MORAVIANS (called also Uni!ed Brethren, Itforacian _Brethren, or Bohemian Brethren), a religious community, tracing its origin to the followers of John Huss, who were expelled by persecution from Bohemia and Moravia in the beginning of the 18th c., and of whom a small company, consisting at first of only 10 persons, received permission from count Zinzendorf (q.v.), in 1722, to settle on his estate of Berthelsdorf, in Saxony. To this settlement they gave the name of Herrnhut, whence they are commonly ai in Germany as Hernhuters. It rapidly increased, not only by the accession of additional Bohemian and Moravian refugees, but also of other Christians, who were attracted by the faith and piety which remarkably prevailed in it. Zinzendorf joined the little broth erhood, devoted Ids whole estate to the propagation of Christianity, and undertook the work of the ministry. The doctrines which they received being those of the Augsburg confession, it was proposed that they should unite themselves with the Luthern church; but a difference of opinion existing on this point, it was decided, as difficult questions still sometimes are among the Moravian, by an appeal to the lot; and the result was, that the United Brethren, or Unitas Fratrain, as they termed themselves, remained a distinct community, and adopted au organization of theirown. Till Zinzendorf's death in 1700, he was really their leader, and was recognized by them as ordinorias. After his death, their organization was completed by synods held in 1764 and 1709.
The Moravians are recognized by the state in Germany, as notestants attached to the Augsburg confession. They have no symbolical books of their own, although they drew up a simple and brief confession of their faith in 1727, and a brief statement of principles was emitted by a synod held in 1775.
The Moravians profess to be connected with the Bohemian or Moravian Brethren of former times by a regular succession of bishops. The bishops, however, exercise no episcopal authority, and their chief peculiar function is that of ordination, of which they alone have the power. Every congregation is governed by a conference of elders. The elders are bound to visit each family once in three months, and to report concerning the maintenance of family worship and the conduct of the brethren. It is also their
duty to visit the sick, and to aid the poor with money contributed by the other brethren. The whole church is governed by synods, which meet—always in Germany—at intervals of ten or twelve years, and are composed not only of bishops, but also of other members of the brotherhood. Between one synod and another, all affairs are managed by a con ference of elders appointed by the synod.
Moravians are to some extent scattered amongst the general population of the countries in which they dwell, as Britain and America; but they prefer, where it is possible, to live in colonies, or separate societies, and in these they carry out some very peculiar parts of their organization, particularly a division into choirs of children, youths, maidens, unmarried brethren, unmarried sisters, widowers, and widows, each having a separate leader or pastor. Unmarried brethren, unmarried sisters, widowers, and widows, reside in separate houses; married couples in houses of their own. Colonies of Moravians exist in England, America, Holland and other countries, but are most numerous in Ger many. The most important colonies, however, are perhaps those in the mission-fields. The Brethren early entered on missionary work, and all the prosperity of their church has been evidently connected with their earnest prosecution of it. Their first mission was planted, in 1732, in the island of St. Thomas, in the West Indies; the missionaries who went thither expressing their resolution to become slaves, if necessary, in order to carry out their purpose. A mission to Greenland, which has been eminently successful, and may be said to have made Greenland a Christian country, was commenced in 1733. They have also interesting missions in Labrador and at thb cape of Good Hope, and in other heathen countries. The Moravians have at their mission-stations about 70,000 con verts from heathenism. One of the most interesting of their stations is at Sarepta, in the government of Saratov, in Russia, by which they are connected with the Tartars and Kalmucks. In all their settlements, the education of the young receives the utmost attention.