Moravian Lives @ Moravian U

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Life of brother Philip Henry Mol- 
ther who departed at Bedford Septr 9. 1780. 
extracted from his own manuscripts. 
I was born in the year 1714 Dec the 28th at 
Imsheim in the vicinity of Bussweiler in Elsa- 
tia where my father was the parish minister. 
Being 8 years old, I was sent to the school 
at Bussweiler with a view to lay the first 
foundation for studying divinity. I felt 
already in my infancy that the friend and 
Redeemer of my soul was drawing me 
by his grace. Tho’ I had many bad 
examples before me, I remained in inocent 
simplicity till in my 14th year, when I 
was seduced into sin by one of my school 
fellows. Sin begat death, and my conscience 
was repeatedly alarmed with this dreadful
sentence: “Thou art doomed to death”, which 
caused me to feel unceasing anxietyof heart, 
& imbittered the sinful pleasures of life to me, 

serving, through the kind care of the lover of my 
soul, as a barrier, which prevented me from 
rushing into misery. In the year 1734
I was sent by my parents to Metz in 
France in order to learn the french language 
Our Saviour pursued me also here by his 
Grace in many ways. Being once in 
company with my french master, I accom 
panied him at night to his lodgings seeming 
ly in good health. The next morning I was 
thunderstruck at hearing that he was dead, 
as my conscience forced immediatly this 
question upon me: what would have be- 
come of you if this had been your case? 
I hastened to my room trembling, and
throwing myself on the ground, and prayed
to an unknown God for Grace and conver- 
sion of heart from sin. But sometime 
after I fell again into a dilatory track. 
In the year 1735 I went to the university 

at Jena, on which occasion I prayed to God with 
a concernedheart to preserve me from seduction 
and convert me. This prayer I repeated very
often as I knew how hurtful bad the time 
was spent by the major part of the students, 
being afraid of falling into the same trade 
Soon after my arrival the late brotherDaer- 
baum went with me to the meetings of 
edification, held by the Revd MrBrumhards
Here I heard for the first time of Jesus
readiness to receive the poorest and most 
miserable sinners which proved to me, a 
word worthy of acceptation. After the meeting
I went to my lodgings and cast myself 
at the feet of the friend of sinners, entrea- 
ting Him with many tears to have mercy
upon me, and to assure me of my being 
accepted of him by delivering me from 
the dominions of sin in soul and body which 
had been on for some time a most grievous
burthen to me. He caused me to look in 

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that moment believingly to Him, in a manner 
as I had never been able to do, and I 
felt that sin had been laimed maimed 
and lost its force. Declining the propo- 
sal of my Father, to return home and 
to accept of a living, he withdrew his 
asistance, which on the one hand obliged 
me to find my support by teaching frensh
but set me on the other hand at liberty 
from accepting my father’s proposal con 
trary to the dictates of my heart. Christian 
Renatus de Zinzendorf coming in the year 1737
under the care of John Nitchman, to 
Jena, I had the pleasureto be his teacher 
in music and the frensh language. About easterthe same year the late ordinar 
travelling through Jena, he had an enteview 
with all those who were employed to teach 
his son, and asked every one, after he had 
first spoke with each of us separately: 
Wether we were willing to devote ourselves 

to our Saviour and the Congregation, and 
were desirous to be prepared for serving our Saviour
Every one said yes. But the question being 
put to me, I answered: “I am convinced 
that I ought to devote myself to our 
Saviour, and to be converted to him with 
my whole heart, for not doing it will 
render me an unfortunate man. But to
be devoted to the Congregation I do not 
understand.” He replied: “It is very well, 
this matter is only for such as understand 
it, meanwhile you may continue to instruct 
my son”. In June of the same year our 
Saviour was pleased to convince me, in 
a most striking manner of my call 
of to the brethren’s church, which time I 
never shall forget. Till now I thought 
as is common in my circumstances, that 
I was bound in duty to serve my native 
country, which had prevented me from to

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see or attend to our Saviour’s views with me. 
Previous to my going to doctorHamburgers
lectures upon natural philosophy, I 
meditated about myself and prayed to 
our Saviour, who was pleased to speak 
to my heart and to lead me into a serious
consideration concerning my past and 
future course. The following questions 
were brought home to my heart: “What will 
become of you at last and in what manner 
will your studies terminate? You can’t stay 
always at the university. If you become 
a minister in your native country what 
benefit will it be of to you on others; 
for if you go without being sent by me, you 
will be an unprofitable servant, and it 
may terminate with you as with other awa- 
kened students who did not prosper.” If
you will save your soul take refuge to 
the brethrenscongregation” &c. These and 

others considerations came with such clearness 
into my heartas if our Saviour was pre- 
sent and speaking to me, and I was en- 
abled to acquiesce and say amen to all,
with my whole heart. Now I knew 
what I was about, heard and saw every 
thing in another light, and my eye being 
single the whole body was light, so that 
I could not help wondering at the change 
wrought in me. I moved with the consent 
of John Nitchman in the month of July
into the house of of the young count, and which was 
exceedingly happy in the company of the 
brethren. John Nitchman was beloved
and respected as a father among us, and 
cared for the good of our souls with 
much love and faithfulness. Our main 
view was to become like little children, and 
such a spirit of love and zeal prevailed
among us, that we sat many a night 

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till one a clock together, speaking of the 
state of our souls and singing praises to 
him, who had chosen us from before the 
foundation of the world, and called us 
from among the confusion of the learned 
world to his people, and to whom we 
now wished to devote ourselves, with heart-
feltjoy as living sacrifices. In the year 
1733 we went with the young count to Berlin
where his father resided, having about 70 pil 
grims with him. This was a blessed time 
for me. The singing of the brethren and 
Sisters and the discourses of the late ordinary 
were attended with unction and the demons- 
tration of the spirit of God. Feby the 8th
I was received into the congn and the 22d
I was admitted to the Lord’s supper. 

Tho our lord had givin given me striking
proofs of his Grace, I was yet subject 
to many changes. This true foundation 

was laid in my heart, and I was delivered 
from sin. But being ignorant of the previ- 
ledges our Saviour’s patients are intitled 
to, I perplexed myself often at feeling
my innate depravity and did not know 
how to look upon it. But now it pleased
the friend of my soul to remove this by gran- 
ting me the favor to cast a believing look
upon Him as my all sufficient Saviour; for 
being at the comn Liturgy in deep and grate- 
ful meditation concerning the great favor I 
had enjoyed in eating and drinking the flesh 
and blood of the son of man sacramentally, 
and sighing to him, to make me quite happy; 
he appeared insuch a most striking manner 
to my heart as my bleeding and suffering
Redeemer, that I melted into tears like 
wax before the fire. From that time I 
proceeded from grace to grace and the 
connexion with Him my belovedLord whose 

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love had captivated my heart became 
daily more confident, and my gracious
callof Grace to belong to the congn more impor-
tant and precious. Having stayed 5 months 
at Berlin we returned to Jena where the 
testimony of Jesu’s Blood approved itself 
as the power of God to salvation upon many 
students and others. In the year 1739 we 
were called to Wetteravia, which proved a 
means to bring me to the Congn at Marien- 
born. July the 1st the late Ordinary arrived 
from St Thomas in the Westindies. As soon 
as he had saluted me he said: “My brother
I have spoken to our Saviour concerning 
you, whilst I was at sea. He has ordered 
me to mention to you in his name, that 
you are to go to Pensylvania to preach 
the gospel in the whole country.” I replied: 
“Here I am may he do with me what is 
wellpleasing to him.” Soon after I was ordai 

dained a Minister of the brethren’s Church, 
and went in company with the late ordinary 
to a Synodal confce held at Ebersdorf. Short- 
ly before my setting out on my intended 
post, he put me to a very severe but blessed
trial by saying before all present “Our brotherMolter is 
now going to Pensylvania, there he’ll perhaps 
meet with books wrote against us, or hear 
many bad things concerning the congregation; 
which will confuse his mind and then he 
will go from us” & I answered: “I can not 
boast of myself and make fair pro- 
misses; but one thing>this I can assertain, that 
before I prove unfaithful to the Congn, 
I must first loose sight, and entirely for- 
get our Saviour, nothing else can seperate 
me from the congregation”, At this declara- 
tion I could not refrain from tears. My 
answer removed his thoughtfulness concer- 
ning me, and he dismissed me with the a 
kiss of love and many blessings. I now 

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went to Herrnhut, where I was much struck
with the primitive simplicity of the place 
and the singing of all the single brethren
who were just going in procession through 
the place when I arrived. Having enjoy- 
ed many blessings during my abode there 
I returned to Marrienborn, where every 
thing relative to my future plan was settled
and I was married to Johanna de Seydewir
on the 5th of septr. As circumstances 
required my setting out without her, she it 
was resolved that she should follow me, with 
the next company that was to go to America. 
Septr the 23d I sat out and arrived at 
LondonOct. the 18th. As no ship was to 
sail to Pensylvaniatill the middle of Jany I endeavoured 
to spend my time as useful as I could, and kept meetings to a member of Germans 
who had been awakened by means of the 
testimony of brotherRichter, who washad de- 
parted this life at Algier. to the english 

brethren and Sisters. I kept meetings in the 
Latin language, having some body who inter- 
preted what I said into english, till I 
after sometime ventured to deliver discour-
ses in the E. language. There was at 
that time a Society at Fetterlane which 
was begun by br. Peter Boehler and 
was then cared for by the RevdJohn & 
charles Wesly. As these people did not 
rightly know what they were at they were 
come into a strangefanatical way, so 
that I did not know what to think when 
I came for the first time into their mee- 
tings and heard them sighgrown and howl
in a very strange manner, which they cal- 
led the demonstration of the spirit and the 
power of God. at speaking with the indi- 
viduals of this society, I found many 
deeply concerned for their souls. As 
deficient as I was in expressing myself 
in the E. Language, they pressed me so 

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Seeing that he could not obtain his aim
he declined all further fellowship with the 
Society, and stoodrisingfrom his seat with
He walked out with the words: “To me, all 
that are the Lord’s”. Some few followed 
him. Some brethrenwho gave me an account 
of what had happened, I advised to be 
still, and to leave the isue to our Saviour. 
In August, I had the joy to welcome 
my wife here in London, on her way to 
America. It was left to me to let her 
proceed or keep her with me; but being 
convinced in my heart that it was the 
will of our Lord that she should go thither, 
and finding her willing to go, I accom- 
panied her on board, where we prostrated 
in prayer before our Saviour and cove- 
nanted with each other to be and remain 
his, after which we took an affectionate
leave. In September I was recalled 

from London to Marrienborn, where having 
stayed for some time, I was commissioned to 
travel into francein order to look for such 
as were awakened. In Paris I found 
some godly persons who were mysticks and 
valued the writings of Mrs. Bourignon and 
Mrs Ladyde Guion. I also learned that there 
were a great many more of the same 
people who did not venture to make them- 
selves known. From thence I went to Lyon
Geneve by way of Lyon, here I stayed with 
the late Ordinary till May and enjoyed
many blessings. On my road from thence 
to HollandI fell sick, which necessitated 
me to stay 10 weeks with my mother. I
had no patience to wait till I was recovered, 
and before I reached Holland the fever 
had left me. In Septr I arrived at London, 
full of hopes and joy to pursue my destina- 
tion to Pensylvania, but I was again seized 

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with another illness, so that my fellow travel- 
lers entered upon their voyage without me. 
 Tho’ it did not appear as if I should 
recover, I was informed by a letter that 
in case of my recovering I was to go 
against to Genevato serve the awakened souls 
in that place. After 9 weeks illness I 
sat out for Geneva, where I arrived after an 
agreeable stay of some days at Marien- 
born, in Feb of the year 1742. I had 
not been there above a fortnight when 
I was ordered by the magistrates, who 
were dissatisfied with my stay there, to 
quit my private lodgings, and to move 
to an inn. Taking a journey in the coun- 
try I fell sick again & was received and 
treated as a servant of Christ at the house 
of Mr. Elie Prendhomme, to whom I was 
 recommended by his brother. It proved a 
great joy to me to see afterwards him and  

his whole family, to whom I was is much  
indebted, to become children of God our Saviour. 
This was also the casewith the family of old 
father Pindent, who at another time served 
me in the same kind manner. About this 
time I ventured, in reliance upon the help 
of our Lord, to translate our Hymns into 
the frensh language and in about a years 
time I got 70 of them printed. In April 
1743 I returned to Marienborn, where I 
  found my wife, who was arrived from Ame- 
rica a few days before me. I received her 
as if she was given me quite anew by our 
Saviour. After some time we travelled toge- 
ther to the Synod, which was held at Hirsch- 
berg. there we were appointed to visit the 
awakened souls in Switzerland. This jour- 
ney proved very agreeable to us both. When 
we were tired of walking we sat down in 
a lonely spot and sung a verse, feeling excee

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dingly well thereat. In a town called Speyer
where the whole frensh armee was quartered, 
we had a narrow escape of being killed, 
being nearly trodden under foot, by the 
horsemen who came from both sides upon us 
when we were just under the gate. In 
the critical moment, when nothing seemed 
to offer for our relief, I espied a little 
space between the horses, and snatching my 
wife into my arms I slipped through, 
wondering at and thanking our Lord for his 
kind protection. Nov 13th I settled the in- 
habitants of Montmirail-house into a congn
but after some time it was broke up again, 
as we met with opposition in Switzerland
and were even forbid to reside any more 
at Geneva. We now returned again in July 
1745 to Marienborn. In about the time of 
a year we went again into Switzerland, andwhere besides my former office I had also to care for the housekeeping, besides 

this and the journies into the country I was 
employed in translating the Congn accounts 
into the frensh language, as also with revi- 
sing the hymns I had translated sometime 
ago and adding more hymns to them, which 
labour proved a refreshmentto my heart. 
As circumstances required again our remo- 
val from Montmirail, we met in the hall 
for the last time to thank our Saviour for 
all the grace he had given us to enjoy in 
this place. I arrived at Herrnhaag (in 
company of the frensh brethren and Sisters
from Montmirail) in the last days of septr
of the year 1748. My stay here was not 
agreeable to me, as I did not like the then 

course of that congn. I therefore kept retired 
and in stillness. These circumstances caused 
me to search my own heart thoroughly, the 
conclusion of which was, that our Lord was pleased
to give me a renewed impression of my 

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election of grace. In 1749 we were in 
Holland and England with the late ordinary, 
in whose house we spent the time very blessedly
In 1750 we went to Barby, in hopes that 
the frensh brethren and sisters who were 
obliged to emigrate with the rest of the brn
and srs from Herrnhaag, would find it prac- 
ticable to settle there. Meanwhile the 
Count of Neuwied altered to receive them 
in his Dominions and to grant them liberty 
of conscience. The late Ordinary having 
had an interview with the count of Neu- 
wied, previous to his arival at Barby, 
he acquainted me, that he had found a place 
for the frensh brn & srs and viz: Neuwied, 
and told me to prepare for my journey 
thither. In septr I went to Herrnhaag
and from thence with some of the frensh 
brethren and sisters to Neuwied, where we 

arrived Oct the 16th. Soon after the remain 

der of them frenshbrethren & Sisters arrived 
with us, after which we all partook of the holy 
Comn at which our Savioursgrace was power- 
ful among us. We lived at first together 
in one house as one family. Love, simplicity, 
and grace and truth ruled among us, and 
He who regardeth the ready and poor, walked 
in our midst and the peace of God rested 
upon this congn. What trials of faith and 
patience we had to experience during the 
first 4 years is only known to our Saviour, 
but his faithfulness and support was our 
only dependence. These trials were the conse- 
quence of our moving to Neuwied before
matters had been finally settled with the 
count of Neuwied, for a deportation which 
treated afterwards with him in behalf of 
the unity returned after a stay of 3 weeks 
without being able to conclude upon anything, 
and we were left upon a very uncertain lasting 

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meanwhile occurred the wellknown hard trials
in England, so that the brethren had no time 
to think of our settling here upon a sure footing, 
and upon all the letters we wrote during
the space of 18 months, we received no answer 
All the newspapers were filled with the 
most bitter speeches against us, which were 
often repeated at our windows by persons who 
were evil inclined. We laid our heavy cir- 
cumstances before our Congn who formed the 
unanimous resolution to hold out with cou- 
rage and patience as long as possible. 
In the spring of 1753 the late ordinary sent 
a letter to the count of Neuwied importing, 
that his present circumstances made it im- 
practicable for him, to assist the establish- 
ment of a frensh Congn at Neuwied, and 
thatthe people who had moved thither with 
that intent would probably be obliged to 
return to Switzerland. The Count expressed 

his compassionforwith us and encouraged us 
by saying: “God can still give this matter 
a favourable turn and bring it to bear.” 
In Nov. It was resolved in a Congn Council
to send a deputy to London, who was to procure 
a final resolution wether we were to stay 
here or to move away; but our deputy falling 
very ill at Zeist we were obliged to be 
patient. In July 1754 we received the long 
wished for message, wich put an end to all 
our concern that the Congn was to stay at 
Neuwied, to build proper habitations and 
was to be augmented. The word of the day 
when I received this account form London
(viz. July the 22d) was: “The glory of the Lord
shall be revealed, and all flesh shall ice it 
together: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken 
it.” It is not possible to describe what joy
this account occassioned in the Congn.  All 
praised and adored the Lord for his kindness
towards us. Our concession being drawn, up 

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and signed in 1755, we began to prepare for 
building and in 3 years time the hall and 
2 Choir houses for the srbrn & srs were fini- 
shed and sundry houses and gardens bought.
The congregation encreased so fast that the 
number of souls amounted at the 
end of 1760 to 202. December the 10th 1758. 
the congn was settled by brotherJohannes, 
& the meeting hall concecrated. and In April 
1761 having been releas’d from my office
by brotherRisler, we sat out for Herrnhut
where wearrived after a difficult journey. 
Thus far our late brother. 

He stayed with his wife about a year in 
Herrnhut from whence he was called to have 
the care of the Congn at Dublin, where they 
arrived in the som summer of of 1762, previous 
to which they had brought their 3 sons to Cath- 
rinenhoff, to be educated in the childrens Oecy. 
In 1767 he was called to Bedford to be 
the Minister and Congn helper in that Congn
It is sufficiently known from the reports of 

that Congn with wat what unction and grace he 
served it. In 1775 he was called to the Synod
at Barby and consecrated a Bishop
of the brethren’s Church. Before he returned 
to Bedford he visited his children in Uper- 
Lusatia and Silivia and the Congn at Neu- 
wied (where his former services are still remembe- 
red with gratitude). He returned from thence
by way of Zeist to Bedford, where he arrived 
dec the 12th. From that time his strength de- 
cayed and he grew mostly blind. In 1779
he got a stroke of the palsy which lamed his 
right side. about a year after he had another 
attack of the same disorder which showed 
plainly that he was mean his end. He 
behaved himself under all these afflictions
as a servant of Christ and expressed his 
joy at the prospect of being soon at home 
with the Lord, in short he was in his 
last illness an edificiation and blessing to 

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all around him till he fell asleep in the
Lordseptr the 9th 1780 in the 66th year of 
his age. 

He lived 41 years in the married state and 
has had 7 children, of which 2 sons and 
one daughter are still alive.