the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第39节
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them he organized the 〃Foundry Society〃。Into the Foundry Society and the
many others organized among his converts； Wesley introduced lovefeasts
and 〃bands〃 （or 〃classes〃；） both familiar to him from the Fetter Lane
Society； which had copied them from the Moravians。When his societies
grew so numerous that he could not personally serve them all he selected
lay assistants； and then 〃became convinced that presbyter and bishop are
of the same order； and that he had as good a right to ordain as to
administer the Sacraments。〃 He； therefore； ordained bishops for America；
and Scotland； and registered his chapels in order to protect them；
according to the Act of Toleration。This gave the Methodist body a separate
legal status； but Wesley always claimed that he was still a member of the
Church of England； and would not allow the preachers of his English
societies to administer the Sacraments； a right which was finally granted
them by the Methodist Conference after his death。
When Benjamin Ingham returned from Georgia he commenced to
preach the Gospel in Yorkshire； his native place； and at the time of his
journey to Germany a promising work was begun there。From Herrnhut he
wrote to Count Zinzendorf asking that Toeltschig be permitted to visit him
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in England； and the request was granted a few months later。Meanwhile
Ingham's work prospered mightily； so that in June； 1739； he was forbidden
the use of the churches； and forced to imitate Wesley and preach in the
open air。 Some forty societies were formed； and in November； Toeltschig
went to him； making many friends among the people； repeating his visit at
intervals during the following months。
The intimacy between Ingham and the Moravians became closer and
closer； and in July； 1742； he formally handed over the care of his societies
in Yorkshire and Lascashire to the Moravian Church； himself going into
new fields； and then giving new societies into their keeping。 It has often
been stated that Ingham was a Moravian； but this is a mistake。 During
these years he worked with them shoulder to shoulder； but there is no
record of his having been received into their Church as a member； nor did
they reordain him into their ministry。 The situation would be more strange
to…day than it was then； for there was apparent chaos in England； the Spirit
of God moving upon the face of the waters before 〃light shone； and order
from disorder sprung；〃 and the Moravians did not care to emphasize their
independence of the Anglican Church lest it injure their usefulness。 In
1744； when England was threatened with a French invasion； a number of
loyal addresses were presented to the King； and among them one from the
〃United Brethren in England； in union with the ancient Protestant
Episcopal Bohemian and Moravian church；〃 a designation selected after
long and careful discussion as to a true term which would avoid placing
them among the Dissenters from the Church of England。
When the Moravians took over the Yorkshire Societies in 1742 they
established headquarters at Smith House； near Halifax； but this not
proving permanently available； Ingham； in 1744； bought an estate near
Pudsey； where the Moravians planted a settlement which they called
〃Lamb's Hill〃； later 〃Fulneck〃。 In 1746 and 1749 Ingham presented to the
Moravians the ground on which the Chapel and two other houses stood；
but for the rest they paid him an annual rent。The property is now held of
Ingham's descendents on a lease for five hundred years。
In 1753 Ingham withdrew from his close association with the
Moravians； and established a new circle of societies； himself ordaining the
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ministers who served them。These societies flourished for a while； but
about 1759 Ingham became imbued with the doctrines of a certain
Sandeman； and the result was the almost total wrecking of his societies。
This broke Ingham's heart； and affected his mind； so that his last days
were very sad。He passed away in 1772； and his societies gradually merged
themselves into other churches。
John Toeltschig； Ingham's friend in Georgia and his co…laborer in
Yorkshire； came to England in November； 1739； in company with Hutton；
who had been to Germany to form a closer acquaintance with the
Moravians。 After the debt to the Trustees was paid； Toeltschig had eagerly
planned new things for Georgia； extension of work among the Indians； a
settlement further up the Savannah River； the strengthening of the
Savannah Congregation； from which missionaries could be drawn and by
which they should be supported while laboring among the heathen tribes。
He offered to return to America at once； ready for any duty； but requesting
that he might not be sole financial manager again； as he had found it most
difficult to attend to those duties； and at the same time share in the
spiritual work。
The elders of the Church； after carefully weighing all the
circumstances； decided not to send him back to Georgia； but that he should
go to England； to labor in the Fetter Lane Society； and among its friends。
The first step was a visit to Ingham in Yorkshire； and the reception
given him was so cordial and the field so promising that he went again；
and yet again。 Boehler and Spangenberg returned to England and traveled
hither and thither in response to the calls that came from every side； other
members aided as they could； and the societies under their direction grew
apace。 Fetter Lane Society was organized into a congregation in
November； 1742； and the others followed in due time。The Moravian
Church was introduced into Ireland； and took a firm hold there。 In England
its successes were paralleled with much opposition； and in 1749； after
several years of preparation； an appeal was made to Parliament for
recognition as a Protestant Episcopal Church； with full liberty of
conscience and worship throughout Great Britain and her colonies。
General Oglethorpe warmly championed their cause； and after a thorough
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investigation of Moravian history and doctrine； the bill was passed； May
12th； 1749； and the Moravian right to liberty of worship； freedom from
military service； and exemption from oath…taking was unreservedly
granted。
While not involved in these Parliamentary proceedings； Toeltschig
played an important part in the development of the Moravian Church in
England and Ireland。Although he had great success as a preacher； his
especial talents were as an organizer； and as leader of the 〃bands〃； as
might be expected of a man with a judicial mind； executive ability； and
great tact。He was Elder of the 〃Pilgrim Congregation〃 formed at Fetter
Lane in May； 1742； a congregation composed exclusively of 〃laborers〃 in
the Lord's vineyard； and he was also one of the committee charged with
the oversight of the general work。
In February； 1748； he went to Ireland； as superintendent of the
societies there； some of which had been organized by Wesley； but now
wished to unite with the Moravians。In 1752 he conducted a company of
colonists to Pennsylvania； but the next year went back to Ireland； where
certain troubles had arisen which he could quiet better than any one else。
After Zinzendorf's death in 1760； Toeltschig was one of that company
of leading men who met in Herrnhut to provide for the immediate needs of
the Moravian Church； whose enemies prophesied disintegration upon the
death of the man who had been at its head for mo
