At that time the Moravian Church was just beginning to form her own ministry,
the ranks of Deacon, Presbyter and Bishop were not fully organized,
and the definite system was only established by the Tenth General Synod
of the Church in 1745. The exigencies of the case required large powers
for a man serving in an isolated field, and they were given him,
but strictly speaking, Seifert was only ordained a Deacon,
and never was consecrated Bishop.
The fourth and last service of the day was given up to song,
a discourse, and prayer.
On Sunday, March 11th, after morning prayers, Wesley went to Tybee
for an interview with General Oglethorpe. At a general gathering
of the Moravians later in the day, the second chapter of Acts was read,
with special reference to the last four verses, and the description
of the first congregation of Christ's followers, when "all that believed
were together, and had all things common," was taken as the pattern
of their "Gemeinschaft". This plan, which had already been tested
during the first year, proved so advantageous that it was later adopted
by other American Moravian settlements, being largely responsible
for their rapid growth during their early years, though in each case
there came a time when it hindered further progress,
and was therefore abandoned.
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