George; the King, who owned the estate, gave his gracious
permission; and Gregory and his faithful friends wended their way to
Kunwald, and there began to form the first settlement of the Church
of the Brethren. And now many others from far and wide came to make
Kunwald their home. Some came from the Thein Church in Prague, some
across the Glatz Hills from Moravia, some from Wilenow, Divischau
and Chelcic, some from the Utraquist Church at Königgratz,8 some,
clothed and in their right minds, from those queer folk, the
Adamites, and some from little Waldensian groups that lay dotted
here and there about the land. There were citizens from Prague and
other cities. There were bachelors and masters from the great
University. There were peasants and nobles, learned and simple,
rich and poor, with their wives and children; and thus did many, who
longed to be pure and follow the Master and Him alone, find a
Bethany of Peace in the smiling little valley of Kunwald.

Here, then, in the valley of Kunwald, did these pioneers lay the
foundation stones of the Moravian Church {1457 or 1458.}.9 They
were all of one heart and one mind. They honoured Christ alone as
King; they confessed His laws alone as binding. They were not
driven from the Church of Rome; they left of their own free will.
They were men of deep religious experience. As they mustered their
forces in that quiet dale, they knew that they were parting company
from Church and State alike. They had sought the guidance of God in
prayer, and declared that their prayers were answered. They had met
to seek the truth of God, not from priests, but from God Himself.
"As we knew not where to turn," they wrote to Rockycana, "we turned
in prayer to God Himself, and besought Him to reveal to us His
gracious will in all things. We wanted to walk in His ways; we
wanted instruction in His wisdom; and in His mercy He answered our