the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第9节
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acre grants was in three parts； a lot in the town of Savannah； a five acre
garden； and a forty…five acre farm； and while their acquisition had not been
a part of the Herrnhut plan the colonists readily yielded to the advice of
their English friends； who pointed out the necessity of having a place to
stay when they reached Savannah； and land that they could at once begin
to cultivate； without waiting for the selection and survey of the larger
tract。In fact； though they knew it not； these two grants； which lay side by
side； were destined to be the scene of all their experiences in the Province
of Georgia。
The Trustees seem to have been pleased with the appearance of their
new settlers； and approved of their taking passage in the ship that was to
sail the latter part of the month。Since the vessel had been chartered by the
Trustees； they promised to make no charge for such baggage as the
Moravians wished to take with them； arranged that they should have a
portion of the ship for themselves instead of being quartered with the other
passengers； and offered Spangenberg a berth in the Captain's cabin。This he
declined； preferring to share equally with his Brethren in the hardships of
the voyage。 Medicine was put into his hands to be dispensed to those who
might need it； and he was requested to take charge of about forty Swiss
emigrants who wished to go in the same vessel on their way to Purisburg
in South Carolina； where they sought better material conditions than they
had left at home。
Land having been secured； Gen。 Oglethorpe arranged that the Trustees
should lend the 〃First Company〃 60 Pounds； payable in five years； with
the understanding that if repaid within that time the interest should be
remitted； otherwise to be charged at ten per cent。； the usual rate in South
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Carolina。Of this 10 Pounds was spent in London for supplies； and 50
Pounds paid their passage across the Atlantic。 The ten men （Spangenberg
taking Nitschmann's place） pledged themselves jointly and severally to the
payment of the debt； the bond being signed on Jan。 22nd； （Jan。 11th； O。 S。）
the day after the grant of the land。
In addition to this Oglethorpe collected 26 Pounds 5 Shillings； as a gift
for the Moravians； 10 Pounds being presented to them in cash in London；
and the rest forwarded to Savannah with instructions that they should be
supplied with cattle； hogs and poultry to that amount。 Oglethorpe further
instructed Messrs。 Toojesiys and Baker； of Charlestown； to honor
Spangenberg's drafts on him to the amount of 20 Pounds； so securing the
settlers against possible need in their new home。
The next day Gen。 Oglethorpe presented Spangenberg to the Bishop of
London； who received him very kindly。Oglethorpe's idea was that the
Moravians might ally themselves closely with the Church of England； and
that the Bishop might； if they wished； ordain one of their members from
Herrnhut。Spangenberg and Nitschmann were not authorized to enter into
any such agreement； but both welcomed the opportunity to establish
pleasant relations with the English clergy； and several interviews were had
which served as a good opening for intercourse in later years。
Until their vessel sailed； the Moravians found plenty to interest them
in the 〃terribly great city〃； where they were regarded with much interest；
and where they were greatly touched by the unexpected kindness they
received。
They had interviews with the Trustees； with Mr。 Vernon； and with Gen。
Oglethorpe； who gave them much information as to what to expect in their
new home； and many suggestions as to the best way of beginning their
settlement。Spangenberg was presented to the 〃Society for the Propagation
of Christian Knowledge〃； was courteously received； offered more books
than he was willing to accept； invited to correspond with the Society； and
urged to keep on friendly terms with the Salzburgers； which he assured
them he sincerely desired to do。 Conversations with Court Preacher
Ziegenhagen were not so pleasant； for a letter had come from Senior
Urlsperger inveighing against the Moravians and Ziegenhagen put forth
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The Moravians in Georgia
every effort to reclaim Spangenberg from the supposed error of his ways；
and to persuade him to stop the company about to start for Georgia； or at
least to separate himself from them； and return to the old friends at
Halle。Oglethorpe smiled at the prejudice against the Moravians； and told
them frankly that efforts had been made to influence him； but he had
preferred to wait and judge for himself。 〃It has ever been so；〃 he said；
〃from the time of the early Christians； it seems to be the custom of
theologians to call others heretics。 They say； in short； ‘you do not believe
what I believe； a Mohammedan also does not believe what I believe；
therefore you are a Mohammedan；' and again ‘you explain this Bible
passage so and so； the Socinian also explains it so and so； therefore you
are a Socinian。'〃As for opposition； he； too； was beginning to find it since
the Georgia Colony was proving a success。
Meanwhile new friends were springing up on every side of the
Moravians。 A doctor helped them lay in a store of medicine； another gave
them some balsam which was good for numberless external and internal
uses。A German merchant； who had become an English citizen； helped
them purchase such things as they would require in Georgia； and a cobbler
assisted Riedel in buying a shoemaker's outfit。Weapons were offered to all
the members of the party； but declined； as they wished to give no excuse to
any one who might try to press them into military service。They yielded；
however； to the argument that they would need to protect themselves
against wolves and bears； and sent Peter Rose； the gamekeeper； with Mr。
Verelst； one of the secretaries of the Trustees； to purchase a fowling piece
and hunting knives。
Letters of introduction to various prominent men in America were
given to them； and； perhaps most important of all in its future bearing；
people discovered the peculiar charm of the Moravian services。 Reference
is made in the diaries to one and another； from English clergyman to
Germans resident in London； who joined with them in their devotions；
and seemed much moved thereby。Neither was it a passing emotion； for the
seed a little later blossomed into the English Moravian Church。
And so the month passed swiftly by； and the ship was ready to
commence her long voyage。
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The Moravians in Georgia
Chapter III。 The First Year in
Georgia。
The Voyage。
In the year 1735 a voyage across the Atlantic was a very different
thing from what it is in this year of grace 1904。To…day a mighty steamship
equipped with powerful engines； plows its way across the billows with
little regard for wind and weather； bearing thousands of passengers； many
of whom are given all the luxury that space permits； a table that equals any
provided by the best hotels ashore； and attendance that is
unsurpassed。Then weeks were consumed in the mere effort to get away
from the British Isles； the breeze sometimes permitting the small sailing
vessels to slip from one port to another； and then holding them prisoner for
days before another mile could be gained。 Even the most aristocratic
voyager was forced to be content with accommodations and fare little
better than that supplied to a modern steerage passenger； and those who
could afford it took with them a private stock of provisions to supplement
the ship's table。
And yet the spell of adventure or philanthropy； gain or religion； was
