| Two Congregations | |||||||||||
The history of these lands makes up a fascinating story. Originally part of the Northwest Territory, they became, in 1809, the Illinois Territory, consisting of what is now Illinois and Wisconsin. The first governor, Ninian Edwards, gave his name to one of the largest of the six counties, Edwards County, which included most of the eastern half of Illinois, the eastern third of Wisconsin, the middle portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and some islands in Lake Superior.
Illinois became a state on December 3, 1818, the 21st in the Union. At that time there were few settlers living here besides the native Americans, the Piankashaws, a division of the Miami Indians. Fear of Indians as well as difficulties in travel kept early settlers out. After the Black Hawk War in 1832, when the Indians were defeated, settlers began to arrive.
Tradition recounts that in 1830, a man named Walser traveled through this area. When he got home to Salem, North Carolina, he gave glowing reports of the beautiful forests, prairies, streams and wild game that he had seen. This influenced a number of Moravian families from North Carolina to migrate here. The earliest settler was Adam Hedrick, who purchased his land on August 25, 1830. Second was Peter Hinkle, who claimed his land on May 30, 1831. Many more friends followed them, until by 1843, more than 80 families lived within a three-mile radius of West Salem, most of them Moravians.
To name the new community was no problem. Since they had come from the Moravian settlement of old Salem, North Carolina, they would naturally call their new home New Salem. This remained its name until 1854, when they petitioned for a United States Post Office and discovered that Illinois already had a New Salem, a village northwest of Springfield, now famous for its Lincoln history. Therefore, the name was changed to West Salem, and it was officially incorporated on February 8, 1857.
Itinerant preachers occasionally stopped and held services in the new settlement, but this did not satisfy the spiritual needs of the residents. So in 1841, they applied for help to the headquarters of the Moravian Church at Salem, North Carolina. William Eberman, the Moravian pastor at Hope, Indiana, was sent to visit and preach for them that fall. The next spring, 1843, Martin Hauser, a Moravian home missionary from Hope, visited here, to preach, baptize, and to talk about organizing a congregation.
Hauser made a second visit in the spring of 1844. On Saturday, May 25, at a meeting held in Peter Hinkle's barn, Hauser invited those who wished to become members of the new congregation to come forward and sign the Brotherly Agreement and the Constitution. The heads of 15 families signed, and the congregation was born. The next day was Whitsunday, when again they met in Hinkle's barn for preaching, confirmation, and Holy Communion.
This same year, a cemetery was laid out for the use of the community. As is common with Moravians, there were no family plots. Rather, the cemetery was divided into four sections, one for the married men, one for the married women, one for boys and one for the girls. The first burial was made in January of 1844.
Hauser made a third trip to the new congregation in May of 1845. A Sunday School had already been organized, and regular religious services were being held in a school house located on the Frank Hinkle farm. On his way home, Hauser stopped at the federal land office in Palestine, Illinois, to buy 80 acres of land in the name of the church. This is the land on which the present village of West Salem is located.
In the spring of 1846, he returned on a fourth visit. Besides tending to his spiritual duties, he hired a local surveyor to help him lay out the village square and building lots of a town to be called New Salem. Since by this time the first church building was finished, he dedicated it on May 31, 1846.
The congregation now felt ready to call a resident minister, so the church authorities in North Carolina asked Martin Hauser to become the first pastor. He and his family arrived here with their belongings on August 5, 1846, before the parsonage was ready. They moved into a vacant house until October, when they were able to move into the parsonage.
In the early years, English was the language commonly used here. But during 1849, more than 60 Moravian immigrants from Germany arrived, desiring to establish homes here and become members of the congregation. They were warmly received, but before too long trouble developed between the Germans and the original English-speaking settlers. Language differences caused part of the difficulty, but the old German ideas and customs added to it.
In order to solve the problem, the congregation was separated into "divisions," one English and one German, each with its own official boards and its own pastor, but sharing the use of the church building and the cemetery. After nine years, this arrangement was no longer satisfactory, so on February 7, 1858, they became two separate congregations. The Germans retained the old church, and the English congregation built a new church on the south side of the public square. It was dedicated on August 14, 1859.
At the time of the division into two congregations, the English Church retained the old cemetery, while the Germans laid out a new on just north of the church. Like the original cemetery, it was divided into four quarters, for married men, married women, boys and girls. In both cemeteries, the stone markers were of uniform size and lay flat on the ground, according to Moravian custom.
For 57 years, West Salem had two Moravian Churches, each with its own building, cemetery, pastor, and congregation. On April 10, 1892, the German congregation dedicated a new building, the present Moravian Church. Through the years, the German group began using the English language, and gradually accepted American ways. So on June 13, 1915, the two congregations were reunited. The two cemeteries, which were gradually growing together, also were united at that time.
On Sunday, May 25, 1919, impressive services were held commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Church. On that afternoon, the Hauser Memorial Arch was dedicated, a brick and concrete structure dedicated to the memory of Martin Hauser and his wife by 38 of their surviving grandchildren. This memorial arch marks their final resting places in the old English section.
Today, the West Salem Moravian Cemetery is a neat, well-kept burying ground of over nineteen hundred graves. Anyone may be buried here, provided that some kind of religious service is held in connection with the funeral. Lots are available for purchase, in a variety of locations and at different prices. The public is welcome to visit the cemetery at any time. The management of the cemetery is a sacred trust which the Moravian Church of West Salem holds in behalf of the community.
Today's
Church
As years went by, the need was evident for an
addition to the church building to serve as Christian Education facilities.
Known to many in the congregation as the Christian Education Wing, ground
was broken to the west of the present church building. The CE Wing was
dedicated into service on February 12, 1967.
On the church's 147th anniversary in May of 1991, a large stone historical marker was placed at the main entrance to the church cemetery. The memorial stone is dedicated to Martin and Susanna Hauser for their love and devotion to our church, our community, and our Lord Jesus Christ while also serving as a tribute to all of the original settlers who spent their lives opening up civilization to this portion of Southern Illinois. Most importantly, is serves as a praise to God for all of His blessings. The front of the stone includes the Moravian Seal along with a brief history of the church and cemetery. Important historical dates in the establishment of West Salem and the West Salem Moravian Church are listed on the back side of the stone.
The 150th anniversary in 1994 was celebrated in a fashion to remember our forefathers. A year-long celebration was planned to commemorate this special time in the life of the church. Some of the special events included: a traditional German meal, holding church services at the site of Peter Hinkle's farm, and a Tea and Open House to kick off the holiday season.
As the congregation continued to expand, the need to enlarge the facility was realized. In 1996, a new kitchen, classroom, women's bathroom and a handicapped bathroom were added.
In 2003, the church steeple was restored. On Tuesday, April 19, 2011, powerful winds brought down the steeple, which had stood for 119 years. The congregation looks forward to working together to replace the steeple in the near future.
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The church today continues in the fashion of our forefathers...building His church and serving Him.