the moravians in georgia-第2章
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Filled with enthusiasm for their plan； the Trustees proceeded to spread abroad the most glowing descriptions of the country where the new colony was to be settled。
〃The kind spring； which but salutes us here； Inhabits there； and courts them all the year。 Ripe fruits and blossoms on the same trees live At once they promise； when at once they give。 So sweet the air； so moderate the clime； None sickly lives； or dies before his time。 Heaven； sure； has kept this spot of earth uncurst； To shew how all things were created first。〃
So wrote Oglethorpe； quoting the lines as the best pen picture he could give of the new land； and truly； if the colonists found the reality less roseate than they anticipated； it was not the fault of their generous； energetic leader； who spared neither pains nor means in his effort to make all things work out as his imagination had painted them。
The Trustees having； with great care； selected thirty…five families from the number who wished to go； the first emigrant ship sailed for Georgia in November； 1732； bearing about one hundred and twenty…five 〃sober； industrious and moral persons〃； and all needful stores for the establishment of the colony。 Early in the following year they reached America； and Oglethorpe； having chosen a high bluff on the southern bank of the Savannah River； concluded a satisfactory treaty with Tomochichi； the chief of the nearest Indian tribe； which was later ratified in a full Council of the chiefs of all the Lower Creeks。 His fairness and courteous treatment won the hearts of all； especially of Tomochichi and his people； who for many years remained on the best of terms with the town which was now laid out upon the bluff。
The Salzburgers。
The Salzburgers； referred to by name in the proposals of the Georgia Trustees； were； at this time； very much upon the mind and heart of Protestant Europe。 They were Germans； belonging to the Archbishopric of Salzburg； then the most eastern district of Bavaria； but now a province of Austria。 〃Their ancestors； the Vallenges of Piedmont； had been compelled by the barbarities of the Dukes of Savoy to find a shelter from the storms of persecution in the Alpine passes and vales of Salzburg and the Tyrol； before the Reformation； and frequently since； they had been hunted out by the hirelings and soldiery of the Church of Rome； and condemned for their faith to tortures of the most cruel and revolting kind。 In 1684…6； they were again threatened with an exterminating persecution； but were saved in part by the intervention of the Protestant States of Saxony and Brandenburg； though more than a thousand emigrated on account of the dangers to which they were exposed。
〃But the quietness which they then enjoyed for nearly half a century was rudely broken in upon by Leopold； Count of Firmian and Archbishop of Salzburg； who determined to reduce them to the Papal faith and power。 He began in the year 1729； and ere he ended in 1732 not far from thirty thousand had been driven from their homes； to seek among the Protestant States of Europe that charity and peace which were denied them in the glens and fastnesses of their native Alps。
〃The march of these Salzburgers constitutes an epoch in the history of Germany。 * * * Arriving at Augsburg； the magistrates closed the gates against them； refusing them entrance to that city which； two hundred years before； through Luther and Melancthon and in the presence of Charles V and the assembled Princes of Germany； had given birth to the celebrated Augsburg Confession； for clinging to which the Salzburgers were now driven from their homes； but overawed by the Protestants； the officers reluctantly admitted the emigrants； who were kindly entertained by the Lutherans。
〃The sympathies of Reformed Christendom were awakened on their behalf； and the most hospitable entertainment and assistance were everywhere given them。〃 Only a few months after the signing of the Georgia Colony Charter； the 〃Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge〃 requested the Trustees to include the Salzburgers in their plans。 The Trustees expressed their willingness to grant lands； and to manage any money given toward their expenses； but stated that they then held no funds which were available for that purpose。
In May； 1733； the House of Commons appropriated 10；000 Pounds to the Trustees of Georgia； 〃to be applied towards defraying the charges of carrying over and settling foreign and other Protestants in said colony；〃 and over 3；000 Pounds additional having been given privately； the Trustees； at the suggestion of Herr von Pfeil； consul of Wittenberg at Regensberg； wrote to Senior Samuel Urlsperger； pastor of the Lutheran Church of St。 Ann in the city of Augsburg； who had been very kind to the Salzburgers on their arrival there； 〃and ever afterward watched over their welfare with the solicitude of an affectionate father。〃 On receipt of the invitation from the Trustees； seventy…eight persons decided to go to Georgia； and left Augsburg on the 21st of October； reaching Rotterdam the 27th of November； where they were joined by two ministers； Rev。 Mr。 Bolzius； deputy superintendent of the Latin Orphan School at Halle； and Rev。 Mr。 Gronau； a tutor in the same； who were to accompany them to their new home。 In England they were treated with marked kindness； and when they sailed； January 19； 1734； it was with the promise of free transportation to Georgia； and support there until they could reap their first harvest from the fifty acres which were to be given to each man among them。
They reached Charlestown； South Carolina； the following March； and met General Oglethorpe； the Governor of Georgia； who was intending an immediate return to Europe； but went back to help them select a suitable place for their settlement； they preferring not to live in Savannah itself。 The site chosen was about twenty…five miles from Savannah； on a large stream flowing into the Savannah River； and there they laid out their town； calling it 〃Ebenezer〃； in grateful remembrance of the Divine help that had brought them thither。 Baron von Reck； who had accompanied them as Commissary of the Trustees； stayed with them until they had made a good beginning； and then returned to Europe； leaving Ebenezer about the middle of May。
Unitas Fratrum。
But while the Salzburgers received so much sympathy and kindness in Germany on account of their distress； other exiled Protestants； whose story was no less touching； were being treated with scant courtesy and consideration。
On the 6th of July； 1415； the Bohemian Reformer； John Hus； was burned at the stake。 But those who had silenced him could not unsay his message； and at last there drew together a little body of earnest men； who agreed to accept the Bible as their only standard of faith and practice； and established a strict discipline which should keep their lives in the simplicity； purity； and brotherly love of the early Apostolic Church。 This was in 1457； and the movement quickly interested the thoughtful people in all classes of society； many of whom joined their ranks。 The formal organization of the Unitas Fratrum （the Unity of Brethren） followed； and its preaching； theological publications； and educational work soon raised it to great influence in Bohemia； Moravia； and Poland； friendly intercourse being established with Luther； Calvin； and other Reformers as they became prominent。
Then came destruction； when the religious liberty of Bohemia and Moravia was extinguished in blood； by the Church of Rome。 The great Comenius went forth； a wanderer on the face of the earth； welcomed and honored in courts and universities； introducing new educational principles that revolutionized methods of teaching； but ever longing and praying for the restoration of his Church； and by his publication of its Doctrine and Rules of Discipline； and by his careful transmission of the Episcopate which had been bestowed upon him and his associate Bishops； he did contribute largely to that renewal which he was not destined to see。
In the home lands there were many who held secretly； tenaciously； desperately； to the doctrines they loved； 〃in hope against hope〃 that the great oppression would be lifted。 But the passing of a hundred years brought no relief； concessions granted to others were still denied to the children of those who had been the first 〃protestants〃 against religious slavery and corruption； and in 1722 a small company of descendants of the ancient Unitas Fratrum slipped over the borders of Moravia； and went to Saxony； Nicholas Lewis； Count Zinzendorf； having given them permission to sojourn on his estates until they could find suitable homes elsewhere。
Hearing that they had reached a place of safety； other Moravians took their lives in their hands and followed； risking the imprisonment and torture which were sure to follow an unsuccessful attempt to leave a province； the Government of which would neither allow them to be happy at home nor to sacrifice everything and go away。 Among these emigrants were five young men； who went in May； 1724； with the avowed intention of trying to resuscitate the Unitas Fratrum。 They intended to go into Poland； where the organization of the Unitas Fratrum had lasted for a considerable time after its ruin in Bohemia； but； almost by accident； they decided to first visit Christian David； who had led the first company to Herrnhut； Saxony； and while there they became convinced that God meant them to throw in their lot with these refugees； and so remained； coming to be strong leaders in the renewed Unity。
Several years； however； elapsed before the church was re…established。 One hundred years of persecution had left the Moravians only traditions of the usages of the fathers； members of other sects who were in trouble came and settled among them； bringing diverse views； and things were threatening to become very much involved； when Count Zinzendorf； who had hitherto paid little attention to them； awoke to the realization of their danger； and at once set to work to help them。
It was no easy task which he undertook； for the Moravians insisted on retaining their ancient discipline； and he must needs try to please them and at the same time preserve the bond of union with the State Church； the Lutheran； of which； as his tenants； they were officially considered members。 His tact and great personal magnetism at last healed the differences which had sprung up between the settlers； the opportune finding of Comenius' ‘Ratio Disciplinae' enabled them with certainty to formulate rules that agreed with those of the ancient Unitas Fratrum； and a marked outpouring of the Holy Spirit at a Communion； August 13th； 1727； sealed the renewal of the Church。
〃They walked with God in peace and love； But failed with one another； While sternly for the faith they strove； Brother fell out with brother； But He in Whom they put their trust； Who knew their frames； that they were dust； Pitied and healed their weakness。
〃He found them in His House of prayer； With one accord assembled； And so revealed His presence there； They wept for joy and trembled； One cup they drank； one bread they brake； One baptism shared； one language spake； Forgiving and forgiven。
〃Then forth they went with tongues of flame In on
