hmann
and Toeltschig led the Congregation in most earnest prayer. Then
Nitschmann delivered an earnest charge, setting before him the
importance of his office, which made him the foremost member of the
Congregation, especially in times of danger, for in the early Church,
as well as among our forefathers in Moravia, the bishops were ever the
first victims. He was asked if he would freely and willingly give up his
life for the Congregation and the Lord Jesus. He answered, 'Yes.' Then
he was reminded of the evil which arose when bishops, seeing their power
in a Congregation, began to exalt themselves, and to make outward show
of their pre-eminence. He was asked whether he would recognize as evil,
abjure, and at once suppress any inclination he might feel toward pride
in his position as Chief Elder, and his larger authority. He answered
with a grave and thoughtful 'Yes.' Then our Nitschmann prayed over him
earnestly, and ordained him to his office with the laying on of hands.
Nitschmann was uncommonly aroused and happy, but Anton Seifert was
very humble and quiet." John Wesley, who was present, wrote "The great
simplicity, as well as solemnity, of the whole, almost made me forget
the seventeen hundred years between, and imagine myself in one of those
assemblies where form and state were not; but Paul the tent-maker, or
Peter the fisherman, presided; yet with the demonstration of the Spirit
and of power."

Both Wesley and Benjamin Ingham refer to Seifert as a "bishop", which is
a mistake, though a natural one. Wesley was present at the ordination,
and heard the charge, with example and warning drawn from the actions
of earlier bishops; while Ingham, in the course of several long
conversations with Toeltschig concerning the Moravian Episcopate and
Seifert's ordination, asked "is Anton a bishop?" and was answered,
"yes, FOR OUR CONGREGATION." This was in view of the fact that Bishop
Nitschmann, in ordaining Seifert, had empowered him to delegate another
member to hold the Communion, baptize, or perform the marriage ceremony
in case of his sickness or necessary absence. At that time the Moravian
Church was just beginning to form her own ministry, the ranks of Deacon,
Presbyter and Bishop were not fully organized, and the definite system
was only established by the Tenth General Synod of the Church in 1745.
The exigencies of the case required large powers for a man serving in an
isolated field, and they were given him, but stric