the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第29章
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Moravians heard of these letters； and were much puzzled； as the reports
from the Savannah Congregation spoke only of pleasant relations with the
Salzburgers； and requests for union of the two forces。 Probably Bolzius
was fretted by their refusal to join him； even as the leaders at Halle
resented the independence of Herrnhut； and after Gronau's death； in 1745；
the pastors of Ebenezer steadily opposed the efforts of the Moravians to
recommence a mission work in Georgia。
Apart from the friction with their fellow townsmen and the lack of
united purpose among their own number； Spangenberg found the
Moravian colony in good condition。Their devotional hours were steadily
observed； the Lord's Supper was celebrated regularly； and a weekly
conference kept the many interests of the 〃Society〃 running smoothly。
By the aid of the second company； various improvements had been
made； so that their lots and garden presented a prosperous appearance。
〃They have a house in town （on Spangenberg's lot） with a supply of wood
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for the kitchen。Behind the house is a well； with a pump； on which almost
the whole town depends； for it not only never goes dry； as do all the others；
but it has the best water to be found in the town。 From early morning to
late at night the people come with barrels； pails and pitchers； to take the
water to their homes。 Once some one suggested that strangers should be
charged 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
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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；
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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
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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
