the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第31节
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was kindly received by the Moravians in Savannah； though their first
favorable impression of him had been lost on the voyage across the
Atlantic； when he complained of the fare； and lay in bed most of the time。
The leaders of the party； trying to pacify the discontented； comfort the
sick； and strengthen those that were left as one and another was called
away； planning the daily routine to the best advantage so that they might
repay their debt； and still have the necessaries of life for their large
company； seeking to teach and convert the Indians； and help the poor
about them； these leaders were further tried by the non…arrival of
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answers to the letters sent to Germany。Feeling that they MUST know the
will of those at home if they were to be able successfully to continue their
work； they at last decided to send a messenger to Count Zinzendorf； and
the lot designated Andrew Dober。
A ship was lying at anchor； ready to take Gen。 Oglethorpe to England；
and he readily agreed to take Dober and wife with him； and on December
2nd； they embarked； Dober carrying a number of letters and papers。 Mrs。
Dober was quite ill when they left； but rapidly improved in the sea
breezes。January 20th； the ship reached London； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Dober
went at once to Mr。 Weintraube； who was to forward the letters to
Herrnhut。As they were talking Bishop Nitschmann walked in； to their
mutual great astonishment。 He reported that Count Zinzendorf had just
arrived in London； and had sent to inquire for letters； so those brought
from Georgia were at once delivered。Zinzendorf rented a house； the
Countess arrived a few days later； and Dober and wife remained in his
service during the seven weeks of his stay。
The Count's object in visiting London at this time was fourfold： to
confer with the Georgia Trustees about the Moravians in Savannah； to
extend acquaintances among the Germans in London and do religious
work among them； to discuss the Episcopate of the Unitas Fratrum with
Archbishop Potter of Canterbury； and if possible to revive the 〃Order of
the Mustard Seed〃。This order had been established by Zinzendorf and
several companions in their early boyhood； and grew with their growth；
numbering many famous men in its ranks； and it is worthy of note that
even in its boyish form it contained the germs of that zeal for missions
which was such a dominant feature of the Count's manhood。
Archbishop Potter not only fully acknowledged the validity of the
Unity's Episcopate； but urged Zinzendorf himself to accept consecration at
the hands of Jablonski and David Nitschmann； and encouraged by him
Zinzendorf was consecrated bishop at Berlin； May 20th； 1737。
The Count held frequent services during his stay in London； and
before he left a society of ten members had been formed among the
Germans； with a few simple regulations； their object being 〃in simplicity
to look to these three things： to be saved by the blood of Christ； to
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become holy； or be sanctified by the blood of Christ； to love one another
heartily。〃
With the Trustees it was agreed：〃That the Count's men〃 might remain
for two years longer at Savannah； without cultivating the five hundred acre
tract； 〃and be exempt from all forfeitures arising from such non…
cultivation；〃 but if they chose they might move to the tract any time during
the two years。 They might go to Tomochichi's Indians whenever they saw
fit and he consented。 Other Indians could not be visited in time of war； but
in peace four Moravians should be licensed to go to them； on the same
footing as the English ministers。Those living with Tomochichi were not
included in this number。〃As the Moravian Church is believed to be
orthodox and apostolic〃 no one should interfere with their preaching the
Gospel； or prevent the Indians from attending their services in Savannah；
or elsewhere。The title to their five hundred acre tract was secured to the
Moravians； even in case the Count's male line should become extinct。
Reference to military service is conspicuous by its absence； and at the
very time that these resolutions were being framed； assurance on that one
point was being desperately needed in Savannah。
Rumors of War。
In February； 1737； that which Spangenberg had feared came upon the
Moravians； military service was peremptorily demanded of them； the
occasion being a fresh alarm of Spanish incursions。
The feud between the colonists of Spain and England was of long
standing； dating back to rival claims to the New World by right of
discovery。 The English asserted that through the Cabots they had a right to
the greater part of North America； and a grant to the Lords Proprietors of
Carolina； in 1663； named the 31 degree of latitude as the southern
boundary。 Another patent two years later set the line at the 29 degree； but
that availed nothing as it included the northern part of Florida； where the
Spanish were already settled in considerable numbers。
No other nation questioned the English claim to the sea…board as far as
the 31 degree； which was well south of the Altamaha； but the Spanish
greatly resented the settlements in Carolina； as encroaching on their
territory； though successive treaties between the two Governments had
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virtually acknowledged the English rights。 With the two nations nominally
at peace； the Spanish incited the Indians to deeds of violence； encouraged
insurrection among the negro slaves； welcomed those who ran away； and
enlisted them in their army。 Now and then the Governor of Carolina would
send a force； which would subdue them for a time； but the constant
uncertainty made Carolina welcome the Georgia colony as a protection to
her borders。
The settlement of Georgia gave further offense to Spain； and her
subjects in Florida burned to exterminate the intruders； as they considered
them； though nothing was done so long as operations were confined to the
Savannah River。But when towns and forts were planned and begun on the
Altamaha their opposition became more outspoken。 Oglethorpe did all he
could to preserve peace without retreating from his position； and in Oct。
1736； he concluded a treaty with the Governor of St。 Augustine。
Only too soon it became apparent that this treaty would not be
respected； for the Captain…General of Cuba disapproved； and Oglethorpe
sailed for England； in November； to urge the immediate and sufficient
fortification of the frontier。The Trustees and the Government approved of
the course he had pursued； but Spain recalled and executed the Governor
of St。 Augustine； for presuming to make such a treaty； and so plainly
showed her intention to make war on Georgia that the English
Government authorized Oglethorpe to raise a regiment for service there；
and in July； 1738； he sailed for America； commissioned to take command
of all the military forces of Carolina and Georgia； and protect the colonies。
During the nineteen months of his absence； the Georgia colonists were
in a continual state of uneasiness； which now and then became sheer panic
at some especially plausible report of imminent danger。
On February 17th； 1737； Mr。 Causton received a letter from
Charlestown； in which the Governor informed him that he had news of the
approach of the Spaniards； and Savannah at once became excited； and
prepared for defence。On the 20th； officers went through the town； taking
the names of
