5. Hymns of the Bohemian Brethren.
The followers of John Hus who came to be known as the Bohemian Brethren, and later as the Moravians, were the first Protestant group to introduce congregational singing into their worship. They also published the first Protestant hymnbooks, one in 1501 and another in 1505, containing 89 and 400 hymns, respectively, in their native Bohemian tongue. Their efforts to introduce congregational singing were sternly opposed by the Roman hierarchy. The Council of Constance condemned Hus to be burned at the stake and warned his successor, Jacob of Misi, to cease the singing of hymns in the churches. It decreed:
If laymen are forbidden to preach and interpret the Scriptures, much more are they forbidden to sing publicly in the churches.
As a result of their persecution, the Brethren in 1508 sent out messengers to search for true Christian people into whose communion they might apply for admission—one to Russia, one to Greece, one to Bulgaria, and one to Palestine and Egypt. All returned unsuccessful. No such Christians had been found. They therefore remained in their own country, giving themselves assiduously to the translation and printing of the Bible.
In 1522 the Brethren sent two messengers to Luther to greet him and ask his advice. Luther became interested in them and welcomed their fellowship. He was impressed with the hymnbook the Brethren had published, and later used some of the hymns in his own work.
Two centuries later, the Brethren, known now as the Moravians, settled on Count Zinzendorf’s estates in Saxony, spreading rapidly from thence into other countries in Europe and to the United States. One of England’s foremost hymn writers and hymnologists, James Montgomery, was an adherent to their faith.
Bohemian Brethren and Moravian Hymns in the Hymnary
Michael Weisse, 1480-1534, “Christ, the Lord, is ris’n again” ([544]) Tunes: “Mit Freuden Zart” ([512]), “Ravenshaw” ([292]) von Zinzendorf, Nikolaus L., 1700-60, “Jesus, still lead on” ([574]) von Zinzendorf, Christian R., 1724-62, “Man of sorrows” ([537]) Henriette Luise von Hayn, 1724-82, “I am Jesus’ little lamb” ([430]) James Montgomery, 1771-1854, “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” ([65]) “Angels from the realms of glory” ([81]) “Go to dark Gethsemane” ([107]) and many others