MORAVIAN VISION - Moravian College

The First Fruits (above), oil on canvas by
Johann Valentin Haidt, ca. 1760, depicts a group
of Moravian converts from different nations
gathered as "the first fruits" (Rev. 14:4) around
the throne of Christ. To view other historical
Moravian paintings, visit the Moravian Archives
(www.moravianchurcharchives.org), the official
repository for records of the Moravian Church
in America. Located in Bethlehem, the Archives
hold thousands of pamphlets, paintings, prints,
maps, photographs, and personal papers.
Defining Moravian
In October, history and music scholars from
around the world met at Moravian College’s
Priscilla Payne Hurd Campus and the Moravian
Church’s Gemeinhaus (Bethlehem’s oldest
building) for the Biennial Conference on Moravian
History and Culture and Annual Conference
on Moravian Music.
The history and culture
lectures explored Moravian
contributions, underscoring
their geographic and
social importance. “We are
seeing the past as it was
and making a claim on our
February 18
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historical heritage,” commented Heikki
Lempa, chair and assistant professor of history,
who helped organize the History and
Culture Conference. Topics included rituals
and practices, historical self-concepts, and
encounters with foreign worlds.
In the lecture “Moravian Missions in the
Nicaraguan Mosquitia from 1894 to 1936,”
presenter Edwin Taylor, of the University of
the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean
Coast of Nicaragua, recounted the experiences
of early twentieth-century Moravians
working in the coastal towns of Nicaragua.
The Moravians left thorough written
records, providing historians with valuable
details about people, places, and events.
Rowena McClinton, of Southern Illinois University,
presented an analysis of Moravian
missionary Anna Rosina Gambold’s written
accounts, which revealed a peaceful coexistence
with the Cherokee tribe.
Paul Peucker, director of the Moravian
Archives, presented the Walter Vivian
Moses Lecture, “Beyond Beeswax Candles
and Lovefeast Buns: The Role of History in
Finding a Moravian Identity,” arguing that
Moravians created a common identity by
consciously constructing a common history.
Highlights of the Moravian Music Conference
included presentations on noted musicians
and composers, such as Conrad Beissel
and C. I. Latrobe; early instruments, including
the cittern, serpent, and Moravian bass
horn; and historical Moravian hymnal music.
A concert of Moravian music, featuring the
choirs of Moravian College and Central Moravian
Church, concluded the music conference.
— By Meghan Decker
FALL 2008 MORAVIAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE 5