the moravians in georgia-第24章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
d so much a pail for the benefit of the orphans； but Frank said ‘they have so far received spiritual water from us without price； let them also have this freely。' Between the well and the house is a cow shed。 They have a cow； which is pastured out during the day； but comes back in the evening； and they use the milk and butter for the sick。 Near the shed is a kitchen and bake…oven； and on the other side a hut for their provisions。 Behind the well； on Nitschmann's lot； stands on one side Tanneberger's and on the other Rose's cabin； with a roof between； under which the leather is stored； which is to be made into shoes。
〃Two English miles from the town they have cleared ten acres； （the garden） and planted corn and rice； which is growing nicely。 They have set out mulberry； peach； and apple trees； which are doing well； in the middle of the garden； which is enclosed with a fence and ditch； they have built a corn…house； a cabin in which to live； and a stable。〃 Another cabin； the first erected in the garden； had been burned in January； at which time Mrs。 Waschke was living in it； though she was away when it caught fire； and returned too late to give an alarm and save it。 The farm four miles from town was proving unsatisfactory； requiring much labor and yielding little return； and they had about decided to stop cultivating it； and give all their effort to the garden； which was paying well。
From the 14th to the 17th of August； Spangenberg busied himself with the account between the Moravians and the Trustees。 In addition to the bonds signed by the first and second companies for their passage to Georgia； and provisions to be delivered on arrival； it had been necessary to get a great deal at the store on credit。 On the other hand the men had done a considerable amount of carpenter work and hauling for the Trustees and for others。 The account on the books at the Trustees' store was all in confusion； and as everybody at the store claimed to be too busy to unravel it； Spangenberg obtained permission to do it himself； and found that in addition to the bonds； （60 Pounds and 226 Pounds 13 Shillings 9 Pence；） the Moravians had taken supplies to an amount which gave them a total debt of some 500 Pounds （2；400。00）。 Against this they had a credit which entirely paid their current account at the store； and reduced their debt to the Trustees to 121 Pounds 2 Shillings 9 Pence； （580。80）。
On the 19th； a Lovefeast was held in honor of Spangenberg and Eckstein； and on the 21st of August the two visitors sailed for Pennsylvania； landing there safely in due time。
A Closing Door。
With the month of September letters began to come from England and Germany in response to Dober's report； and the communications sent by Ingham； who presented the Moravian request to the Trustees； （receiving 〃a sour answer〃；） and also sent a full account of their circumstances to Count Zinzendorf。 The Count had already written to his distressed brethren； giving his advice on various points； and this letter； which was the first to arrive； gave them little comfort。 They had once hoped for reinforcements； earnest men and women who would strengthen their hands for the work among the Indians； and even now it was disappointing to hear that Zinzendorf had decided not to send any more colonists to Georgia。 He argued that it would take very few men to supply teachers for Tomochichi's little village； and that as the Trustees would only permit four missionaries among the more distant tribes； that number could easily be spared from the company already in Savannah。
Regarding military service he repeated his former definite instructions； 〃you will not bear arms either defensive or offensive。〃 He said that he had tried to secure from the Trustees a formal 〃dispensation〃； either verbal or written； exempting the Moravians entirely from military duty； but they refused to give it； insisting that the Moravians must at least employ two men to represent the two town lots in defense of the country。 Zinzendorf had agreed to this； so far as the night watch was concerned； since such a watch was necessary for civic peace and well…being； and the Moravians were authorized to pay the necessary sums therefor； but he considered it inconsistent to refuse to fight as a matter of conscience and then hire others to do it； and so； as he said； 〃there is nothing to do but to say NO； and wait。〃
Although Spangenberg had hoped it would not be necessary for the Moravians to leave Georgia； he had sent the Trustees their request for permission to go； adding； 〃Nor indeed is there any reason why they should be detained； since it is their full intention and design to pay every farthing of their debt before they stir a foot； and they have never yet sold their liberty to any man； neither are they bound to any man by any writing or agreement whatsoever。 I doubt not therefore but ye will readily shew the same clemency towards innocent and inoffensive men； which any one may expect from your Honors； whose business is not to destroy but to save and benefit mankind。 May it please you therefore to send orders to the Magistrate of Savannah that these people may have leave to depart that Province。 I do assure your Honors they always thought it a great favor that ye were pleased to send them thither； but now they will think it a greater to be dismissed。〃
In reply the Trustees wrote to Mr。 Causton； forbidding the introduction of martial law without their express order； and reproving him for having required more than two men from the Moravians； but in that very reproof practically insisting that two must serve。 The Moravians thought they had defined their position clearly at the outset； and believed they had the Trustees' promise that all should be as they desired； and if the Trustees realized the construction placed upon their words they had taken a most unfair advantage of the Moravians by offering them the two town lots as a special favor； and then using the ownership of those lots as a lever to force unwelcome service。 On the other hand the Trustees claimed that Zinzendorf had tacitly agreed to furnish two fighting men when he allowed Spangenberg and Nitschmann to take the two freeholds； and one can hardly imagine that the gentlemen who served as Trustees of Georgia would stoop to a subterfuge to gain two soldiers。 Probably it was an honest misunderstanding for which neither side was to blame； and of which neither could give a satisfactory explanation； each party having had a clear idea of his own position； and having failed to realize that in the confusion of tongues the other never did grasp the main point clearly。
Regarding the Moravian request for permission to leave； the Trustees declined to give instructions until after an exchange of letters with Zinzendorf； but in a second letter to his Congregation； the Count wrote； 〃If some do not wish to remain； let them go；〃 and 〃if the authorities will not do what you demand it is certain that you must break up and go further； but whether to Pennsylvania； or New York or Carolina； the Lord will show you。〃 Carolina would be no better than Georgia for their purpose； for the military conditions were identical； and Bishop Nitschmann's advice that they go to Pennsylvania； together with Spangenberg's residence there； decided them in favor of that location。
Zinzendorf's permission having cleared the way for departure； they resolved to wait no longer on the Trustees； and a general conference was held on September 18th； in which definite arrangements were made for the assumption of the debt by those who were willing as yet to remain in Georgia； freeing the four who were to go first。 A recent letter had informed Tanneberger of the death of his wife and children in Herrnhut； and the news shattered his already weak allegiance。 Without them he cared little where he went； or what became of him； if only he could get away； and Haberecht was more than ready to join him。 His young son went as a matter of course； and Meyer； another member who had been lazy and unsatisfactory； completed the party； which sailed for Pennsylvania on the 16th of October。 Jag also intended to go； but for some reason waited for the next company。
Haberecht settled at Ephrata； and the two Tannebergers at Germantown。 In 1741； Haberecht joined the Moravians who were building in 〃the forks of the Delaware〃； and became one of the first members of the Bethlehem Congregation。 In 1745； David Tanneberger married Regina Demuth； who had lost her husband the previous year； and they ultimately moved to Bethlehem also。 Meyer never renewed his association with the Moravians。
Before the four started to Pennsylvania； another member had taken the longer journey； and had been laid beside his brethren in the Savannah cemetery。 This was George Haberland； who died September 30th； from flux； a prevalent disease； from which almost all of the colonists suffered at one time or another。 He had learned much during his life in Georgia； had been confirmed in June with his brother Michael； and had afterward served acceptably as a 〃Diener〃 of the Congregation。
On the 7th of October； Seifert and Boehner moved to Tomochichi's village to perfect themselves in the language； and begin their missionary work。 As some of the congregation had already left Savannah； and others were soon to follow； Seifert thought that he could be spared even though he was 〃Aeltester〃； especially as at first he returned to Savannah every Saturday to hold the Sunday services。 In November he and Boehner spent several weeks in town helping the carpenters raise the frame of a large house they were building； and when they returned to the Indians in January； 1738； Peter Rose； his wife； and surviving daughter went with them。
Friday； December 13th； John Wesley left Savannah； to return to England。 His popularity had long since waned； in the face of his rigid insistance on ecclesiastical rules； and it was said 〃the Brethren alone can understand him； and remain in love with him。〃 He was unfortunate enough to provoke a spiteful woman； a niece of Mr。 Causton； the Magistrate； and so greatly did the persecution rage under her influence； that Wesley's chance of doing further good was ruined； and nothing was left but for him to withdraw。 The Magistrates forbade him to leave； （secretly rejoicing that they had driven him away；） but he boldly took his departure； without molestation； making his way to Beaufort； where Charles Delamotte joined him。 Together they went to Charlestown； where he parted from Delamotte； and on the 2nd of January； 1738； sailed from the continent that had witnessed the shattering of so many fond hopes and ambitions。
Forty…seven years later Brierly Allen settled in Savannah； the first minister there to represent the great denomination which grew from Wesley's later work in England； and the first Methodist Society in that city of his humiliation was organized in 1806。
During the preceding summer Zinzendorf had written to the Trustees； asking once more for （1） entire exemption from military service for the Georgia Moravians； for （2） permission for them to leave Georgia if this could not be granted； and （3） that at least four might remain among the Indians as missionaries。
In answer the Trustees （1） repeated their former decision regarding freeho
