the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第41章
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Moravians。
Before the four started to Pennsylvania； another member had taken the
longer journey； and had been laid beside his brethren in the Savannah
cemetery。This was George Haberland； who died September 30th； from
flux； a prevalent disease； from which almost all of the colonists suffered at
one time or another。He had learned much during his life in Georgia； had
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been confirmed in June with his brother Michael； and had afterward
served acceptably as a 〃Diener〃 of the Congregation。
On the 7th of October； Seifert and Boehner moved to Tomochichi's
village to perfect themselves in the language； and begin their missionary
work。 As some of the congregation had already left Savannah； and others
were soon to follow； Seifert thought that he could be spared even though
he was 〃Aeltester〃； especially as at first he returned to Savannah every
Saturday to hold the Sunday services。 In November he and Boehner spent
several weeks in town helping the carpenters raise the frame of a large
house they were building； and when they returned to the Indians in
January； 1738； Peter Rose； his wife； and surviving daughter went with
them。
Friday； December 13th； John Wesley left Savannah； to return to
England。 His popularity had long since waned； in the face of his rigid
insistance on ecclesiastical rules； and it was said 〃the Brethren alone can
understand him； and remain in love with him。〃He was unfortunate enough
to provoke a spiteful woman； a niece of Mr。 Causton； the Magistrate； and
so greatly did the persecution rage under her influence； that Wesley's
chance of doing further good was ruined； and nothing was left but for him
to withdraw。The Magistrates forbade him to leave； （secretly rejoicing that
they had driven him away；） but he boldly took his departure； without
molestation； making his way to Beaufort； where Charles Delamotte joined
him。 Together they went to Charlestown； where he parted from Delamotte；
and on the 2nd of January； 1738； sailed from the continent that had
witnessed the shattering of so many fond hopes and ambitions。
Forty…seven years later Brierly Allen settled in Savannah； the first
minister there to represent the great denomination which grew from
Wesley's later work in England； and the first Methodist Society in that city
of his humiliation was organized in 1806。
During the preceding summer Zinzendorf had written to the Trustees；
asking once more for （1） entire exemption from military service for the
Georgia Moravians； for （2） permission for them to leave Georgia if this
could not be granted； and （3） that at least four might remain among the
Indians as missionaries。
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In answer the Trustees （1） repeated their former decision regarding
freehold representation； （2） gave consent for the Moravians to leave if they
would not comply with this； and （3） refused to let them stay as
missionaries。〃The privilege of going among the Indians was given to your
people out of consideration for Your Excellency； and also on account of
their good conduct； they being citizens of this colony； but if they cease to
reside there； this privilege will not be continued to any of them。To employ
them as missionaries to instruct the Indians would be a reflection on our
country； as if it could not furnish a sufficient number of pious men to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ。 Therefore your people may continue
among the Indians； only so long as they are citizens of the colony。〃
This was the death…blow to the Moravian settlement in Georgia。 Had
the Trustees exemplified their much…vaunted religious toleration by
respecting the conscientious scruples of the Moravians； there were enough
members of the Savannah Congregation who wanted to stay in Georgia to
form the nucleus of the larger colony which would surely have followed
them； for while they were willing to give up everything except religious
liberty； they were human enough to regret having to abandon the
improvements which they had made at the cost of so much labor and self…
denial。The Church at large shared this feeling； and for many years watched
and waited for an opportunity to re…open the work in Savannah； but
without result。 If the Trustees had even permitted the Moravians to stay as
missionaries it might have saved the settlement to Georgia； for within a
decade the English Parliament passed an Act granting the Moravians the
very exemption for which they now asked in vain； and had there been a
promising work begun among the Indians during the intervening years it
would inevitably have drawn more laborers； as it did in Pennsylvania。But
the Trustees shut the door in their faces； other promising and more
hospitable fields opened； and the Moravian efforts were thereafter given to
the upbuilding of other commonwealths。
In the latter part of January； 1738； eight more of the Moravian
colonists left Savannah； Gotthard Demuth and his wife； George
Waschke； his wife and mother； Augustin Neisser； Gottlieb Demuth； and
David Jag； those who remained giving them money and provisions for
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their journey to Pennsylvania。Gotthard Demuth and wife settled in
Germantown； later moving to Bethlehem and joining in the organization
of that Congregation。In 1743 they were again living at Germantown；
where Gotthard died the following year。Regina subsequently married
David Tanneberger and moved once more to Bethlehem。 Gottlieb Demuth
lived at several places； but finally married； and settled in the Moravian
Congregation at Schoeneck。 Jag； who located at Goshenhopper； and the
Waschkes and Augustin Neisser who went to Germantown； never rejoined
the Church。On the 28th of January； the Moravians in Savannah received
an unlooked…for addition to their number。Toeltschig wrote to Spangenberg；
〃Yesterday two boys； who belong to Herrnhut； came unexpectedly to our
house。 They ran away from the Brethren in Ysselstein and went to Mr。
Oglethorpe in London； begging him to send them to the Brethren in
Georgia。He did so； but we will have to pay their transportation。One is
Zeisberger's son David； about 17 years old； and the other John Michael
Schober； about 15 years old。 Both are bad boys。〃It appears that when
Zeisberger's parents went to Georgia he was left in Herrnhut to finish his
education。From there Count Zinzendorf took him to a Moravian settlement
near Utrecht； Holland； where he was employed as errand boy in a shop。He
was treated with well…meant but ill…judged severity； and finally after a
particularly trying and undeserved piece of harshnes
