JHM's Music
By 1811 an issue grew in the congregation regarding the proper role of music and Johan appears to have been in the middle of it. Was the music becoming too secular, and thus were Moravian musicians losing their purpose of being centered in Christ?
Music has always played a prominent role in the Moravian church and in the spiritual life of its members. This distinct understanding of music was divided into 3 categories: in the congregation, in the Moravian Church, and in the secular community. The Moravian community believed music of the members was most important, because it led to an experience of feeling centered in Christ. Playing a musical instrument served the cause of the Lord no less directly than ministering the Gospel to the Brethren. Documents state that during Mankel’s years as music leader, the congregation had a Trombone Choir, a Wind Band, and a Church Choir (and possibly more). The latter two exist today. And the music and musicians in this community increased in musical ability because of Mankel. However, Moravian musicians were subject to the church’s customs and stricter roles in life and Johan appears to have taken an attitude different from the Elders. Johan and some of the musicians became dissatisfied with how the congregation looked upon the music they presented.
The congregation’s musicians had a tradition of playing for festive occasions outside of the Brethren Hall or Parish Hall, including choral festivals where the music was extraordinarily rich. But it appears that the music was becoming more important than the liturgical atmosphere. According to some in the congregation the Brethren’s musicians made a greater effort to serve the music, rather than the parish. A compromise, of sorts, was reached. Musicians balanced their playing in town events with their responsibilities to the church. And by 1814 the musicians provided music for a festive ball honoring a military general who came to Christiansfeld. Mankel, a composer and organist, lived in the time of Mozart, Handel, Haydn and Beethoven. Given this musical atmosphere, it’s not surprising that a worldliness in his music would be present.
JHM's Personal Life
A greater controversy occurred in Johan’s personal life which caused the Moravian church to dismiss him from his job and remove him from church membership. The following translated excerpt, from a book about the Moravian Church in Christiansfeld, tells the story:
His cheerful disposition exposed him to temptations, where he, according to his own statements, ought to have been more cautious and more loyal toward himself. That is, it came to light in 1814 that he had seduced one of the unmarried sisters, who was now in the sixth month. That was the beginning of a long and painful matter for many members of the church. For the men it was bad because it came to light that their women had deceived them. For the women it was bad because they were discovered and had to be held accountable. Mankell's own wife had to go through a long and wearisome divorce. The five children they had together, ages ½ to 12, became fatherless for many years, and the poor seduced sister was thrown out of the church and sent to Fyn (Denmark). Mankell was thrown out also, and the only thing that was not greatly scarred was the music of the church, since several of the brethren had received good musical impulses from Mankell's work and were therefore well-suited to continue the traditions.
In October 1814 Johan Herman Mankel, now separated from his wife, left Christiansfeld. He first traveled to Copenhagen where he worked as an instrument maker. However he could not support himself financially. He asked for permission from the church to return to Christiansfeld where his children lived with their mother. Johan’s letters were filled with anger and loss and he wrote a long list of his sins. He even signed his letters “Your poor Mankell”. The content of these letters led the Moravian church Elders to refuse Mankel’s return to any Moravian congregation.
By 1816 Johan was in Sweden where he would live until his death in 1835.