1708 · event
The Schwarzenau Brethren
A group baptized in the Eder River at Schwarzenau began a movement shaped by both Anabaptist convictions and Pietism.
In August 1708, five men and three women met at the Eder River in Schwarzenau for baptism on a personal confession of faith. An unnamed member baptized Alexander Mack, who then baptized the other seven. All had previously been baptized as infants, so the action placed them outside the religious order enforced by the authorities.
Their gathering expressed a commitment to live together under the guidance of the New Testament. The Church of the Brethren’s history connects the movement with peaceful action, plain and compassionate living, and active witness. Evangelists traveled to other communities; migration to Pennsylvania began in 1719, followed by the organization of a congregation at Germantown in 1723.
Sources for this history: [1] [2]
