the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第26节
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Nitschmann； in ordaining Seifert； had empowered him to delegate another
member to hold the Communion； baptize； or perform the marriage
ceremony in case of his sickness or necessary absence。 At that time the
Moravian Church was just beginning to form her own ministry； the ranks
of Deacon； Presbyter and Bishop were not fully organized； and the definite
system was only established by the Tenth General Synod of the Church in
1745。The exigencies of the case required large powers for a man serving
in an isolated field； and they were given him； but strictly speaking； Seifert
was only ordained a Deacon； and never was consecrated Bishop。
The fourth and last service of the day was given up to song； a
discourse； and prayer。
On Sunday； March 11th； after morning prayers； Wesley went to Tybee
for an interview with General Oglethorpe。At a general gathering of the
Moravians later in the day； the second chapter of Acts was read； with
special reference to the last four verses； and the description of the first
congregation of Christ's followers； when 〃all that believed were together；
and had all things common；〃 was taken as the pattern of their
〃Gemeinschaft〃。This plan； which had already been tested during the first
year； proved so advantageous that it was later adopted by other American
Moravian settlements； being largely responsible for their rapid growth
during their early years； though in each case there came a time when it
hindered further progress； and was therefore abandoned。In religious
matters； the organization of the Savannah Congregation had been modeled
after that at Herrnhut； so far as possible； but in material things the
circumstances were very different。At Herrnhut the estates of Count
Zinzendorf； under the able supervision of the Countess； were made to pay
practically all the general Church expenses； and many of the members
were in the service of the Saxon nobleman； Nicholas Lewis； Count
Zinzendorf； in various humble positions； even while in the Church he
divested himself of his rank and fraternized with them as social equals。
But the men who emigrated to Georgia had undertaken to support
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themselves and carry on a mission work； and Spangenberg； with his keen
insight； grasped the idea that a common purpose warranted a community
of service； the labor of all for the benefit of all； with every duty； no matter
how menial； done as unto the Lord； whom they all； in varying degrees；
acknowledged as their Master。Later； in Bethlehem； Pa。； with a larger
number of colonists； and wider interests to be subserved； Spangenberg
again introduced the plan； and elaborated it into a more or less intricate
system； which is described in a clear and interesting manner in 〃A History
of Bethlehem〃； by Rt。 Rev。 J。 Mortimer Levering； which has recently been
published。
Not only on account of its successor the 〃Oeconomie〃； at Bethlehem；
and others copied therefrom； but in view of the various modern attempts
which have been and are still being made to demonstrate that the action of
the early Church at Jerusalem can be duplicated and made financially
successful； it is worth while to rescue the resolutions of the Moravian
Congregation at Savannah from the oblivion of the manuscript Diary； in
which they have been so long concealed； noting the claim that this was the
first time since Apostolic days； that a Congregation had formed itself into
such a 〃Society〃； a 〃Gemeinschaft〃。
〃In our gathering we read Acts 2； and spoke of the ‘Gemeinschaft'； for
we are planning to work； to sow and reap； and to suffer with one another。
This will be very useful； for many a man who has not understood or
exerted himself； will by this means see himself and be led to improve。
Others also will see from it that we love each other； and will glorify the
Father in Heaven。There has been no 〃society〃 like that at Jerusalem； but at
this present time it becomes necessary； for material reasons。Were we only
individuals all would fear to give one of us credit； for they would think；
‘he might die'； but nothing will be denied the ‘Society'； for each stands for
the other。 Each member must work diligently； since he does not labor for
himself alone but for his brethren； and this will prevent much laziness。 No
one must rely on the fact that he understands a handicraft； and so on； for
there is a curse on him who relies on human skill and forgets the Divine
power。No one will be pressed to give to the ‘Society' any property which
has hitherto belonged to him。 Each person present was asked if he had
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any remarks to make； but there were no objections raised。 Moreover the
brethren were told that if one should fall so low that he not only withdrew
himself from the brethren； but was guilty of gross sin； he would be forced
to work for another master until he had earned enough to pay his
transportation here and back again； for we would not willingly permit such
a man to remain in the land as an offence to the Indians。〃
It is interesting to observe that care for the poor Indians is the
argument given for the course to be pursued in dealing with a recreant
member！ They had come to preach the Gospel to the Indians； and did not
propose that evil should be learned through fault of theirs。
At his earnest request； John Regnier was now admitted to the
〃Society〃； his presence among them so far having been without distinct
agreement as to his standing。This did not make him a communicant
member of the Church； simply put him on a par with the other non…
communicants； of whom there were quite a number in the Congregation。
In the evening Anton Seifert； so recently ordained Chief Elder； or
pastor； of the Congregation； officiated for the first time at a Confirmation
service； the candidate being Jacob Frank。He had been in poor health when
the second company left Germany； and Count Zinzendorf had advised him
not to go； but his heart was set on it； and he would not be persuaded。 He
grew worse during the voyage and was now very ill with dropsy； but in
such a beautiful Christian spirit that no one could deny his wish for full
membership in the Church。Having given satisfactory answers to the
searching questions put to him； the blessing was laid upon his head； and he
expressed so great a desire to partake of the Lord's Supper that his request
was immediately granted； the Elders and Helpers （Helfer） communing
with him。Two or three days later he asked Spangenberg to write his will；
and then his strength gradually failed； until on March 19th； he 〃passed to
the Lord〃； leaving to his associates the remembrance of his willing and
happy departure。
The term 〃Helpers〃 was used to express in a general way all those；
both men and women； who were charged with the spiritual and temporal
affairs of the Congregation。Many of the words employed as official titles
by the Moravians were given a specialized significance which makes it
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difficult to find an exact English equivalent for them； though they are
always apt when the meaning is understood。 Perhaps the best example of
this is 〃Diener〃； which means 〃servant〃； according to the dictionary； and
was used to designate those who 〃served〃 the Congregation in various
ways。Until quite recently a Lovefeast； held annually in Salem； N。 C。； for
members of Church Boards； Sunday…School Teachers； Church Choir；
Ushers； etc。 was familiarly known as 〃the Servants' Lovefeast〃； a direct
inheritance from the earlier days。 It is now more commonly calle
