The Moravian Celebrates 150 years in print

The Moravian is the “Official Journal” of the Moravian Church in North America, Northern and Southern Provinces. It is published monthly, except bimonthly January-February and July-August issues, by the Interprovincial Board of Communication, 1021 Center Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18018. The Board is composed of ten members (lay and clergy), representing both Provinces, appointed by the Provincial Elders’ Conferences (governing boards) of the two Provinces. The Director of Communication serves as editor of The Moravian and reports to the Board.

A typical issue of The Moravian is built around a general theme and features stories relevant to the theme. In addition, the issue will contain denominational news items and reports of denominational conferences. Each issue contains “Official Provincial Elders’ News” (making it an “on record” journal for the denomination). Occasional items include book reviews, obituaries of Moravian clergy or clergy spouses, and “Letters to the Editor.”

The contemporary Moravian magazine has its origin in an effort begun in 1855. In that year the Church established a publication house and bookstore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (this moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1858) and began publishing a weekly piece called The Moravian. The first issue appeared on January 1, 1856. The management of the publication underwent various changes and by 1936 it was placed under what was then the Board of Christian Education and Evangelism. By 1952 The Moravian had assumed its current magazine format and was distributed to every Moravian household in the nation, with the cost of publication assumed by the Provinces.

The Wachovia Moravian began publication in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1893 and played a similar role to its northern counterpart. In 1914 the Southern Province also decided to bear the cost of distributing the publication to every Moravian household in that Province.

The two publications merged into a national Church periodical in 1970 when it was titled The North American Moravian. The current management of The Moravian by the Interprovincial Board of Communication began in 1998.

Contents of The Moravian…

The Moravian was initially organized into various “departments” or sections. The “Home Department” contained news of established congregations while the “Home Mission Department” reported on efforts to establish new congregations both among German immigrants in the east and among German and Scandinavian immigrants in the mid-west and as far north as Alberta, Canada. These reports included commentary on the social and political conditions encountered in such activity and, as such, offered insights into the settlement of the late 19c. “frontier.”

The “Foreign Department” featured reports from correspondents in England, France, Germany, the Danish West Indies, Surinam, South Africa, and Jamaica. Some of these reports concerned established congregations while others described the missionary activities of the Moravians. All of them included general comments describing life in these locations.

Inspirational stories for children were presented in the “Children’s Department” and most issues contained at least one poem for the enjoyment of adult readers. Book reviews were also published occasionally.

In addition to the ‘departments,’ the publication contained general denominational news including membership statistics (with lists of congregations and names of pastors) and financial reports, and summaries of the actions of both national and international Moravian Church synods, “Official announcements” from the church’s governing body appeared in The Moravian reporting ordinations, recognition of new congregations, and obituaries of church leaders.

Reporting of the news was supplemented with commentary in various forms. Editorials concerned church matters but also often commented upon national and international affairs. Lengthy articles on various theological topics were presented along with Bible studies. Letters to the editor brought responses from readers.

Since The Moravian was a weekly publication until 1952, there was always comment on the national and world scene. News concerning “other Christian bodies” (both at home and abroad) was regularly featured. In the first decades there appeared the “News of the Week.”

During the Civil War an anonymous correspondent ‘embedded’ with the Union Army submitted reports that grew increasingly bitter in tone as the conflict dragged on.

During the latter half of the 19th century, The Moravian reported weekly Philadelphia market prices for flour, grain, oats, seeds, wool, and ”provisions” (meat). The schedules of the several railroads offering passenger service to Bethlehem and the surrounding area were published.

Bethlehem area merchants had a chance to place advertisements in the publication and these provided a glimpse into the commercial development of the Lehigh Valley. Advertisements for Moravian schools were also included.

During World War I the numbers of Moravians from each congregation serving in the military were presented and sometimes their names, rank, and assignments.

Many historic Moravian Church sites in Germany were destroyed during World War II. The first news of this situation was brought to the attention of American Moravians by published reports from an American Moravian GI serving with the US Army in Europe. His reports sparked an outpouring of aid from American Moravians to assist their European brothers and sisters.

For one hundred and forty-nine years, The Moravian, in various formats, has been the premier source for chronicling the life, mission, and cultural context of the Moravian Church in North America.

The Rev. Dr. David Schattschneider is the former Dean of Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; a member of Advent Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and a member of the Interprovincial Board of Communication.