Missionaries and the Pilgrim Count Nicolaus Zinzendorf

zinzendorf monument in herrnhut, germany



zinzendorf preaching people many nations



zinzendorf`s waistcoat in lititz moravian archive , museum

zinzendorf s interest in missionary work sparked meeting 2 inuit children converted hans egede s mission in greenland , freed slave, anthony ulrich, told of terrible oppression among slaves in west indies.

in 1732, community began sending out missionaries among slaves in danish-governed west indies , inuit of greenland. zinzendorf s personal , familial relation court of denmark , king christian vi facilitated such endeavors. saw delight spread of protestant family order in germany, denmark, russia , england.

in 1736, accusations neighboring nobles , questions of theological orthodoxy caused zinzendorf exiled home in saxony. , number of followers moved marienborn (near büdingen) , began period of exile , travel, during became known pilgrim count.

the missionary work in west indies had been hugely controversial in europe, many accusing zinzendorf of sending young missionaries off die. zinzendorf decided place himself on line, , in 1739 left europe visit mission work on st. thomas. convinced himself might not come back, preached last sermon , left his wife. visit huge success, however, , enabled him free of missionaries had been illegally jailed. however, missionaries mistreatment plantation managers established credibility slaves, , after zinzendorf s visit mission work more successful.

in 1741, zinzendorf visited pennsylvania, becoming 1 of few 18th century european nobles have set foot in americas. in addition visiting leaders in philadelphia such benjamin franklin, met leaders of iroquois and, assistance of conrad weiser reached agreements free movement of moravian missionaries in area.

in 1749, zinzendorf leased lindsey house, large manor on cheyne walk in chelsea built on estate of sir thomas more headquarters work in england. lived there until 1755. missionary colonies had time been settled in west indies (1732), in greenland (1733), amongst north american indians (1735); , before zinzendorf s death brethren had sent herrnhut missionary colonies livonia , northern shores of baltic sea, slaves of south carolina, suriname, negro slaves in several parts of south america, tranquebar , nicobar islands in east indies, copts in egypt, inuit of labrador, , west coast of south africa.