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103-531: From 1833 to 2009, Oberhasli was incorporated as the Oberhasli district , the easternmost of the 26 districts of the canton of Bern , bordering the district of Interlaken to the west. Since 2010, Oberhasli and Interlaken have been administratively united as the administrative district Interlaken-Oberhasli . The local dialect is of the Highest Alemannic variety. With its area of 551 km, it

206-882: A political subdivision for cantons . In the federally constituted Switzerland , each canton is completely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore, there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between canton and municipality , loosely termed districts . Most cantons are divided into Bezirke (German for districts, singular Bezirk ). They are also termed Ämter ( Lucerne , singular Amt ), Amtsbezirke ( Bern , Amtsbezirk ), district (in French) or distretto ( Ticino and part of Graubünden ). The Bezirke generally provide only administration and court organization. However, for historical reasons districts in cantons Grisons and Schwyz are their own legal entities with jurisdiction over tax and often have their own Landsgemeinde . Seven of

309-483: A revival of religion and piety . The blending of these three traditions would produce an evangelical Protestantism that placed greater importance "on seasons of revival, or outpourings of the Holy Spirit , and on converted sinners experiencing God's love personally." In the 1710s and 1720s, revivals became more frequent among New England Congregationalists. These early revivals remained local affairs due to

412-577: A 2006 decision to abolish the former system of districts. On 1 January 2010, the 26 administrative districts ( Amtsbezirke ) lost their administrative role that was transferred to 10 new administrative districts ( Verwaltungskreise ): Nota bene that the 26 Bernese districts do still formally exist and are maintained by Article 38 of the Law on the Organisation of the Executive Council and

515-738: A Moravian small group called the Fetter Lane Society . In May 1738, Wesley attended a Moravian meeting on Aldersgate Street, where he felt spiritually transformed during a reading of Martin Luther 's preface to the Epistle to the Romans . Wesley recounted that "I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine , and saved me from

618-451: A cautious approach to this issue, neither encouraging nor discouraging these responses, but they recognized that people might express their conviction in different ways. The conviction stage lasted so long because potential converts were waiting to find evidence of regeneration in their lives. The revivalists believed regeneration, or the new birth, was not simply an outward profession of faith or conformity to Christianity. They believed it

721-428: A center of tourism . Population still declined from 7,574 in 1880 to 6,507 in 1920 (loss of employment in tourism during World War I) and began to rise again during the mid-to-late 20th century, to 7,878 in 1950 and 8,189 in 2000. It has slightly declined since, to 7,843 in 2007 and 7,824 in 2016. While total population has remained more or less stable since the mid-20th century, population distribution has shifted from

824-434: A common evangelical identity. Revivalists added to the doctrinal imperatives of Reformation Protestantism an emphasis on providential outpourings of the Holy Spirit . Extemporaneous preaching gave listeners a sense of deep personal conviction about their need for salvation by Jesus Christ and fostered introspection and commitment to a new standard of personal morality. Revival theology stressed that religious conversion

927-635: A greater belief in God's glory than in self-glorification. Similar experiences would appear in most of the major revivals of the 18th century. Edwards wrote an account of the Northampton revival, A Faithful Narrative , which was published in England through the efforts of prominent evangelicals John Guyse and Isaac Watts . The publication of his account made Edwards a celebrity in Britain and influenced

1030-863: A large outdoor crowd from the courthouse steps. He then preached in many Presbyterian churches. From Philadelphia, Whitefield traveled to New York and then to the South. In the Middle Colonies, he was popular in the Dutch and German communities as well as among the British. Lutheran pastor Henry Muhlenberg told of a German woman who heard Whitefield preach and, though she spoke no English, later said she had never before been so edified. In 1740, Whitefield began touring New England. He landed in Newport, Rhode Island, on September 14, 1740, and preached several times in

1133-495: A leading role in American evangelicalism for the next century. Christianity • Protestantism The Great Awakening was not the first time that Protestant churches had experienced revival; however, it was the first time a common evangelical identity had emerged based on a fairly uniform understanding of salvation , preaching the gospel , and conversion . Revival theology focused on the way of salvation —the stages by which

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1236-587: A person receives Christian faith and then expresses that faith in the way they live. The major figures of the Great Awakening, such as George Whitefield , Jonathan Edwards , Gilbert Tennent , Jonathan Dickinson , and Samuel Davies , were moderate evangelicals who preached a pietistic form of Calvinism heavily influenced by the Puritan tradition, which held that religion was not only an intellectual exercise but also had to be felt and experienced in

1339-682: A reduction from 19 to 10 districts, followed by Thurgau which combined eight into five in 2012. In 2017 Grisons replaced the 11 districts with 11 regions. In 2018 Neuchâtel eliminated the district level. The canton of Zurich is divided into 12 districts (German: Bezirke ): The Canton of Bern is divided in five regions : Berner Jura , Seeland (with two precincts, Biel/Bienne and Seeland), Bern-Mittelland , Oberland (with precincts Thun , Obersimmental-Saanen , Frutigen-Niedersimmental , Interlaken-Oberhasli ) and Emmental-Oberaargau (with two precincts, Emmental and Oberaargau ) The current division has taken effect on 1 January 2010, based on

1442-568: A seminary called the Log College , where he trained nearly 20 Presbyterian revivalists for the ministry, including his three sons and Samuel Blair . While pastoring a church in New Jersey, Gilbert Tennent became acquainted with Dutch Reformed minister Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen . Historian Sydney Ahlstrom described Frelinghuysen as "an important herald, if not the father of the Great Awakening". A pietist, Frelinghuysen believed in

1545-402: A statistical meaning. Basel-Landschaft is divided into 5 districts: The canton abolished the district level in 2003, but it remains divided into eight constituencies ( Wahlkreise ) without administrative significance: Beginning in 2017 Graubünden is divided into 11 regions: Aargau is divided into 11 districts: Thurgau is divided into five districts (eight prior to 2011) and each

1648-448: A strong impulse towards interdenominational unity among the various Protestant denominations. Evangelicals considered the new birth to be "a bond of fellowship that transcended disagreements on fine points of doctrine and polity", allowing Anglicans, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and others to cooperate across denominational lines. While divisions between the Old and New Lights remained,

1751-437: A time when Enlightenment rationalism and Arminian theology were popular among some Congregational clergy, Edwards held to traditional Calvinist doctrine. He understood conversion to be the experience of moving from spiritual deadness to joy in the knowledge of one's election (that one had been chosen by God for salvation). While a Christian might have several conversion moments as part of this process, Edwards believed there

1854-648: Is divided into 3 districts: In Appenzell Innerrhoden districts are the lowest administrative division as the canton has no municipalities (except for the Feuerschaugemeinde , a special-purpose municipality for the town of Appenzell ). The districts are functionally equivalent to municipalities elsewhere in Switzerland, and are generally shown as municipalities on maps etc. The Canton is divided into five districts: First Great Awakening The First Great Awakening , sometimes Great Awakening or

1957-461: Is elevated built on top of a number of predecessor buildings, the oldest is estimated to date to the 9th or 10th century. The rights to the parish were given to Seedorf Abbey by Henry (VII) of Germany in 1234. They were acquired by Interlaken Monastery in 1272. In 1275, Hasli formed an alliance with the city of Bern . In 1311, Oberhasli was given to the house of Weissenburg by Henry VII . After an unsuccessful revolt in 1334, Oberhasli passed to

2060-684: Is estimated in New England that in the churches there were about one-third each of New Lights, Old Lights, and those who saw both sides as valid. The Awakening aroused a wave of separatist feeling within the Congregational churches of New England. Around 100 Separatist congregations were organized throughout the region by Strict Congregationalists . Objecting to the Halfway Covenant , Strict Congregationalists required evidence of conversion for church membership and also objected to

2163-414: Is larger than the canton of Basel-Landschaft . It consists of the six municipalities of Gadmen , Guttannen , Hasliberg , Innertkirchen , Meiringen and Schattenhalb , with a total population of just below 8,000, corresponding to a population density of less than 15/km (compared to a Swiss average of 181/km), due to a significant portion of the area of Oberhasli being uninhabitable High Alps . Haslital

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2266-460: Is named after its capital: Ticino is divided into 8 districts: Vaud is divided into 10 districts: Valais is divided into 13 districts: The district of Raron is divided into: The Canton of Neuchâtel was divided into 6 districts until 1 January 2018 when the district system was terminated. The Canton of Jura is divided into 3 districts: The Canton of Schaffhausen is divided into 6 districts: The Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

2369-427: Is the easternmost of the 26 districts of the canton of Bern , from 1833 to 2009, encompassing an area of 550 km. The administrative capital is Meiringen. Oberhasli since 1843 comprised six municipalities , reduced to five in 2014 when Gadmen (population 250 as of 2007, area 116.4 km) was merged with Innertkirchen . From 1 January 2010, the district lost its administrative power while being replaced by

2472-499: Is used to refer to the entire region, but as a geographical term the Haslital proper is the main upper Aare valley, not including the many side valleys, such as Gadmertal , Ürbachtal , Gental and Reichenbachtal . The name Haslital is first attested in 1234. The prefix Ober- ("Upper Hasli ") first appears in the 16th century for disambiguation with Hasle bei Burgdorf , Oberhasli is in official use since 1798. The origin of

2575-705: The Brünig road in 1857 and the Brünig railway in 1888, connecting Oberhasli to Lucerne via Obwalden , and from there to Greater Zürich and the Swiss plateau in general; the Grimsel road opened in 1894 and the Susten road in 1945. The number of hotels in Meiringen grew from two in 1831 to eighteen in 1900. After 1973, additional infrastructure turned Hasliberg into a major skiing resort . As of 2005, employment in

2678-702: The Evangelical Awakening of the 1730s. In 1764, there were 3,253 inhabitants, and population more than doubled over the following century, to 7,054 in 1850. During the existence of the Helvetic Republic , Oberhasli was part of the Kanton Oberland . Oberhasli was traditionally organized in fifteen collectives of independent farming estates, the so-called Bäuerten , between them forming the Talschaft of Oberhasli. This structure

2781-469: The Evangelical Revival , was a series of Christian revivals that swept Britain and its thirteen North American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. The revival movement permanently affected Protestantism as adherents strove to renew individual piety and religious devotion. The Great Awakening marked the emergence of Anglo-American evangelicalism as a trans-denominational movement within

2884-695: The Interlaken-Oberhasli (administrative district) , whose administrative centre is Interlaken. Since 2010, it remains therefore a fully recognised district under the law and the Constitution (Art.3 al.2) of the Canton of Berne. The black eagle on a golden field formerly represented the entire Talschaft of Oberhasli. It is the imperial coat of arms . The right to use of the Reichsadler as an at least formal claim of imperial immediacy

2987-573: The Lutheran and Reformed churches of continental Europe. Pietism emphasized heartfelt religious faith in reaction to an overly intellectual Protestant scholasticism perceived as spiritually dry. Significantly, the Pietists placed less emphasis on traditional doctrinal divisions between Protestant churches, focusing rather on religious experience and affections. Pietism prepared Europe for revival, and it usually occurred in areas where pietism

3090-533: The Protestant confession in Oberhasli. About half of the population of Oberhasli participated in an armed revolt against Bern. After this, Bern tried to enforce Bernese administration in Oberhasli, but met such resistance that in a 1557 treaty the old privileges were re-instated. In the 17th to 18th century, an upper class of influential families native to Oberhasli emerged, the so-called Ehrbarkeit . Before

3193-555: The Sacrament long, yet I never knew what true religion was" until he read Scougal. From that point on, Whitefield sought a new birth. After a period of spiritual struggle, Whitefield experienced conversion during Lent in 1735. In 1736, he began preaching in Bristol and London . His preaching attracted large crowds who were drawn to his simple message of the necessity of the new birth as well as by his manner of delivery. His style

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3296-809: The Welsh Methodist revival . The origins of revivalism in Scotland stretch back to the 1620s. The attempts by the Stuart Kings to impose bishops on the Church of Scotland led to national protests in the form of the Covenanters . In addition, radical Presbyterian clergy held outdoor conventicles throughout southern and western Scotland, centered on the communion season . These revivals would also spread to Ulster and feature "marathon extemporaneous preaching and excessive popular enthusiasm." In

3399-463: The burning of books by religious authors such as John Flavel and Increase Mather . Following the intervention of two pro-revival " New Light " ministers, Davenport's mental state apparently improved, and he published a retraction of his earlier excesses. Whitefield, Tennent, and Davenport would be followed by a number of both clerical and lay itinerants. However, the Awakening in New England

3502-567: The creation of the world, God determined who would be saved (the elect) on the basis of his own choosing. The preaching of these doctrines resulted in the convicted feeling both guilty and totally helpless, since God was in complete control over whether they would be saved or not. Revivalists counseled those under conviction to apply the means of grace to their lives. These were spiritual disciplines such as prayer , Bible study, church attendance, and personal moral improvement. While no human action could produce saving faith, revivalists taught that

3605-586: The established religion , whereas in the religiously tolerant Middle Colonies , the Quakers , Dutch Reformed , Anglican , Presbyterian , Lutheran , Congregational , and Baptist churches all competed with each other on equal terms. In the Southern Colonies , the Anglican Church was officially established, though there were significant numbers of Baptists, Quakers, and Presbyterians. At

3708-506: The heart . This moderate revival theology consisted of a three-stage process. The first stage was conviction of sin , which was spiritual preparation for faith by God's law and the means of grace . The second stage was conversion, in which a person experienced spiritual illumination, repentance , and faith. The third stage was consolation , which was searching for and receiving assurance of salvation . This process generally takes place over an extended period of time. Conviction of sin

3811-653: The laity increased, especially among the town's young people. Edwards wrote to Boston minister Benjamin Colman that the town "never was so full of Love, nor so full of Joy, nor so full of distress as it has lately been. ... I never saw the Christian spirit in Love to Enemies so exemplified, in all my Life as I have seen it within this half-year." The revival ultimately spread to 25 communities in western Massachusetts and central Connecticut until it began to wane in 1737. At

3914-407: The "sitting out" of the night drinking) culminating a week of Trychel marches in Meiringen. In 1846, Johann Georg Kohl travelled to Oberhasli, describing both its natural landscape and its population. Kohl recorded a tradition claiming Scandinavian origin of the people of Oberhasli, telling of a march of 6,000 Frisians and Swedes exiled from their homes by a famine. The names of the leaders of

4017-1036: The 1750s and 1760s. The Great Awakening aggravated existing conflicts within the Protestant churches, often leading to schisms between supporters of revival, known as "New Lights", and opponents of revival, known as "Old Lights". The Old Lights saw the religious enthusiasm and itinerant preaching unleashed by the Awakening as disruptive to church order, preferring formal worship and a settled, university-educated ministry. They mocked revivalists as being ignorant, heterodox , or con artists . New Lights accused Old Lights of being more concerned with social status than with saving souls and even questioned whether some Old Light ministers were even converted. They also supported itinerant ministers who disregarded parish boundaries. Congregationalists in New England experienced 98 schisms, which in Connecticut also affected which group would be considered "official" for tax purposes. It

4120-692: The 18th century, the Evangelical Revival was led by ministers such as Ebenezer Erskine , William M'Culloch (the minister who presided over the Cambuslang Work of 1742), and James Robe (minister at Kilsyth ). A substantial number of Church of Scotland ministers held evangelical views. In the early 18th century, the Thirteen Colonies were religiously diverse. In New England , the Congregational churches were

4223-440: The 26 cantons – Uri , Obwalden , Nidwalden , Glarus , Zug , Basel-City and Geneva – have always existed without the district level of government. An eighth one, Appenzell Innerrhoden , uses no intermediate level either, but calls its lowest-level subdivisions Bezirke, although they are functionally equivalent to municipalities elsewhere. A further number of cantons are considering (or have already decided) an abolition of

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4326-594: The Administration (Organization Law, LOCA/OrG) and by Article 3 al.2 of the cantonal Constitution. The Canton of Lucerne used to be divided into 5 Ämter : These were abolished with the new cantonal constitution of 2007, although they will continue to be used as electoral districts. The Canton of Schwyz is divided into 6 districts: The Canton of Fribourg is divided into 7 districts: In 2005 Solothurn's ten districts merged pairwise into five electoral districts, termed Amtei. Since 2005, districts only have

4429-511: The American colonies, the Awakening caused the Congregational and Presbyterian churches to split, while strengthening both the Methodist and Baptist denominations. It had little immediate impact on most Lutherans , Quakers , and non-Protestants, but later gave rise to a schism among Quakers that persists to this day. Evangelical preachers "sought to include every person in conversion, regardless of gender, race, and status". Throughout

4532-745: The Anglican church. He then moved on to Boston, Massachusetts, where he spent a week. There were prayers at King's Chapel (at the time an Anglican church) and preaching at Brattle Street Church and South Church . On September 20, Whitefield preached at First Church and then outside of it to about 8,000 people who could not gain entrance. The next day, he preached outdoors again to about 15,000 people. On Tuesday, he preached at Second Church and on Wednesday at Harvard University . After traveling as far as Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he returned to Boston on October 12 to preach to 30,000 people before continuing his tour. Whitefield then traveled to Northampton at

4635-444: The Awakening. Samuel Blair described such responses to his preaching in 1740: "Several would be overcome and fainting ; others deeply sobbing, hardly able to contain, others crying in a most dolorous manner, many others more silently weeping. ... And sometimes the soul exercises of some, thought comparatively but very few, would so far affect their bodies, as to occasion some strange, unusual bodily motions." Moderate evangelicals took

4738-526: The Early Modern period. Livestock and cheese was exported to Italy across the Grimsel and Nufenen passes. In the 18th century, there were three yearly livestock markets. There was also some iron mining, beginning in the 15th century, and phased out after 1798. From the 17th century, there was rockhounding for crystals , intensified with the rise of tourism in the 19th century. Booming tourism triggered significant investments in structure, notably

4841-464: The Hands of an Angry God " is an example of such preaching. As Calvinists, revivalists also preached the doctrines of original sin and unconditional election . Due to the fall of man , humans are naturally inclined to rebel against God and are unable to initiate or merit salvation, according to the doctrine of original sin. Unconditional election relates to the doctrine of predestination —that before

4944-710: The New Lights became less radical over time, and evangelicalism became more mainstream. By 1758, the Old Side–New Side split in the Presbyterian Church had been healed, and the two factions had reunited. In part, this was due to the growth of the New Side and the numerical decline of the Old Side. In 1741, the pro-revival party had around 22 ministers, but this number had increased to 73 by 1758. While

5047-652: The North American colonies, especially in the South , the revival movement increased the number of African slaves and free blacks who were exposed to (and subsequently converted to) Christianity. It also inspired the founding of new missionary societies, such as the Baptist Missionary Society in 1792. Historian Sydney E. Ahlstrom sees the Great Awakening as part of a "great international Protestant upheaval" that also created Pietism in

5150-612: The Protestant churches. In the United States , the term Great Awakening is most often used, while in the United Kingdom, the movement is referred to as the Evangelical Revival . Building on the foundations of older traditions— Puritanism , Pietism , and Presbyterianism —major leaders of the revival such as George Whitefield , John Wesley , and Jonathan Edwards articulated a theology of revival and salvation that transcended denominational boundaries and helped forge

5253-804: The Reason why Congregations have been so dead, is because dead Men preach to them." Whitefield met Gilbert Tennent on Staten Island and asked him to preach in Boston to continue the revival there. Tennent accepted and, in December, began a three-month-long preaching tour throughout New England. Besides Boston, Tennent preached in towns throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Like Whitefield's, Tennent's preaching produced large crowds, many conversions, and much controversy. While antirevivalists such as Timothy Cutler heavily criticized Tennent's preaching, most of Boston's ministers were supportive. Tennent

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5356-468: The Soul of Man (the latter work was a favorite of Puritans ). Scougal wrote that many people mistakenly understood Christianity to be "Orthodox Notions and Opinions", "external Duties" or "rapturous Heats and extatic Devotion". Rather, Scougal wrote, "True Religion is an Union of the Soul with God ... It is Christ formed within us ." Whitefield wrote that "though I had fasted, watched and prayed, and received

5459-456: The alluvial plain of the Aare between Meiringen and Lake Brienz , there are several lateral valleys. Among them are: Hasli has a particularly strong tradition of independence, even within Switzerland. It was de facto self-governing from its first settlement in the early medieval period (according to legend by " Swedes and Frisians ") until its incorporation into the Helvetic Republic in 1798. It

5562-637: The anti-revival "Old Side" and the pro-revival "New Side". At issue was the place of revivalism in American Presbyterianism, specifically the "relation between doctrinal orthodoxy and experimental knowledge of Christ." The New Side, led by Gilbert Tennent and Jonathan Dickinson, believed that strict adherence to orthodoxy was meaningless if one lacked a personal religious experience, a sentiment expressed in Tennent's 1739 sermon "The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry". Whitefield's tour had helped

5665-505: The city of Bern as a subject territory in name but regained most of its earlier privileges. Bern was careful to appoint men native to Hasli to administrative posts and as judges. Oberhasli proved an important ally to Bern militarily. In 1339, Oberhasli provided a force of 300 men participating in the Battle of Laupen . The arrangement of Oberhasli as a nominal subject territory with de facto self-governance endured until 1528, when Bern enforced

5768-419: The conversion experience, which typically lasted several days or weeks under the guidance of a trained pastor. True conversion began when the mind opened to a new awareness and love of the gospel message. Following this illumination, converts placed their faith in Christ, depending on him alone for salvation. At the same time, a hatred of sin and a commitment to eliminate it from the heart would take hold, setting

5871-454: The core of Highest Alemannic Alpine culture and preserves a number of elements typical of Swiss folklore . Oberhasli became affected by the modern era comparatively late, in the second half of the 19th century with the booming of tourism in Switzerland , and it preserved a rich tradition of folklore into the 20th century. The main yearly festival of Oberhasli is the Ubersitz (lit.

5974-473: The district level in the future. Appenzell Ausserrhoden , Schaffhausen , Lucerne , St. Gallen and Schwyz voted in 2006 on its abolition; some voted in favour of keeping the division, some with modifications. Bern in 2006 decided a reduction of its 26 districts to 10 districts to be overseen by 5 regions, which took effect in 2010. St. Gallen, Solothurn and Lucerne removed the administrative role, but retained districts for elections. In 2008 Vaud decided on

6077-702: The fervor of the Awakening would fade, the acceptance of revivalism and insistence on personal conversion would remain recurring features in 18th- and 19th-century Presbyterianism. The Great Awakening inspired the creation of evangelical educational institutions. In 1746, New Side Presbyterians founded what would become Princeton University . In 1754, the efforts of Eleazar Wheelock led to what would become Dartmouth College , originally established to train Native American boys for missionary work among their own people. While initially resistant, well-established Yale University came to embrace revivalism and played

6180-408: The foundation for a life of repentance or turning away from sin. Revivalists distinguished true conversion (which was motivated by love of God and hatred of sin) from false conversion (which was motivated by fear of hell ). True conversion meant that a person was among the elect, but even a person with saving faith might doubt his election and salvation. Revivalists taught that assurance of salvation

6283-406: The gospel promises to everyone in their audiences, without stressing that God redeems only those elected for salvation"—was contrary to these notions. While they preached indiscriminately, however, revivalists continued to affirm Calvinist doctrines of election and predestination. Another issue that had to be addressed was the intense physical and emotional reactions to conviction experienced during

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6386-406: The gospel, and other Christian virtues . It was not enough, however, to simply reflect on past experiences. Revivalists taught that assurance could only be gained by actively seeking to grow in grace and holiness through mortification of sin and using the means of grace. In Religious Affections , the last sign addressed by Edwards was "Christian practice", and it was this sign to which he gave

6489-528: The grounds that he was a religious enthusiast . In response, he began open-air field preaching in the mining community of Kingswood, near Bristol. Open-air preaching was common in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but it was unheard of in England. Further, Whitefield violated protocol by preaching in another priest's parish without permission. Within a week, he was preaching to crowds of 10,000. By March, Whitefield had moved on to preach elsewhere. By May, he

6592-541: The group enjoyed a religious revival. Soon, the community became a refuge for other Protestants as well, including German Lutherans, Reformed Christians, and Anabaptists . The church began to grow, and Moravian societies would be established in England, where they would help foster the Evangelical Revival as well. Christianity • Protestantism While known as the Great Awakening in the United States,

6695-675: The growing revival movement in that nation. A Faithful Narrative would become a model on which other revivals would be conducted. George Whitefield first came to America in 1738 to serve at Christ Church in Savannah and found Bethesda Orphanage . Whitefield returned to the Colonies in November 1739. His first stop was in Philadelphia, where he initially preached at Christ Church , Philadelphia's Anglican Church, and then preached to

6798-444: The immigrating Swedes is reported as Restius and Hastus . Kohl describes the architecture of the Meiringen church as reminiscent of North Frisian and Scandinavian types. This legend was first recorded by Petermann Etterlin in his 1507 Chronicle . The Oberhasli legend was received in Scandinavian Romantic nationalism , with e.g. Danish poet Adam Oehlenschläger publishing a poem Haslidalen in 1849. A collection of folk tales

6901-436: The introduction of a separate parish in Innertkirchein in 1709, there was a single parish in Meiringen for all of Oberhasli. In the 19th century, parishes in Gadmen (1808) and Guttannen (1816) followed. In 1558, there were 253 hearths (households) registered in Oberhasli, in 1653 the number had grown to 360. In 1669, population had declined to ca. 500 individuals following an outbreak of plague. Parts of Haslital were affected by

7004-475: The invitation of Jonathan Edwards. He preached twice in the parish church, and Edwards was so moved that he wept. He then spent time in New Haven, Connecticut, where he preached at Yale University. From there, he traveled down the coast, reaching New York on October 29. Whitefield's assessment of New England's churches and clergy prior to his intervention was negative. "I am verily persuaded," he wrote, "the Generality of Preachers talk of an unknown, unfelt Christ. And

7107-414: The lack of coverage in print media . The first revival to receive widespread publicity was that precipitated by an earthquake in 1727. As they began to be publicized more widely, revivals transformed from merely local to regional and transatlantic events. In the 1720s and 1730s, an evangelical party took shape in the Presbyterian churches of the Middle Colonies, led by William Tennent , Sr. He established

7210-437: The last half of the 18th century. By 1804, there were over 300 Baptist churches in New England. This growth was primarily due to an influx of former New Light Congregationalists who became convinced of Baptist doctrines, such as believer's baptism . In some cases, entire Separatist congregations accepted Baptist beliefs. As revivalism spread through the Presbyterian churches, the Old Side–New Side Controversy broke out between

7313-519: The law of sin and death." Wesley understood his Aldersgate experience to be an evangelical conversion, and it provided him with the assurance he had been seeking. Afterwards, he traveled to Herrnhut and met Zinzendorf in person. John Wesley returned to England in September 1738. Both John and Charles preached in London churches. Whitefield stayed in Georgia for three months to establish Bethesda Orphanage before returning to England in December. While enjoying success, Whitefield's itinerant preaching

7416-437: The means of grace might make conversion more likely. Revival preaching was controversial among Calvinists. Because Calvinists believed in election and predestination, some thought it inappropriate to preach to strangers that they could repent and receive salvation. For some, such preaching was only acceptable within their own churches and communities. The revivalists use of "indiscriminate" evangelism—the "practice of extending

7519-521: The movement is referred to as the Evangelical Revival in Britain. In England, the major leaders of the Evangelical Revival were three Anglican priests: the brothers John and Charles Wesley and their friend George Whitefield . Together, they founded what would become Methodism . They had been members of a religious society at Oxford University called the Holy Club and "Methodists" due to their methodical piety and rigorous asceticism . This society

7622-649: The name is likely Old High German hasal " hazel ". The upper parts of the Haslital are part of the World Heritage Site of the Jungfrau – Aletsch – Bietschhorn as defined in 2007. Oberhasli has historically been of great strategical significance due to its central location in the Central Alps , commanding several passes. Among them are: Besides the main valley, the Haslital , which includes

7725-569: The necessity of personal conversion and living a holy life. The revivals he led in the Raritan Valley were "forerunners" of the Great Awakening in the Middle Colonies. Under Frelinghuysen's influence, Tennent came to believe that a definite conversion experience followed by assurance of salvation was the key mark of a Christian. By 1729, Tennent was seeing signs of revival in the Presbyterian churches of New Brunswick and Staten Island. At

7828-628: The opportunity to recruit followers to the movement. Faced with growing evangelistic and pastoral responsibilities, Wesley and Whitefield appointed lay preachers and leaders. Methodist preachers focused particularly on evangelizing people who had been "neglected" by the established Church of England. Wesley and his assistant preachers organized the new converts into Methodist societies. These societies were divided into groups called classes —intimate meetings where individuals were encouraged to confess their sins to one another and to build each other up. They also took part in love feasts , which allowed for

7931-480: The peak of revivalism established him as the primary founder of the Methodist movement. By the time of Wesley's death in 1791, there were an estimated 71,668 Methodists in England and 43,265 in America. The Evangelical Revival first broke out in Wales. In 1735, Howell Harris and Daniel Rowland experienced a religious conversion and began preaching to large crowds throughout South Wales . Their preaching initiated

8034-461: The primary sector (agriculture) was down to below 20%, while the tertiary sector (mostly tourism) had risen to above 65%. Another important branch of industry is the production of hydroelectricity , Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG currently producing about 1.1 GW or 12% of Swiss electricity consumption. The Swiss Air Force has an airbase in Unterbach, Meiringen municipality. Oberhasli is situated at

8137-621: The revival party grow but only worsened the controversy. When the Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia met in May 1741, the Old Side expelled the New Side, which then reorganized itself into the Synod of New York . Historian John Howard Smith noted that the Great Awakening made sectarianism an essential characteristic of American Christianity. While the Awakening divided many Protestant churches between Old and New Lights, it also unleashed

8240-452: The revivals and those who did not. Opponents accused the revivals of fostering disorder and fanaticism within the churches by enabling uneducated, itinerant preachers and encouraging religious enthusiasm . In England, evangelical Anglicans would grow into an important constituency within the Church of England , and Methodism would develop out of the ministries of Whitefield and Wesley. In

8343-540: The same time, Gilbert's brothers, William and John, oversaw a revival in Freehold, New Jersey. The most influential evangelical revival was the Northampton revival of 1734–1735, under the leadership of Congregational minister Jonathan Edwards . In the fall of 1734, Edwards preached a sermon series on justification by faith alone , and the community's response was extraordinary. Signs of religious commitment among

8446-542: The same time, church membership was low because it had failed to keep up with population growth, and the influence of Enlightenment rationalism was leading many people to turn to atheism , Deism , Unitarianism , and Universalism . The churches in New England had fallen into a "staid and routine formalism in which experiential faith had been a reality to only a scattered few." In response to these trends, ministers influenced by New England Puritanism , Scots-Irish Presbyterianism , and European Pietism began calling for

8549-513: The semi-presbyterian Saybrook Platform , which they felt infringed on congregational autonomy. Because they threatened Congregationalist uniformity, the Separatists were persecuted, and in Connecticut they were denied the same legal toleration enjoyed by Baptists, Quakers, and Anglicans. The Baptists benefited the most from the Great Awakening. Although numerically small before the outbreak of revival, Baptist churches experienced growth during

8652-465: The sharing of testimony , a key feature of early Methodism. Growth in numbers and increasing hostility impressed upon the revival converts a deep sense of their corporate identity. Three teachings that Methodists saw as the foundation of Christian faith were: The evangelicals responded vigorously to opposition—both literary criticism and even mob violence —and thrived despite the attacks against them. John Wesley's organizational skills during and after

8755-462: The traditional dispersed settlement structure to the core settlement in Meiringen. Meiringen accounted for 30% of the population of Hasli in 1764 (33% in 1850), but for 60% as of 2016. Oberhasli district was merged with Interlaken district in 2010 to form the new Interlaken-Oberhasli district . The population of Gadmen declined from 739 in 1850 to 250 in 2007, Gadmen municipality being merged into Innertkirchen in 2014. The Oberhasli district

8858-467: Was a greater emphasis on prayer and devotional reading, and the Puritan ideal of converted church membership was revived. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 50,000 new members were admitted to New England's Congregational churches even as expectations for members increased. By 1745, the Awakening had begun to wane. Revivals would continue to spread to the southern backcountry and slave communities in

8961-487: Was a single point in time when God regenerated an individual, even if the exact moment could not be pinpointed. The Northampton revival featured instances of what critics called enthusiasm but what supporters believed were signs of the Holy Spirit. Services became more emotional, and some people had visions and mystical experiences. Edwards cautiously defended these experiences as long as they led individuals to

9064-458: Was an instantaneous, supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, providing someone with "a new awareness of the beauty of Christ, new desires to love God, and a firm commitment to follow God's holy law." The reality of regeneration was discerned through self-examination, and while it occurred instantly, a convert might only gradually realize it had occurred. Regeneration was always accompanied by saving faith, repentance, and love for God—all aspects of

9167-659: Was controversial. Many pulpits were closed to him, and he had to struggle against Anglicans who opposed the Methodists and the "doctrine of the New Birth". Whitefield wrote of his opponents, "I am fully convinced there is a fundamental difference between us and them. They believe only an outward Christ, we further believe that He must be inwardly formed in our hearts also." In February 1739, parish priests in Bath and Bristol refused to allow Whitefield to preach in their churches on

9270-629: Was dramatic, and his preaching appealed to his audience's emotions. At times, he wept or impersonated Bible characters. By the time he left England for the colony of Georgia in December 1737, Whitefield had become a celebrity . John Wesley left for Georgia in October 1735 to become a missionary for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge . Wesley made contact with members of the Moravian Church, led by August Gottlieb Spangenberg . Wesley

9373-788: Was followed in the summer of 1741 by itinerant minister James Davenport , who proved to be more controversial than either Tennent or Whitefield. His rants and attacks against "unconverted" ministers inspired much opposition, and he was arrested in Connecticut for violating a law against itinerant preaching. At his trial, he was found mentally ill and deported to Long Island. Soon after, he arrived in Boston and resumed his fanatical preaching, only to once again be declared insane and expelled. The last of Davenport's radical episodes took place in March 1743 in New London, when he ordered his followers to burn wigs, cloaks, rings, and other vanities. He also ordered

9476-530: Was impressed by their faith and piety, especially their belief that it was normal for a Christian to have assurance of faith. The failure of his mission and encounters with the Moravians led Wesley to question his own faith. He wrote in his journal, "I, who went to America to convert others, was never myself converted to God." Back in London, Wesley became friends with Moravian minister Peter Boehler and joined

9579-564: Was modeled on the collegia pietatis ( cell groups ) used by pietists for Bible study , prayer, and accountability. All three men experienced a spiritual crisis in which they sought true conversion and assurance of faith . George Whitefield joined the Holy Club in 1733 and, under the influence of Charles Wesley, read German pietist August Hermann Francke 's Against the Fear of Man and Scottish theologian Henry Scougal 's The Life of God in

9682-589: Was nominally part of the Holy Roman Empire as an imperial bailiwick until 1334, and from 1334 to 1798 a nominal subject of Berne, but remained effectively self-governed with the exception of the forced imposition of the Reformation during 1528–1557. In 1234 the bailiwick of Meiringen , which included all of Haslital, is recorded as reichsfrei . Hasli remained an imperial bailiwick until its acquisition by Berne in 1334. Meiringen church

9785-407: Was not only intellectual assent to correct Christian doctrine but had to be a " new birth " experienced in the heart. Revivalists also taught that receiving assurance of salvation was a normal expectation in the Christian life. While the Evangelical Revival united evangelicals across various denominations around shared beliefs, it also led to division in existing churches between those who supported

9888-556: Was one of the special privileges granted to the people of Hasli by Berne. When municipal coats of arms were introduced, Meiringen insisted to retain the imperial coat of arms without modification, and other municipalities conceded by using the eagle in combination with other heraldic designs. The economy of Oberhasli was based on agriculture and transhumance ( goats , sheep) in the Late Middle Ages, shifting to livestock breeding (cattle, horses) and cheese production during

9991-622: Was preaching to London crowds of 50,000. He left his followers in Bristol in the care of John Wesley. Whitefield's notoriety was increased through the use of newspaper advertisements to promote his revivals. Wesley was at first uneasy about preaching outdoors, as it was contrary to his high-church sense of decency. Eventually, however, Wesley changed his mind, claiming that "all the world [is] my parish". On April 2, 1739, Wesley preached to about 3,000 people near Bristol. From then on, he continued to preach wherever he could gather an assembly, taking

10094-469: Was primarily sustained by the efforts of parish ministers. Sometimes revival would be initiated by regular preaching or the customary pulpit exchanges between two ministers. Through their efforts, New England experienced a "great and general Awakening" between 1740 and 1743, characterized by a greater interest in religious experience, widespread emotional preaching, and intense emotional reactions accompanying conversion, including fainting and weeping. There

10197-544: Was published in 1943 by Melchior Sooder (1885–1955), a teacher at Rohrbach and a native of Schattenhalb, as Zelleni us em Haslital . Dwarves figure prominently in these tales, with a dwarf king called Muggestutz . They also tell of the disappearance of the dwarves after their help was not appreciated by the people of Oberhasli. A grammar of the Hasli dialect was published by Hans Dauwalder (born 1925) in 1992. Districts of Switzerland Districts of Switzerland are

10300-501: Was replaced by the six municipalities of the Oberhasli district in 1834. From 1834 until 2009, Oberhasli formed a district of the canton of Bern . The sovereign law of Oberhasli ( Landrecht ) became inactive in 1843, during the Swiss Restauration . Rapid population growth in the 19th century resulted in poverty , and forced emigration , primarily to America . From about 1880, economic recovery set in as Meiringen became

10403-473: Was strong. The most important leader of the Awakening in central Europe was Nicolaus Zinzendorf , a Saxon noble who studied under Pietist leader August Hermann Francke at Halle University . In 1722, Zinzendorf invited members of the Moravian Church to live and worship on his estates, establishing a community at Herrnhut . The Moravians came to Herrnhut as refugees, but under Zinzendorf's guidance,

10506-411: Was the product of Christian maturity and sanctification . Converts were encouraged to seek assurance through self-examination of their own spiritual progress. The treatise Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards was written to help converts examine themselves for the presence of genuine "religious affections" or spiritual desires, such as selfless love of God, certitude in the divine inspiration of

10609-437: Was the stage that prepared someone to receive salvation, and this stage often lasted weeks or months. When under conviction, nonbelievers realized they were guilty of sin and under divine condemnation and subsequently faced feelings of sorrow and anguish. When revivalists preached, they emphasized God's moral law to highlight the holiness of God and to spark conviction in the unconverted. Jonathan Edwards' sermon " Sinners in

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