the moravians in georgia-第27章

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ment　for　the　Unitas　Fratrum。〃

Less　renowned　than　many　of　his　confreres；　Toeltschig　was　a　type　of　that　class　of　Moravians　who　carried　their　Church　through　slight　and　blight　into　the　respect　and　good…will　of　the　world。　Industrious　and　scrupulously　exact　in　business　affairs；　courteous　and　considerate　in　his　dealings　with　others；　firm　and　fearless　in　matters　of　conscience；　bold　to　declare　his　faith；　and　witness　for　his　Master；　energetic　and　〃conservatively　progressive〃　in　promoting　the　growth　of　his　church；　he　took　little　part　in　the　controversies　of　his　day；　but　devoted　himself　unreservedly　to　preaching　the　Gospel　as　it　was　read　by　John　Hus；　by　the　founders　of　the　ancient　Unitas　Fratrum；　by　the　renewers　of　that　Church　in　Herrnhut；　〃Salvation　by　faith　in　Christ　and　real　Christian　living　according　to　the　precepts　of　the　Bible。〃


　　The　Negro　Mission。

John　Toeltschig　had　been　the　diarist　of　the　Moravian　Congregation　in　Savannah；　as　well　as　their　treasurer　and　most　able　member；　and　after　he　left　very　little　record　was　kept　of　the　daily　occurrences。　A　few　stray　letters　have　been　preserved；　but　little　of　interest　appears　therein；　beyond　the　facts　that　the　summer　of　1738　was　hot　and　dry；　and　that　the　Moravians　were　not　molested；　although　always　conscious　of　the　under…current　of　antagonism。

Some　time　during　these　months　Matthias　Seybold　left　for　Pennsylvania；　where　he　married；　and　was　one　of　the　company　that　established　the　settlement　at　Bethlehem。　　He　returned　to　Europe　in　1742；　and　died　at　Herrnhut　in　1787。

In　May；　the　Rev。　George　Whitefield　reached　Georgia；　〃authorized　to　perform　all　religious　offices　as　Deacon　of　the　Church　of　England；　in　Savannah　and　Frederica；〃　in　the　place　of　John　Wesley。　The　poverty　of　the　people　touched　him　deeply；　he　distributed　to　the　most　needy　such　sums　as　he　had　brought　for　their　relief；　and　with　James　Habersham；　who　had　come　over　at　the　same　time；　he　agreed　upon　the　erection　of　an　Orphan　House。　　Whitefield　visited　Ebenezer；　and　acquainted　himself　with　conditions　there　and　elsewhere；　and　then　returned　to　England；　in　August；　to　raise　funds　for　his　Orphan　House；　Habersham　meanwhile　beginning　to　collect　and　instruct　the　most　neglected　children。

During　his　stay　in　Georgia；　Whitefield　lodged　with　Charles　Delamotte；　who　was　still　carrying　on　the　little　school。　　During　the　winter　Delamotte　had　boarded　for　a　while　with　the　Moravians；　and　when　he　returned　to　England　in　the　autumn；　he　at　once　associated　himself　with　the　English　members。　　Tyerman　in　his　〃Life　and　Times　of　John　Wesley〃；　says；　〃On　his　return　to　England；　Charles　Delamotte　became　a　Moravian；　settled　at　Barrow…upon…Humber；　where　he　spent　a　long　life　of　piety　and　peace；　and　died　in　1790。〃

On　the　16th　of　October；　Peter　Boehler　and　George　Schulius　arrived　in　Savannah；　accompanied　by　the　lad；　Simon　Peter　Harper。　They　came　as　missionaries　to　the　negroes　of　Carolina；　the　hearts　of　various　philanthropic　Englishmen　having　been　touched　by　reports　of　the　condition　of　these　half　wild　savages　recently　imported　from　the　shores　of　Africa　to　till　the　fields　of　the　New　World。

The　plan　originated　during　Count　Zinzendorf's　visit　to　London；　in　February；　1737；　when　it　was　suggested　to　him　that　such　a　mission　should　be　begun　by　two　Moravian　men；　under　the　auspices　of　〃the　associates　of　the　late　Dr。　Bray〃。

Thomas　Bray；　an　English　divine；　was　born　in　1656；　made　several　missionary　trips　to　America；　and　in　1697　organized　a　society　for　the　propagation　of　the　Gospel　in　the　English　Colonies。　He　died　in　1730；　but　the　work　was　continued　by　his　〃associates〃；　many　of　whom　were　also　interested　in　the　Georgia　Colony。

As　this　mission　was　to　be　under　their　direction；　〃the　associates　of　the　late　Dr。　Bray〃　wished　to　be　very　sure　that　the　doctrine　and　rules　of　the　Unitas　Fratrum　did　not　conflict　with　the　Church　of　England；　but　being　assured　by　the　Archbishop　of　Canterbury　that　he　considered　them　as　agreeing　in　all　essential　points；　they　closed　an　agreement　with　Zinzendorf　whereby　the　Count　received　30　Pounds　with　which　to　prepare　〃two　Brethren　to　reside　for　the　instruction　of　the　Negroes　at　such　place　in　Carolina　as　the　said　associates　shall　direct。〃　　The　missionaries；　when　they　had　entered　upon　their　work；　were　to　receive　a　salary；　〃not　exceeding　thirty　pounds　a　year；〃　from　the　〃associates〃。

For　this　missionary　enterprise；　so　much　to　his　liking；　Zinzendorf　appointed　〃one　of　my　chaplains；　master　Boehler；〃　and　〃Schulius；　a　Moravian　brother；〃　who　with　Richter　and　Wenzel　Neisser　arrived　in　London；　February　18th；　1738。　At　the　house　of　their　friend　Wynantz；　the　Dutch　merchant；　they　met　John　Wesley；　who　offered　to　secure　them　a　pleasant；　inexpensive　lodging　near　James　Hutton's；　where　he　was　staying。

Peter　Boehler　had　been　a　student　at　Jena　when　Spangenberg　was　lecturing　there；　and　was　himself　a　professor　at　that　seat　of　learning　when　he　decided　to　accept　Zinzendorf's　call　to　mission　work；　and　join　the　Moravians；　with　whom　he　had　been　for　a　long　time　in　sympathy。　Like　Spangenberg　he　was　a　highly　educated　man；　and　an　able　leader；　fitted　to　play　an　important　part　in　the　Church　of　his　adoption。　In　December；　1737；　he　was　ordained　at　Herrnhut　by　the　bishops；　David　Nitschmann　and　Count　Zinzendorf；　and　in　later　years　he；　too；　became　a　bishop　of　the　Unity。

On　the　22nd　of　February；　Boehler　and　his　companions　called　on　Gen。　Oglethorpe；　who　at　first　supposed　they　were　simply　going　over　to　join　the　Savannah　congregation。　　Boehler　explained　that　Richter；　who　spoke　French　as　well　as　German；　had　come　as　the　Agent　of　the　Moravians；　in　accordance　with　the　suggestion　made　by　the　Trustees　to　Bishop　Nitschmann　in　1736；　that　Wenzel　Neisser　was　going　on　an　official　visitation　to　America；　especially　to　the　West　Indies；　and　that　he　and　Schulius　were　the　missionaries　promised　by　Count　Zinzendorf　for　work　among　the　negroes　in　Carolina。　The　General　courteously　invited　them　to　confer　with　him　further；　either　by　letter　or　in　person；　and　offered　to　take　them　with　him；　as　he　expected　shortly　to　sail　for　Georgia　with　his　regiment。

Later；　when　they　wished　to　come　to　a　definite　agreement　with　Oglethorpe；　who　represented　the　〃associates　of　Dr。　Bray〃；　they　experienced　some　difficulty；　owing　to　the　fact　that　a　letter　of　introduction　Oglethorpe　expected　to　receive　from　Count　Zinzendorf　had　failed　to　arrive；　but　the　exhibition　of　their　passports；　and　Richter's　explanation　that　Zinzendorf　thought　（from　newspaper　notices）　that　Oglethorpe　had　already　left　England；　enabled　Boehler　and　Schulius　to　establish　their　identity。　　So　soon　as　Zinzendorf　heard　that　his　word　was　needed；　he　sent　them　a　formal　letter　of　introduction　to　Oglethorpe；　which　was　gladly　received　as　corroboration　of　their　statements。　The　Moravians　were　at　their　own　expense　while　waiting　in　London；　but　Oglethorpe　promised　that　they　should　be　provided　with　Bibles；　grammars；　and　other　things　they　might　need　for　the　negro　school。

Being　detained　in　London　for　three　months；　instead　of　three　weeks　as　they　expected；　Boehler　and　his　friend　had　ample　opportunity　to　make　acquaintances　in　the　metropolis。　　They　sent　word　of　their　arrival　to　those　Germans　who　had　learned　to　know　Zinzendorf　and　the　earlier　Moravian　emigrants　to　Georgia；　and　on　the　first　Sunday　〃the　brethren〃；　（as　they　affectionately　called　all　who；　like　themselves；　were　interested　in　living　a　Christian　life；）　came　to　them；　and　a　series　of　meetings　for　prayer；　conference；　and　instruction　was　begun。　Boehler　was　a　man　of　attractive　personality；　and　convincing　earnestness；　and　in　spite　of　his　slight　knowledge　of　their　language　many　English　also　became　interested　and　formed　a　society　similar　to　that　begun　by　Zinzendorf；　the　two　soon　uniting　in　the　Fetter　Lane　Society。

Ten　days　after　Boehler　reached　London　he　accepted　an　invitation　from　the　two　Wesleys；　and　went　with　them　to　Oxford。　There　he　was　most　kindly　received；　preached　in　Latin　once　or　twice　each　day；　and　had　many　private　conversations　with　inquirers。　Among　those　with　whom　he　became　acquainted　was　the　Rev。　John　Gambold；　who　later　became　a　bishop　in　the　Moravian　Church；　and　many　others　were　mightily　stirred　to　seek　the　salvation　of　their　souls。

Noting　how　little　English　Boehler　and　Schulius　knew；　Gen。　Oglethorpe　offered　them　a　boy　who　was　bright　and　intelligent；　could　speak　both　English　and　German；　and　understood　some　French；　and　they　found　him　so　serviceable　that　they　asked　and　obtained　permission　to　take　him　with　them　to　Carolina。

Through　Wesley；　Boehler　heard　that　Gen。　Oglethorpe　was　much　surprised　at　the　speed　with　which　he　acquired　English；　and　that　he　had　asked　whether　Boehler　would　consent　to　serve　as　Minister　of　the　Church　of　England　in　Savannah；　if　that　Congregation　remained　without　a　pastor。　Boehler　expressed　his　willingness　to　preach　at　any　time；　but　declined　to　administer　the　Sacraments　for　any　denomination　except　his　own；　so　the　appointment　was　not　made。

On　the　28th　of　April；　the　baggage　of　the　Missionaries　was　put　aboard　the　‘Union　Galley'；　Capt。　Moberley；　with　instructions　that　Boehler　and　his　companions　should　join　her　at　Portsmouth。　Neisser　was　to　go　with　them　to　Georgia；　and　from　there；　as　opportunity　offered；　to　St。　Thomas；　but　while　the　ship　lay　at　Portsmouth　other　instructions　reached　him；　and　Oglethorpe　kindly　made　no　objection　to　his　withdrawing　his　box　and　staying　behind；　though　he　did　not　quite　understand　it。

On　the　15th　of　May；　Peter　Boehler；　George　Schulius；　and　the　lad　Simon　Peter　Harper；　left　London；　but　finding　the　ship　not　yet　ready　to　sail；　they；　by　Oglethorpe's　instructions；　went　to　Southampton　where　some　of　the　vessels　were　lying。

Returning　to　Portsmouth　they　embarked　on　May　22nd；　and　soon　found　they　were　〃to　dwell　in　Sodom　and　Gomorrah〃　during　their　voyage。　On　the　30th　the　fleet　sailed　to　Southampton　for　the　soldiers；　and　when　they　came　aboard　four　days　later　〃Sodom　and　Gomorrah　were　fully　reproduced。〃　　As　the　ships　lay　off　Spithead　a　conspiracy　was　discovered；　　the　soldiers　on　one　vessel　had　planned　to　kill　their　officers；　take　what　money　they　could　find；　and　escape　to　France。　　During　the　voyage　there　were　several　fights　among　the　soldiers；　or　between　them　and　the　sailors；　and　in　one　drunken　riot　a　soldier　cut　off　a　young　girl's　hand。　　〃The　Lord　was　our　defense　and　shield；　and　we　were　among　them　like　Daniel　in　the　midst　of　the　lions；〃　wrote　Boehler；　for　the　quiet；　Bible…reading　Moravians　found　little　to　like　in　their　rough　associates；　who　cared　for　them　just　as　little；　and　wished　they　could　be　thrown　overboard。

The　ships　put　to　sea　July　16th　and　reached　the　Madeiras　on　the　29th；　where　they　were　detained　until　the　8th　of　August。　　Boehler　and　Schulius　went　on　shore　a　number　of　times；　were　courteously　treated　by　the　most　prominent　Catholic　priest　there；　climbed　a　mountain　for　the　exercise；　and　particularly　enjoyed　their　escape　from　turmoil　and　confusion。　　The　captain；　who　had　taken　a　dislike　to　them；　tried　to　prevent　their　leaving　the　ship；　but　Oglethorpe　stood　their　friend；　and　ordered　that　they　should　have　entire　liberty。　　For　Boehler；　as　for　many　who　had　preceded　him；　Georgia　and　Carolina　were　to　be　a　school　where　great　life　lessons　would　be　learned。　　Fresh　from　the　University　halls　of　Jena；　he　had　met　the　students　of　Oxford　on　equal　footing；　quickly　winning　their　respect　and　admiration；　but　these