country--especially at Chelcic, Wilenow and Divischau--began to take
Peter as their spiritual guide. They read his pamphlets with
delight, became known as the "Brethren of Chelcic," and wore a
distinctive dress, a grey cloak with a cord tied round the waist.
The movement spread, the societies multiplied, and thus, in a way
no records tell, were laid the foundations of the Church of the
Brethren. Did Peter see that Church? We do not know. No one knows
when Peter was born, and no one knows when he died. He delivered
his message; he showed the way; he flashed his lantern in the
darkness; and thus, whether he knew it or not, he was the literary
founder of the Brethren's Church. He fired the hope. He drew the
plans. It was left to another man to erect the building.




CHAPTER V.

GREGORY THE PATRIARCH AND THE SOCIETY AT KUNWALD, 1457-1473.

A brilliant idea is an excellent thing. A man to work it out is
still better. At the very time when Peter's followers were
marshalling their forces, John Rockycana,5 Archbishop-elect of
Prague (since 1448), was making a mighty stir in that drunken city.
What Peter had done with his pen, Rockycana was doing with his
tongue. He preached Peter's doctrines in the great Thein Church; he
corresponded with him on the burning topics of the day; he went to
see him at his estate; he recommended his works to his hearers; and
week by week, in fiery language, he denounced the Church of Rome as
Babylon, and the Pope as Antichrist himself. His style was vivid