Nicolaus Zinzendorf was a German religious and social reformer, bishop of the Moravian Church, founder of the Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine, Christian mission pioneer and a major figure of 18th century Protestantism.
Background
Zinzendorf was born on May 26, 1700 in Dresden, Germany. The second son of Georg Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf, a Saxon cabinet minister, by his wife, Carlotta Justina von Gersdorf, he was a scion of an ancient, wealthy noble family originally domiciled in Lower Austria.
Education
Zinzendorf was educated under the charge of his pietistic Lutheran grandmother, Henriette Catharina von Gersdorff, who did much to shape his character. His school days were spent at Halle where Pietism was strong, and in 1716, he went to the University of Wittenberg, to study law so as to be ready for a diplomatic career.
Career
Zinzendorf's career as a whole belongs to German biography, but for thirteen months he played a decisive personal part in American ecclesiastical affairs. The letters of Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg and George Whitefield induced him to visit Pennsylvania. With his daughter Benigna and a retinue of five he landed at New York December 2, 1741, and proceeded to Philadelphia, where he was entertained by John Stephen Benezet. He lost no time in seeking out Henry Antes, leader of the Associated Brethren of the Skippack, for the Count's chief purpose was to unite all the Pennsylvania German Protestants in an association to be known as the Congregation of God in the Spirit. Although he did not attempt to obliterate sectarian differences immediately, aiming only at mutual understanding and sympathy, Zinzendorf probably hoped that the Moravians would exercise a commanding influence over the other groups and ultimately absorb them. Meanwhile, the better to carry out his purpose, he had divested himself temporarily of his office of bishop in the Moravian Church and desired to be known as Ludwig von Thürnstein, a plain Lutheran clergyman. Through Antes he issued a call for a "union synod" or free conference to be held January 1, 1742, at Germantown. During the next six months six similar conferences were convened at various places - Falkner Swamp, Oley, Germantown, Philadelphia - but the Count's noble dream of Christian union could not be realized among a people incurably addicted to separatism and controversy. The movement that Zinzendorf had started did not die out at once. Its best consequence was that it stimulated the Lutherans and the Reformed to organize congregations and call pastors from Germany. During the latter half of 1742 Zinzendorf made three journeys in the interest of Moravian missions among the Indians: June 24 - August 2 to the Minnisinks, the Blue Mountains, the Aquanshicola, and the Upper Schuylkill, holding a successful parley with chiefs of the Six Nations at the house of Johann Conrad Weiser near Womelsdorf, Berks County; August 10 - August 31 to Shekomeko, Dutchess County, New York, where he organized an Indian congregation; and September 24 - November 9 to Shamokin. Zinzendorf also ministered to Lutherans and Reformed at Philadelphia, Germantown, and elsewhere, not always with happy results, and aided in establishing Moravian congregations at Bethlehem (which owes its name to him), Nazareth, Philadelphia, Hebron, Heidelberg, Lancaster, and York, Pennsylvania, as well as at New York and on Staten Island; in connection with a few congregations schools were started. He sailed for England from New York January 9, 1743. Zinzendorf died in Herrnhut on May 9, 1760, and was buried there.
Achievements
Connections
Zinzendorf married Erdmuthe Dorothea. She died in 1756. On 27 June 1757 Zinzendorf married Anna Caritas Nitschmann, with whom he had been very close for many years. Anna had for years been spiritual leader of the women of the movement. The marriage was not publicized broadly since Anna was a commoner, and would have been extremely controversial.