but would leave a surplus to be appropriated to the cultivation of the other fields of labor which have been opened around us. The christian public seeing that we have done "what we could," will come to our aid, and with this, a church, and parsonage too, would soon be built.

Our esteemed missionary, br. Guenther, though he is too modest to make it, has really a just demand for an increase of sustentation. It is impossible for him to support himself and family upon his present allowance. We, who observe his untiring zeal, and his self denying labors in the cause of his blessed Master, know that the "laborer is worthy of his hire," but feel also, that his hire is not worthy of his labors.

He has not spoken, and from motives of delicacy, will not speak, but his necessities need no tongue to make themselves known, especially with the knowledge of the amount of his salary, and the present cost of living. These demands are now before the Society, and it is for all its members and friends to give them a hearty and liberal response. Then shall the work, with the blessing of God, go on to prosper; while we shall enjoy the supreme satisfaction of knowing that we have contributed something, however little, towards the extension of the kingdom of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In behalf of the Board of Managers

DAVID BIGLER,

Pres., & Cor. Sec.

EXPLANATORY REMARKS

in reference to certain items contained in the statement of the accounts of the Sustentation Diacony, May 31st, 1853.

(See Moravian Church Miscellany, pp. 396 and 397.)

The improvements which our Sustentation Diacony has during the last five or six years derived from the increased contributions of the several Congregation Diaconies of Bethlehem, Nazareth and Litiz, , are comprehended in the following brief statement.

1. The congregation of Bethlehem, which, from the funds of its Diacony for a number of years, contributed annually towards the necessities of the Sustentation Diacony the sum of about Six Hundred Dollars, was in 1848, by the sale of a part of its lands, enabled to increase that sum to $1500-exclusive of a further contribution of one half of its annual surplus over and above all its expenditures. In 1851, an agreement was entered into between said congregation and the authorities of the Church in general, by

which nearly one half of the property, real and personal, of the congregation was ceded to the Sustentation Diacony, the proceeds of which, as far as realized up to May 31st, 1853, amounted to $106,050-out of which sum $88,429 56 has been invested as a permanent special fund, bearing 5 per cent interest, payable quarterly by the Unity's Administration at Bethlehem; $2000 are invested in the "old church" and adjoining buildings, which were conveyed at that valuation by Bethlehem congregation to the Sustentation Diacony, $2667 85 have been added to the stock of the Sustentation Diacony as a general contingent fund, and the balance amounting to $12952 59 has been appropriated towards the paying off of the former capital debt of the Sustentation Diacony. The annual interest derived from the said special fund, amounting to $4256 45 (which sum is in the printed statement of accounts included in item: "Interest received,") the decrease of Interest paid (owing to the diminution of liabilities brought about by paying off $12932 59 of former debts, as above stated), and finally the surplus of rents received from the old church-buildings over expenses for repairs, and these items taken together, and amounting to about $5000-form at present that part of the increase of the Sustent. Diacony, which would properly come under the head of "Contributions" from Bethlehem congregation-showing an increase of $4400 00 over the contribution received from the same congregation in former years and as late as five years ago.

2. The congregation at Nazareth has also been enabled, by the sale of part of their lands since 1850 to raise their fixed annual contribution from $230 to $1000, besides an occasional addition of from $150-$200 yearly, being one third part of the net surplus of the yearly accounts of said congregation. It is also proper to state, that the "Schoeneck Fund," (Item VI. of the Liabilities,) amounting to $1745-are the proceeds of an integral part of the lands held by the Nazareth Congregation Diacony;-the object of said fund being to apply the interest towards the support of the minister at Schoeneck, which fund should therefore be looked upon as a donation of Nazareth Congregation Diacony to the Schoeneck congregation.

3. In a like manner we are bound publicly to acknowledge the liberality of our Brethren of Litiz congregation, who, although less abundantly provided with means, than their sister congregations, have since 1848 raised their annual contribution to the Sustentation Diacony, with the aid of their flourishing Young Ladies' Seminary, from $230 annually, to $600.

Thus we are at present in the enjoyment of an aggregate increase of our yearly income, derived from the several congregation Diaconies, of about $5700, (formerly $1060-now $6750) compared to what these three congregations contributed formerly, for a great number of years, and up to the year 1847, when, after the lapse of

twelve intervening years, another Provincial Synod met, since which time the above mentioned improvements in the state of our secular affairs have gradually been introduced, and with the aid of the Lord, have so far proved successful.

December, 1853.

P. H. GOEPP.

CONSECRATION

of the new church at Hopedale, Wayne Co., Penna., December 4th and 5th, 1853.

Dear Brother :

BETHLEHEM, Dec. 8th, 1853.

Having just returned with my dear friend and brother William L. Lennert from a visit to Hopedale, I now proceed, at the urgent request of several of my personal friends, to lay before the readers of the Miscellany, for future reference, an account of our trip to the Beechwoods, and of the solemnities attending the consecration of the new church at Hopedale. We left Nazareth at 8 o'clock A. M., on Friday, December 2d, in a two horse conAfter we had dined at Tannersville, we pushed on, veyance. over very rough roads, to the Broad Mountain, along the slope of which a new railroad is now being constructed from Scranton to Philadelphia. A great number of Irishmen were engaged there, some erecting shanties and out-houses among the scruboaks for their winter-quarters, others cutting their winter fuel, and others again, working on the projected rail-road. Towards evening snow commenced falling, which after sunset, while we were travelling over the rough road, through the dark dense forest of hemlock, pine, spruce, beech, and a great variety of other trees, served not only to enlighten our course, but also to add beauty to the scenery, the snow charmingly contrasting with the dark evergreens. About 6 o'clock we arrived at Henry Whitesell's hotel, where we met with much better fare and accommodations for the night, than we had anticipated. The landlord having the carcasses of four deer suspended in his barn, we purchased one of them on our way home, venison being an article of diet rarely seen in our part of the country. Next morning after breakfast, we passed over the last seven miles before Hopedale, where, at 10 o'clock, we took the pastor of the congregation and his children by surprise, they not having expected our arrival until late in the afternoon. My letter, advertising them of our intended

noun.

time of arrival, they did not receive, until some time in the afterWe found br. P. Ricksecker and br. and sr. David Zeisberger Smith, with their babe and sister Edwina, all in good health, and rejoiced to see their hopes realized by our coming.

Before relating the order of the exercises on the two days appointed for the consecration, permit me to remark, that the workmen were busily engaged till late at night, in finishing off the seats for the new church; and a number of hands, under the direction of br. Schwartz, in decorating the building outside as well as inside. They planted a row of six beautiful double spruce trees into the ground, as an avenue leading to the door of the church, which was itself decorated with evergreen wreaths, surmounted by a wooden heart, covered with moss. The decent looking pulpit, as well as the communion table, were covered with red flannel, over which was thrown a white gauze covering, edged with fringes and furbelows, which gave the whole a very pleasing appearance. Above the pulpit, at the wall, and all along the breastwork of the gallery, rich festoons of spruce were hung, with a sprinkle of artificial flowers among them. The two chan deliers suspended from the ceiling, and presented by br. Sylvester Wolle, the principal of the Female Institute at Bethlehem, together with eight snow white curtains, put up by some of the members, contributed greatly to render the appearance of this neat new sanctuary, airy, light and comfortable.

The church itself is a weatherboarded frame building, painted white, having four windows on each side and two at the gable end, one on each side of the door of entrance. Pilasters between the side windows impart a graceful air to the looks of the building, the dimensions of which are, fifty by forty feet, the entrance facing the East. The octagonal belfry is furnished at the top with a ball and vane, and inside with a good sounding bell, of Meneely's manufacture at West Troy, N. Y., which cost $68, and was purchased by the subscriptions of the young people.

On Sunday, Dec. 4th, at 10 o'clock A. M., when the two min isters from abroad, entered the church, Br. Ricksecker, with his family, commenced singing a consecration-anthem from the gallery. After they had ceased, I gave out a hymn and delivered a short dedicatory address in German, while the people were still crowding in from all quarters, until the house was filled with hearers. Then, in a solemn prayer, we consecrated this house, as a church, for the use of the United Brethren, to the service of the Triune God, and implored his blessing on it, the congregation and their ministers, as well as all orders of men. Br. Lennert then mount, ed the pulpit, and preached a plain, practical and appropriate ser mon in the German language on Ps. 84, 2. 3 and 11. Another anthem was sung with excellent effect, by fifteen singers in the gallery, accompanied by four violins.

At 2 o'clock P. M., I preached an English thanksgiving-sermon from Ps. 105, 1-6; whereupon Br. Lennert addressed the children present, in a very simple and feeling manner, and succeeded in gaining their full attention. While I was preaching, I noticed a grey headed man, who appeared to be deeply interested in every word that was spoken. After service we approached each other, and shock hands together, when I recognized in him a former acquaintance, who corroberated what I had said in reference to the state of things which obtained in this valley some fifty or a hundred years ago, when bears and wolves, with savage Indians, still traversed these parts, and how much the present Christian inhabitants were indebted to the goodness of God, for the wonders he had wrought in their behalf, and the many comforts, which they now enjoyed. My friend had been one of the earliest settlers in the valley, and was therefore better qualified than many younger citizens to appreciate the truth of the above remarks.Among other old acquaintances I also encountered a young woman, whom I had known during my stay at Nazareth. On enquiring of her, whether I had not confirmed her there, she replied: "Oh yes! I shall never forget that season!" and then burst out into tears. She had married a worthy young man of Hopedale, and three healthy looking children standing around her, in the aisle, of the church, were the fruits of their matrimonial connection.

In the evening we held conjointly, a meeting for prayer, and praise, br. Lennert attending to the first part of the service, and I then lecturing in German on the story of Zaccheus, the publican. (Luke 19. 1-10.) The collections during the day, dide not amount to more than $20, owing to the limited means of the people in general. The church, when paid for, will have cost: the congregation about $1500, about $700 of which remained unpaid on the day of consecration. We would here insert a fervent plea in behalf of the wants of these plain, honest and true hearted people, who, we believe, have done all they could, to contribute to the liquidation of their church debt. Any donations for this purpose forwarded to the undersigned, or to Br. J. C. Jacobson, the president of the P. E. C., will be faithfully remit ted to the senior pastor at Hopedale, who, during his last summer's tour through our congregations, succeeded in collecting the following sums: