the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第44节
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was more sincerely honored among the Indians； and no one； except the
Catholic evangelists； with whom the form of baptism was the end of their
work； exceeded him in the frequency and hardships of his journeys
through the wilderness； the numbers whom he received into the Church of
Christ； and brought to a consistent practice of Christianity； and conversion
of characters most depraved； ferocious and desperate。〃 〃Nor must we look
upon Zeisberger as a missionary only； he was one of the most notable
pioneers of civilization our country has ever known。* * *Thirteen villages
sprang up at his bidding； where native agents prepared the way for the
husbandman and the mechanic of the coming race。〃 〃He was not only bold
in God； fearless and full of courage； but also lowly of heart； meek of spirit；
never thinking highly of himself。 Selfishness was unknown to him。His
heart poured out a stream of love to his fellowmen。In a word； his character
was upright； honest； loving and noble； as free from faults as can be
expected of any man this side of the grave。〃*
* 〃Life and Times of David Zeisberger〃； by Rt。 Rev。 Edmund de
Schweinitz。
He died at Goshen； Ohio； Nov。 17th； 1808； having labored among the
Indians for sixty years。
Like Spangenberg； Peter Boehler's story belongs to the whole
Moravian Church； rather than to the Georgia colony。His time was divided
between England and America； in both of which spheres he labored most
successfully。Jan。 10th； 1748； he was consecrated bishop at Marienborn；
Germany。After Zinzendorf's death he helped frame the new Church
constitution； and in 1769 was elected to the governing board of the entire
Unitas Fratrum。He died in London； April 20th； 1774； having been there for
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a year on a visitation to the English congregations of the Moravian
Church。
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The Moravians in Georgia
Chapter VII。 Conclusion。
Later Attempts in Georgia。
1740。
May 18th； 1740； John Hagen arrived in Savannah。He had come over
intending to go as missionary to the Cherokees； and his disappointment in
finding that the Moravians had abandoned Georgia is another example of
the enormous difficulty under which mission work was conducted in those
days； when the most momentous events might transpire months before the
authorities at home could be apprised of them。
Hagen had become very ill on the way from Charleston to Savannah；
and with none of his own people to turn to he bethought himself of
Whitefield's offers of friendship； and went to his house。 He was kindly
received by those who were living there； and though he went down to the
gates of death the portals did not open； and he rapidly regained his health。
Visiting Irene he found only a few Indian women； for Tomochichi was
dead； and the men were all on the warpath。The opportunity of going to the
Cherokees seemed very doubtful； for there were none living nearer than
three hundred miles； and distances looked much greater in the Georgia
forests than in his own populous Germany。 So he concluded to accept the
kind offers of Whitefield's household； and stay with them； making himself
useful in the garden； and doing such religious work as he was able。Several
Germans living in the town； who had learned to like the Moravians； asked
him to hold services for them； to which he gladly agreed。
He was much pleased with the prospect for work in Savannah； where
the people had been greatly stirred by Whitefield's preaching； and he wrote
to Herrnhut urging that two married couples be sent to help reap the
harvest； a request warmly seconded by Whitefield； who had returned to
Savannah on June 16th。Whitefield reported the Moravians busily engaged
in erecting a Negro school…house for him in Pennsylvania； and told Hagen
he would like to have the two couples come to assist him in carrying out
his large plans for Georgia。
But by the 14th of August this invitation had been withdrawn； Hagen
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had left Whitefield's house； and had been refused work on Whitefield's
plantation； for fear that he might contaminate the Whitefield converts。 The
trouble arose over a discussion on Predestination； not the first or last
time this has happened； and the two men found themselves utterly at
variance； for Whitefield held the extreme Calvinistic view； while Hagen
argued that all men who would might be saved。Hagen therefore went to
the home of John Brownfield； who shared his views； and made him very
welcome； and from there carried on his work among the residents of
Savannah and Purisburg。
Whitefield returned to Pennsylvania in November； 1740； nursing his
wrath against Hagen； and finding Boehler to be of the same mind； he
peremptorily ordered the Moravians to leave his land。Neighbors interfered；
and cried shame on him for turning the little company adrift in the depth
of winter； and he finally agreed to let them stay for a while in the log cabin
which was sheltering them while they were building the large stone
house。The opportune arrival of Bishop Nitschmann and his company； and
the purchase of the Bethlehem tract； soon relieved them from their
uncomfortable position； and later the Nazareth tract was bought from
Whitefield； and the work they had begun for him was completed for their
own use。
Whitefield； in after years； rather excused himself for his first harshness
toward the Moravians； but a letter written by him to a friend in 1742； is a
good statement of the armed truce which existed among the great religious
leaders of that day。〃Where the spirit of God is in any great degree； there
will be union of avail； tho' there may be difference in sentiments。This I
have learnt； my dear Brother； by happy experience； and find great freedom
and peace in my soul thereby。 This makes me love the Moravian Brethren
tho' I cannot agree with them in many of their principles。I cannot look
upon them as willful deceivers； but as persons who hazard their lives for
the sake of the Gospel。 Mr。 Wesley is as certainly wrong in some things as
they； and Mr。 Law as wrong also。Yet I believe both Mr。 Law and Mr。
Wesley and Count Zinzendorf will shine bright in Glory。I have not given
way to the Moravian Brethren； nor any other who I thought were in the
wrong； no； not for one hour。But I think it best not to dispute when there is
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no probability of convincing。〃
Hagen remained in Savannah until February； 1742； when he went to
Bethlehem； accompanied by Abraham Bueninger； of Purisburg； who
entered the Moravian ministry in 1742； and labored among the Indians； the
white settlers； and in the West Indies。
Nine more residents of Georgia followed the Moravians to Bethlehem
in 1745； John Brownfield； James Burnside and his daughter Rebecca；
Henry Ferdinand Beck； his wife Barbara； their daughter Maria Christina；
and their sons Jonathan and David； all of Savannah； and Anna Catharine
Kremper； of Purisburg。All of these served faithfully in various important
offices； and were valuable fruit of the efforts in Georgia。
John Hagen was appointed Warden of the Nazareth congregation；
when it was organized； and died at Shamokin in 1747。
1746。
General Oglethorpe was much impressed by the industry of the
Moravians in Savannah； and was sorry to see them leave the Province。In
October； 1746； therefore； he proposed to Count Zinzendorf that a new
attempt should be made further up the Savannah River。He offered to give
them five hundred and twenty…six acres near Purisburg； and to arrange for
two men to be stationed in Augusta； either as licensed Traders； fo
