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delighting； The love of Jesus and His NameGod's children all uniting！
That love our theme and watchword still；That law of love may we fulfill；
And love as we are loved。〃 （Montgomery。）
At this time there was no thought of separating from the State Church
and establishing a distinct denomination； and Zinzendorf believed that the
Unitas Fratrum could exist as a ‘society' working in； and in harmony with；
the State Church of whatever nation it might enter。 This idea； borrowed
probably from Spener's 〃ecclesiolae in ecclesia〃； clung to him； even after
circumstances had forced the Unity to declare its independence and the
validity of the ordination of its ministry； and many otherwise inexplicable
things in the later policy of the Church may be traced to its influence。
Halle Opposition。
In 1734 Zinzendorf took orders in the Lutheran Church； but this； and
all that preceded it； seemed to augment rather than quiet the antagonism
which the development of Herrnhut aroused in certain quarters。 This
opposition was not universal。The Moravians had many warm friends and
advocates at the Saxon Court； at the Universities of Jena and Tuebingen；
and elsewhere； but they also had active enemies who drew their inspiration
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The Moravians in Georgia
principally from the University of Halle。
The opposition of Halle seems to have been largely prompted by
jealousy。 In 1666 a revolt against the prevailing cold formalism of the
Lutheran Church was begun by Philip Jacob Spener； a minister of that
Church； who strongly urged the need for real personal piety on the part of
each individual。His ideas were warmly received by some； and disliked by
others； who stigmatized Spener and his disciples as 〃Pietists〃； but the
doctrine spread； and in the course of time the University of Halle became
its centre。Among those who were greatly attracted by the movement were
Count Zinzendorf's parents and grandparents； and when he was born； May
26th； 1700； Spener was selected as his sponsor。
Being of a warm…hearted； devout nature； young Zinzendorf yielded
readily to the influence of his pious grandmother； to whose care he was
left after his father's death and his mother's second marriage； and by her
wish he entered the Paedagogium at Halle in 1710； remaining there six
years。Then his uncle； fearing that he would become a religious enthusiast；
sent him to the University of Wittenberg； with strict orders to apply
himself to the study of law。Here he learned to recognize the good side of
the Wittenberg divines； who were decried by Halle； and tried to bring the
two Universities to a better understanding； but without result。
In 1719 he was sent on an extensive foreign tour； according to custom；
and in the picture gallery of Duesseldorf saw an Ecce Homo with its
inscription 〃This have I done for thee； what hast thou done for me？〃 which
settled him forever in his determination to devote his whole life to the
service of Christ。
Rather against his wishes； Count Zinzendorf then took office under the
Saxon Government； but about the same time he bought from his
grandmother the estate of Berthelsdorf； desiring to establish a centre of
piety； resembling Halle。The coming of the Moravian and other refugees
and their settlement at Herrnhut； near Berthelsdorf； was to him at first only
an incident； but as their industry and the preaching of Pastor Rothe； whom
he had put in charge of the Berthelsdorf Lutheran Church； began to attract
attention； he went to Halle； expecting sympathy from his friends
there。Instead he met with rebuke and disapproval； the leaders resenting the
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The Moravians in Georgia
fact that he had not placed the work directly under their control； and
apparently realizing； as he did not； that the movement would probably lead
to the establishment of a separate church。
In spite of their disapprobation； the work at Herrnhut prospered； and
the more it increased the fiercer their resentment grew。That they； who had
gained their name from their advocacy of the need for personal piety；
should have been foremost in opposing a man whose piety was his
strongest characteristic； and a people who for three hundred years； in
prosperity and adversity； in danger； torture and exile； had held 〃Christ and
Him Crucified〃 as their Confession of Faith； and pure and simple living
for His sake as their object in life； is one of the ironies of history。
Nor did the Halle party confine itself to criticism。Some years later
Zinzendorf was for a time driven into exile； and narrowly escaped the
confiscation of all his property； while its methods of obstructing the
missionary and colonizing efforts of the Moravians will appear in the
further history of the Georgia colony。
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The Moravians in Georgia
Chapter II。 Negotiations with the
Trustees of Georgia。
The Schwenkfelders。
Among those who came to share the hospitalities of Count Zinzendorf
during the years immediately preceding the renewal of the Unitas Fratrum；
were a company of Schwenkfelders。Their sojourn on his estate was
comparatively brief； and their association with the Moravian Church only
temporary； but they are of interest because their necessities led directly to
the Moravian settlements in Georgia and Pennsylvania。
The Schwenkfelders took their name from Casper Schwenkfeld； a
Silesian nobleman contemporary with Luther； who had in the main
embraced the Reformer's doctrines； but formed some opinions of his own
in regard to the Lord's Supper； and one or two other points。His followers
were persecuted in turn by Lutherans and Jesuits； and in 1725 a number of
them threw themselves on the mercy of Count Zinzendorf。He permitted
them to stay for a while at Herrnhut； where their views served to increase
the confusion which prevailed prior to the revival of 1727； about which
time he moved them to Ober…Berthelsdorf。