the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第15章
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requested by the Trustees or their Agent； and any provisions not used to be
credited on their account。
In the matter of forming new acquaintances in London； the second
company was far less active than the first had been； Spangenberg's
standing and education having given him access to many people； attracting
their attention to his companions。The second company profited by the
friends he had made； Mr。 Wynantz especially devoting himself to their
service； and while Nitschmann and his associates did not reach many new
people； they inspired the respect and confidence of those whom
Spangenberg had introduced to the Moravian Church； and so strengthened
its cause。A carpenter from Wittenberg； Vollmar by name； who was
attracted to them； requested permission to go to Georgia with them；
although not at their expense； and to this they agreed。 A number of
Salzburgers who were to go to Georgia with General Oglethorpe； though
not on the same ship； were under the leadership of the young Baron von
Reck with whom Zinzendorf had corresponded during the early stages of
the Moravian negotiations； and the Baron called on the second company
several times； offered to assist them in any way in his power； and
expressed the wish that the Moravians and Salzburgers could live together
in Georgia。 Nitschmann doubted the wisdom of the plan； but courteously
agreed to refer it to Zinzendorf； who； however； refused his sanction。
On the 12th of October； the Moravians went aboard Gen。 Oglethorpe's
ship； the ‘Simmonds'； Capt。 Cornish； where they were told to select the
cabins they preferred； being given preference over the English colonists
who were going。The cabins contained bare bunks； which could be closed
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The Moravians in Georgia
when not in use； arranged in groups of five； three below and two above；
the five persons occupying them also eating together。 The Moravians
chose their places in the center of the ship； on either side of the main mast；
where the ventilation was best； and there would be most fresh air when
they reached warmer latitudes。 〃The number of people on the ship is rather
large； for we are altogether one hundred and fifty who are going to
Georgia； but besides ourselves they are all Englishmen。〃〃Many of them
are like wild animals； but we have resolved in all things to act as the
children of God； giving offence to no one； that our purpose be not
misconstrued。〃
After seeing his companions comfortably settled on the vessel；
Nitschmann returned to his numerous tasks in London。On the 24th； he
came back to the ship； accompanied by Korte； who bade them an
affectionate farewell。By the 27th all of the passengers； including Gen。
Oglethorpe； were on board； but it was not until the afternoon of October
31st； that the ‘Simmonds' sailed from Gravesend。
Four Journals。
On the ‘Simmonds'； as she sailed slowly down the Thames on her way
to Georgia； there were four Englishmen； with whom the Moravians were
to become well acquainted； who were to influence and be influenced by
them； and through whom a great change was to come into the religious
history of England。 These were John and Charles Wesley； Benjamin
Ingham and Charles Delamotte。 The Wesleys were sons of Samuel Wesley；
a clergyman of the Church of England； and while at the University of
Oxford they； with two companions； had formed a little society for
religious improvement； and by their strict and methodical habits gained
the name of 〃Methodists〃； both brothers had taken orders in the English
Church； and were on their way to Georgia； John to serve as rector at
Savannah； and Charles as Gen。 Oglethorpe's private secretary。 Benjamin
Ingham was born in Yorkshire； and met the Wesleys at Oxford； where he
joined their Methodist society。He； too； had been ordained in the English
Church； and now； at the age of twenty…three； had yielded to John Wesley's
persuasions； and agreed to go with him 〃to the Indians〃。 Charles
Delamotte； the son of a London merchant； met the Wesleys at the home of
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James Hutton； shortly before they sailed for Georgia； and was so much
impressed by them； and by their object in seeking the New World； that he
decided 〃to leave the world； and give himself up entirely to God；〃 and go
with them。
For the greater part of his life John Wesley kept a Journal； extracts
from which were given to the public from time to time； and Benjamin
Ingham's account of the voyage to Georgia was also printed； so that the
story of those weeks is quite well known。Nevertheless； something of
interest may be gained by comparing these two Journals with the Diaries
kept by David Nitschmann； Bishop of the Moravians； and John Andrew
Dober； one of the second company。
To avoid confusion it should be noted that the difference of eleven
days in the dates is only apparent； not real； for the Englishmen used the
old style calendar； the Germans employed the modern one。 In 46 B。 C。 the
Roman Calendar had gained two months on the actual seasons； and a more
accurate calculation resulted in the adoption of the so…called 〃Julian
Calendar〃 （prepared at the request of Julius Caesar）； the two missing
months being inserted between November and December in that 〃year of
confusion〃。By 1582； however； the Julian Calendar had fallen ten days
behind the seasons； so another calculation was made； and Pope Gregory
XIII abolished the Julian Calendar in all Catholic countries； dropped the
dates of ten days from that year； and established the 〃reformed〃； or
〃Gregorian Calendar〃。This was adopted in Catholic Germany； in 1583； in
Protestant Germany and Holland； in 1700； but in England not until 1752；
by which time the difference had increased to eleven days。 Following the
ancient Jewish custom the Year； for many centuries； began with the 25th of
March； but public sentiment came to favor the 1st of January as the more
appropriate date； and it was gradually adopted。 In England； however； the
legal year continued to begin with March 25th； until 1752； although many
people were either using the newer fashion； or indicating both； and a date
might be correctly written in four ways； e。g。 January 10th； 1734； old style；
legal； January 10th； 1734…5； or January 10th； 1735； old style； popular； and
January 21st； 1735； new style； the last agreeing with the calendar now in
general use。
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Bishop Nitschmann gives the outline of their religious services on
almost every day； and in the translation which follows these are generally
omitted； in the same way some paragraphs are left out of the Wesley
Journal。Extracts from Dober's and Ingham's Journals are inserted when
they give facts not otherwise noted。
24 Oct。 1735。
Nitschmann's Diary。Oct。 24th； 1735。
I went to the ship； （the ‘Simmonds'； Captain Cornish）。 My heart
rejoiced to be once more with the Brethren。 In the evening we held our
song service。
（We have all given ourselves to the Lord； and pray that the Saviour
may comfort our hearts with joy； and that we may attain our object；
namely； to call the heathen； to become acquainted with those whom we
have not known and who know us not； and to worship the name of the
Lord。 Letter of Oct。 28。）
25 Oct。 1735。
John Wesley's Journal。Oct。 14th； 1735； （O。 S。） Tuesday。
Mr。 Benjamin Ingham； of Queen's College； Oxford； Mr。 Charles
Delamotte； son of a merchant in London； who had offered himself some
days before； my brother Charles Wesley； and myself； took boat for
Gravesend； in order to embark for Georgia。Our end in leaving our native
country was not to avoid want； （God having given us plenty of temporal
blessings；） nor to gain the dung or dross of riches or honor； but singly this；
to save our souls； to live wholly to the glory of God。 In the afternoon we
found the ‘Simmonds' off Gravesend； and immediately went on board。
（We had two cabins allotted us in the forecastle； I and Mr。 Delamotte
having the first； and Messrs。 Wesley the other。Theirs was made pretty
large； so that we could all meet together to read or pray in it。 This part of
the ship was assigned to us by Mr。 Oglethorpe； as being most convenient
for privacy。 Ingham's Journal。）
27 Oct。 1735。
Nitschmann。Oct。 27th。
Bled Mrs。 Toeltschig and Mrs。 Zeisberger。On deck one man was
knocked down by another； striking his head on the deck so as to stun him。
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In the evening we held our song service at the same hour that the English
had theirs。I spoke with Mr。 Oglethorpe and the two English clergymen；
who asked concerning our ordination and our faith。Mr。 Oglethorpe said he
would be as our father； if we would permit it。
28 Oct。 1735。
Nitschmann。Oct。 28th。
At our prayer…meeting considered Eph。 1； how our election may be
made sure； I also wrote to the Congregation at Herrnhut。Mrs。 Zeisberger
was sick； and Mr。 Oglethorpe concerned himself about her comfort。
Wesley。Oct。 17th。
I began to learn German in order to converse with the Germans； six
and twenty* of whom we had on board。
*
