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British politician

Joining the Order in the 18th Century

James Hutton was an early leader of both Methodism and Moravianism in Great Britain. He was a sensitive and tactful character, unlike John Wesley and Zinzendorf whose passion and zeal could sometimes make them difficult to deal with!

On the 22nd April 1743, he wrote a letter to Zinzendorf describing a meeting with Mr Erskine, a Scottish Member of Parliament:

…Mr Erskine was with me this day. I told him, there was an Order of the Mustard Seed, raised at first as the motto of the ring made manifest, to promote the good of mankind… and it was hoped and expected that the members of that Order would be glad to promote the kingdom of our dear Saviour in the world.

I told him it was agreed in Holland, by some members of that Order, to choose him as one of their members, and accordingly I presented him with the ring; which he received with very great humility and respect, testifying his great unworthiness and expressing very [emotionally] his desire, to be in any way useful in the kingdom of our dear Lord and Saviour; at the same declaring that he looked upon this, as a greater honour done to him than any honour which could have been conferred upon him by any Prince of Europe, or by them all together.

He prayed the Lord to help him, put it on the little finger of his left hand, and kissed the ring, with much respect.

Clearly this was not Hutton’s first meeting with Erskine. Their approach to becoming a member of the Order contains some useful insights for anyone considering making a similar commitment today:

• Hutton explained again the nature and purpose of the order.

Be clear on what you are doing and why.

• Erskine approached the matter with an attitude of humility and respect.

Recognise the serious nature of the commitment you intend to make.

• They enacted a simple, formal, and culturally appropriate ritual (the giving of the ring).

A degree of formality and ritual is helpful when making a commitment of this nature.

• Erskine “prayed the Lord to help him”.

We too must recognise our dependence on God’s help in living out our vow.

The original letter is held in the Moravian archives at Herrnhut. Used with permission.

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