With Malice Toward None: The Inspirationist Response to the Civil War, 1860-1865

The Inspirationist Response to the Civil War, 1860-1865 63 intensely private people who sought isolation from the world.They appeared to feel that slavery, like any other evil in society, would be altered or eliminated by God in due course.They did not believe it their duty, or the duty of any other individual, to eradicate such an institution by any means, certainly not by war.The Inspirationists' reaction to the war, thus, came as an unexpected event.On December 9, 1860, the Inspirationist leader and Werkzeug (instrument), Christian Metz delivered a testimony, under inspiration, at a confessional service in South Amana. 1 This testimony began with a brief address to the members of the community urging them to pray for peace.The testimony was then directed towards "the leaders of this nation."2 It urged these leaders to humble themselves and to abandon the spirit of partiality.The testimony went on to suggest that if its words went unheeded and peace was not achieved, then a "disaster" would come upon them "like a terrible storm" and that "voices without number shall, in pain and woe, cry out against [them]."3 The brief testimony ended with the directive that it be sent to Charles Mayer, the elder then directing the sale of community property at Ebenezer, New York, so that he could translate it.Since Metz' testimonies were for, the most part, directed only to members of the Society, this particular example that was directed towards the leaders of the national government was a departure from the routine.4 1.Some mention should be made of the manner in which Christian Metz would present a testimony.Typically he would close his eyes and would then begin speaking.He would often wander around the meeting room, stopping in front of particular members who might be addressed by the testimony.In some instances he would walk from one room of the meeting house to another, but always with his eyes closed.The testimonies were usually spoken in a church service, but could occur at any time, the key fact being their spontaneity.The best description of the manner in which Metz' testimonies were delivered, and of his life in general, is to be found in Francis Alan DuVal, "Christian Metz: German-American Religious Leader and Pioneer," (unpublished dissertation, University of Iowa, 1948).2. Quoted in Gottlieb Scheuner, "The Great Rebellion and the Community of True Inspiration," trans.Paul Zimmerman, 1; an unpublished manuscript in the collection of the Amana Heritage Society, 1994.Scheuner (1836-1897) was the official historian of the Amana community, and his monumental Inspirations Historie stands as a testament to his unceasing efforts in collecting and preserving the early history of the community.In the 1870s Scheuner copied approximately 20 testimonies, 44 letters and numerous poems and petitions relative to Amana's role in the Civil War.The resulting 305-page volume is an invaluable collection of material on this subject, particularly as many of the letters recorded might otherwise have been lost.3. Scheuner, "Great Rebellion" 2. 4.Although the action of the Society in sending the testimony to the government was unusual, it was not without precedent.On July 13, 1848, Metz presented a testimony against the spread of anti-Christian doctrine within the United States which was directed towards "the government of the nation."The testimony urged the government to take measures to control such anti-Christian thought as it was spread by immigrants fleeing