Journal of the Commission - 1754

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Tuesday, Jan:ry 15.th 1754

Present:
Andreas Anton Lawatsch	N.H. Eberhart
David Bishoff	John Okely
Mathew Schrop.

Br. Lawatsch reminded us, that as our Brethren Anton Wagner & John Leighton, our Fire Inspectors, were now both gone from Bethlehem on their respective Plans, it would be necessary to appoint Others in their Steads, & proposed Br. John Stoll & William Werner, as the fittest Persons to succeed them in that Office.

Agreed therefore they should be sent for,
Being ask’d, they declared their Willingness to undertake it, & to use their utmost Dilligence to prevent Accidents by Fire, & keep the respective Fire-Places in good Order, as also to prevent the smoaking Tobacco in improper Places.

Agreed, in order to prevent any such Accidents, it Shall be publickly remembered that the Brethren should not smoke Tobacco in their sev.l Occupations, but at such Times when they have nothing to do in the Stables, Barns, Workshops, &c. And that in Case the Fire Inspectors, have Occasion to exhort One or Another in those Respects, it was expected due Regard be paid to y.r Admonitions

Friday 22d Feb.ry 1754

Being represented that our Br. Bernhart Miller had hitherto acted as Master of the Woollen-Stuff Weaving & Br. Borreck as his Assistant, with our Br. Becks Son Jonathon as an Apprentice, without any proper Regulation; It was thought needful to establish a Subordina- tion becomeing their sev.l Stations.

Agreed therefore that they be respectively spoke with for that End.

Brother Miller was told that as the Brethren had thought fit to commit the Care & Management of the Business to him, as Master, We heartily wish’d he might act therein with such Discretion & Prudence towards those who sho.d be given him from Time to Time as Assistants & Apprentices, that they might rather be govern’d by Love than Dint of Authority, as the best Way to preserve Peace & Unity. Having no Objection to make against this present Apprentice & Assistant.

Johnathon Beck was called in, & ask’d if he lov’d his Master, the Buisness he was put to, & was willing to serve his Time to it? To all which answering with much chearfulness in the Affirmative, He was accordingly committed to Br. Miller’s Care, as an Apprentice with a tender & loving Exhortation to be diligent in his Business & obedient to his Master in all Things.

Br. Borreck being likewise ask’d if he was willing to act under Br. Miller as his Assistant? Declared his intire Satisfaction hoping they sho.d live together in mutual Love & good Harmony.

It was told, that in Case any Difference should arise between them, or there sho:d be any Thing needful to rectify & amend, it would be most meet for him to apply to some One of the Members here present, who would consider of Ways & Means for its speedy Adjustment.

Friday, April 5.th 1754

Being inform’d that Br. John Schaub who now keeps our Tavern in Nazareth, had a Mind to give it up, & had likewise repeatedly desired leave of the Brethren to return to Bethlehem & live in our Oeconomy there; It was agreed & thought necessary to speak fully with him ab.t it, & the more so for that we had heard frequent Reports of his Proceedings in his own Affairs, with People, very much to his Prejudice, the Truth & Foundation of which we desired to hear from his own Mouth.

Being sent for he gave us a satisfactory & circumstantial Relation of all. We declared Ours & he his Mind quite plainly— concerning his Removal to Bethlehem; that he ought first well to consider if he could comply with the Conditions requisite for his so doing, namely, the renouncing his own Interest intirely to persue that of our Sav.r & his Congregation & content himself in all Things to live as the rest of the Brethren do, save only his having his own separate dwelling-Place, which if possible, the Brethren would provide his with; That as he had already liv’d in Bethlehem & knew our Circumstances, if he thought he could not come thro’ with us in that Manner, it would be much better for him to remain at a Distance, least his last State might be worse than his first. To which having given his Answer, it was told him his Coming sho.d be further consider’d of & so dismiss’d.

Monday May 27.th 1754

Met	John Bechtel	John Valentine Hide
	Mathew Schrop	Xtian Thomas Benzien
	N. Henry Eberhart	John Okely

Having heard that William Lowder, who has as hitherto liv’d with the Apothecary, had a Mind to leave Bethlehem, it was Agreed that he be sent for & spoke with ab.t it.

Being come in, he was ask’d

1.	What is the Reason of your leaving Us?
Ans.r	I can give no other or further Reason, than my not being willing to give myself wholly over to our Sav.r & consequently cannot be so obedient & subordinate to the Breth.n in my Work, as I know I sho.d be.
2.	Has any Body given you any Cause of Offence during your Stay here?
Ans.r	No, none at all.
3,	Are you indebted to any Body here; or have you any Thing to demand of any One?
Ans.r	Nothing at all, except what the Breth.n themselves have disburs’d for me.
4.	So that you own & acknowledge, before us, that you have no Demand or Claim whatsoever ag.t the Breth.n in any Respect, & are willing to sign it?
Asn.r	In no Respect, Which I am now willing to sign. Will.m Lowder # [Signature]

Having sign’d the Above, he desired that if the Brethren had any Thing to Object ag.t him or his Behaviour, they wo.d be pleased to do it now, in order to prevent any Thing’s being hereafter reported to his Prejudice, but being told we knew of Nothing & heartily wish’d him well, he was dismiss’d, first taking leave of us affectionately.

Having been told that Francis Seiffert, some time Since arrived from England, had hitherto liv’d here without having been regular- ly spoke with by Us.
Agreed that he sho.d be sent for to that End
Being come & ask’d if it was his Mind & Purpose to continue here longer (which he had Time enough to consider of ) on the Footing of the rest of the Brethren, Viz.t to work for the Oeconomy without Wages & be content with such Things as the Oeconomy could provide him with, & whether he would sign an Instrument to that Effect, being usually done by all such as are permitted to live in our Oeconomy? To all which answering in the Affirmative, the s.d Instrument was read to him & he sign’d accordingly.

[Something crossed out] It having been thought the Name of the Commission hitherto made use of for this our Meeting, was not so convenient & fit for the Purpose as that of A Committee of the Brethren for the Regulation of Outward Affairs, After due Deliberation it was mutually agreed, that this Assembly sho.d be so stiled on all Occasions for the Time to come.

This being our first Session since the above proposed Alteration & our Brethren John Valentine Hides & Xtian Thomas Benzien’s having been added to our Number, our Br. Spangenberg wrote a Letter to us on the Occasion, in the German Language; Wishing us the Grace & Peace of our Sav.r for that End, as promised to those assembled in his Name, as the only Means to give Weight to all we undertake & transact with any One. Recommending us to take our Sav.r for President & them as our Counselors & Participants, in our Labours. He likewise recommended Br. Bechtel, as the oldest amongst us, to be our Proponent; Which being according to all our Hearts, he imediately took his Seat as Such.

It was observed that we had been hitherto a little Remiss in coming together, & that we should at least meet once a Week, which might usually be on Tuesday Evenings in every Week, but oftner if Occasion require, being not doubted we sho.d find Business enough to do. Amongst other Things It was proposed
1st. That for the future all Persons admitted to live with us, sho.d sign an Instrument to this Effect; that no one had perswaded them to come into our Oeconomy, but that they themselves had desired it as a Favour. to work for the Oeconomy without the Consideration of Wages, & would be content with such Necessaries as it could afford them, to subordinate themselves to all the Regulations of the Congregation & their respective Choirs, that they have their Liberty to depart, when Ôtis no more agreeable to them so to live, & for the Congregation likewise to send them away when Ôtis not thought proper to keep them any longer, & that without any Demand to be made on either Side, by Reason so such their Labour or Continuance in Bethlehem.
2. That, in order to save much Writing, such an Instrument sho.d be wrote in 2 Books, one English and the other German & be regularly sign’d, witness’d & prov’d before a Magistrate.
3. That we sho.d endeavour to fall upon some fit Method of binding our Apprentices & such as are to be put in Trades for the Time to come.
4. That Care be taken that such, who have Property & Substance be reminded to make their Wills in Time in order to prevent any Confusion that may arise by such a Neglect.
5. That somewhat be read to us out of the Pennsylvania Law Book, if possible every Session.

Thursday, May 30.th 1754

Present. The same Members as at our Last Meeting.

Being acquainted that our Br. George Frederick, Master of the Linnen Manufacture in Bethlehem, had signified his Intention, to the Brethren, of giving up the Business & moving over the Blue Mountains to work for himself, it was thought proper to send for him & hear the Reasons, for his so doing, from his own Mouth.

Upon his Appearance & being ask’d if what we had heard was true he declared himself to the following Effect; That it did no suit him & his Wife to live any longer in our Oeconomy, & therefore for that Reason & none other, he was now fully determined to go & settle upon a Piece of Land he had bought beyond the Blue Mountains, but desired this Step might not be look’d upon as a Breach of Unity with the Brethren, his Intention being ever to remain in Love & Fellowship with them; that he was thankful for all he & his Wife had enjoy’d amongst us, both spiritually & temporally; that as he had liv’d in Love with us hitherto, so he parted & beg’d our kind & loving Remembrance of him. Being ask’d if he would sign a Declaration to the above Effect he expres’d his Willingness, & being read unto him he sign’d it chearfully.

June 19.th 1754

Present	D. Bishoff	N. H. Eberhart	J. M Sauter
J. Bechtel	Mathew. Schropp	J. Okely

Having heard that Br. Geo Frederick had alter’d his Mind, & was now desirous to continue in our Oeconomy; it was agreed he sho’d be sent for, & being ask’d he confirm’d it to us, intreating he might be again received which being granted, at our Request, he sign’d a Declaration, seting forth the Terms of his further Continuance, for our Satisfaction.

It was recommended to this Committee, by our Br. Joseph, that we sho.d have an Eye upon Mother Robins in Philadelphia, as a poor Widow that cannot maintain herself.

Also that we sho.d help Corn: Sturgis’s Mother, being poor & needy.
Upon this Occasion it was observ’d, that Cornelius Sturgis had signi- fied to Br. Joseph & Others, by Letter &c., his Trouble & Uneasiness ab.t his Mothers Circumstances, & that it would be both proper & necessary he should be sent for & heard ab.t it.

Being come in he was ask’d, What was his Mind concerning his Mother? & how he thought she might be best help’d? To which he reply’d; that upon his first coming to the Congregation he had been promised, by some of the Brethren, that his Mother, with whom he had liv’d, sho.d be assisted from Time to Time out of his Earnings, which not having been preform’d, at least not in the Manner he expected, he had thereby bro.t upon the Thoughts of leaving the Congregation in order to work for himself & maintain his Mother. To this it was answer’d; that if those Promises had not been so punctually fullfill’d, they were sorry for it, but that it had been thro’ pure Ignorance, on our Parts neglected, & therefore we sho.d be glad to know, whether, upon our doing for his Mother what we could, he wo.d then rather continue in the Congregation or not? To which he roundly declared it was his fix’d Mind to move away & work to maintain his Mother & himself.

Rudolf Christi & his Wife, who have liv’d some Years in our Oeconomy at Gnadenthal, being sickly & weakly Persons, it was thought adviseable, that they sho.d be removed from thence to live for themselves in a House of our’s near Bethlehem, for wch a Lease or Agreem.t should be made with him.

In like Manner that Christian Stolz & his Wife sho.d be removed from Gnadenthal to live in a House near our Tavern
Agreed that Br. Schropp & J. Okely, in the Name of this Committee do go thither & speak with them ab.t it.
Christian Schütz being moved from his former Habitation to Schaubs House & Land, It was thought fit that an Agreem.t sho.d be made with him for it.

June 24th 1754

Br. Schropp & Okely gave us an Acc.t of their Visit to Gnadenthal, That they had spoke to Christi & his Wife in a very loving hearty Manner, found them willing to do as advised, if only the Congregation would, as hitherto, for the Interest of their Money, in the Brethren’s Hands, amounting to ab.t £216, take Care of their Children & permit them to fare in the Oeconomy, wheresoever it be, as the rest of the Brethren & Sisters do. If this could not be allow’d of, that they wo.d indeed go, out of Obedience, but that to take their Money & provide for themselves wo.d prove a very difficult Task.

It was thought good, that as soon as he comes here, a Bond sho.d be given for the Ballance of his Acc.t, & Indentures be made for binding his Children to the Brethren, & that he give the Brethren a Release.

That Xtian Stolz sign a Discharge & bind his Children immediately after he move.

Joseph Sturgis having been previously ask’d, Whether he wo.d rather go with his Br. Cornelius or stay in Beth? & chusing the Latter, Indentures being prepared, he was sent for & with his Brothers good Liking, was bound to Father Nitschman Ôtill he come of Age, Br. Horsfield our Magistrate being present. On this Condition however, that in Case it should not meet with their Mothers Approbation, then the Indentures should be given up & the Boy be at his Liberty to go.

A Declaration seting forth the Reason of Cornelius’s leaving the Brethren together with a General Discharge of all Demands whatsoever, being read unto him he willingly sign’d it saying Ôtwas according to his Heart & Mind. He beg’d the Continu= ance of the Brethrens Love & so parted from us in Peace.

It was recommended by Br. Joseph, to this Committee, y.t we sho.d have an Eye upon old Widow Robins in Philadelphia, to assist her being poor & not well able to maintain herself.

June 26.th 1754

Being acquainted That Francis Seiffert who on y.e 27th of May last obtain’d Permission to live here, had since alter’d his Mind & would leave the Oeconomy again; he was sent for [crossed out] & told that we had nothing further to say to him, & he might go when he pleased.

Br. Bechtel having been sent last Week to Gnaden-Hutten as Deputy of this Committee, to inquire in the Circumstances of a certain Disorder which had happen’d there, On his Return gave us the following Relation: That upon his coming thither, he had taken Xtoph Kühnast Peter Gätge & August the Indian (as Chief) to his Assistance & then examined the culpable Parties (i.e. Nathaniel & Salome, the Indians) separately & finding them guilty of what had been laid to their Charge, he order’d them forthwith to leave Gnaden-Hütten, as Persons no longer fit to inhabit a Place destin’d only for the Reception of such poor Sinners, who were truly concern’d for their eternal Welfare & to be deliver’d from the Slavery of Sin. That they had own’d their Fault & wept much at the Thoughts of leaving the Place, but promised to be obedient to his Order. That s they had planted in the Spring it was consider’d that they sho.d first be satisfied for what they had done, & their Fields &c were accordingly valued for that End. As may be seen at large in an authentic Account thereof sign’d by the said Deputy & Assistants af.d to which we refer.

Aug.t 21.st 1754

Present The same Members as at y.e last Meeting.

Br. Hurst & Dixon were sent for & spoke with ab.t their Working in the Woollen-Manufacture in Harmony & Conjunction with Bernard Miller &c. In like Manner Br. Bernard Miller was call’d & spoke with to ye same Effect.

Br. Leonard Schnell, y.e present Master of the Linen Manufacture, was sent for & the Oversight & Charge of the Boys in the Weavers Room given to him. The Boys were likewise call’d, & exhorted to be obedient to their Master & Diligent in their Business.

Br. Bentzien was desired to write to Rudolf Christi in Gnaden= =Thal that he forthwith remove to the House appointed for him on the other side of the Water, as concluded by this Committee.

Oct.r 7.th 1754

Present the Same Members as at the last meeting.

Agreed that this Committee do regularly Meet together every Tuesday Morning at 10 O’clock, tho’ Business do not immediately require it.

It being thought convenient that the Papers respecting the Transactions of this Committee sho.d be kept in a Box in the Room where we usually met, Br. Bechtel was required to get the same for that Purpose of Br. Hehl; as also to enable Br. Okely to form a Register of the Same.

Understanding that Br. George Friederick has alter’d his Mind & was again determined to leave our Oeconomy, he was sent for & confirming the same, he was desired to resign his Declaration of ye 30th May last which he did, After which he was told he might go whenever it strikes him.

Nov.r 12th 1754

Present The same Members as at y.e last Meeting.

Having heard of some disorderly Dealings between our Br. Ginter & a Weaver living at Solomon Jennings’s
Agreed that he be sent for & spoke with ab.t it as soon as he returns Home.
—That an End be put to all private Dealings in our Oeconomy &
—That y.e same be notified at y.e next Congregation Council.

Agreed That Br. Schnell be spoke with ab.t his Managm.t in y.e Weaver’s Shop in Gen.l
And y.t y.e Question be put to the Elders Conference, if he sho.d not be removed?

Nov. 19.th 1754

Present the same Members as at our Last Meeting

Agreed, that this Comittee do see as much as in them lies, that no Tobacco be smoak’d in any Dangerous Places, & that None who have no imediate Occasion for it, do use themselves to smoak for the Future
That we do consider of Ways & Means to put a Stop to all private Dealings in our Oeconomy.
For that End it was proposed.
1st That Rappee Snuff & prepared Tobacco from such Breth:n who make it, be lodg’d in y Store, that Others who have Occasion to buy, may rather get it there.
2.d That a particular Person be appointed to grind all Sorts of Cutlary, make Whetstones, Snuff, &c. that those Business’s in Private may cease, & the Oeconomy be invested with y.e Profit. It was thought Br. Werner might be a proper Person.
3.d That all y.e Orders & Regulations publish’d in y.e Congregation Council here, be likewise made known in all our dependent Places.

Nov.r 21st

Present the same Members as at our last Meeting

Agreed that ____ Brown be sent for & examined ab.t his Desire of coming to live in our Oeconomy at Bethlehem, being come, he was ask’d

Dec.r 10.th 1754

Present the same Members as at our last Meeting.

Agreed that this Committee do meet for the winter Season, as usual on Tuesdays, but at 6 o’clock in the Evening being a more convenient Time.

That Augustus Milchsach, who has expressed a Desire of living in Beth, be sent for & spoke with ab.t His Answers to ye Questions proposed were as follows Viz:t

Agreed, that Günter be sent for, When he came he was exhorted to lay aside all private Dealings with Persons & submit himself to the Orders & Regulations of y.e Oeconomy wch were establish’d for y.e good of the Whole, or otherwise he co.d not be permitted to continue here. which he promised to do.

Dec.r 1754

Present

Being acquainted that David Riegner had been detected in his Disorderly Walk & Behavior it was resolv’d he sho.d be sent for. Being come & the Matter laid Home to him, He confess’d it. Upon which it was told him that he sho.d leave Bethlehem immediately, for that he co.d not be suffer’d to continue here any longer, which he promised to do & went accordingly.