am, I should be entirely unworthy of that high station, in which Divine Providence has placed me, were I not to show myself ever ready to use every exertion in my power, for the assistance of the universal Church of God; and especially to love and embrace your Church, united with us in the closest bond of love; and which has hitherto, as we have been informed, invariably maintained both the pure and primitive faith, and the discipline of the primitive Church; neither intimidated by dangers, nor seduced by the manifold temptations of Satan. I request, in return, the support of your prayers, and that you will salute in my name, your brother bishop, as well as the whole Christian flock, over which Christ has made you an Overseer. Farewell. Given at Westminster, the 10th of July 1737." For It is to be remembered that Peter Böhler, a Moravian, accompanied John and Charles Wesley to Oxford, where he delivered addresses in Latin, which were interpreted by Gambold, who afterwards joined the Brethren, and became, along with Böhler, a bishop of the Moravian Church. some time the members of the Moravian Society in Fetter Lane remained in connexion, with the Church of England, receiving the Sacraments at the hands of its clergy, and confining their own meetings to preaching and private meetings for But in 1742 a complete union between the Brethren was effected and has continued ever since. Other churches were founded in different parts of the country, in Bedford in 1745; Tytherton and Malmesbury in Wilts, 1748; Bristol and Kingswood, 1755; Leominster in 1759; and in Yorkshire, where the most important and flourishing churches were established. Moravian edification. foundations. In 1747 (and here comes in the present interest) they petitioned Parliament for an Act in their favour, so that they 1747. might obtain public recognition of the claims of Petition of their Church to the free exercise of their own ecclesiastical constitution, as this alone could ensure permanency to their establishment in his Majesty's dominions both at home and abroad. This petition was granted. In 1749 a second petition was presented to the Act of 1749. House of Commons by Oglethorpe, and leave was given to bring in a "Bill for encouraging the people known XXI RECOGNITION OF THE MORAVIANS 357 by the name of 'Unitas Fratrum' or 'United Brethren,' to settle in his Majesty's colonies." The Bill passed the Commons, but opposition was expected in the Lords, because one clause stated that the United Brethren was an Episcopal Church. A conference of bishops was held by Archbishop Herring, and after reading the Bill, the bishops resolved not to oppose it. At first Sherlock took a different view, but when he had read the report of the Committee, and had had an interview with Zinzendorf, he withdrew his opposition and remained a firm friend of the Brethren. The Bill became law on June 6, 1749. It acknowledged the Unitas. Fratrum to be " an ancient Protestant Episcopal Church which had been countenanced and relieved by the Kings of England, his Majesty's predecessors"; it acknowledged "their doctrine to differ in no essential article of faith from that of the Church of England, as set forth in the Thirty-nine Articles"; and consequently, the free and full exercise of their own ecclesiastical constitution was guaranteed. A simple affirmation in the name of Almighty God was allowed to those members of their Church who had conscientious scruples against the form of an oath. A dispensation was granted to them from serving as jurymen in criminal cases, and they were exempted, under certain conditions, from actual military service in the North American colonies. Such were the attempts after reunion and friendly intercourse with other churches in the century. The interesting approach made to the Gallican Church in 1718-19, and the correspondence between the later Non-Jurors and the Eastern Church come also under this head. Both were laudable attempts, but both came to nothing, and neither the Gallican nor the Eastern Church was really prepared to own the English as a sister Church. Perhaps in no one respect does the position of the English Church at the close of the nineteenth century contrast more favourably with its position at the close of the eighteenth than in the greater width of its horizon. It is no longer now, as then, isolated, but has thousands of Christians in full communion with it in all parts of the world. AUTHORITIES.-For the Church of Ireland, see Vice-Chancellor Ball's History. The Irish bishops will be found sketched in Abbey (op. cit.) and in Dict. Nat. Biog. For Scotland reference should be made to Overton's Nonjurors. The Moravian problem has been recently discussed in (1) The Beginnings of the Brethren's Church in England, by Gerhard A. Wauer, tr. John Elliott, 1901, and (2) in the Report of the Committee appointed by the Synod of the Moravian Church, in Great Britain, for the purpose of inquiring into the possibility of more friendly relations on the part of this Church with the Anglican Church. Adopted by the Synod of 1903. |