LEARN NC

Nov. 23rd.

Br. Gottlob held morning prayer, taking as his subject the sufferings and death of Jesus.

Then all went to work. Gottlob, Nathanael, and Grube helped burn brush. In the afternoon the Brethren returned with the wagon, bringing meal, corn, pumpkins and turnips. Today was very warm. In the evening we had to lie down early because the room was full of smoke.

Nov. 24th.

Br. Grube held morning prayer.

The Brethren were busy clearing land; Lischer and Merkli were not well. Two men came looking for strayed horses, one of them was Doctor Barker, who last year lived on our land but has now moved to the Etkin.

In the evening we read from the diary of the Single Brethren’s Synod, held at London; then closed the day with evening prayer, and went peacefully to sleep.

Nov. 25th. Sunday.

We prayed the Congregation Litany, and at noon had the liturgy “Ave Agnus Dei.” The rest of the time we spent quietly and pleasantly with one another. Nathanael and Gottlob baked bread in the pan-baker. Evening we continued reading the Synod diary; Br. Gottlob held evening prayer.

Nov. 26th.

Photograph of an early spring garden at Bethabara Park.

Early spring garden at Historic Bethabara Park. Image source. About the photograph

We rose feeling well and happy. Br. Nathanael held morning prayer; then Gottlob, Nathanael and Grube went out to look over our land, and made a circuit of some five miles, finding plenty of good, fertile ground, and especially large meadows where fine pastures can be made.

After dinner we had our liturgy as usual. In the afternoon we selected a place for our garden. Mr. Altem and his neighbor came to visit us, and remained over night.

In the evening we had an English song-service, and Br. Grube read one of the Berlin sermons. Our sleeping quarters were very much crowded, as we had guests.

Nov. 27th.

Br. Gottlob held morning prayers. Br. Kalberlahn bled Mr. Altem’s friend and gave him some medicine, for which he promised to pay two bushels of corn.

After breakfast Gottlob, Nathanael, and Jacob Loesch, with Mr. Altem, went to the Black Walnut Bottom, to look over that section. They returned in the afternoon, well pleased with their survey; had found a good place for a mill, about four miles from here, counting straight through the forest.

We spent the evening quietly; Br. Nathanael held singstunde and evening prayers.

Nov. 28th.

Br. Nathanael held morning prayers. After breakfast our Brethren Gottlob, Nathanael, and Jacob Loesch set out toward the south-west, in the direction of the Yadkin, to see our land on Muddy Creek. Br. Grube accompanied them several miles through the forest, returning in the afternoon. The Brethren at home were busy clearing land; Feldhausen finished making the first plough.

In the evening Br. Grube held the singstunde, and then we went peacefully to rest.

Nov. 29th.

After morning prayers Br. Lischer began to plough, and it went better than we had expected. In the afternoon Haberland and Merkli finished the bake-oven. We were disappointed that our Brethren failed to return from the forest. Br. Grube held singstunde and evening prayers.

Comments

Br. Gottlob held morning prayer, taking as his subject the sufferings and death of Jesus

The Friday services usually touched on the sufferings and death of the Savior.

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Berlin sermons

The “Berliner Reden” were sermons preached in Berlin by Count Zinzendorf. They had been translated into English. We note the courtesy of the Brethren in holding their service in English for the pleasure of their English-speaking guests.

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Black Walnut Bottom

Near present site of Bethania.

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