the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第22章
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It is interesting to observe that care for the poor Indians is the
argument given for the course to be pursued in dealing with a recreant
member！ They had come to preach the Gospel to the Indians； and did not
propose that evil should be learned through fault of theirs。
At his earnest request； John Regnier was now admitted to the
〃Society〃； his presence among them so far having been without distinct
agreement as to his standing。This did not make him a communicant
member of the Church； simply put him on a par with the other non…
communicants； of whom there were quite a number in the Congregation。
In the evening Anton Seifert； so recently ordained Chief Elder； or
pastor； of the Congregation； officiated for the first time at a Confirmation
service； the candidate being Jacob Frank。He had been in poor health when
the second company left Germany； and Count Zinzendorf had advised him
not to go； but his heart was set on it； and he would not be persuaded。 He
grew worse during the voyage and was now very ill with dropsy； but in
such a beautiful Christian spirit that no one could deny his wish for full
membership in the Church。Having given satisfactory answers to the
searching questions put to him； the blessing was laid upon his head； and he
expressed so great a desire to partake of the Lord's Supper that his request
was immediately granted； the Elders and Helpers （Helfer） communing
with him。Two or three days later he asked Spangenberg to write his will；
and then his strength gradually failed； until on March 19th； he 〃passed to
the Lord〃； leaving to his associates the remembrance of his willing and
happy departure。
The term 〃Helpers〃 was used to express in a general way all those；
both men and women； who were charged with the spiritual and temporal
affairs of the Congregation。Many of the words employed as official titles
by the Moravians were given a specialized significance which makes it
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difficult to find an exact English equivalent for them； though they are
always apt when the meaning is understood。 Perhaps the best example of
this is 〃Diener〃； which means 〃servant〃； according to the dictionary； and
was used to designate those who 〃served〃 the Congregation in various
ways。Until quite recently a Lovefeast； held annually in Salem； N。 C。； for
members of Church Boards； Sunday…School Teachers； Church Choir；
Ushers； etc。 was familiarly known as 〃the Servants' Lovefeast〃； a direct
inheritance from the earlier days。 It is now more commonly called 〃the
Workers' Lovefeast〃； an attempt to unite 〃Helper〃 and 〃Diener〃 in a term
understood by all。
At a 〃Helpers' Conference〃 held on March 13th； it was decided to have
nothing more to do with Vollmar； the Wittenberg carpenter； who had
crossed with the second company； had proved false and malicious； and had
now joined Herr von Reck's party without the consent of the Moravians。
More important； however； than the Vollmar affair； was the proposed
departure of Spangenberg for Pennsylvania。Most faithfully had he fulfilled
his commission to take the first company of Moravians to Georgia； and
settle them there； patiently had he labored for and with them during their
days of greatest toil and privation； controlling his own desire to keep his
promise and go to the Schwenkfelders； who were complaining with some
bitterness of his broken faith； but now his task was ended； the Savannah
Congregation was ready to be thrown on its own resources； Gen。
Oglethorpe had provided him with letters of introduction； and the 〃lot〃
said； 〃Let him go； for the Lord is with him。〃
Final questions were asked and answered； Spangenberg's Commission
was delivered to him； and then Bishop Nitschmann 〃laid his blessing
upon〃 him。 In the Lutheran Church； to which he belonged before he joined
the Moravians； Spangenberg had been an accredited minister of the Gospel。
The Church of England refused to acknowledge the validity of Lutheran
ordination； because that Church had no Episcopate； but the Moravians；
influenced by Count Zinzendorf； himself a Lutheran by birth； broad…
minded； liberal； and devout； did not hesitate to fraternize with the
Lutherans； or even to accept the Sacraments at the hands of Pastor Rothe；
in charge of the Parish Church of Berthelsdorf。 At the same time they
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prized the Episcopate lately transferred to them from the ancient Unitas
Fratrum； and while continuing in free fellowship with Christians of all
denominational names； they now intended to so ordain their own ministry
that no church could question it。 When the three grades were established in
1745； a license to preach granted by the Lutheran Church was considered
equivalent to the rank of Deacon； ordination in the Moravian Church
making the minister a Presbyter。
Now fully equipped for his mission to the English Colony of
Pennsylvania； Spangenberg left Savannah on March 15th； going on Capt。
Dunbar's ship to Port Royal； where he lodged with a man who was born in
Europe； his wife in Africa； their child in Asia； and they were all now living
in America！From Port Royal he went by land almost to Charlestown； the
last short distance being in a chance boat； and from Charlestown he sailed
to New York。From there he proceeded to Philadelphia； and to the
Schwenkfelders； making his home with Christopher Wiegner on his farm
in the Skippack woods； where George Boehnisch was also living。
Spangenberg worked on the farm that he might not be a burden to his host；
and might meet the neighbors in a familiar way； meanwhile making
numerous acquaintances； and gaining much valuable information。
Bishop Nitschmann remained in Savannah until March 26th； when he
sailed to Charlestown。There he was detained ten days waiting for a
northbound ship； and employed the time in delivering several letters of
introduction； and learning all he could about Carolina； and the conditions
there。On the 28th of April he reached New York； and left on the 9th of
May for Philadelphia； going partly by boat； and partly on foot； reaching
there on the 13th。Six weeks he and Spangenberg spent together； visiting
many neighborhoods； and informing themselves as to the religious and
material outlook in Pennsylvania； and then Nitschmann sailed for
Germany。
His report gave a new turn to the American plans； for both he and
Spangenberg were much pleased with Pennsylvania。Quite a number of the
settlers seemed open to the idea of mutual aid in the spiritual life； material
conditions were very different from those in Georgia and better suited to
the Moravian needs； the Quaker Governor was not likely to force military
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service upon people who held the same theories as himself in regard to
warfare； and there were large tribes of Indians within easy reach； to whom
the Gospel might be preached。As troubles thickened in Savannah；
therefore； the heads of the Church at Herrnhut began to look toward
Pennsylvania； and ultimately sent thither the larger companies originally
destined for Georgia。
In August； Spangenberg went to visit the Moravian Mission on the
island of St。 Thomas； returning to Pennsylvania in November； where he
remained until the following year。
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The Moravians in Georgia
Chapter V。 The Second Year in
Georgia。
The English Clergymen。
The same day that Bishop Nitschmann left Savannah； John Wesley
moved into the parsonage which had just been vacated by his predecessor；
Mr。 Quincy。 A week earlier he had entered upon his ministry at Savannah；
being met by so large and attentive an audience that he was much
encouraged； and began with zeal to perform his pastoral duties。He was the
third Rector of the Savannah Parish； the Rev。 Henry Herbert having been
the first； and he preached in a rude chapel built on the lot reserved for a
house of worship in the original plan of Savannah； the site of the present
Christ Church。
The first word of discouragement was brought by Ingham； who
returned from Frederica on April 10th； with a message from Charles
Wesley begging his brother to come to his relief。He told a woeful story of
persecution by the settlers； and injustice from Oglethorpe to Charles
Wesley； all undeserved； as Oglethorpe freely admitted when he threw off
the weight of suspicion laid upon his mind by malicious slanderers； and
sought an interview with his young secretary； in which much was
explained and forgiven。But poor Charles was in great straits when he sent
Ingham to Savannah； sick； slighted； and abused； deprived even of the
necessaries of life； and so cast down that on one occasion he exclaimed；
〃Thanks be to God； it is not yet made a capital offence to give me a morsel
of bread！〃
Wesley obeyed the summons； taking Delamotte with him； Ingham
caring for the Church and Delamotte's school during their absence。 There
were poor school facilities in Savannah prior to Delamotte's arrival； and he
at once saw the need； and devoted himself to it。 Delamotte seems to have
been a quiet man； who took little share in the aggressive work of his
companions； and
