the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第35章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
but returned in time to nurse him； to soothe him in delirium； and to lay
him to rest amid the lamentations of the Purisburg residents。 At his death
the school for white children was given up； for Boehler was too weak to
shoulder the additional load； and felt that his first duty was to the
negroes。In September； Oglethorpe was in Savannah； and after much
difficulty Boehler obtained speech with him； and succeeded in convincing
him that a negro school at Purisburg was hopeless。He approved of
Boehler's plan to itinerate among the plantations and promised that both
142
… Page 143…
The Moravians in Georgia
his own and Schulius' salaries should be paid him； that he might be
supplied for traveling expenses。In November； when his health was
restored； Boehler wished to make his first journey； but the storekeeper
declined to pay him any money until the expiration of the quarter year。
When he went again at the appointed time the storekeeper refused to pay
anything without a new order from Oglethorpe； except the remainder of
the first year's salary； now long overdue。Boehler concluded that the man
had received private instructions from Oglethorpe； and that his services
were no longer desired by the representative of 〃the associates〃； so in
January； 1740； he gave up further thought of obligation to them； and
prepared to go on his own account。 He planned to go by boat to Purisburg
and from there on foot through Carolina to Charlestown； but on the way
up the Savannah River the canoe was overtaken by a severe thunderstorm；
and forced to land。 Knowing that a sloop would sail in two days he
returned to Savannah； meaning to go to Charlestown on her； but on trying
the lot he received direction to wait for the present in Savannah。
While Boehler was making his attempt among the negroes； some
changes were taking place in the Savannah Congregation。 He had been
very much distressed by the condition he found when he arrived； for
owing partly to their many difficulties and partly to Seifert's absence
among the Indians； no Communion had been celebrated for a year； and the
〃bands〃 had been dropped。The Bible and prayer gatherings were steadily
observed； but it seemed to him there was a lack of harmony among the
members； and they were by no means ready to take him at once into their
confidence。Seifert； too； was not well； and had been obliged to leave the
Indians； and return to Savannah。
The Indian work was most discouraging； for the men were careless
and drunken； and in January； 1739； even Rose gave up； and moved back to
Savannah with his family。In October； Tomochichi died； and was buried
with great pomp in Percival Square in Savannah。The Moravians were
asked to furnish music at the funeral； but declined； and it was hardly
missed amid the firing of minute guns； and three volleys over his grave。
After his death his little village was abandoned； and the question of further
missionary efforts there settled itself。
143
… Page 144…
The Moravians in Georgia
During the winter John Regnier became deeply incensed at some plain
speaking from Schulius； and decided to leave at once for Europe； the
Congregation paying his way。He probably went to Herrnhut； as that had
been his intention some months previously； and later he served as a
missionary in Surinam。In after years he returned to Pennsylvania； where
he joined those who were inimical to the Moravians。
Peter Rose； his wife and daughter left for Pennsylvania soon after their
withdrawal from Irene。They settled in Germantown； and there Peter died
March 12th； 1740。Catherine married John Michael Huber in 1742； who
died five years later on a voyage to the West Indies。 Being for the third
time a widow； she became one of the first occupants of the Widows' House
in Bethlehem； and served as a Deaconess for many years； dying in
1798。Mary Magdalena became the wife of Rev。 Paul Peter Bader in 1763。
On August 10th； 1739； John Michael Schober died after a brief illness；
the ninth of the Moravian colonists to find their final resting place beside
the Savannah River。
In September； General Oglethorpe received instructions to make
reprisals on the Spanish for their depredations on the southern borders of
the Georgia Province。He rightly judged this to be the precursor of open
hostilities； and hastened his preparations to put Carolina and Georgia in a
state of defense。In October the British Government declared war on Spain；
and November witnessed the beginning of fighting in the Colonies。Of
course this meant a re…opening of the old discussion as to the Moravians'
liability for service； a repetition of the old arguments； and a renewal of the
popular indignation。 Oglethorpe was fairly considerate of them； thought
Zinzendorf ought to have provided for two men； but added that he did not
want the Moravians driven away。Still the situation was uncomfortable； and
the Moravians began to make arrangements for their final departure。
By this time Boehler had won his way into the confidence of the
Savannah congregation； and had learned that he was not the only one who
had the Lord's interests at heart。With Seifert again in charge of affairs； the
religious services had taken on new life； and on October 18th； John Martin
Mack was confirmed。Judith Toeltschig； however； gave them great concern；
and her brother Michael Haberland sided with her； so that the company
144
… Page 145…
The Moravians in Georgia
gladly saw them sail for Germany in the latter part of January； 1740。There
Michael married； and returned to America in May； 1749； as one of the
large company which came to settle in Bethlehem； where he died in 1783。
Judith joined her husband in England； and in 1742 was serving as 〃sick…
waiter〃 of the Pilgrim Congregation in London。
This left only six Moravians in Savannah； for John Boehner had
already started for Pennsylvania on January 20th。 He had a very sore arm
which they hoped would be benefited by the change； and he was
commissioned to try and gather together the members who had preceded
him； and to make arrangements for the reception of the remnant which
was soon to follow。He aided faithfully during the early days of the
settlement at Nazareth and Bethlehem； and in 1742 went as a missionary
to the island of St。 Thomas； where he labored earnestly and successfully
for the rest of his life； and died in 1787。
Nothing now remained for the members still in Savannah； but to so
arrange matters that they might leave on the first opportunity。 Oglethorpe
had already bought their trumpets and French horns at a good price； but
they needed to sell their rice and household furniture to provide sufficient
funds for their journey。This was happily arranged on the 2nd of February；
when George Whitefield； who had reached Savannah for the second time a
few days before； came to see them； promised to buy all they cared to sell；
and offered them free passage to Pennsylvania。 This offer they gratefully
accepted； receiving 37 Pounds for their household goods； and on April
13th； 1740； they sailed with Whitefield on his sloop the ‘Savannah'；
Captain Thomas Gladman。 Their land and improvements were left in the
hands of an Agent； and the town house was rented to some of Whitefield's
followers for a hospital。
With the Moravians went the two boys； Benjamin Somers and James
； who had been given into their hands by the Savannah magistrates in
1735； and a young woman； Johanna Hummel； of Purisburg。The two lads
gave them much trouble in Pennsylvania； and Benjamin was finally bound
out in 1748； while James ran away。Johanna married John Boehner； and
sailed with him to the West Indies in 1742； but died at sea before reaching
there。
145
… Page 146…
The Moravians in Georgia
Boehler and his company expected to find Spangenberg and Bishop
Nitschmann in Pennsylvania； and were much disappointed to learn that
both were absent。 They scarcely knew what to do； but Boehler held them
together； and when Whitefield decided to buy a large tract of land and
build thereon a Negro school； and a town for his English friends of
philanthropic mind； and when the Moravians were offered the task of
erecting the first house there； Boehler and his companions gladly accepted
the work。Bethlehem followed in due time； and all were among those who
organized that congregation。 David Zeisberger； Sr。； died there in 1744； his
wife in 1746。 Anton Seifert was appointed Elder； or Pastor of the
Bethlehem Congregation； married； and took an active part in the Church
and School work there and at Nazareth； the latter tract having been
purchased from Whitefield in 1741。April 8th； 1745； he sailed for Europe；
laboring in England； Ireland and Holland； and dying at Zeist in 1785。
John Martin Mack became one of the leaders of the Moravian Church
in its Mission work among the Indians in New York； Connecticut and Ohio
until 1760； when he was sent to the negro slaves on St。 Thomas； preaching
also on St。 Croix and St。 Jan； and the English West Indies。 He was
ordained to the ministry November 13th； 1742； and was consecrated
bishop October 18th； 1770； during a visit to Pennsylvania； this being the
first Episcopal consecration in the American Province of the Moravian
Church。He was married four
