Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-04-11
SKETCH OF THE MORAV|Ay,
Activity In New sweden or N; W

lsylvania, and their later annals. That at
Bethlehem, and some other places in North
ampton and Lehigh counties are widely
known, and their impress upon the COM
munity continues to the present day, as
well as the existence of fourishing churches
and schools of higher learning Not SO
many are aware Of similar early activity by
Moravian missionaries and their followers,
in New Jersey during much Of the 18th
century. These activities were confined
mostly to South Jersey, especially in the
counties Of Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem
and others.
/ The first effort Of the Morayian leaders
was rot so much to establish Moravian
Churches in America, as to form religious
union Of all German Colonists into one
religious body, embracing even such diver
gent scots as the Mennonltes, the Dunkers,
the Reformed and the Lutherans- This
project, however, well meant, did not
succeed.
To this day these scots remain different
religious bodies with various secession and
divisions added. Count Zinzendorf arriv-
ed in Philadelphia during the winter OF
4 December 174l. Into the project Of unity
The exiled Saxon noblewan cast himself,
with the ardor of an enthusiastic nature.
He preached in the Reformed Church 10
Philadelphia; at Falkner Swamp Mont
gomery county; at Obey, Berks county, and
in Germantown during the winter and
spring OF 1742. He addressed open letters
to adherents of various creeds and shades
of opinion, urging union. He was called
as pastor Of the Lutherns in Philadelphia,
which he accepted.
! In accordance with his utterly unsecta-
rian spirit, he agress to serve without pay
after formally renonncing his rank and
title in the house of the Governor and in
the presence Of leading officials Of the Col
ony. He built house of worship on Race
street at his own expense. In June, 1742,
company of IS Morayians arrived. They
were known as sea congregation, because
they were formerly organized, whilst CROSS
ing the ocean.
Paul Daniel Bryzelius was the pioneer
APOSTLE of the MoraYian activity in New
| Jersey He came with this first sea con-
gregation in 1742. He was born in 1918 in
Sweden and had studied in the great uni
versity of Upsala- Becoming Morayian
and known to Zinzindorf, the latter had
ordained him as presbyter at Frankford,
and he was Commissioned for special servi-
ces among his fellow countrymen in New
jersey.
The history of the attempt to found a
colony under the Swedish government is
we'll known. This was started in 1888 by
John Printz. The Dutch of New Amster-
dam were, however, coyetous and jealous of
this colony by another nationality south
ward of theD,. They interferred in 1866,
and took possession. By 1864 both the
Dutch and Swedes came under the govern
ment of tbe English through the yicissi-
tudes of war.
! In 1743 Bryseiius came to supply the
spiritual necessities Of the Morayians estab-
| lished along the Maurice River. at Raecoon
and Penns Neck, and was sheltered in the
house of John Kyn, where he preached his
first sermon January 26th. He spoke also
to the Germans in Lutheran Churches, near
Cohansey Creek-now Bridgeton- Leon
ard Schnell was summoned to assist him.
Bryzelius received and accepted call to
the church at Wicacco, having 80 members.
,aad moved thither with his family. This
Parish was on Bear Creek. serious
schism, for time, disturbed the labors
Of Br5zelius. On the 23rd Of December.
I743, excitement ran high in the commu-
nifty. Two months before this, Magister
Naesman had come from Sweden to Amer
lea as pastor Of the Swedish Church in
Philadelphia, though he had not yet sue
ceeded in calling Parish meeting. Now
this dignatary effected forcible entrance
into she church at Raccoon on the day be-
fore Christmas, and there and then fuImi-s
mated his denunciations against Bryzelius.
The majority Of the community, however,
upheld the man whom they regarded as
having been lawfully called and settled
over them as pastor. The next move Of
Naesman was to employ fifteen stalwart
clubmen, some Of whom are gravely credit
ed with a true Celtic penchant for the logic
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