the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第8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！
least to separate himself from them； and return to the old friends at
Halle。Oglethorpe smiled at the prejudice against the Moravians； and told
them frankly that efforts had been made to influence him； but he had
preferred to wait and judge for himself。 〃It has ever been so；〃 he said；
〃from the time of the early Christians； it seems to be the custom of
theologians to call others heretics。 They say； in short； ‘you do not believe
what I believe； a Mohammedan also does not believe what I believe；
therefore you are a Mohammedan；' and again ‘you explain this Bible
passage so and so； the Socinian also explains it so and so； therefore you
are a Socinian。'〃As for opposition； he； too； was beginning to find it since
the Georgia Colony was proving a success。
Meanwhile new friends were springing up on every side of the
Moravians。 A doctor helped them lay in a store of medicine； another gave
them some balsam which was good for numberless external and internal
uses。A German merchant； who had become an English citizen； helped
them purchase such things as they would require in Georgia； and a cobbler
assisted Riedel in buying a shoemaker's outfit。Weapons were offered to all
the members of the party； but declined； as they wished to give no excuse to
any one who might try to press them into military service。They yielded；
however； to the argument that they would need to protect themselves
against wolves and bears； and sent Peter Rose； the gamekeeper； with Mr。
Verelst； one of the secretaries of the Trustees； to purchase a fowling piece
and hunting knives。
Letters of introduction to various prominent men in America were
given to them； and； perhaps most important of all in its future bearing；
people discovered the peculiar charm of the Moravian services。 Reference
is made in the diaries to one and another； from English clergyman to
Germans resident in London； who joined with them in their devotions；
and seemed much moved thereby。Neither was it a passing emotion； for the
seed a little later blossomed into the English Moravian Church。
And so the month passed swiftly by； and the ship was ready to
commence her long voyage。
30
… Page 31…
The Moravians in Georgia
31
… Page 32…
The Moravians in Georgia
Chapter III。 The First Year in
Georgia。
The Voyage。
In the year 1735 a voyage across the Atlantic was a very different
thing from what it is in this year of grace 1904。To…day a mighty steamship
equipped with powerful engines； plows its way across the billows with
little regard for wind and weather； bearing thousands of passengers； many
of whom are given all the luxury that space permits； a table that equals any
provided by the best hotels ashore； and attendance that is
unsurpassed。Then weeks were consumed in the mere effort to get away
from the British Isles； the breeze sometimes permitting the small sailing
vessels to slip from one port to another； and then holding them prisoner for
days before another mile could be gained。 Even the most aristocratic
voyager was forced to be content with accommodations and fare little
better than that supplied to a modern steerage passenger； and those who
could afford it took with them a private stock of provisions to supplement
the ship's table。
And yet the spell of adventure or philanthropy； gain or religion； was
strong upon the souls of men； and thousands sought the New World； where
their imagination saw the realization of all their dreams。 Bravely they
crossed the fathomless deep which heaved beneath them； cutting them off
so absolutely from the loved ones left at home； from the wise counsels of
those on whom they were accustomed to depend； and from the strong arm
of the Government under whose promised protection they sailed； to work
out their own salvation in a country where each man claimed to be a law
unto himself； and where years were to pass before Experience had once
more taught the lesson that real freedom was to be gained only through a
general recognition of the rights of others。
On the 3rd of February； 1735； the Moravians arose early in their
London lodging house； prayed heartily together； and then prepared to go
aboard their vessel； 〃The Two Brothers〃； Capt。 Thomson； where the
32
… Page 33…
The Moravians in Georgia
Trustees wished to see all who intended to sail on her。 A parting visit was
paid to Gen。 Oglethorpe； who presented them with a hamper of wine； and
gave them his best wishes。After the review on the boat Spangenberg and
Nitschmann returned with Mr。 Vernon to London to attend to some last
matters； while the ship proceeded to Gravesend for her supply of water；
where Spangenberg rejoined her a few days later。 On the 25th of February
they passed the Azores； and disembarked at Savannah； April 8th； having
been nine and a half weeks on shipboard。
The story of those nine weeks is simply； but graphically； told in the
diary sent back to Herrnhut。Scarcely had they lifted anchor when the
Moravians began to arrange their days； that they might not be idly wasted。
In Herrnhut it was customary to divide the twenty…four hours among
several members of the Church； so that night and day a continuous stream
of prayer and praise arose to the throne of God； and the same plan was
now adopted； with the understanding that when sea…sickness overtook the
company； and they were weak and ill； no time limit should be fixed for the
devotions of any； but one man should pass the duty to another as
circumstances required！
Other arrangements are recorded later； when； having grown
accustomed to ship life； they sought additional means of grace。In the early
morning； before the other passengers were up； the Moravians gathered on
deck to hold a service of prayer； in the afternoon much time was given to
Bible reading； and in the evening hymns were sung that bore on the text
that had been given in the morning。Spangenberg； Toeltschig； and Seifert；
in the order named； were the recognized leaders of the party； but realizing
that men might journey together； and live together； and still know each
other only superficially； it was agreed that each of the ten in turn should on
successive days speak to every one of his brethren face to face and heart to
heart。 That there might be no confusion； two were appointed to bring the
food to the company at regular times； and see that it was properly served；
the following being 〃the daily Allowance of Provisions to the Passengers
on board the 〃Two Brothers〃； Captain William Thomson； for the Town of
Savannah in Georgia。
〃On the four beef…days in each week for every mess of five heads
33
… Page 34…
The Moravians in Georgia
（computing a head 12 years old； and under 12 two for one； and under 7
three for one； and under 2 not computed）； 4 lbs。 of beef and 2…1/2 lbs。 of
flour； and 1/2 lb。 of plums。
〃On the two pork days in each week for said mess； 5 lbs。 of pork and
2…1/2 pints of peas。
〃And on the fish day in each week for said mess； 2…1/2 lbs。 of fish and
1/2 lb。 of butter。
〃The whole at 16 ounces to the pound。
〃And allow each head 7 lbs。 of bread； of 14 ounces to the pound； by
the week。
〃And 3 pints of beer； and 2 quarts of water （whereof one of the quarts
for drinking）； each head by the day for the space of a month。
〃And a gallon of water （whereof two quarts for drinking） each head；
by the day after； during their being on their Passage。〃
Another Moravian was chosen as nurse of the company； although it
happened at least once that he was incapacitated； for every man in the
party was sick except Spangenberg； who was a capital sailor； and not
affected by rough weather。 His endurance was severely tested too； for
while the breeze at times was so light that they unitedly prayed for wind；
〃thinking that the sea was not their proper element； for from the earth God
had made them； and on the earth He had work for them to do；〃 at other
times storms broke upon them and waves swept the decks； filling them
with awe； though not with fear。〃The wind was high； the waves great； we
were happy that we have a Saviour who would never show us malice；
especially were we full of joy that we had a witness in our hearts that it
was for a pure purpose we sailed to Georgia；〃 so runs the quaint record
of one tempestuous day。
A more poetic expression of the same thought is given by Spangenberg
in a poem written during the voyage； and sent home to David Nitschmann
to be set to the music of some 〃Danish Melody〃 known to them both。
There is a beauty of rhythm in the original which the English cannot
reproduce； as though the writer had caught the cadence of the waves； on
some bright day when the ship 〃went softly〃 after a season of heavy storm。
〃Gute Liebe； deine Triebe Zuenden unsre Triebe an；Dir zu leben； dir
34
… Page 35…
The Moravians in Georgia
zu geben； Was ein Mensch dir geben kann；Denn dein Leben； ist； zu geben
Fried' und Segen aus der Hoeh。Und das Kraenken zu versenken In die
ungeheure See。
〃Herr wir waren von den Schaaren Deiner Schaeflein abgetrennt；Und
wir liefen zu den Tiefen； Da das Schwefelfeuer brennt；Und dein Herze
brach vor Schmerze； Ueber unsern Jammerstand；O wie liefst du！O wie
riefst du！ Bist du uns zu dir gewandt。
〃Als die Klarheit deiner Wahrheit Unsern ganzen G
