| Citation |
BG.753.023
14 Aug 1753:11,12,21 (33)
From the London Publick Advertiser, May 9. 1753. Mr.
Whitefield, in his expostulatory letter to Count
Zinzendorff, the head of the Moravians, asks him, pray, my
Lord, what instances have we of the first Christians walking
round the graves of their deceased friends on Easter-Day,
attended with hautboys, trumpets, French-horns, violins, and
other kinds of musical instruments?. . . [10 lines]. . .
Again, my Lord, I beg leave to enquire, whether we hear
any thing in scripture of Eldresses or Deaconesses of the
Apostolical Churches seating themselves before a table
covered with artificial flowers, against that a little altar
surrounded with wax tapers, on which stood a cross, composed
either of mock or real diamonds, or other glittering stones
? And yet your Lordship must be sensible this was done in
Fetter-Lane Chapel, to celebrate the birth-day of Mrs.
Hannah Nitschman, the present general eldress of your
congregation: with this addition, that all the sisters were
seated in German caps, and clothed in white; and the organ
also illuminated with three pyramids of wax tapers, each of
which was tied with a red ribbon; and over the head of the
general eldress was placed her own picture, and over that
(horrresco referens, says the Rev. Mr. Whitefield) the
picture of the Son of God.
A like scene to this was exhibited by the single brethren
in a room of their house at Hotton-Garden: The floor was
covered with sand and moss,. . . [13 lines descr. setting
for "the count, his son and son-in-law, in honour of whom
all this was done, with Mrs. Hannah Nitschman, and Mr. Peter
Boehler, and some others,"] The room was illuminated with
wax-tapers and musicians placed in an adjacent apartment,
while the company performed their devotions, and regaled
themselves with sweet meats, coffee, tea, and wine. . .
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