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| The original Chronicle of the Hutterian
Brethren, Das Kleine Geschichtbuch, in Bonhomme Colony, SD. |
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| Replica of Hutterian (Habaner) pottery. |
After the
Hutterites survived persecution and suffering the ‘Golden Period’ which lasted
from 1565-1592 began.
During this
time the community grew rapidly, and by 1621 there were around 102 Communities
with a total population of 20 000 to 30 000.
The members of the colonies were engaged
in a variety of different economic activities. Some of them included wagon
making, cutlery, leather working, nursing, pharmacy, shoe making, pottery
making, watch making, and weaving. There were also barbers, surgeons,
coppersmiths, tinsmiths, and locksmiths. Because of their reputation as hard workers they were
hired by many of the Lords in Moravia and Slovakia.
They also had doctors that were superior to the
other doctors in Europe and some Lords sent for Hutterian doctors to meet their
medical needs.
During this time, Hutterites established the
first kindergartens, 270 years
before the first ones opened in Germany. At that time Caspar Braitmichel began
writing the History Chronicle (Das Kleine Geschicht Buch).
During the Golden Period, the
Bruderhöfe were very well organized and prosperous and mission work was carried out more than
ever before or after that.
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