the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第5节
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matured。A town was to be built by his colonists； where they should have
all privileges for the free exercise of their religion； they； as thrifty citizens；
were to assist in the upbuilding of Georgia； they were to preach the gospel
to the heathen； they were NOT to bear arms； but in case of war to pay a
double tax。His careful avoidance of the plea of religious persecution was
caused by the fact that his own King had ordered the exile of the
Schwenkfelders； for Zinzendorf all his life sought to pay due respect to
those in authority； and even when his conscience forced him to differ with
them it was done with perfect courtesy； giving equal weight to all parts of
the commandment 〃Honor all men； love the brotherhood； fear God； honor
the King。〃
The proposals of the Count were forwarded through Herr von Pfeil；
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The Moravians in Georgia
and were presented to the Trustees of the Colony of Georgia by a Mr。
Lorenz。 Who this gentleman was does not appear； but a man bearing that
name was one of the Germans； living in London； who in 1737 formed a
society for religious improvement under the influence of Count
Zinzendorf。
Through the same channel the answer of the Trustees was returned：
〃Mr。 Lorenz；
The proposals sent by Baron Pfeil from Ratisbon （Regensberg） to the
Trustees of Georgia have been read at their meeting； but as they see that
the gentleman asks pecuniary assistance for the establishment he
contemplates； they answer that they have absolutely no fund from which
to defray such expenses； but that in case the gentleman who suggests it
wishes to undertake the enterprise at his own cost they will be able to
grant him land in Georgia on conditions to which no one could object； and
which he may learn as soon as the Trustees have been informed that he has
decided to go at his own expense。 You will have the kindness to forward
this to Baron Pfeil； and oblige；your most humbleservant J。 Vernon。〃
Whether this plea of 〃no fund〃 was prompted by indifference； or
whether they really considered the money appropriated by Parliament as
intended for the Salzburgers alone； is immaterial。 Perhaps Zinzendorf's
very proposals to consider any assistance as a loan made them think him
able to finance the scheme himself。
The Schwenkfelders； being under orders to expatriate themselves； left
Berthelsdorf on the 26th of May； 1734； under the leadership of
Christopher Wiegner （sometimes called George in Moravian MSS。） and at
their request George Boehnisch； one of the Herrnhut Moravians； went with
them。Their plan was to go through Holland to England； and thence to
Georgia； but in the former country they changed their minds and sailed for
Pennsylvania。In December of the same year Spangenberg was in
Rotterdam； where he lodged with a Dr。 Koker； from whom he learned the
reason for their； until then； unexplained behavior。 Dr。 Koker belonged to a
Society calling themselves the 〃Collegiants〃； the membership of which
was drawn from the Reformed； Lutheran； and various other churches。Their
cardinal principles were freedom of speech； freedom of belief； and liberty
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The Moravians in Georgia
to retain membership in their own denominations if they desired。The
Society was really an offshoot of the Baptist Church； differing； however；
in its non…insistance upon a particular form of baptism。 Twice a year the
members met in the Lord's Supper； to which all were welcomed whose life
was beyond reproach。In Holland they enjoyed the same privileges as other
sects； and had a following in Amsterdam； Haarlem； Rotterdam； Leyden；
etc。
It appeared that the Schwenkfelders had first addressed themselves to
these Collegiants； especially to Cornelius van Putten in Haarlem； and
Pieter Koker in Rotterdam； but when their need grew more pressing they
appealed to Count Zinzendorf。When he was not able to obtain for them all
they wanted； they turned again to the Collegiants； and were in conference
with them in Rotterdam。The Collegiants were very much opposed to the
Georgia Colony； 〃the Dutch intensely disliked anything that would
connect them with England；〃 and although Thomas Coram； one of the
Trustees； who happened to be in Rotterdam； promised the Schwenkfelders
free transportation （which had been refused Zinzendorf）； the Collegiants
persuaded them not to go to Georgia。Their chief argument was that the
English Government sent its convicts to Georgia； a proof that it was not a
good land； and the Schwenkfelders were also told that the English
intended to use them as slaves。
Disturbed by this view of the case； the Schwenkfelders accepted an
offer of free transportation to Pennsylvania； where they arrived in safety
on the 22nd of September。
Spangenberg had wished to serve as their pastor in Georgia； thinking it
would give him opportunity to carry out his cherished wish to bear the
gospel message to the heathen； and he felt himself still in a measure bound
to them； despite their change of purpose； and at a somewhat later time did
visit them in their new home。There was some idea of then taking them to
Georgia； but it did not materialize； and they remained permanently in
Pennsylvania； settling in the counties of Montgomery； Berks and
Lehigh。Their descendents there preserve the customs of their fathers； and
are the only representatives of the Schwenkfelder form of doctrine； the
sect having become extinct in Europe。
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The Moravians in Georgia
Preliminary Steps。
While the exile of the Schwenkfelders was the immediate cause which
led Zinzendorf to open negotiations with the Trustees of the Colony of
Georgia； the impulse which prompted him involved far more than mere
assistance to them。Foreign Missions； in the modern sense of the word；
were almost unknown in Zinzendorf's boyhood； yet from his earliest days
his thoughts turned often to those who lay beyond the reach of gospel
light。In 1730； while on a visit to Copenhagen； he heard that the Lutheran
Missionary Hans Egede； who for years had been laboring single handed to
convert the Eskimos of Greenland； was sorely in need of help； and
Anthony； the negro body…servant of a Count Laurwig； gave him a most
pathetic description of the condition of the negro slaves in the Danish
West Indies。
Filled with enthusiasm； Zinzendorf returned to Herrnhut； and poured
the two stories into willing ears； for ever since the great revival of 1727
the Moravian emigrants had been scanning the field； anxious to carry the
〃good news〃 abroad； and held back only by the apparent impossibility of
going forward。Who were they； without influence； without means； without
a country even； that they should take such an office upon themselves？ But
the desire remained； and at this summons they prepared to do the
impossible。In August； 1732； two men started for St。 Thomas； in April；
1733； three more sailed for Greenland； and in the face of hardships that
would have daunted men of less than heroic mold； successful missions
were established at both places。
But this was not enough。〃My passionate desire；〃 wrote Zinzendorf
from Herrnhut in January； 1735； 〃my passionate desire to make Jesus
known among the heathen has found a satisfaction in the blessed
Greenland； St。 Thomas and Lapp work； but without appeasing my hunger。
I therefore look into every opportunity which presents itself； seeking that
the kingdom of my Redeemer may be strengthened among men。〃
Nor did he lack ready assistants； for the Moravians were as eager as he。
〃When we in Herrnhut heard of Georgia； of which much was being
published in the newspapers； and when we realized the opportunity it
