the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第30节
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in Savannah； Rose and his wife were formally set apart for their
missionary work； and the next day they returned to 〃Irene〃； as the school
was called； to enter upon their duties。
At first everything was encouraging。The children learned readily； not
only to read but some to write； they committed to memory many passages
of Scripture； and took special delight in the hymns they were taught to
sing。
The older Indians looked on with wonder and approval； which
stimulated the missionaries to new zeal in mastering the language； and in
taking every opportunity to make the 〃Great Word〃 known to them。
Zinzendorf wrote a letter from Herrnhut to Tomochichi； commending his
interest in their message； and urging its full acceptance upon him； the
Indians gave some five acres of land for a garden； which Rose cleared and
planted； and everything looked promising； until the influence of the
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Spanish war rumor was felt。 True to their nature； the fighting spirit of the
Indians rose within them； and they took the war…path against the Spanish；
for the sake of their English allies； and perhaps more for the pure love of
strife。 Then Ingham decided to go to England for reinforcements； and
Rose was left in charge of the work。He seems to have been a well…
meaning man； and much beloved by the Indians； but he was not a man of
much mental strength or executive ability； and the Congregation at
Savannah soon decided that he and his wife should be recalled until the
way opened for one or more of the others to go back to Irene with him。
The 〃Society〃。
In their personal affairs the Moravians were experiencing the usual
mingling of light and shadow。
Dober's effort to make pottery was a failure； for lack of proper clay；
but through Gen。 Oglethorpe's kindness a good deal of carpenter's work
was given to them。They built a house for Tomochichi at his village； and a
house in Savannah； both in the style of the Moravian house； and another
town house in English fashion； as well as the Indian school； a large share
of their wages being applied on account； so that their debt was gradually
reduced； and their credit sustained。
Their manner of living remained very simple。Morning and evening
prayers began and ended their days of toil； the company being divided；
part living at the garden； and part in town during the week； all gathering in
the town…house for Sunday's rest and worship。 When the weather was very
warm the morning Bible reading was postponed until the noon hour； that
advantage might be taken of the cooler air for active labor。Once a month a
general conference was held on Saturday evening； with others as needed；
so that all might do the work for which they were best fitted； and which
was most necessary at the time。 〃Who worked much gave much； who
worked less gave less； who did not work because he was sick or weak
gave nothing into the common fund； but when they needed food； or drink；
or clothing； or other necessary thing； one was as another。〃
On the 3rd of April； Matthias Seybold asked to be received into the
communicant Congregation； which was done on the 5th of May； and he
shared in the Lord's Supper for the first time June 3rd。 John Boehner also
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was confirmed on January 12th of the following year。
On the 11th of November two little girls； Anna and Comfort； were
added to their household。The mother had recently died； and the father
offered to pay the Moravians for taking care of them； but they preferred to
have them bound； so they could not be taken away just when they had
begun to learn； and so it was arranged。On the 28th； a man from Ebenezer
brought his son； and apprenticed him to Tanneberger； the shoemaker。
The dark side of the picture arose from two causes； ill health； and
matrimonial affairs。There was a great deal of sickness throughout Georgia
that summer； and the second company became acclimated through the
same distressing process that the first had found so hard to bear。 Mrs。
Dober； Mrs。 Waschke； Mrs。 Toeltschig； Gottlieb Demuth； John Boehner
and others were sick at various times； and David Jag cut his foot so
severely that he was unable to use it for four months。Nor was this the
worst； for three more of their number died。Roscher was sick when he
reached Savannah； with consumption； it was supposed； but Regnier
suspected that this was not all； and when Roscher died； March 30th； he
secured permission to make an autopsy； in which he was assisted by John
Wesley。The examination showed a large hematoma in the left wall of the
abdomen； and other complications。 The records say； 〃we have no cause to
grieve over his departure； for he was a good soul；〃 and died in peace。
The next to pass away was Mrs。 Haberecht。Her health began to fail the
latter part of March； but she did not become seriously ill until the 26th of
May； when she returned from the farm； where she and others had been
employed； and told her friends that the Saviour had called her； and her end
was near。With joy and peace she waited for the summons； which was
delayed for some time； though on several occasions her death seemed only
a matter of hours。On the 16th of June she shared with the others in the
celebration of the Communion； and on the following evening 〃went to the
Saviour〃。
Matthias Boehnisch's illness was of short duration； lasting only from
the 27th of September to the 3rd of October。 He had had a severe fall on
the ship coming over； from which he continued to suffer； and now a hard
blow on the chest injured him mortally。 Some of his companions found it
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hard to understand why he should be taken； for he was a good man； who
gave promise of much usefulness in the Lord's service。It is an old question；
often asked and never fully answered； but Boehnisch； conscious almost to
the last； was perfectly willing to go； and his associates felt that the
influence of his life 〃would be a seed； which would bear fruit〃 in others。
It was a serious mistake that sent Juliana Jaeschke to Savannah with
the second company。A seamstress was badly needed； and had she been so
minded she might have been very useful； but in a list giving very briefly
the standing of each one in the 〃Society〃； it is curtly stated that she was
〃ill…mannered； and obstructing everything。〃 Soon after her arrival it was
suggested that she marry Peter Rose； but the lot forbade and he found a
much better helpmeet in the widow of Friedrich Riedel。Waschke thought
he would like to marry Juliana； but she refused； even though Bishop
Nitschmann； Mr。 and Mrs。 Toeltschig pled with her。Her preference was for
George Haberland； and the result was an uncomfortable state of affairs；
which disturbed the leaders of the 〃Society〃 not a little； for living as they
did as one large family it meant constant friction on all sides。They did not
know whether to force Juliana to submit to their authority； （as a member of
the 〃Society〃 she had pledged herself to obedience to the duly elected
officers）； or whether they should wait and hope for a better frame of
mind。At last they referred it to the lot； which read 〃Juliana shall not marry
any one yet。〃 This settled the question for the time being； but did not
improve the spirit of the parties concerned。A few of the others were
homesick； and lost interest in their work and the cause for which they had
come over。 Hermsdorf returned from Frederica； sick and depressed； and
was kindly received by the Moravians in Savannah； though their first
favorable impression of him
