the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第33章
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perfect faith that the Lord would plainly answer his servants； who were
seeking to do his will。This standard was not always maintained； but the
leaders of the Moravian Congregation in Savannah had the early； absolute；
belief that God spoke to them through the lot； and felt themselves bound to
implicit obedience to its dictates。 Their custom was to write two words or
sentences on separate slips； representing the two possible answers to their
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question； and after earnest prayer to draw one slip； and then act
accordingly。 Sometimes a third slip； a blank； was added； and if that was
drawn it signified that no action should be taken until another time； and
after further consideration。
Some time in July； Peter Rose and his wife； （the widow Riedel） went
to live among the Lower Creeks； giving all their time to learning the
language； and teaching what they could about religion。
On August 9th； Mr。 Ingham went to the Moravians with a new plan。
Gen。 Oglethorpe had agreed to build a schoolhouse for Indian children；
near Tomochichi's village； with the idea that it would give opportunity also
to reach the older men and women with the Gospel message。 The house
was to contain three rooms； one for Ingham； one for the Moravian
missionaries； and one to be used for the school； and it was suggested that
the Moravians undertake the erection of the building； the Trustees' fund to
pay them for their labor。 The proposition was gladly accepted； and
preparations were at once made to send the necessary workmen。
On Monday； the 13th； Toeltschig and five others went to the spot
which had been selected for the Indian Schoolhouse； usually called ‘Irene'。
The site of this schoolhouse has been considered uncertain； but a short
manuscript account of 〃the Mission among the Indians in America〃；
preserved in the Herrnhut Archives； says distinctly that it stood 〃a mile
above the town （of Savannah） on an island in the Savannah River which
was occupied by the Creeks。〃
When the carpenters arrived the first act was to unite in prayer for a
blessing on their work； and then they began to fell trees and cut down
bushes； clearing the ground for the hut in which they were to live while
building the schoolhouse。 The hut was placed on the grave of an Indian
chief。 〃The Indians are accustomed to bury their chiefs on the spot where
they died； to heap a mound some 24 feet high above them； to mourn them
for a while； and then to abandon the spot；〃 and this little elevation was a
favorable site for their hut。Until the hut was finished the men lodged with
the Indians； Tomochichi himself taking charge of their belongings。
Toeltschig returned the same day to Savannah； going back later with a
supply of provisions。The Indians made them heartily welcome to their
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neighborhood； and the Moravians； even in the midst of their building
operations； began to teach them the English alphabet； at the same time
putting forth every effort to learn the Indian tongue； in which Rose was
rapidly becoming proficient。
By the 20th of September the schoolhouse was finished； and Ingham
and the Moravians held a conference to plan the future work； and decide
what duties each should assume； as he proposed to move thither at once；
and； with the approval of the lot； Rose and his wife were to do the
same。Morning and evening they were to read the English Bible；
accompanied by silent prayer； morning； mid…day and evening an hour was
to be given to the study of the Indian language； and Rose and his wife
were to have an hour for their private devotions。Mrs。 Rose was to teach
the Indian girls to read； and the boys； who had already begun to read； were
to be taught to write。 In their remaining time they were to clear and plant
some land； that they might not be too long dependent on the Congregation
at Savannah； and on the friendly Indians； who were giving them much。
The next day Mr。 and Mrs。 Toeltschig escorted Rose and his wife to
their new home； and at Ingham's request united with them in a little prayer
service。Four days later fourteen of the Moravians went to the schoolhouse；
which was solemnly consecrated by Seifert； the Chief Elder。That evening；
in Savannah； Rose and his wife were formally set apart for their
missionary work； and the next day they returned to 〃Irene〃； as the school
was called； to enter upon their duties。
At first everything was encouraging。The children learned readily； not
only to read but some to write； they committed to memory many passages
of Scripture； and took special delight in the hymns they were taught to
sing。
The older Indians looked on with wonder and approval； which
stimulated the missionaries to new zeal in mastering the language； and in
taking every opportunity to make the 〃Great Word〃 known to them。
Zinzendorf wrote a letter from Herrnhut to Tomochichi； commending his
interest in their message； and urging its full acceptance upon him； the
Indians gave some five acres of land for a garden； which Rose cleared and
planted； and everything looked promising； until the influence of the
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Spanish war rumor was felt。 True to their nature； the fighting spirit of the
Indians rose within them； and they took the war…path against the Spanish；
for the sake of their English allies； and perhaps more for the pure love of
strife。 Then Ingham decided to go to England for reinforcements； and
Rose was left in charge of the work。He seems to have been a well…
meaning man； and much beloved by the Indians； but he was not a man of
much mental strength or executive ability； and the Congregation at
Savannah soon decided that he and his wife should be recalled until the
way opened for one or more of the others to go back to Irene with him。
The 〃Society〃。
In their personal affairs the Moravians were experiencing the usual
mingling of light and shadow。
Dober's effort to make pottery was a failure； for lack of proper clay；
but through Gen。 Oglethorpe's kindness a good deal of carpenter's work
was given to them。They built a house for Tomochichi at his village； and a
house in Savannah； both in the style of the Moravian house； and another
town house in English fashion； as well as the Indian school； a large share
of their wages being applied on account； so that their debt was gradually
reduced； and their credit sustained。
Their manner of living remained very simple。Morning and evening
prayers began and ended their days of toil； the company being divided；
part living at the garden； and part in town during the week； all gathering in
the town…house for Sunday's rest and worship。 When the weather was very
warm the morning Bible reading was postponed until the noon hour； that
advant
