Church resided at Limburg, and had the chief oversight of the associations in that district

SECTION V.

Labours of the Brethren in the North of EUROPE-In DENMARK-They obtain new privileges at ALTONA-The Societies in NORWAY and SWEDEN are decreasing-In LIVONIA the work prospers-Account of the Societies there and in ESTHONIA-Two MONGOLIAN Nobles come to PETERSBURG and are instructed in Christianity by ISAAC JACOB SCHMIDT-One of them is baptized and dies-Destruction of the Brethren's establishment in Moscow.

THE same desire, which actuated the Brethren in the prosecution of their exertions to be found helpers with others in building God's spiritual temple in the South of Europe, and the same divine blessing, which animated and, in the day of trial, sustained them in these labours, were not less apparent in their endeavours to win souls for Christ in the North.

We begin our review of these labours in the kingdom of Denmark. The favorable opinion, which has, for a series of years, been entertained by the Danish Government, of the institutions of the Brethren, enabled them to prosecute their work, not only without molestation, but under the sanction and patronage of the highest authorities in Church and State. Under the pastoral care of resident ministers, the Societies in Copenhagen and at Altona had many proofs of the faithfulness of the good Shepherd in going in and out before his sheep, feeding them on the ever verdant pastures of his holy Word, and manifesting his care over them in the day of calamity. Many were the difficulties and dangers, to which, in common with their fellow citizens, the members of the Society in the capital were exposed during the bombardment in 1807; but not less numerous were the helps and deliverances they experienced.

The privilege of the Brethren to perform public worship at Altona, which hitherto had rested rather on an implied permission, than on positive authority, was during this period legally secured to them. About the year 1760 the Brethren took on a lease of lives a place of worship, called the Blue-coatchurch, originally belonging to the Immergents, a denomination of Baptists. This community had then become nearly extinct,

which induced the few remaining members to let their church to the Brethren, who, however, could hold it only till the death of the last surviving proprietor, who by this time was far advanced in life. This rendered it an object of importance to secure to themselves the liberty, they hitherto had tacitly enjoyed, of preaching the Gospel at Altona. The Elders' Conference of the Unity, therefore, resolved to present a Petition to the King of Denmark, praying for liberty to continue their public worship at Altona, and, if needful, to erect a new church. For this purpose they commissioned the minister of Christiansfeld, Brother Peter Treschow, to go to Copenhagen, and present the Petition to his Danish Majesty. On his arrival in the capital, in April 1810, he was honored with an audience, and the Petition was very graciously received by the King. The necessary forms being gone through, the prayer of the Petition was granted to its full extent, and received the royal assent in October the same year. This encouraged the Society to undertake the building of a new and more spacious church, which the increasing auditories rendered indispensable. The foundation of it was laid on the 20th of July 1811, and it was opened for divine service on the 7th of May the year following. Both these solemnities, especially the latter, were attended by a large concourse of people, including the chief magistrates of the town. All expressed their joy that this desirable work had at length been undertaken, and successfully completed.

In the other provinces of Denmark, in Fuhnen, Jutland, Sleswick and Holstein, the Societies and smaller associations, established in several towns and villages, were cared for, with the assistance of Leaders, by regularly appointed Labourers; one of whom, residing at Schiern in Jutland itinerated through that peninsula and the island of Fuhnen; and the other, fixing his residence at Christiansfeld, visited in Sleswick and Holstein. On their travels they became acquainted with many pious individuals, including several zealous and truly evangelical clergymen, who, without forming a close connection with the Brethren's Church, gladly gave her the right hand of Christian fellowship, and, in the unity of the spirit, were striving toge

ther with her, to promote the extension of Christ's kingdom on earth.

The change of the sovereignty of Norway, consequent upon its being ceded by the King of Denmark to the crown of Sweden, occasioned, as far as has come to our knowledge, no obstructions to the labours of the Brethren. A minister of their Church continued to reside at Christiania, serving the Society in that town and visiting the districts of Dramen and Drontheim. Another minister had his residence at Kniessland in Wandsoe, superintending the work there and in the adjacent country. The members of the Societies in Norway were rather decreasing in numbers; but the Labourers, employed in them, cultivated a pleasing acquaintance with many devoted Christians, belonging to the Lutheran Church,

These remarks apply likewise to the Societies in Sweden during this period. Ministers of the Brethren's Church were stationed in the towns of Stockholm, Gothenburg, Carlscrona and Uddewalle, who travelled through the surrounding districts, ministering spiritual counsel to the members of the Society and to many other serious families and individuals, who readily opened their cottages to them and gladly listened to the message of peace.

Directing now our attention to the Empire of Russia we shall begin with giving an account of the Societies in Livonia and Esthonia. Here a most cheering view opens to the Christian, who is never more delighted than when beholding the benign influence of true religion among a people, such as the degraded vassals in these countries are, holding the very lowest rank among nations, blessed with the light of the gospel. The beginning, under much oppression, of the Brethren's labours in this field, and its gradual progress, have been described in an earlier part of our work, as well as the continuance of it in later times.* Since then it has for a number of years been carried on without any serious molestation, and the effects produced have shown that the blessing of God accompanied the zealous endeavours of his servants. As these Societies are by

* Vol. I. p. 350-355. Vol. II. p. 126.

far the largest of any in connection with the Brethren's Church, and as things materially differ, in some of their regulations, from similar institutions in other countries; we shall insert a more extensive account of their state at the period of which we are now treating. A few details being supplied from other authentic documents, our account is chiefly taken from a report, presented to the Synod of 1818 by Brother John Ewald, the superintendent of these Societies.

"The field of labour, assigned to the Brethren in this country, is divided into two districts, the Lettonian and Esthonian. Each of these is subdivided into circuits, and each circuit contains several associations, or (as they are called) united flocks. The following table exhibits at one view the circuits and the number of associations and members in each, together with the names of the principal stations in each circuit.

"Thus there are in all nine circuits, comprising one hundred and forty-four associations, and thirty-one thousand five hundred and fifty-four members. For their service forty-four German Labourers and about one thousand native assistants are employed. To these regular Society-members must be added nearly ten thousand individuals, who, in one way or other, partake of the religious benefits, resulting from these institutions; besides ninety persons of superior rank, chiefly natives of Germany, who are united with the Brethren's Church; which gives a grand total of forty-one thousand six hundred and eighty-eight souls.

"The principal station in each circuit, where the German Labourers reside, is either a small Settlement belonging to the Brethren, or the estate of a nobleman. The labourers derive

a very limited support partly from a fund, established for that purpose, and partly from the voluntary contributions, consisting of articles of food, from the peasants. These also build and maintain the chapels, which are constructed of wooden blocks, and contain likewise a vestry, used for the meetings of the assistants. The centre of union is Neuwelke, a small Settlement near Wolmar, where the superintendent resides. From this place a regular communication, by correspondence and visits, is kept up with the Labourers in the several circuits. To them is committed the general superintendence and direction of the work in their respective circuits, and for this purpose, besides making frequent journeys, they hold periodical meetings, or conferences, with the assistants, chosen from the natives. On the latter mainly devolves the spiritual oversight of the associations, the holding of meetings for edification, visiting the members, exhorting, reproving, or admonishing them, as may be found needful. This is the only way, in which, under existing circumstances, that require the avoiding of all unnecessary observation, the work can be carried on, and, by the blessing of God, much good has, in this way, been effected among the peasantry.

"Two seminaries for education have been established with good success. A Girl's Boarding-school in 1814 at Neuwelke, and a Boy's school in 1816 at Lindheim. An institution for training Schoolmasters, begun in Courland under very promising auspices, was through necessity soon discontinued,

"The political situation of both nations has of late been materially ameliorated by wise laws. No nobleman can now treat his tenants arbitrarily, a Court, consisting of three peasants on each estate, being appointed to decide in every criminal action. Still they are in a state of vassalage and, being considered belonging to the soil, have no liberty of removing elsewhere."

To these details regarding the external circumstances of the Esthonian and Livonian Societies, we subjoin some further extracts from Brother Ewald's communication, relating to their internal state and the progress of the work.

"We can declare to the praise of our Saviour, that simpli