the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第45章
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The Moravians in Georgia
real Christian living according to the precepts of the Bible。〃
The Negro Mission。
John Toeltschig had been the diarist of the Moravian Congregation in
Savannah； as well as their treasurer and most able member； and after he
left very little record was kept of the daily occurrences。 A few stray letters
have been preserved； but little of interest appears therein； beyond the facts
that the summer of 1738 was hot and dry； and that the Moravians were not
molested； although always conscious of the under…current of antagonism。
Some time during these months Matthias Seybold left for
Pennsylvania； where he married； and was one of the company that
established the settlement at Bethlehem。He returned to Europe in 1742；
and died at Herrnhut in 1787。
In May； the Rev。 George Whitefield reached Georgia； 〃authorized to
perform all religious offices as Deacon of the Church of England； in
Savannah and Frederica；〃 in the place of John Wesley。 The poverty of the
people touched him deeply； he distributed to the most needy such sums as
he had brought for their relief； and with James Habersham； who had come
over at the same time； he agreed upon the erection of an Orphan
House。Whitefield visited Ebenezer； and acquainted himself with
conditions there and elsewhere； and then returned to England； in August；
to raise funds for his Orphan House； Habersham meanwhile beginning to
collect and instruct the most neglected children。
During his stay in Georgia； Whitefield lodged with Charles Delamotte；
who was still carrying on the little school。During the winter Delamotte had
boarded for a while with the Moravians； and when he returned to England
in the autumn； he at once associated himself with the English
members。Tyerman in his 〃Life and Times of John Wesley〃； says； 〃On his
return to England； Charles Delamotte became a Moravian； settled at
Barrow…upon…Humber； where he spent a long life of piety and peace； and
died in 1790。〃
On the 16th of October； Peter Boehler and George Schulius arrived in
Savannah； accompanied by the lad； Simon Peter Harper。 They came as
missionaries to the negroes of Carolina； the hearts of various philanthropic
Englishmen having been touched by reports of the condition of these half
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The Moravians in Georgia
wild savages recently imported from the shores of Africa to till the fields
of the New World。
The plan originated during Count Zinzendorf's visit to London； in
February； 1737； when it was suggested to him that such a mission should
be begun by two Moravian men； under the auspices of 〃the associates of
the late Dr。 Bray〃。
Thomas Bray； an English divine； was born in 1656； made several
missionary trips to America； and in 1697 organized a society for the
propagation of the Gospel in the English Colonies。 He died in 1730； but
the work was continued by his 〃associates〃； many of whom were also
interested in the Georgia Colony。
As this mission was to be under their direction； 〃the associates of the
late Dr。 Bray〃 wished to be very sure that the doctrine and rules of the
Unitas Fratrum did not conflict with the Church of England； but being
assured by the Archbishop of Canterbury that he considered them as
agreeing in all essential points； they closed an agreement with Zinzendorf
whereby the Count received 30 Pounds with which to prepare 〃two
Brethren to reside for the instruction of the Negroes at such place in
Carolina as the said associates shall direct。〃The missionaries； when they
had entered upon their work； were to receive a salary； 〃not exceeding
thirty pounds a year；〃 from the 〃associates〃。
For this missionary enterprise； so much to his liking； Zinzendorf
appointed 〃one of my chaplains； master Boehler；〃 and 〃Schulius； a
Moravian brother；〃 who with Richter and Wenzel Neisser arrived in
London； February 18th； 1738。 At the house of their friend Wynantz； the
Dutch merchant； they met John Wesley； who offered to secure them a
pleasant； inexpensive lodging near James Hutton's； where he was staying。
Peter Boehler had been a student at Jena when Spangenberg was
lecturing there； and was himself a professor at that seat of learning when
he decided to accept Zinzendorf's call to mission work； and join the
Moravians； with whom he had been for a long time in sympathy。 Like
Spangenberg he was a highly educated man； and an able leader； fitted to
play an important part in the Church of his adoption。 In December； 1737；
he was ordained at Herrnhut by the bishops； David Nitschmann and Count
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The Moravians in Georgia
Zinzendorf； and in later years he； too； became a bishop of the Unity。
On the 22nd of February； Boehler and his companions called on Gen。
Oglethorpe； who at first supposed they were simply going over to join the
Savannah congregation。Boehler explained that Richter； who spoke French
as well as German； had come as the Agent of the Moravians； in
accordance with the suggestion made by the Trustees to Bishop
Nitschmann in 1736； that Wenzel Neisser was going on an official
visitation to America； especially to the West Indies； and that he and
Schulius were the missionaries promised by Count Zinzendorf for work
among the negroes in Carolina。 The General courteously invited them to
confer with him further； either by letter or in person； and offered to take
them with him； as he expected shortly to sail for Georgia with his
regiment。
Later； when they wished to come to a definite agreement with
Oglethorpe； who represented the 〃associates of Dr。 Bray〃； they
experienced some difficulty； owing to the fact that a letter of introduction
Oglethorpe expected to receive from Count Zinzendorf had failed to arrive；
but the exhibition of their passports； and Richter's explanation that
Zinzendorf thought （from newspaper notices） that Oglethorpe had already
left England； enabled Boehler and Schulius to establish their identity。So
soon as Zinzendorf heard that his word was needed； he sent them a formal
letter of introduction to Oglethorpe； which was gladly received as
corroboration of their statements。 The Moravians were at their own
expense while waiting in London； but Oglethorpe promised that they
should be provided with Bibles； grammars； and other things they might
need for the negro school。
Being detained in London for three months； instead of three weeks as
they expected； Boehler and his friend had ample opportunity to make
acquaintances in the metropolis。They sent word of their arriv
