the moravians in georgia-第19章
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The first word of discouragement was brought by Ingham； who returned from Frederica on April 10th； with a message from Charles Wesley begging his brother to come to his relief。 He told a woeful story of persecution by the settlers； and injustice from Oglethorpe to Charles Wesley； all undeserved； as Oglethorpe freely admitted when he threw off the weight of suspicion laid upon his mind by malicious slanderers； and sought an interview with his young secretary； in which much was explained and forgiven。 But poor Charles was in great straits when he sent Ingham to Savannah； sick； slighted； and abused； deprived even of the necessaries of life； and so cast down that on one occasion he exclaimed； 〃Thanks be to God； it is not yet made a capital offence to give me a morsel of bread！〃
Wesley obeyed the summons； taking Delamotte with him； Ingham caring for the Church and Delamotte's school during their absence。 There were poor school facilities in Savannah prior to Delamotte's arrival； and he at once saw the need； and devoted himself to it。 Delamotte seems to have been a quiet man； who took little share in the aggressive work of his companions； and consequently escaped the abuse which was heaped upon them。
On April 22nd； Ingham sent an invitation to Toeltschig to visit him； and this was the beginning of a close personal friendship which lasted for the rest of their lives； and of such a constant intercourse between Ingham and the Moravian Church； that he is often supposed to have become a member of it； though he really never severed his connection with the Church of England。 Toeltschig speaks of him as 〃a very young man； about 24 or 25 years of age； who has many good impulses in his soul； and is much awakened。〃 He had come to Georgia for the sole purpose of bearing the Gospel message to the Indians； and it was through him that the Moravians were finally able to begin their missionary work。
When Wesley and Delamotte returned from Frederica； the former resumed his association with the Moravians； continuing to join in their Sunday evening service； and translating some of their hymns into English。
In May two questions were asked of Toeltschig； upon the answering of which there depended more than any one imagined。 The Diary says； 〃The 20th； was Sunday。 Mr。 Ingham asked if we could not recognize and receive him as our brother； to which I replied； that he did not know us well enough； nor we him； we must first understand each other better。 On the 21st； Mr。 Wesley spoke with me； and asked me the selfsame question。 I said to him that we had seen much of him day by day； and that it was true that he loved us and we loved him； but that we did not so quickly admit any one into our Congregation。〃 Then at his request Toeltschig outlined the Moravian view of conversion； and the requisites for church…membership。
A few days later Charles Wesley unexpectedly returned from Frederica； and Oglethorpe sent word that either John Wesley or Ingham should come down in his place。 The latter was by no means anxious to go； his former experience had not been agreeable； but the reason he gave the Moravians was that a number of Indian traders were soon to visit Savannah； and he was very anxious to see them。 They advised him to be guided by John Wesley's wish； which he agreed to do； and then found that Wesley had decided to go himself。
During the weeks that followed； Ingham and Charles Wesley were frequently with Toeltschig； who answered as best he could their many questions regarding the history of the Moravian Episcopate； a matter of vital importance to a strict member of the Church of England who was thinking of allying himself with them。 Everything they heard confirmed Ingham in his intention； and when John Wesley returned in July he and Ingham again made application 〃to be received as brethren in our Congregation； and to go with us to the Lord's Table。 We entirely refused to admit them into the Congregation； and I （Toeltschig） gave them the reasons therefor： （1） That we did not know them well enough； （2） and that they perhaps did not know us well enough； both things which we considered highly important； and （3） that their circumstances and situation were such that it would be difficult if not impossible for them to comply with the requirements of such admission。〃 The promises expected from a Confirmand； to which they also must have bound themselves； are thus summarized。 〃To give body and soul to the Lord now and forever； to devote and dedicate himself to the service of the Unity； according to the grace and gifts bestowed on him by the Saviour； and willingly to submit to the discipline and regulations which the Unity has established for the welfare and improvement of souls。〃 Could these two men； in the zeal and vigor of their youth； honestly have made these promises； the Moravian Church would have gained two invaluable co…workers； but they seem to have accepted Toeltschig's argument as conclusive； and dropped the matter； with no ill…will or disturbance of the existing pleasant relations。
Concerning the Communion 〃we assured them that we loved them； and would welcome them as honored guests at the Lord's Supper； for we believed that they loved the Lord。〃 This invitation； however； the young clergymen would not accept。
On the 6th of August； Charles Wesley left for England； bearing dispatches to the Trustees； and with the hope of interesting others in the evangelizing of the Indians。 He meant himself to return to Georgia； but feeble health prevented； and he resigned his office as Secretary to Gen。 Oglethorpe the following May。 His brother John accompanied him to Charlestown； and then went to Frederica to deliver certain letters to Gen。 Oglethorpe。 He found there was 〃less and less prospect of doing good at Frederica； many there being extremely zealous； and indefatigably diligent to prevent it；〃 his opposers even attempting personal violence。 One 〃lady〃 tried to shoot him； and when he seized her hands and took away her pistol； she maliciously bit a great piece out of his arm。 Still he made two more visits to the place； and then in 〃utter despair of doing good there；〃 took his final leave of Frederica。
Work Among the Indians。
When the Moravians adopted the conversion of the Indians as their main object for settling in America； they were greatly influenced by the attractive descriptions of the 〃wild people〃 which were being published。 In a 〃Report〃； ascribed to Gen。 Oglethorpe； it is stated that 〃nothing is lacking for their conversion to the Christian faith except a knowledge of their language； for they already have an admirable conception of ‘morals'； and their conduct agrees perfectly therewith。 They have a horror of adultery； and disapprove of polygamy。 Thieving is unknown to them。 Murder is considered an abominable crime； and no one may be killed except an enemy； when they esteem it a virtue。〃 This； like too many a description written then and now to exploit a colonizing scheme； was far too good to be true。 The Indians proved apt learners； but of the vices rather than the virtues of the English； and drunkenness with all its attendant evils； was quickly introduced。 Afraid of their dusky neighbors； anxious to keep on good terms with them； distrusting their loyalty to the English under the bribes offered by French and Spanish； the Government tried to limit the intercourse between the Indians and the settlers as much as possible； treating the former as honored guests whenever they came to Savannah； but forbidding the latter to go to them without special permit in times of peace； and not at all in time of war。
When the Moravians came the restlessness which presaged war was stirring among the tribes； becoming more and more pronounced； and one of the Indian Chiefs said frankly； 〃Now our enemies are all about us； and we can do nothing but fight； but if the Beloved Ones should ever give us to be at peace； then we would hear the Great Word。〃
Tomochichi； indeed； bade the missionaries welcome； and promised to do all in his power to gain admission for them into all parts of his nation； but the time was not ripe； nor was his influence equal to his good…will。 Though called a 〃king〃； he was only chief of a small tribe living some four or five miles from Savannah； part of the Creek Confederacy； which was composed of a number of remnants； gradually merged into one 〃nation〃。 The 〃Upper Creeks〃 lived about the head waters of the creeks from which they took their name； and the 〃Lower Creeks〃； including Tomochichi's people； were nearer the sea…coast。 Ingham； whose heart was set on the Indian work； was at first very anxious to go to the Cherokees； who lived near the mountains； at a considerable distance from Savannah； having been told that they had a desire to hear the 〃Great Word〃。 On April 22nd； he spoke of his wish to Toeltschig； inviting Seifert and； if they chose； another Moravian to join him in the work。 It was the best opportunity that had yet offered； and Seifert wanted to go to the Indians； having already studied their language as best he could； but they hesitated to undertake the work conjointly with Ingham。 After some time the Cherokee plan was abandoned。 Oglethorpe objected on account of the danger that they would be intercepted and killed； it being a fourteen day land journey to reach the Cherokee country； and he positively refused to let John Wesley go because that would leave Savannah without a minister。 Toeltschig says Wesley's interest in the Indian work failed； and another writer says he gave up the work because he could not learn the Indian language； but Wesley lays all the blame on Oglethorpe。
In January； 1737； the question of going to the Upper Creeks was submitted to the 〃lot〃； and the Moravians were bidden to wait for another opening。 Meanwhile an actual beginning had been made among the Lower Creeks。 On the 7th of May； Ingham and John Wesley went up the river to the home of Mrs。 Musgrove； the half…breed woman who at this time was of such great use as interpreter and mediator between the Indians and the English。 Arrangements were made by which Ingham should spend three days of each week with her； teaching her children to read in exchange for instruction in the Indian language。 The other three or four days were to be spent in Savannah； communicating to Wesley the knowledge he had acquired； Anton Seifert sharing in the lessons。
On the 19th of June； the Moravians held a meeting to determine whether the time had come for them to take up the Indian work in earnest。 The 〃lot〃 was appealed to； and the answer being that the language should be learned； Seifert； George Neisser and John Boehner were appointed to make diligent use of Ingham's instructions。 The frequent visits of Tomochichi and his people to Savannah gave them an opportunity to practice speaking； for the Moravian house was always open to the red men； and food and drink were theirs at any time of day； a fact of which the visitors were not slow to take advantage。
The 〃lot〃 had so great an influence on the progress of affairs in the Moravian Congregation at Savannah from this time on that it is necessary to understand how the institution was regarded。 The use of the lot was common in Old Testament days； and in the New Testament it is recorded that when an
