the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第34节
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thousand pounds of meat should be sent from there at once on a year's
credit。Meanwhile the New York merchant found an opportunity to send
what was ordered from him； so the Moravians had been surprised by a
double quantity； which proved to be just what they needed during the
general scarcity。When the friends in Pennsylvania heard that provisions
had been sent； but not enough to last until the next harvest； they gave
thirty…six hundred pounds of flour to Spangenberg to be taken； as a present；
to the Georgia Moravians； and when word was received that
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Spangenberg's ship was lost； they sent an additional eighteen hundred
pounds； so the 〃Society〃 was well supplied with this necessary article of
food for some time to come。
In their household affairs the Moravians had had various experiences。
Hermsdorf had been so thoroughly frightened by the demonstrations
against the Moravians that on the 16th of May he had sailed for Germany；
regardless of Toeltschig's efforts to persuade him to wait； as his wife might
even then be on her way to join him。 Not only did he fear the townspeople
so greatly that day and night he stayed in his room 〃as in a prison〃； but he
was still more afraid to face Gen。 Oglethorpe； who； it was said； would
soon return。 Only once had he joined in the devotional exercises of the
household after his return from Frederica； and it was rather a relief when
he left for home； having first repaid the amount of his passage to Georgia。
He seems to have retained his connection with the Moravian Church； for
he was in Herrnhut when Wesley visited there； and showed him many
courtesies； and he is mentioned in 1742； as bearing letters to the 〃Sea
Congregation〃； then about to sail for Pennsylvania。
On the 6th of June a four…year…old English boy had been taken into
their household。He was an orphan； and they meant to bring him up； but the
little fellow died on the 23rd of July。
On the 10th of June the matrimonial troubles of George Waschke and
Juliana Jaeschke had been happily terminated by their marriage。 Waschke
had been one of the discontents ever since the arrival of the second
company； but when his marriage was finally arranged he professed himself
contrite； and promised all obedience to the rules of the 〃Society〃； so long
as he stayed in Savannah； though he retained his desire to leave as soon as
possible。 Juliana also had greatly improved in her behaviour before the
wedding。
This marriage was the cause of a very interesting discussion among the
Moravians； as to who should perform the ceremony。 〃In the afternoon the
Brethren met to decide who should be appointed to marry Waschke and
Juliana。Properly Br。 Peter （Rose） should have been ordained by Br。 Anton
（Seifert） to the office of a 〃Diener〃 in the Congregation； that he might
marry and baptize； but the Brethren did not think it necessary to ordain
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him on Waschke's account； and voted that Toeltschig should marry
them。He objected； but they said Toeltschig had been made a ‘Diener' of
the Congregation at Herrnhut。He protested that he had not been sent to
Georgia to marry and baptize； and did not wish to do it。The others insisted；
and asked that the lot be tried； Toeltschig agreed to submit to their wish；
and the lot drawn read ‘he shall marry these two'；〃 which he did the next
day。
Parallel with this is the baptism of Rose's twin daughters； Anna
Catherina and Maria Magdalena； who were born on the 16th of September；
1737； Anna Catherina dying later in the same year。 Of this Toeltschig
wrote：〃I； at the request of the Brethren； baptized them in the name of the
Father； the Son； and of the Holy Ghost； after Br。 Anton （Seifert） had
ordained me a 〃Diener〃 in the Congregation。〃
It frequently happens that a puzzling action becomes clear when it is
considered from the standpoint of the man who has done it； but when the
motive can not be fathomed many things are hard to understand。 That
Seifert had been empowered to delegate to another member a duty usually
reserved for the clergy； was reasonable； though unusual； for his serious
illness or death would have left the Congregation without ministration
until word could be sent to Germany； and some one else could come to
take his place； a matter of months； but； when the 〃Aeltester〃 was
present； in full health； in entire accord with his Congregation； and when he
in person confirmed candidates for Church membership； why did he not
marry and baptize directly； instead of ordaining a 〃Diener〃 especially for
those two offices？ There must have been some regulation in the
Congregation at Herrnhut which led to it； for the idea that Seifert himself
should marry Waschke and Juliana； and baptize the Rose children；
evidently did not occur to them； but the rule can not now be found； and
there is no clue to the strange proceeding。
Soon after the Waschke affair had been settled to the satisfaction of all
parties； serious trouble had arisen with Jag and Haberecht。 It was reported
to the Moravians that Jag had engaged himself to a Swiss woman living in
Savannah； and when questioned he admitted that it was true。 They argued
with him； and pled with him； but to no avail； and finally told him plainly
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that they would not allow him to bring the woman to their house； and
more than that； if he persisted in his determination he would have to leave
them； and angry and defiant he did take his departure the next day； July
the 10th。
That 〃troubles never come singly〃 was exemplified； for the very day
that Jag left； Haberecht went to Toeltschig； and asked if some way could
not be found so that HE could marry that same Swiss woman！ Toeltschig
was almost stunned by this second blow； and gave a stern answer；
whereupon Haberecht applied to Seifert； the Aeltester； who was equally as
unyielding in his condemnation of the acquaintance already made； and his
refusal to countenance further steps。Poor Haberecht； less resolute than Jag
in his rebellion； drank deeply of the waters of Marah during the next
weeks； promising to give up the woman； who was really unworthy of his
regard； and then trying to draw Toeltschig into a discussion of his possible
marriage； despairingly making his way to the garden to hide himself
among the swine； feeling he was fit for no better company； and then going
to the woman and asking her to marry him； to which she consented；
having already thrown Jag over； again bitter repentance； confession； and a
plea that his associates would forgive him。Either he was really in earnest
this time； or Spangenberg's arrival had a salutary effect； for after that the
Swiss woman disappears from the story； and two months later Jag returned；
promised good behaviour； and humbly asked for readmittance to the
household which was at once accorded him。
The first days of his visit to Savannah； Spangenberg spent in
acquainting himself with the condition of affairs； and in interviews with
the members singly and collectively； trying to persuade them to content
themselves in Georgia。 The 〃bands〃 were reorganized； but he was unable
to re…establish a feeling of unity among them； and even those who were
willing to stay； and work； and try whether their plan might not still be
carried out； felt that it would be unwise to hold the rest； for as Toeltschig
wrote； almost with a groan； 〃it is a blessed thing to live with a little
company of brethren； who are of one heart and one soul； where heart and
mind are dedicated to Jesus； but so to live； when many
