Prior to this,
and for a number of years later, clergymen of the Church of England,
and English-speaking Catholic priests, were ordained in the Old World,
before coming to the New, remaining under the control of the Bishop
and of the Vicar Apostolic of London, while the Spanish Catholics
were under the Suffragan of Santiago de Cuba, and the French Catholics
under the Bishop of Quebec. Tradition mentions the secret consecration
of two Bishops of Pennsylvania before this time, but its authenticity
is doubted, and the two men did not exercise any episcopal powers.
Therefore when Bishop Nitschmann came to Georgia, and in the presence
of the Moravian Congregation at Savannah ordained one of their number
to be their pastor, he was unconsciously doing one of the "first things"
which are so interesting to every lover of history.
Whenever it was possible the Moravians spent Saturday afternoon and evening
in rest, prayer, and conference, and on this occasion four services were held
at short intervals.
At the first service the singing of a hymn was followed
by the reading of Psalm 84, a discourse thereon, and prayer.
The second was devoted to reading letters from Germany,
and some discussion as to Hermsdorf and his relation to the Congregation.
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