the moravians in georgia-第20章
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ommon in Old Testament days； and in the New Testament it is recorded that when an apostle was to be chosen to take the place of the traitor； Judas； the lot decided between two men who had been selected as in every way suited for the place。 Following this example the members of the ancient Unitas Fratrum used the lot in the selection of their first ministers； and the Renewed Church did the same when the first elders were elected at Herrnhut in 1727。 It was no uncommon practice in Germany； where many persons who desired special guidance resorted to it more or less freely； and Count Zinzendorf； among the rest； had used it from his youth up。 Gradually it came into general use among the Moravians； and at a later period in their history had its definite place in their system of government； though the outside public never fully understood it； and still holds erroneous views； despite the plain statements that have been made。 By degrees its use became more and more restricted； and has been long since entirely abolished。
In its perfection the lot was simply this； human intellect solving a problem so far as earnest study and careful deliberation could go； and then； if the issue was still in doubt； a direct appeal for Divine guidance； in perfect faith that the Lord would plainly answer his servants； who were seeking to do his will。 This standard was not always maintained； but the leaders of the Moravian Congregation in Savannah had the early； absolute； belief that God spoke to them through the lot； and felt themselves bound to implicit obedience to its dictates。 Their custom was to write two words or sentences on separate slips； representing the two possible answers to their question； and after earnest prayer to draw one slip； and then act accordingly。 Sometimes a third slip； a blank； was added； and if that was drawn it signified that no action should be taken until another time； and after further consideration。
Some time in July； Peter Rose and his wife； （the widow Riedel） went to live among the Lower Creeks； giving all their time to learning the language； and teaching what they could about religion。
On August 9th； Mr。 Ingham went to the Moravians with a new plan。 Gen。 Oglethorpe had agreed to build a schoolhouse for Indian children； near Tomochichi's village； with the idea that it would give opportunity also to reach the older men and women with the Gospel message。 The house was to contain three rooms； one for Ingham； one for the Moravian missionaries； and one to be used for the school； and it was suggested that the Moravians undertake the erection of the building； the Trustees' fund to pay them for their labor。 The proposition was gladly accepted； and preparations were at once made to send the necessary workmen。
On Monday； the 13th； Toeltschig and five others went to the spot which had been selected for the Indian Schoolhouse； usually called ‘Irene'。 The site of this schoolhouse has been considered uncertain； but a short manuscript account of 〃the Mission among the Indians in America〃； preserved in the Herrnhut Archives； says distinctly that it stood 〃a mile above the town （of Savannah） on an island in the Savannah River which was occupied by the Creeks。〃
When the carpenters arrived the first act was to unite in prayer for a blessing on their work； and then they began to fell trees and cut down bushes； clearing the ground for the hut in which they were to live while building the schoolhouse。 The hut was placed on the grave of an Indian chief。 〃The Indians are accustomed to bury their chiefs on the spot where they died； to heap a mound some 24 feet high above them； to mourn them for a while； and then to abandon the spot；〃 and this little elevation was a favorable site for their hut。 Until the hut was finished the men lodged with the Indians； Tomochichi himself taking charge of their belongings。 Toeltschig returned the same day to Savannah； going back later with a supply of provisions。 The Indians made them heartily welcome to their neighborhood； and the Moravians； even in the midst of their building operations； began to teach them the English alphabet； at the same time putting forth every effort to learn the Indian tongue； in which Rose was rapidly becoming proficient。
By the 20th of September the schoolhouse was finished； and Ingham and the Moravians held a conference to plan the future work； and decide what duties each should assume； as he proposed to move thither at once； and； with the approval of the lot； Rose and his wife were to do the same。 Morning and evening they were to read the English Bible； accompanied by silent prayer； morning； mid…day and evening an hour was to be given to the study of the Indian language； and Rose and his wife were to have an hour for their private devotions。 Mrs。 Rose was to teach the Indian girls to read； and the boys； who had already begun to read； were to be taught to write。 In their remaining time they were to clear and plant some land； that they might not be too long dependent on the Congregation at Savannah； and on the friendly Indians； who were giving them much。
The next day Mr。 and Mrs。 Toeltschig escorted Rose and his wife to their new home； and at Ingham's request united with them in a little prayer service。 Four days later fourteen of the Moravians went to the schoolhouse； which was solemnly consecrated by Seifert； the Chief Elder。 That evening； in Savannah； Rose and his wife were formally set apart for their missionary work； and the next day they returned to 〃Irene〃； as the school was called； to enter upon their duties。
At first everything was encouraging。 The children learned readily； not only to read but some to write； they committed to memory many passages of Scripture； and took special delight in the hymns they were taught to sing。
The older Indians looked on with wonder and approval； which stimulated the missionaries to new zeal in mastering the language； and in taking every opportunity to make the 〃Great Word〃 known to them。 Zinzendorf wrote a letter from Herrnhut to Tomochichi； commending his interest in their message； and urging its full acceptance upon him； the Indians gave some five acres of land for a garden； which Rose cleared and planted； and everything looked promising； until the influence of the Spanish war rumor was felt。 True to their nature； the fighting spirit of the Indians rose within them； and they took the war…path against the Spanish； for the sake of their English allies； and perhaps more for the pure love of strife。 Then Ingham decided to go to England for reinforcements； and Rose was left in charge of the work。 He seems to have been a well…meaning man； and much beloved by the Indians； but he was not a man of much mental strength or executive ability； and the Congregation at Savannah soon decided that he and his wife should be recalled until the way opened for one or more of the others to go back to Irene with him。
The 〃Society〃。
In their personal affairs the Moravians were experiencing the usual mingling of light and shadow。
Dober's effort to make pottery was a failure； for lack of proper clay； but through Gen。 Oglethorpe's kindness a good deal of carpenter's work was given to them。 They built a house for Tomochichi at his village； and a house in Savannah； both in the style of the Moravian house； and another town house in English fashion； as well as the Indian school； a large share of their wages being applied on account； so that their debt was gradually reduced； and their credit sustained。
Their manner of living remained very simple。 Morning and evening prayers began and ended their days of toil； the company being divided； part living at the garden； and part in town during the week； all gathering in the town…house for Sunday's rest and worship。 When the weather was very warm the morning Bible reading was postponed until the noon hour； that advantage might be taken of the cooler air for active labor。 Once a month a general conference was held on Saturday evening； with others as needed； so that all might do the work for which they were best fitted； and which was most necessary at the time。 〃Who worked much gave much； who worked less gave less； who did not work because he was sick or weak gave nothing into the common fund； but when they needed food； or drink； or clothing； or other necessary thing； one was as another。〃
On the 3rd of April； Matthias Seybold asked to be received into the communicant Congregation； which was done on the 5th of May； and he shared in the Lord's Supper for the first time June 3rd。 John Boehner also was confirmed on January 12th of the following year。
On the 11th of November two little girls； Anna and Comfort； were added to their household。 The mother had recently died； and the father offered to pay the Moravians for taking care of them； but they preferred to have them bound； so they could not be taken away just when they had begun to learn； and so it was arranged。 On the 28th； a man from Ebenezer brought his son； and apprenticed him to Tanneberger； the shoemaker。
The dark side of the picture arose from two causes； ill health； and matrimonial affairs。 There was a great deal of sickness throughout Georgia that summer； and the second company became acclimated through the same distressing process that the first had found so hard to bear。 Mrs。 Dober； Mrs。 Waschke； Mrs。 Toeltschig； Gottlieb Demuth； John Boehner and others were sick at various times； and David Jag cut his foot so severely that he was unable to use it for four months。 Nor was this the worst； for three more of their number died。 Roscher was sick when he reached Savannah； with consumption； it was supposed； but Regnier suspected that this was not all； and when Roscher died； March 30th； he secured permission to make an autopsy； in which he was assisted by John Wesley。 The examination showed a large hematoma in the left wall of the abdomen； and other complications。 The records say； 〃we have no cause to grieve over his departure； for he was a good soul；〃 and died in peace。
The next to pass away was Mrs。 Haberecht。 Her health began to fail the latter part of March； but she did not become seriously ill until the 26th of May； when she returned from the farm； where she and others had been employed； and told her friends that the Saviour had called her； and her end was near。 With joy and peace she waited for the summons； which was delayed for some time； though on several occasions her death seemed only a matter of hours。 On the 16th of June she shared with the others in the celebration of the Communion； and on the following evening 〃went to the Saviour〃。
Matthias Boehnisch's illness was of short duration； lasting only from the 27th of September to the 3rd of October。 He had had a severe fall on the ship coming over； from which he continued to suffer； and now a hard blow on the chest injured him mortally。 Some of his companions found it hard to understand why he should be taken； for he was a good man； who gave promise of much usefulness in the Lord's service。 It is an old question； often asked and never fully answered； but Boehnisch； conscious almost to the last； was perfectly willing to go； and his associates felt that the influence of his life 〃would be a seed； which would bear fruit〃 in others。
It was a serious mistake that sent
