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feet, either at the Goodness of what they heard, or for Gladness at a Chance to go, and it do perplex me to tell which. Then to hear the Speaking; curious enough, seeing that all did do their Choicest. One having great knack of Voice, spreading his Hands abroad and shrieking out about a Bird, which he stoutly affirmed to "hover over the destiny of the Country," whereat I marveled exceedingly much, seeing that he spake of a Novel Creature to me. Asking his meaning of one near, and he saying "Nothing but a Splurge," so much exercised me for my Ignorance that I would have disbursed 6d. or 18. lawful Money for a view of this Rare Bird. Then another of a Sorry Visage did express much cruel Fear for a "Tree of Liberty watered by the Blood of our Forefathers," which do smack of Rashness in them, seeing that such Procedure must have shortened their sweet Existences. Last of all One edifying me hugely did storm with Rage at the fatal Errors of some Wretches that had already Spoken. "Greece pursued the course they advocate," said he, "and where is Greece ?" to the which none answered a word, scorning, as I suppose, to make a vain Glory of their Geographical Learning among so many. Coming to a Stop, he did profess a Readiness to give his Life for his Principles; and I thinking it a hard Purchase of so small a Matter, thought perchance he set a suitable enough Value on himself. Speaking done, the Assemblage dispersed with a mighty Zeal, and I too, not wishing to seem odd. Did hear that all this Ado had been for as much Money as would come to 5 Pound, which put me in maze that the Scholars should so love Gain. So Home and to Bed, feeling somewhat feverish, for the which Sleep is a goodly Cure.

(Saturday, January 29th, 1857.)

To-Day to a "Club" to Dine at the bidding of Mr. Browne, the Master of it. Went betimes seeing that of all Things I do hate to be behindhand at my Eating. Relished the Entertainment mightily, but did not see any Wine or Cyder which likely enough I overlooked, seeing Talk and Manners so amused me that I noted little else. Only to see how marvelous Grim all looked, as though Dining at a Club were a sad Matter, and some setting to stoutly like the sight of Food made them mad for its Strangeness. Saw one near me looking Glum enough to do a Murther, and Mr, Browne said it be through his striving for a Valedictory, which I do wish he may get if it will cure his present miserable Case. Did observe many of the Guests have bits of Metal of strange Devices fastened upon them, which it did puzzle me to know the Intent

of. I do hear that these Persons know mighty Secrets, signifying as much by these Cunning Emblems stuck upon their Apparel. Bethought me to have a goodly Awe of all such, and saying so to Mr. Browne, was amazed to hear they have no more Brains in their Heads than others and that the commonest Tradesmen of the Town even knew as much of these Mysteries as they. Then to hear Mr. Browne say how he would scorn to be of their Company, whereby he pleased me seeing that I do hate an envious Man.

Did listen most closely to the Talk of those present, thinking to be either amused or informed thereby, which I was not. Most seemed to think Dining a grave and Solemn Business, as in truth they made it by their Treatment. Some adventured to speak at rare Intervals, such doleful Words as grieved me, and then the Clatter of the eating Implements quite drowning all the witty Speeches, as I suppose, seeing that I heard none. Presently found me quite alone with Mr. Browne, the Guests having flown on a sudden, like unto a Horde of Cossacks, leaving naught but Devastation behind, and I having scarcely tasted a morsel. Not to keep mine Host in waiting, signified my Readiness to go, which we shortly did. Taking leave of Mr. Browne, thought it an excellent Notion to go to finish my Dinner off Shell Fish which I did in a suitable Manner. Then away home wondering if I should write in my Book about the Manners of the Scholars at their Clubs, seeing I did not observe any worthy of Mention. Did try mightily, but I be heartily ashamed of taking up so little a Matter.

Dream Land.

THE sea breaks, the tide falls,
The wind shakes the forest walls,
Stars sink in the sea's brink,
The light creeps o'er the low plain,
The night sleeps on the dark main,
The earth turns, the sun burns;

But change cometh never
O'er the land of dreams;
There forever and forever
The same light beams.

The lark shrills, as he flies up,
The dew fills the flower's cup,

The turtle grieves 'mid the oak leaves,
The owl calls, the bats peep

'Mid the damp halls of the ruined keep,
The bells toll a sad dole:

But change cometh never
O'er the land of dreams;
There forever and forever
The same light beams.

Etchings of Herrnhuterdom.

FEW denominations enjoy a higher reputation in the Christian world for zeal and success in the missionary field than the Moravians. Yet little is generally known of their origin, government and belief. The reason is obvious. Their mode of Church government, as will hereafter be shown, is entirely exclusive. As an American-born Moravian, then, it shall be my humble endeavor to lay before the readers of the "Lit." a short sketch of their history, doctrines and customs.

The Moravian is the first and oldest of all Protestant Churches, and is directly descended from the Sclavonic Branch of the Greek or Eastern Church. Christianity was introduced into Bohemia and Moravia in the ninth century. The chain of events is as follows:

The sister of Bogaris, King of Bulgaria, having been taken prisoner by the Romans, was carried to Constantinople, where she was instructed in the truths of the Gospel and embraced Christianity. On her return to her native country in 845, she requested teachers for her people, and two Greek divines, Cyrillus and Methodius, went to Bulgaria. Their labors were crowned with success. The Duke of Bohemia, together with many of his subjects, was converted. The province now incurred the bitter displeasure of the Roman See, and during three centuries was subjected to the most furious persecutions of the Pontiffs.

At this crisis, the Bohemians and Moravians were aided by great accessions from France and Italy, and in 1176, appeared the Waldenses. A great effort was now made by Pope Clement VI, to crush the Churches through the establishment of the University at Prague. How John Huss, in the latter end of the fourteenth century, was here appointed Professor and battled with the Pope in his own Castle; how he heroically defended his faith before the University and at the Council of Constance, and subsequently suffered martyrdom, are matters familiar to all.

After his death the adherents of Huss split into two parties, the Taborites and Calistines. Of these Hussites, during the atrocious persecutions which followed, a small colony found an asylum on the Barony of Lititz, in Bohemia, and from this band of fugitives sprang the Moravian Church. Here, in 1457, just four hundred years ago, were laid the foundations of the Ancient Church of the Brethren. They at first styled themselves Fratres Legis Christi, or simply Fratres, and finally on the accession of many brethren from Moravia, Unitas Fratrum.

Now followed three more memorable centuries of outlawry and expatriation, during which the Church suffered every torture and affliction which Popish ingenuity could invent. Yet the true fire of the Gospel was kept burning in caves and mountain fastnesses. These centuries form the noblest record of martyrdom, purity of faith and practice within the annals of the Churches.

Finally, at the close of the seventeenth century, the Romish Church became triumphant, and Protestantism was suppressed throughout Bohemia. Thus disappeared the Ancient Brethren's Church, and apparently forever.

In 1722, we find a small company of Moravians secretly retreating from their father-land towards Upper Lausatiá, in Saxony. They have been promised an asylum by Count Zinzendorf, and are now journeying thither under the leadership of Christian David. They arrive in safety, and on the 17th of June, 1722, commence the building of Herrnhut, which has now become the center of Moravianism throughout the world.

The Renewed Brethren's Church dates its birth on Aug. 10th, 1727. The first fruits of this glorious renewal constitutes an era in Christian enterprise-the opening of Protestant Missions. The first Moravian Missionaries left Herrnhut for the Island of St. Thomas, Aug. 21st, 1732, and for Greenland, Jan. 19th, 1733. Since then, Colonies have spread over every Continent. In 1740, three Missionaries settled on the Ogeechee, in Georgia, but refusing to fight in the war between the Georgians and the Spaniards of Florida, they came northward and settled in the forks of the Lehigh and Delaware. Here they bought of the Rev. George Whitfield, a large tract of land, which he had called Nazareth, and whereon he had erected a building designed for the instruction of negro children, which stands to this day. Their principal towns in Pennsylvania, are Bethlehem, Nazareth, Emaus, Lititz; in North Carolina, Salem.

But, you ask, what is the great doctrinal characteristic of Moravians?

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I answer, the fact that they have no distinctive doctrine at all, separate from other Protestants. They are no sect, and will not be called one. Doctrinal hair-splitting is looked upon as nugatory. They stand on the broad ground that enough is clear in Scripture to enable the poorest to understand the love of the Father and the self-sacrifice of the Son; that the difficulty lies in the practice of that which is understood. Hence the great stress which they lay on the Chief-Eldership of Jesus. This, it is true, they acknowledge in common with Protestants generally, but they aspire to a personal Headship, an intimate communion between Church and Saviour. The object is to establish a true Apostolic Church on earth. Their doctrine may be summed up in the words, "living faith;" their precept, in Christ's mandate, "Go ye unto all nations and preach the Gospel to every creature." To guard well this living faith by fostering exhortation, fellowship and mutual love among the brethren, is the aim and key of their whole system.

We will fancy it, dear reader, a delightful Sunday morning in June. Let us take a merry saunter through the Moravian town. A merry saunter, for every Moravian Sunday is a souls' holyday, a day for calm meditation on nature, for sunny memories, for pious moods and heavenly contemplations. The Church-bells are ringing ten. We stroll to the Moravian Church-yard. "Of course," you say, " to the outskirts of the town." Oh no! In the heart of the village is the God's acre. The dead lie close by the living-the heavenly congregation in the very embrace of the earthly. The Churchyard is a large level enclosure, intersected with gravel-walks, and planted with rows of pine, maple, and linden. Seats you see everywhere along the paths. You will notice that the whole is divided into two great sections by the center walk. On the one hand rest the females, on the other the males. The first feature that will attract your attention, is the perfect democracy of the burial. All the graves and grave-stones are alike. The grave-stones are plain marble slabs, bearing the name, age, place of birth and death of the deceased, with occasionally a little hymn or couplet, and laid flat on an oblong mound about a foot in height. Each mound is shaped with the same mould. There are no marble urns or monuments. At a short distance the yard appears a spacious park; as you approach nearer you see only a long succession of mounds in parallel rows. Rich and poor are here the same. If there be any aristocracy, it is that of affection, which leaves one grave to its native clover, and plants the other with ivy and myrtle and roses,—and then, surely, the nobility of the place are

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