The seven towns built close together belonging to the Amana Colony were built by a religious group called the Community of True Inspiration, formed in 1714 in Himbach, Germany. Its members believed that God did not only speak to the prophets of old, but a lso to "the inspired" in the present church, who were God's "Werkzeuge" (tools). This religion was personal, pietistic and emphasized humility. The Community had conflicts with the local authorities, since members declined military service, refused to tak e oaths, and did not send their children to the local Lutheran schools. In the early 1800s, times were also bad in Germany, and the Community decided in 1842 to emigrate to America.
They bought land near Buffalo, N.Y., and called their new home Ebenezer ("hitherto the Lord has helped us"). In America they adopted a communal style of living. This was done to make sure that everyone, not just the strong or wealthy would survive, and al so to insure that the group would stay together. In 1855 they sold their lands in New York and bought a larger tract in Iowa, and there built their new home, called Amana ("believe faithfully").
The Amana Colony is one of the major and longest lasting utopian colonies in America. After 89 years, in 1932 the members voted to end the communal system. They separated the church and the business enterprises; the latter became a stock company. The memb ers became stockholders. The colony was well managed and economically successful. Amana was early on known for its woolens and calico, its flour and potatoes and onions shipped to markets. The colony always adopted new technology and today many of us know its Amana ranges, refrigerators, and microwave ovens.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: Why does the U.S. have a different policy as to the separation of church and state as the Europeans? This is not just a German-American history, but American history, the history of a large ethnic group that used a different language than English.
North America as a multi-ethnic (multi-lingual) and multi-religious society. The concept of "German-American" refers to an ethnic-cultural (linguistic) community:
The story of William Penn and Daniel Pastorius
More on Pastorius and Germantown
Why did they leave? They brought their religious beliefs, celebrations (Christmas, Easter, etc.), their music, their art, their schools (loss of schools and language, impact of the world wars). They were builders of settlements, houses of worship, cemeteries (German names), etc.
The emigration/immigration of the "Church Germans" with examples:
Introduction: Germans in The United States
Lutherans 1526 Founder: Martin Luther
1707 Lutherans from the Palatinate settled in Morris County, PA
Frankenmuth - founded by Lutherans
Catholic Monasteries in US, 1846
Boniface Wimmer
Sisters of St. Benedict
Mass in Latin, German and English every Sunday at Old St. Mary's
Moravians: 1415-present Unitas Fratrum - Unity of Brethren (Mährische Brüder Gemeine)
Mennohof 1741-1762 Bethlehem, PA
1753f Betharaba, NC
1756f Salem, NC
Founders/leaders: Jan Hus/Nicholaus von Zinzendorf; 600, c 500 acres
Beliefs: Pietism, Pacifism
Composed hymns and instrumental music; published hymnals, Fifteen schools; Art: painting
Lititz, PA - a Moravian Settlement
Moravian College, Main Campus
1200 Main Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610 861-1300
(Church Street campus) the older buildings are still used as seminary
rooms, the former Brethrens' House is the music building. The Sisters'
House, and the Main Hall (red brick building next to the Brethrens'
House) also church
Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, Inc.
Historic Bethlehem Partnership
459 Old York Road
Bethlehem, PA 18018
(610) 882-0450
Comenius Foundation
PO Box 10307
Winston-Salem, NC 27108
336-945-5016
www.comeniusfoundation.org
Moravian Museum of Bethlehem is located in the 1741 Gemeinhaus (Community House), the oldest building in Bethlehem and one of the largest 18th century log structures in the USA. 12 exhibits interpret the ideals, arts and culture of the early Moravians. The rooms of the museum offer a display of artifacts from the early days of Bethlehem and a variety of changing exhibits. In addition to the Gemeinhaus -- a National Historic Landmark -- the museum also includes the 1752 Apothecary and the 1758 Nain House, the only structure remaining from an 18th century Native American Mission.
Burnside Plantation
6.5 acre historic plantation illustrates everyday life on a Moravian farm
from 17487-1848. Farmhouse and a mid-19th century bank barn complete with
a horsepower wheel, as well as the historic garden and orchard,
Moravian Museum in Bethlehem, PA
Contact John P. Jackman (Debra) Moravian Pastor
John@comeniusgroup.com
has videos/film on Moravian History, Heckewelder, etc.
Count Zinzendorf and the History of the Moravian Church
Moravian Historical Society
214 East Center Street
Nazareth, PA 18064
610 759-5070
Moravian Archives The Bethlehem Digital History Project
Moravian Music Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
Bethlehem, PA
MFM preserves one of the largest and most diverse collection of music
used in early America. The only comparable collections are in the Library
of Congress and the New York Public Library.
The Archival Collections contain approximately ten thousands music manuscripts, first editions and early imprints - both sacred and secular - including, according to current research ...
... the first chamber music composed in America, the first chamber music by an American-born composer, the music played by America's first community orchestras, bands and wind ensembles;... the only copies in the world of J.C.F. Bach's Sonfonias;
... the only surviving copy of Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 17 with its oboe part;
... one of nine surviving copies of the first printing of The Star Spangled Banner;
... and thousands of anthems, chorales, hymns and solo songs dating from 1544 to the present.
... and maintains and expands the six thousand reference volumes of the Peter Memorial Library.
Mennonites
Germantown, PA 1863
Anabaptists: 1523 started by Conrad Grebel
Menno-Hof Anabaptist Interpretive Center
Old Order Amish Village in PA
Mennonites 1536
Founder: Menno Simon
Amish 1693
Founder: Jacob Ammon
Menno-Hof Anabaptist Interpretive Center
Old Order Amish Village in PA
Albert N. Keim, Harold S. Bender, 1897-1962, Scottdale: Herald
Press, 1998. This is probably the most significant Mennonite
publication of the decade.
John E. Sharp, Director
Historical Committee & Archives of the Mennonite Church
1700 South Main Street, Goshen, IN 46526-4794
Phone: (219) 535-7477
Fax: (219) 535-7756
E-mail: johnes@goshen.edu
Hutterites (Bruderhof) 1528-present
1874-present NW & NE US and Canada,
Founders/leaders: Jacob Hutter, Michael Waldner, Eberhard and Emmy Arnold
Most members: 32,000, 350 acres (colonies)
Beliefs: Anabaptism, Pacifism
Composed hymns, published hymnals, have schools
Schwenkfeldian (Schwenkfelders) 1489/1490
Founder: Caspar von Schwenkfeld
Leader Caspar Schofield
1734-present Pennsylvania
Communal Societies:
Woman in the Wilderness (Das Weib in der Wu"ste) ca. 1685-1748
Germantown, PA; Founder/leader: Johann Zimmermann/Johannes Kelpius;
most members: 40 all men, ca. 100 acres
Beliefs: Mystic Pietism, Millenialism, Celibacy, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy
Composed hymns, Published Hymns of Kelpius; 1 school
Seventh Day Baptists ca 1728-present
1732-1814 Ephrata, PA,
1752-ca 1798 Antietam, PA,
1798-1895 Snow Hill, PA
Founder/leader: Johann Conrad Beissel; most members: 300; 80 acres
Beliefs: Celibacy, Pacifism, Pietism, Perfectionism,
Composed hymns and anthems, published hymnals, books, broadsides,
Martyrs Mirror; 5 schools
Art: Calligraphy
Ephrata Cloister
Harmonists (Harmony Society) 1785-1904
1803-1814 Harmonie, PA
Harmony, PA
1814-1824 Neu Harmonie (New Harmony), IN
New Harmony
1824-1904 Economy, PA
Old Economy Village
Founder/leader: Johann Georg Rapp; most members: 800; 30,000 acres
Beliefs: Pietism, Millenialism, Perfectionism, Celibacy, Pacifism
Composed hymns, published hymnals, poetry-essays, Rapp's Thoughts on
Destiny of Man, 3 schools
Art: water colors, sculpting, gardens
Separatists (of Zoar) ca 1790s-1898 Zoar, OH,
Founders/leaders: Barbara Gruberman, Joseph Baumeler, 500, 5,500 acres,
Beliefs: Pietism, tried celibacy
1 school,
Art: designs, gardens
Zoar Village
Inspirationists (Wahre Inspirations Gemeinden) 1714-present
1844-1862 Eben Ezer, NY
1855-1932 Amana, Iowa (7 towns)
Founders/leaders: Eberhard Gruber, Johann Rock, Barbara Heinemann,
Christian Metz;
most members: 1,450; 25,000 acres
Beliefs: Pietism, Inspiration
Composed hymns; published books, hymnals, had schools
Amana Heritage Society
Amana Colonies
Keilites ca 1838-1881
1844-1880 Bethel, MO 650 members, 5,000 acres
1856-1881 Aurora, OR 400 members, 18,550 acres
Founder/leader: Wilhelm Keil
Beliefs: Mysticism, Pietism; 2 schools
Brethren in Christ (River Brethren) 1770
Founder Jacob Engle
Reformed Mennonites (New) 1811
Founder: John Herr
Reformed 1529
Founder: Ulrich Zwingli
Church of the Brethren (Tunkers/Dunkers) 1708
Founder: Alexander Mack (Schwarzenau)
1719 to 1729 to US
United Brethren 1800
Founder: Philip Otterbein
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