22nd February:
Brother Neubert kept school with me present, which pleased me. We were very content together and such a breeze of grace made itself felt among our dear little children and little lambs that a proper movement arose among them. One wept freely in front of the other and that lasted until the story was told. We could scarcely keep from weeping ourselves. After school one of them came to me and asked sweetly and heartily for me to hold a Lovefeast for them. I asked if he was the only one who felt that way. O no, he answered, we all agree and it would be very important to all of them. They had already asked about it the evening before through their parents. I told him that we would consider it together and then give them our answer. In the afternoon I held their little Singstunde for them. Again they were so sweet and there was such a blessed movement among them that my heart leapt. In the evening we had visits from many Brethren and Sisters and were happy together. They are almost beside themselves over their children.
23rd February:
It rained hard the whole day but we visited in the houses all around, occasioning joy among the parents and the children. In the evening I held with blessing the Communion Quarter Hour Devotion for them on the Text for the Day.
24th February:
We spent [the day] mostly quietly. In the evening we were visited by a few children and then by the recently married John Holder and his wife. We spoke heartily with him and he wept much. Finally he asked us if there would not soon be another Synod. I answered that I could give them no news about that and asked him if it were important to him. So he replied very softly and like a sinner that he and his wife would like to be in the [Moravian Brethren’s] Church and that she was not yet baptized. They both wanted to offer themselves to the concern of the Church. They would have already traveled to Bethlehem if the bad weather had permitted. They both wanted to surrender themselves to the Savior and to the [Moravian Brethren’s] Church and to be content with whatever they would do with them. He declared himself so well, honestly and heartily that it really touched us. We spoke to them again and directed them again to the Savior, that would be what would bring abut their reception. They must only be patient. We felt that this came from their hearts.
Brother Bader's Diary
of his Journey and Visit to the Schools in the Country from
16th November 1752 to
28th February 1753
Translated by Pastor Roy Ledbetter
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