, an infant Offshoot from it.
has covered the land, while the
parent tree stands only in scattered
places. But it must be remem-
bered that the Moravian idea has
not been to proselytc where other
churches are proselyting, but to 60 off
into the by-places of the world to pick
up the sheep that have 10 shepherd. 1t
has been a missionary church and its
idea still is that its disciples must te
ready, if their hearts are fit for the
charge they have assumed, to go where
it seems meet they shall be sent. OF late
years it has seemed to the m ore progress
i've men of the church that il cannot
stand still without danger of atrophy in
the race among the churches. It does
not suit the keen American spirit not to
seek to increase and multiply. The Ger
man spirit is slower and less progressive.
but the German control of the American
Aud the brethren here have been be-
stirring themselves of late with effect.
One of their churches in Philadelphia
has just betaken itself to the Reformed
Episcopal denomination, but it affords
no Specification of decay in the Moravian
church, since its pastor was its builder,
having married a rich wife who enabled
him to enjoy the luxury OF a church all
his own, and the further one of being
his own master. There is NO doubt that
he has freer scope to follow his own de-
vices in the Reformed Episcopal church
than in the Moravian, into which we
believe moreover that he was not born.
but came into it 10y the adoption of a
pious Moravian lady, who educated him
for the ministry. The other clergyman,
whose detection the Indcp,n.lcM cites as
a sign of Moravian decadence, is of an
old Moravian family, but he went into
the ministry without the missionary
spirit which it demands. and when he
was ordered out into the wilderness to
do his work rs pastor, lie could not see
that it was his duty to do anything so
disagreeable. These mer left the Mo-
ravian church because they lacked the
humility and subordination required
of its workers. They had too much
money to have enough grace, and
their going illustrates nothing but the
fact that it is easier for a camel to get
through very small hole than for {,
rich man to be content in IN humble pul.
pit and that therefore Count Zinzen
doris are scarce even among Moravians.
The Independent has no fair ground for
the apprehension that this small falling
away is a sign Of 4 general exodus. The
Moravian church is in remarkably
vigorous condition and promises to grow
and prosper.