the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第51章
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apostles have immediately appeared； and tried to fish in the troubled
waters； like eagles which have a keen sight and smell。〃
Dr。 Muehlenberg was too much prejudiced against the Moravians to
judge them fairly； for he belonged to the Halle party in Germany； and in
Pennsylvania had clashed with Zinzendorf during the latter's residence
there。The Lutheran Church was in no way endangered by the preaching of
the missionaries； for their instructions were explicit：〃If you have an
opportunity to preach the Gospel to German or English residents use it
gladly； but receive none into your congregation； for you are sent expressly
to the negroes。〃 〃You will probably find some of the so…called Salzburgers
there； with their ministers。With them you will in all fairness do only that to
which you are invited by their pastor。You will do nothing in their
congregation that you would not like to have another do in yours。〃 Dr。
Muehlenberg； therefore； might safely have left them free to preach the
Gospel where they would； even to his own distracted flock； which was
weakened by dissensions； suffered severely in the Revolutionary War； and
gradually scattered into the adjoining country。
In accordance with his instructions； Mueller at once gave up all idea of
using the Goshen church； and occupied himself with those who heard him
gladly at Knoxborough。After a careful examination of the land； the
Moravians decided not to build a house for themselves； but to continue
with the overseer； who was kind to them； and gave Mueller the use of a
horse for his visits to adjoining plantations。
James Habersham； who had come over with George Whitefield in
1738； was one of the most prominent men in Savannah at this time。 In
1744 he had established a commercial house in Georgia； the first of its
kind； to ship lumber； hogs； skins； etc。； to England； and this business had
been a success。He had taken a great interest in Whitefield's Orphan House；
and had been active in governmental affairs； having served as Secretary of
the Province； President of the Council； and Acting Governor of
Georgia。For many years he had been the Agent in charge of the Moravian
lots in and near Savannah； and now； in failing health； and a sufferer from
gout； he asked that one of the missionaries might be sent to his three
estates on the Ogeechee River； partly as his representative and partly to
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The Moravians in Georgia
instruct the slaves。 It was decided that Wagner should accept this
invitation and go to 〃Silkhope〃； while Mueller and Broesing remained at
Knoxborough； Mueller preaching at 〃Silkhope〃 every two weeks。
Marshall was much pleased with the reception accorded him and the
missionaries； and hoped the time was coming for again using the lots in
Savannah； but the hope again proved to be fallacious。The missionaries all
suffered greatly from fever； always prevalent on the rice plantations in the
summer； and on Oct。 11th； 1775； Mueller died。The outbreak of the
Revolutionary War made Wagner's and Broesing's position precarious； for
the English Act exempting the Moravians from military service was not
likely to be respected by the Americans； and in 1776 Broesing returned to
Wachovia； where the Moravians had settled in sufficient numbers to hold
their own； though amid trials manifold。Wagner stayed in Georgia until
1779； and then he too left the field； and returned to England。
The Savannah Lands。
In January； 1735； fifty acres of Savannah land was granted by the
Trustees of Georgia to August Gottlieb Spangenberg； who was going to
Georgia as the leader of the first company of Moravian
colonists。Spangenberg had the habit of speaking of himself as 〃Brother
Joseph〃 in his diaries； and in the records he sometimes appears as Joseph
Spangenberg； sometimes as Joseph Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg； and
sometimes by his true name only。According to custom； the fifty acre grant
embraced three lots； Town Lot No。 4； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in
the town of Savannah； Farm Lot No。 2； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in
the township of Savannah； and Garden Lot No。 120； East。 （Office of the
Secretary of State of Georgia； Book D of Grants； Folio 208。）
A few days later a similar grant was made to David Nitschmann；
〃Count Zinzendorf's Hausmeister〃； generally known as the Syndic from
his office in later years； who had conducted the first company from
Herrnhut to London。This grant consisted of Town Lot No。 3； Second
Tything； Anson Ward； in the town of Savannah； Farm Lot No。 3； Second
Tything； Anson Ward； in the township of Savannah； and Garden Lot No。
121 East。（Office of the Secretary of State of Georgia； Book D of Grants；
Folio 207。）
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The Moravians in Georgia
When the Moravians left Georgia in 1740； these lots were placed in
the hands of an Agent； probably James Habersham； who was acting as
Whitefield's assistant in his hospital and charity school； the Moravian
house being rented for the former purpose。
When the Trustees of Georgia surrendered their Charter to the English
Crown in 1754； it was found that no formal deeds had ever been made for
many of the tracts granted by the Trustees； and it was decreed that any
who could legally claim land under grant from the Trustees should have
their rights confirmed by royal grant upon application to the Governor and
Council of Georgia； within a specified time； the land otherwise to be
considered forfeited。In June； 1761； Habersham wrote to Bethlehem that
the time for entering claim had expired； but that he had asked for and
obtained six months grace for the Moravians； who had previously sent him
a full power of attorney； which had failed to reach him。
A new power of attorney was at once sent； and on September 7th； 1762；
royal patents were issued to Nitschmann and Spangenberg； for the Town
Lots and Farm Lots above mentioned。（Register's Office； Book D； Folios
207 and 208。）
Meanwhile the two Garden Lots had been sold to Sir James Wright for
10 Pounds； and deeds； bearing date of March 15th； 1762； were made to
him by Spangenberg and Nitschmann。The deeds to the Town and Farm
lots were deposited in Bethlehem； and the Agent took his instructions from
the Manager there。
In 1765 Bishop Ettwein went from Bethlehem to Savannah to look
after the property。He found that the large house on Spangenberg's lot had
been condemned as ruinous and pulled down。Some one had built a small
house on the other end of the same lot； and it was supposed to pay 4
Pounds a year ground rent； but the family living there was very poor； and
Habersham had been unable to collect anything。 By permission a poor
woman had fenced in the Nitschmann lot； and was using it as a kitchen…
garden； rent free。The title to the farm lots wa
