Bethlehem's leaders were well-educated ministers carefully chosen for their administrative skills.
Nathaniel Seidel, 1718-1782 (A, I, 1), was born in Silesia and came to America as a single man with the First Sea Congregation. He married Anna Johanna Piesch (1726-1788) and they had no children. Seidel spent most of his early life in missionary work, which remained an important part of his life. He was ordained a bishop in 1758 and remained in charge of Moravian affairs in North America (being the legal proprietor of all the estates of the Moravian Church under the control of Bethlehem) until his death in 1782.
Several events marked the early years of Seidel's administration. One was the acquisition in 1761 of a new ship, the Hope, to replace the Irene as the principle means of transporting Moravians between Europe, America, and the West Indies. Another was the founding of Hope, New Jersey as a Moravian settlement in 1775.
The grave next to Seidel's is:
John Ettwein, 1721-1802 (A, I, 2), was born in Germany. Prior to Ettwein's service, all Moravian leaders had a European background and became known because of their activity within the community in Europe. Ettwein was the first Moravian official whose life's work was primarily accomplished in America. He held various church offices in Germany and England and came to America in 1754. Here he first served as a missionary and assistant to Nathaniel Seidel, before becoming an administrator for the Bethlehem community. John Ettwein was married to Johanetta Maria Kymbel (1725-1789; C, VI, 16) in 1746 and together they had six children; two were born in Europe, two were born in Bethlehem, and two were born in North Carolina. The oldest child, Anna Benigna Ettwein, suffered from fragile health and spent most of her life in Europe. The youngest child, a son, was dismissed from the church, readmitted, and shortly thereafter left the community for good.
At the beginning of the American Revolution Ettwein initially opposed independence from England because the English government had given official recognition to the Moravian Church, allowing them to work unheeded in the colonies, much like the Quakers. However, his opinion changed as the conflict progressed and Ettwein encouraged the Moravians to give their money and goods to relieve suffering. In return, Bethlehem received some recognition for its contributions to the revolutionary cause. The Pennsylvania Assembly declared in a resolution that "These conscientious people…cheerfully assisted in Proportion to their Abilities' those directly serving their country." Despite this recognition and the Moravian stance of pacifism, the laws levying fines on those refusing to do military service continued to be enforced. Ettwein made sure the fines were paid, even though this put additional strains on the finances of the congregation.
Twice during the Revolution, the Brethren's House was used as an army hospital. On the first occasion—December 1776 to March 1777, following battles at Trenton and Princeton—the building was filled with sick and wounded soldiers and some of the single Moravian men remained in the house to help them. Ettwein served as the hospital chaplain. The hospital returned from September 1777 to June 1778, following battles as Brandywine and Germantown. This time more than 800 wounded filled the Brethren's House. Hundreds died from dysentery and typhus. During this time, Ettwein's 19-year-old son John, who had been helping care for the sick, also died.
Ettwein was consecrated a bishop in 1784 in Bethlehem and in his capacity as the official correspondent of the Moravian Church in America for more than 30 years generated more than 1,000 drafts or copies of letters and other correspondence which are now stored in the Moravian Archives in Bethlehem. A street in Bethlehem is named for him.
To continue to the next stop, go two rows down to Row III. Stop 7 will be 8 graves inward along this row.
