the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第27节
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inheritance from the earlier days。 It is now more commonly called 〃the
Workers' Lovefeast〃； an attempt to unite 〃Helper〃 and 〃Diener〃 in a term
understood by all。
At a 〃Helpers' Conference〃 held on March 13th； it was decided to have
nothing more to do with Vollmar； the Wittenberg carpenter； who had
crossed with the second company； had proved false and malicious； and had
now joined Herr von Reck's party without the consent of the Moravians。
More important； however； than the Vollmar affair； was the proposed
departure of Spangenberg for Pennsylvania。Most faithfully had he fulfilled
his commission to take the first company of Moravians to Georgia； and
settle them there； patiently had he labored for and with them during their
days of greatest toil and privation； controlling his own desire to keep his
promise and go to the Schwenkfelders； who were complaining with some
bitterness of his broken faith； but now his task was ended； the Savannah
Congregation was ready to be thrown on its own resources； Gen。
Oglethorpe had provided him with letters of introduction； and the 〃lot〃
said； 〃Let him go； for the Lord is with him。〃
Final questions were asked and answered； Spangenberg's Commission
was delivered to him； and then Bishop Nitschmann 〃laid his blessing
upon〃 him。 In the Lutheran Church； to which he belonged before he joined
the Moravians； Spangenberg had been an accredited minister of the Gospel。
The Church of England refused to acknowledge the validity of Lutheran
ordination； because that Church had no Episcopate； but the Moravians；
influenced by Count Zinzendorf； himself a Lutheran by birth； broad…
minded； liberal； and devout； did not hesitate to fraternize with the
Lutherans； or even to accept the Sacraments at the hands of Pastor Rothe；
in charge of the Parish Church of Berthelsdorf。 At the same time they
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prized the Episcopate lately transferred to them from the ancient Unitas
Fratrum； and while continuing in free fellowship with Christians of all
denominational names； they now intended to so ordain their own ministry
that no church could question it。 When the three grades were established in
1745； a license to preach granted by the Lutheran Church was considered
equivalent to the rank of Deacon； ordination in the Moravian Church
making the minister a Presbyter。
Now fully equipped for his mission to the English Colony of
Pennsylvania； Spangenberg left Savannah on March 15th； going on Capt。
Dunbar's ship to Port Royal； where he lodged with a man who was born in
Europe； his wife in Africa； their child in Asia； and they were all now living
in America！From Port Royal he went by land almost to Charlestown； the
last short distance being in a chance boat； and from Charlestown he sailed
to New York。From there he proceeded to Philadelphia； and to the
Schwenkfelders； making his home with Christopher Wiegner on his farm
in the Skippack woods； where George Boehnisch was also living。
Spangenberg worked on the farm that he might not be a burden to his host；
and might meet the neighbors in a familiar way； meanwhile making
numerous acquaintances； and gaining much valuable information。
Bishop Nitschmann remained in Savannah until March 26th； when he
sailed to Charlestown。There he was detained ten days waiting for a
northbound ship； and employed the time in delivering several letters of
introduction； and learning all he could about Carolina； and the conditions
there。On the 28th of April he reached New York； and left on the 9th of
May for Philadelphia； going partly by boat； and partly on foot； reaching
there on the 13th。Six weeks he and Spangenberg spent together； visiting
many neighborhoods； and informing themselves as to the religious and
material outlook in Pennsylvania； and then Nitschmann sailed for
Germany。
His report gave a new turn to the American plans； for both he and
Spangenberg were much pleased with Pennsylvania。Quite a number of the
settlers seemed open to the idea of mutual aid in the spiritual life； material
conditions were very different from those in Georgia and better suited to
the Moravian needs； the Quaker Governor was not likely to force military
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The Moravians in Georgia
service upon people who held the same theories as himself in regard to
warfare； and there were large tribes of Indians within easy reach； to whom
the Gospel might be preached。As troubles thickened in Savannah；
therefore； the heads of the Church at Herrnhut began to look toward
Pennsylvania； and ultimately sent thither the larger companies originally
destined for Georgia。
In August； Spangenberg went to visit the Moravian Mission on the
island of St。 Thomas； returning to Pennsylvania in November； where he
remained until the following year。
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The Moravians in Georgia
Chapter V。 The Second Year in
Georgia。
The English Clergymen。
The same day that Bishop Nitschmann left Savannah； John Wesley
moved into the parsonage which had just been vacated by his predecessor；
Mr。 Quincy。 A week earlier he had entered upon his ministry at Savannah；
being met by so large and attentive an audience that he was much
encouraged； and began with zeal to perform his pastoral duties。He was the
third Rector of the Savannah Parish； the Rev。 Henry Herbert having been
the first； and he preached in a rude chapel built on the lot reserved for a
house of worship in the original plan of Savannah； the site of the present
Christ Church。
The first word of discouragement was brought by Ingham； who
returned from Frederica on April 10th； with a message from Charles
Wesley begging his brother to come to his relief。He told a woeful story of
persecution by the settlers； and injustice from Oglethorpe to Charles
Wesley； all undeserved； as Oglethorpe freely admitted when he threw off
the weight of suspicion laid upon his mind by malicious slanderers； and
sought an interview with his young secretary； in which much was
explained and forgiven。But poor Charles was in great straits when he sent
Ingham to Savannah； sick； slighted； and abused； deprived even of the
necessaries of life； and so cast down that on one occasion he exclaimed；
〃Thanks be to God； it is not yet made a capital offence to give me a morsel
of bread！〃
Wesley obeyed the summons； taking Delamotte with him； Ingham
caring for the Church and Delamotte's school during their absence。 There
were poor school facilities in Savannah prior to Delamotte's arrival； and he
at once saw the need； and devoted himself to it。 Delamotte seems to have
been a quiet man； who took little share in the aggressive work of his
companions； and consequently escaped the abuse which was heaped upon
them。
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On April 22nd； Ingham sent an invitation to Toeltschig to visit him；
and this was the beginning of a close personal friendship which lasted for
the rest of their lives； and of such a constant intercourse between Ingham
and the Moravian Church； that he is often supposed to have become a
member of it； though he really never severed his connection with the
Church of England。Toeltschig speaks of him as 〃a very young man； about
24 or 25 years of age； who has many good impulses in his soul； and is
much awakened。〃He had come to Georgia for the sole purpose of bearing
the Gospel message to the Indians； and it was through him that the
Moravians were finally able to b
