the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第3章
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all that preceded it； seemed to augment rather than quiet the antagonism
which the development of Herrnhut aroused in certain quarters。 This
opposition was not universal。The Moravians had many warm friends and
advocates at the Saxon Court； at the Universities of Jena and Tuebingen；
and elsewhere； but they also had active enemies who drew their inspiration
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principally from the University of Halle。
The opposition of Halle seems to have been largely prompted by
jealousy。 In 1666 a revolt against the prevailing cold formalism of the
Lutheran Church was begun by Philip Jacob Spener； a minister of that
Church； who strongly urged the need for real personal piety on the part of
each individual。His ideas were warmly received by some； and disliked by
others； who stigmatized Spener and his disciples as 〃Pietists〃； but the
doctrine spread； and in the course of time the University of Halle became
its centre。Among those who were greatly attracted by the movement were
Count Zinzendorf's parents and grandparents； and when he was born； May
26th； 1700； Spener was selected as his sponsor。
Being of a warm…hearted； devout nature； young Zinzendorf yielded
readily to the influence of his pious grandmother； to whose care he was
left after his father's death and his mother's second marriage； and by her
wish he entered the Paedagogium at Halle in 1710； remaining there six
years。Then his uncle； fearing that he would become a religious enthusiast；
sent him to the University of Wittenberg； with strict orders to apply
himself to the study of law。Here he learned to recognize the good side of
the Wittenberg divines； who were decried by Halle； and tried to bring the
two Universities to a better understanding； but without result。
In 1719 he was sent on an extensive foreign tour； according to custom；
and in the picture gallery of Duesseldorf saw an Ecce Homo with its
inscription 〃This have I done for thee； what hast thou done for me？〃 which
settled him forever in his determination to devote his whole life to the
service of Christ。
Rather against his wishes； Count Zinzendorf then took office under the
Saxon Government； but about the same time he bought from his
grandmother the estate of Berthelsdorf； desiring to establish a centre of
piety； resembling Halle。The coming of the Moravian and other refugees
and their settlement at Herrnhut； near Berthelsdorf； was to him at first only
an incident； but as their industry and the preaching of Pastor Rothe； whom
he had put in charge of the Berthelsdorf Lutheran Church； began to attract
attention； he went to Halle； expecting sympathy from his friends
there。Instead he met with rebuke and disapproval； the leaders resenting the
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fact that he had not placed the work directly under their control； and
apparently realizing； as he did not； that the movement would probably lead
to the establishment of a separate church。
In spite of their disapprobation； the work at Herrnhut prospered； and
the more it increased the fiercer their resentment grew。That they； who had
gained their name from their advocacy of the need for personal piety；
should have been foremost in opposing a man whose piety was his
strongest characteristic； and a people who for three hundred years； in
prosperity and adversity； in danger； torture and exile； had held 〃Christ and
Him Crucified〃 as their Confession of Faith； and pure and simple living
for His sake as their object in life； is one of the ironies of history。
Nor did the Halle party confine itself to criticism。Some years later
Zinzendorf was for a time driven into exile； and narrowly escaped the
confiscation of all his property； while its methods of obstructing the
missionary and colonizing efforts of the Moravians will appear in the
further history of the Georgia colony。
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The Moravians in Georgia
Chapter II。 Negotiations with the
Trustees of Georgia。
The Schwenkfelders。
Among those who came to share the hospitalities of Count Zinzendorf
during the years immediately preceding the renewal of the Unitas Fratrum；
were a company of Schwenkfelders。Their sojourn on his estate was
comparatively brief； and their association with the Moravian Church only
temporary； but they are of interest because their necessities led directly to
the Moravian settlements in Georgia and Pennsylvania。
The Schwenkfelders took their name from Casper Schwenkfeld； a
Silesian nobleman contemporary with Luther； who had in the main
embraced the Reformer's doctrines； but formed some opinions of his own
in regard to the Lord's Supper； and one or two other points。His followers
were persecuted in turn by Lutherans and Jesuits； and in 1725 a number of
them threw themselves on the mercy of Count Zinzendorf。He permitted
them to stay for a while at Herrnhut； where their views served to increase
the confusion which prevailed prior to the revival of 1727； about which
time he moved them to Ober…Berthelsdorf。
In 1732； Zinzendorf's personal enemies accused him； before the Saxon
Court； of being a dangerous man； and the Austrian Government
complained that he was enticing its subjects to remove to his estates。 The
Count asked for a judicial investigation； which was granted； the Prefect of
Goerlitz spending three days in a rigid examination of the affairs of
Herrnhut。The result was a most favorable report； showing the orthodoxy
of the settlers； and that instead of urging emigration from Bohemia and
Moravia； Zinzendorf had protested against it； receiving only those who
were true exiles for conscience' sake。 In spite of this the Saxon
Government； a few months later； forbade him to receive any more
refugees。
In April； 1733； a decree went forth that all Schwenkfelders were to
leave the Kingdom of Saxony。This； of course； affected those who were
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living at Ober…Berthelsdorf； and a committee of four waited on Count
Zinzendorf； and requested him to secure a new home for them in the land
of Georgia in North America。Probably Zinzendorf； whose attention had
been caught by the attractive advertisements of the Trustees； had
unofficially suggested the idea to them。
Lest his opening negotiations with the English Company should
foment the trouble at home； he sent his first communication to them
anonymously； about the end of 1733。
〃A nobleman； of the Protestant religion； connected with the most
influential families of Germany； has decided to live for a time in America；
without； however； renouncing his estates in Germany。But as circumstances
render it inadvisable for him to take such a step hastily； he wishes to send
in advance a number of families of his dependents； composed of honest；
sturdy； industrious； skillful； economical people； well ordered in their
domestic affairs； who； having no debts； will try to sell such possessions as
they cannot take with them in order to raise the funds for establishing
themselves in their new home。
〃This nobleman； on his part； promises：
（1）To be governed by the King； and the English Nation； in all things；
matters of conscience alone excepted； that is； he will be true to the Prince；
the Protestant Succession； and Parliament in everything relating to the
estates he may receive in this country； and thereto will pledge his life； and
the property he may in future hold under the protection of His Majesty of
Great Britain。
（2）To be surety for the dependents that he sends over； and to assume
only such jurisdiction over them as is customary among English Lords on
their estates。
（3）To carefully repay the English Nation such sums as may be
advanced for his establishment in Georgia； and moreover； as soon as the
property is in good condition； to consider it only as rented until the
obligation is discharged。
（4）To assist the King and Nation； with all zeal and by all means in his
power； to carry out His Majesty's designs for Georgia。 He will bring to that
all the insight and knowledge of a man of affairs； who from youth up has
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studied the most wholesome principles and laws for a State； and has had
personal experience in putting them into execution； but； on the other hand；
he has learned such self…control that he will meddle with nothing in which
his services are not desired。
〃In consideration of these things the nobleman asks that
（1）If more knowledge of his standing is desired he shall be expected to
give it to no one except a Committee of Parliament； composed of members
of both houses； appointed by his Britannic Majesty； or to a Committee of
the ‘Collegii directoriatis' of America； who shall be empowered to grant
his requests； this in view of the fact that the petitioner is a German
Nobleman； whose family is well known； his father having been
Ambassador to England； and his kindred among the foremost statesmen of
Europe。
（2）After the Committee has received sufficient and satisfactory
information it shall be silent in regard to the circumstances and his
personality； as he has weighty reasons
