Moravian Lives @ Moravian U

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Memoir of Francis Thomas, who died at Bethlehem April 4, 1832 (read before the Congregation at the funeral of the deceased, in accordance with the custom of Moravians, & translated from the German.)

Brother Francis Thomas, a widower, who departed this life on the 4th inst. was born in Württemberg in Germany, September 8, 1732. When about 6 yrs. old he came to America with his parents, & lived for some time in Philadelphia. He subsequently removed with his parents to Lancaster, where a Congregation of the Brethren was beginning to be formed, & with which his parents connected themselves. Of the Brethren with whom he became acquainted in his youth, Bishop Spangenberg made a peculiarly strong impression on his mind. He saw the latter for the first time while on a visit with his mother to some relatives, Bro. Beck, who were then stationed at Muddy Creek. Br. Spangenberg asked him, "whether he desired to become the property of the Saviour?" to which he replied in his blunt & unsophisticated manner: "No, I don't want to — I know nothing of a Saviour!"

His mother, greatly annoyed by his reply, said to him: "My child, don't you know the Lord Jesus?" "Yes, Him I know very well," answered he, "but of a Saviour I don't know anything!" Bishop Spangenberg gently laying his hand upon the head of the child, said to him: "You are the Saviour's property, & must continue to belong to him."

This was fulfilled in his case, he was often heard to say with a feeling of deep & heartfelt gratitude. As he manifested great fearlessness & total disregard of danger, he was frequently employed in the capacity of a courier, an employment at that time connected with no trifling difficulties, & in which he several times experienced a providential preservation of life. On one occasion he was thrown from his horse, & dislocated his neck; & was,

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through the ice with his horse, & narrowly escaped with his life.

Having learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, he was married to Sr. Anna Catharine Graeff (dec. Oct. 1815) on Jany. 12, 1762, with whom he led a happy matrimonial life for 53 yrs. They had no issue.

On Nov. 10, 1763 both of them were admitted to membership in the congregation; & on June 8, 1765 Br. Thomas joined the congregation in the celebration of the holy communion for the first time. That holy rite he continued to hold in high esteem to the day of his death.

In 1767 he removed to Lititz with his wife as an assistant in the Hotel, & in the year 1772 came to Bethlehem under an engagement of a like character. He subsequently resumed his mechanical profession, in the prosecution of which his industry, honesty & faithfulness won for him the respect & confidence of all with whom he dealt. This he acquired in a far more extended degree, after he received the appointment of attendant on visitors. In this employment, he succeeded by his candour, obliging disposition & readiness to do any act of kindness, in securing for himself the love & regard of every one, and his name will long continue to be held in affectionate remembrance.

For some time previous to the death of his wife, he was subject to severe attacks of rheumatism, which frequently disturbed his nocturnal repose. These returns occurred at shorter intervals during the last years of his life, when the infirmities of advanced age were added to his sufferings. He felt the more grateful, that in the providence of God, that his wife, being themselves childless, had educated three children of Missionaries, Rachel Schneller, Anna Maria Schneller, & Maria Elizabeth Brown, whose stay under his roof will be ever gratefully remembered by them.

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The last of these was in a condition to attend to the duties of his household & to minister to his comfort after the death of his wife, for which he, & we with him, invoked a special blessing of the Lord upon her.

Br. Thomas bore his sufferings with genuine resignation into the will of the Lord, & was never heard to complain. On the contrary he was full of thankfulness for the loving-kindness of his Redeemer, who vouchsafed to him a sense of His peace in so marked a manner, that he was enabled to look forward cheerfully & joyously to the moment of his final release from suffering.

"Our dear Lord deals most graciously with me!" he was wont to say; "I live at peace with all men, — I have no unkind feelings towards any; — but what surpasses all, I enjoy His peace: & when I have that, I long for nothing else."

With these sentiments he awaited for a long time past the happy moment, when his soul would leave its appointed tenement, & be permitted to behold Him face to face, in whom he believed with childlike assurance.

During the past week it was difficult for him to move from one spot to another, & eventually he was confined to his couch. It soon became apparent, that his end was approaching. On Monday last, at his own request, the blessing of the Lord was pronounced over him at his bedside, after the singing of a hymn. As the concluding phrase was uttered: "The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee & give thee Peace," he exclaimed: — "Yes, yes, His peace! Ah! I feel it now! Without it how could I endure this agony! — but His peace softens every pang!"

He uttered his grateful acknowledgments for every act of kindness shown him. Another day & night of great distress passed, during which time he continued perfectly conscious, & knew every one about him, as well as those who

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called to see him. At length on Thursday morning, early the wished for moment arrived, & he ceased to breathe, & his spirit departed to the tents of the just, eternally to praise Him, who had redeemed him, & to rest with Him in everlasting bliss.

His age was 89 yrs. 6 mo & 26 days.