the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第23节
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Herrnhut。Spangenberg had to go immediately to Mr。 Oglethorpe to discuss
many things with him。
Wesley。Feb。 6th； Friday。
About eight in the morning we first set foot on American ground。 It
was a small； uninhabited island； （Peeper Island）； over against Tybee。 Mr。
Oglethorpe led us to a rising ground； where we all kneeled down to give
thanks。He then took boat for Savannah。When the rest of the people were
come on shore； we called our little flock together to prayers。 Several parts
of the Second Lesson （Mark 6） were wonderfully suited to the
occasion。 18 Feb。 1736。
Nitschmann。Feb。 18th。
（About six o'clock in the evening； Br。 Spangenberg came from
Savannah to us； which made us very glad and thankful。He told us of the
death of Br。 Riedel； and held the song service； praying and thanking God
for having brought us together again。 Dober's Diary。）
Wesley。Feb。 7th。
Mr。 Oglethorpe returned from Savannah with Mr。 Spangenberg； one of
the pastors of the Germans。I soon found what spirit he was of； and asked
his advice with regard to my own conduct。
19 & 20 Feb。 1736。
Nitschmann。Feb。 19th and 20th。
（We waited for the small vessel that was to come for us。 Br。
Spangenberg held the prayer and song services。 Dober's Diary。）
Wesley。Feb。 9th。I asked Mr。 Spangenberg many questions； both
concerning himself and the church at Herrnhut。
21 Feb。 1736。
Nitschmann。Feb。 21st。
（The small vessel came； we had much rain； and the wind was so strong
against us that we had to spend the night on the transport。 Dober's
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Diary。）
22 Feb。 1736。
Nitschmann。Feb。 22nd。
（In the afternoon we reached Savannah； where we were lodged in the
house which the Brethren who came a year ago have built in the town。 The
Lord has done all things well； and has turned to our good all that has
befallen us； even when we did not understand His way； and has laid His
blessing upon our journey； thanks be unto Him。 Dober's Diary。）
27 Feb。 1736。
Wesley。Feb。 16th。
Mr。 Oglethorpe set out for the new settlement on the Altamahaw River。
He took with him fifty men； besides Mr。 Ingham； Mr。 Hermsdorf； and
three Indians。
6 Mar。 1736。
Wesley。Feb。 24th； Tuesday。
Mr。 Oglethorpe returned。The day following I took my leave of most of
the passengers of the ship。In the evening I went to Savannah。
Organization。
The arrival of the 〃second company〃 was a marked event in the eyes
of the Moravians already settled at Savannah。 Hitherto all had been
preparation； and labor had seemed less arduous and privations less severe
because they were smoothing the path for those who were to follow； and it
was with well…earned satisfaction that wives and friends were lodged in
the new house； taken to the garden and the farm； and introduced to
acquaintances in the town。 No doubt poor Catherine Riedel's heart ached
with loneliness； and her tears flowed fast； when； at the close of that long
and stormy voyage； she heard of her husband's death； and stood beside his
grave in the Savannah cemetery； but there was little time for grieving in
the press of matters that required attention； for Spangenberg's long visit
was now to end； Nitschmann was to remain only until the organization of
the Congregation was complete； and there was much to be done before
these two able leaders took their departure。
Scarcely had Bishop Nitschmann greeted the members of the 〃first
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company〃 in the dawn of Feb。 17th； 1736； when Spangenberg and
Toeltschig took him to the garden two miles distant； that they might have a
private and undisturbed conference。All too soon； however； word was
brought that Gen。 Oglethorpe wanted to see Spangenberg at once； so they
retraced their steps； and Spangenberg received a hearty greeting from the
General； and many compliments on what he and his party had
accomplished。There is no record of the conversations among the
Moravians on that day； but they are not difficult to imagine； for the news
from home and from the mission fields on the one side； and the problems
and prospects in Georgia on the other； would furnish topics which many
days could not exhaust。
That evening Spangenberg again called on Gen。 Oglethorpe； who gave
orders that a boat should take him next day to Tybee； where the ship lay at
anchor； with all her passengers aboard。 He also told Spangenberg about
the English preacher whom he had brought over； and made inquiries about
Nitschmann's position； asking that the explanation be repeated to the
English preacher； who was also interested in him。
The following day Spangenberg waited upon Gen。 Oglethorpe to ask
about Hermsdorf； as he heard the General had promised to take him to the
Altamaha； where a new town was to be built。 He also begged Oglethorpe
to help him arrange his departure for Pennsylvania as soon as possible；
which the General agreed to do。
About six o'clock that evening Spangenberg reached the ship at Tybee；
and was warmly welcomed by the Moravians； and at their song service he
met the much…talked…of English preacher； John Wesley。 The two men liked
each other at the first glance； Wesley wrote in his Journal； 〃I soon found
what spirit he was of； and asked his advice in regard to my own conduct；〃
while Spangenberg paralleled this in his Diary with the remark； 〃He told
me how it was with him； and I saw that true Grace dwelt in and governed
him。〃
During the two days which elapsed before the transport came to take
the Moravians from the ship； Wesley and Spangenberg had several long
conversations； each recording the points that struck him most； but without
comment。These discussions regarding doctrine and practice were renewed
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at intervals during the remainder of Spangenberg's stay in Savannah； and
the young Englishman showed himself eager to learn the Indian language
so that he might preach to the natives； generous in his offers to share his
advantages of study with the Moravians； and above all determined to
enforce the letter of the ecclesiastical law； as he understood it； in his new
parish。He thought 〃it would be well if two of the Moravian women would
dedicate themselves to the Indian service； and at once begin to study the
language；〃 and 〃as the early Church employed deaconesses； it would be
profitable if these women were ordained to their office。〃He was also
convinced 〃that the apostolic custom of baptism by immersion ought to be
observed in Georgia。〃 〃He bound himself to no sect； but took the ground
that a man ought to study the Bible and the writings of the Church Fathers
of the first three centuries； accepting what agreed with these two sources；
and rejecting all else。〃 He requested the Moravians to use the Lord's
Prayer at all their public services； 〃since this is acknowledged to have
been the custom of the early Church；〃 and since that early Church
celebrated the Holy Communion every day； he thought it necessary that all
members should partake at least on every Sunday。 〃He also had his
thoughts concerning Fast days。〃Spangenberg promised to lay these matters
before the congregation； but so far as Fast days were concerned； he said
that while he would observe them as a matter of conscience if he belonged
to a Church which required them； he doubted the wisdom of forcing them
upon a Church in which they were not obligatory。
On the 21st； the periagua （〃so they call a rather deep； large boat〃）
came to take the Moravians to Savannah； but it was necessary to call at the
other ship； as some of their baggage had been brought in that vessel。
Spangenberg went ahead； and found that for some reason the baggage
could not
