Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
The Moravians study to render their conduct strictly conformable to the
principles of the Christian religion; but very different notions,
notwithstanding, are, and, no doubt, will be entertained respecting some
of their tenets. Every unprejudiced person, however, that has visited
their settlements must acknowledge, that their moral conduct is truly
excellent, and is such as would, if generally adopted, make men happy in
the extreme. They live together like members of one large family; the
most perfect harmony subsists between them, and they seem to have but
one with at heart, the propagation of the gospel, and the good of
mankind. They are in general of a grave turn of mind; but nothing of
that stiffness, or of that affected singularity, or pride, as I will
call it, prevalent amongst the Quakers, is observable in their manners.
Wherever their society has extended itself in America, the most happy
consequences have resulted from it; good order and regularity have
become conspicuous in the behaviour of the people of the neighbourhood,
and arts and manufactures have been introduced into the country.
As the whole of the plot of ground, on which Bethlehem stands; belongs
to the society, as well as the lands for a considerable way round the
town, the Moravians here are not liable to be troubled by intruders, but
any person that will conform to their line of conduct will be received
into their society with readiness and cordiality. They appeared to take
the greatest delight in shewing us their town, and every thing belonging
to it, and at parting lamented much that we could not stay longer with
them, to see still more of the manners and habits of the society.
They do not seem desirous of adding to the number of houses in
Bethlehem; but whenever there is an increase of people, they send them
off to another part of the country, there to form a new settlement.
Since Bethlehem was founded, they have established two other towns in
Pennsylvania, Nazareth and Letitz. The former of these stands at the
distance of about ten miles from Bethlehem, and in coming down from the
Blue Mountains you pass through it; it is about half the size of
Bethlehem, and built much on the same plan. Letitz is situated at a
distance of about ten miles from Lancaster.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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