Zeisberger's work had become successful, especially among some the Delaware (Lenape) tribe. He had chosen to make it his life work to interact with as many Native Americans as would listen to him and in so doing, becoming followers of Christ and his teachings. One of those missionary workers was Reverend David Zeisberger who had come at an early age from what is today the Czech Republic. What made Moravians distinct from other North American missionaries was their belief the word of God should be brought to everyone in "their own language." This meant Moravian missionaries had to know the language of the people they were addressing and when they spoke to them it was in that language and not through a secondary interpreter. The Moravians first built permanent communities in Salem, North Carolina and and then Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Moravian Missionīefore the onset of the Revolution, a small group of missionaries called Moravians had come to America with the mission of bringing Christianity to as many Native Americans as would accept their beliefs. Ten years later a centennial memorial service was held at the monument with more than 10,000 people gathered about the monument to listen to the speakers. In attendance were several Moravian Indians from Canada, one of whom was the great-grandson of Jacob Schebosh, the first victim of the massacre 90 years before. A group of an estimated 2,000 people joined in the somber occasion. In the summer of 1872 residents and dignitaries of Gnadenhutten dedicated a 25' tall monument of Indiana marble perched upon a 7' base to mark the site where the massacre happened. Sherman's comments could be used to describe what became known as the Gnadenhutten Massacre, a truly horrific event that happened during the Revolutionary War, a massacre committed by American militia, against innocent Native Americans. Gnadenhutten MassacreĪ famous Ohio Civil War general, William Tecumseh Sherman, once said: "war is hell." He would say this almost 100 years after the Gnadenhutten tragedy. Detail from Schoenbrunn Village in the Tuscarawas Valley.
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