the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第37节
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reside there； this privilege will not be continued to any of them。To employ
them as missionaries to instruct the Indians would be a reflection on our
country； as if it could not furnish a sufficient number of pious men to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ。 Therefore your people may continue
among the Indians； only so long as they are citizens of the colony。〃
This was the death…blow to the Moravian settlement in Georgia。 Had
the Trustees exemplified their much…vaunted religious toleration by
respecting the conscientious scruples of the Moravians； there were enough
members of the Savannah Congregation who wanted to stay in Georgia to
form the nucleus of the larger colony which would surely have followed
them； for while they were willing to give up everything except religious
liberty； they were human enough to regret having to abandon the
improvements which they had made at the cost of so much labor and self…
denial。The Church at large shared this feeling； and for many years watched
and waited for an opportunity to re…open the work in Savannah； but
without result。 If the Trustees had even permitted the Moravians to stay as
missionaries it might have saved the settlement to Georgia； for within a
decade the English Parliament passed an Act granting the Moravians the
very exemption for which they now asked in vain； and had there been a
promising work begun among the Indians during the intervening years it
would inevitably have drawn more laborers； as it did in Pennsylvania。But
the Trustees shut the door in their faces； other promising and more
hospitable fields opened； and the Moravian efforts were thereafter given to
the upbuilding of other commonwealths。
In the latter part of January； 1738； eight more of the Moravian
colonists left Savannah； Gotthard Demuth and his wife； George
Waschke； his wife and mother； Augustin Neisser； Gottlieb Demuth； and
David Jag； those who remained giving them money and provisions for
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their journey to Pennsylvania。Gotthard Demuth and wife settled in
Germantown； later moving to Bethlehem and joining in the organization
of that Congregation。In 1743 they were again living at Germantown；
where Gotthard died the following year。Regina subsequently married
David Tanneberger and moved once more to Bethlehem。 Gottlieb Demuth
lived at several places； but finally married； and settled in the Moravian
Congregation at Schoeneck。 Jag； who located at Goshenhopper； and the
Waschkes and Augustin Neisser who went to Germantown； never rejoined
the Church。On the 28th of January； the Moravians in Savannah received
an unlooked…for addition to their number。Toeltschig wrote to Spangenberg；
〃Yesterday two boys； who belong to Herrnhut； came unexpectedly to our
house。 They ran away from the Brethren in Ysselstein and went to Mr。
Oglethorpe in London； begging him to send them to the Brethren in
Georgia。He did so； but we will have to pay their transportation。One is
Zeisberger's son David； about 17 years old； and the other John Michael
Schober； about 15 years old。 Both are bad boys。〃It appears that when
Zeisberger's parents went to Georgia he was left in Herrnhut to finish his
education。From there Count Zinzendorf took him to a Moravian settlement
near Utrecht； Holland； where he was employed as errand boy in a shop。He
was treated with well…meant but ill…judged severity； and finally after a
particularly trying and undeserved piece of harshness in October； 1737； he
and his friend Schober decided to try and make their way to his parents in
Georgia。In this they succeeded； and though their story was received with
disapprobation； they soon made a place for themselves。 Schober did not
live very long； but Zeisberger； from the 〃bad boy〃 of Toeltschig's letter；
became the assistant of Peter Boehler in South Carolina； and later the great
〃apostle to the Indians〃。
During this Spring the Moravians strained every nerve to do an
amount of work sufficient to balance their account with the Trustees。 It
took a little longer than they expected； but at last Toeltschig was ready for
his journey to England； the lot having previously decided that he should
go as soon as financial affairs made it proper。 His wife remained in
Savannah； it being uncertain whether he would stay in Germany or return
to America。John Regnier took his place as financial agent of the
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Moravians。
On March 12th； Toeltschig went aboard a ship； bound for Charlestown；
sailing from Tybee two days later。On the 18th； he reached Charlestown；
whence he sailed April 1st； bearing with him the record of their account
with the Trustees； and commissioned to tell the authorities at Herrnhut all
about the Georgia colony。On the 30th of May； the vessel touched at Cowes；
where Toeltschig landed； making his way overland to London which he
reached on the 2nd of June。
On the 11th of June； Toeltschig； accompanied by Richter； went to
present the account to the Trustees。They asked him many questions
concerning Georgia； all of which he answered frankly； receiving most
courteous attention。Three days later a settlement was reached。The written
accounts showed that the Moravians were short 3 Pounds 5 Shillings 5
Pence； which Toeltschig offered to pay in cash； but the Trustees said they
realized that the supplies provided for in the second bond had been rated at
a higher price in Georgia than in England； and they were content to
consider the obligations as fully discharged； interest included。 Toeltschig
answered 〃I am VERY glad；〃 a short sentence which spoke volumes！
Wesley； Ingham and Toeltschig。
During the days which elapsed between his arrival in London and the
meeting of the Trustees； Toeltschig had many interviews with those who
had been 〃awakened〃 by the two companies of Moravian colonists； by
Count Zinzendorf； and by Peter Boehler and George Schulius。 The last
two were even then at Portsmouth； on their way to America； and the
interest caused by their visit was very manifest。
John and Charles Wesley had been particularly attracted to Boehler；
the former especially finding great relief in laying his many spiritual
perplexities before him。Wesley complained that when he conversed with
Spangenberg in Georgia； and they could not agree on any point；
Spangenberg would drop the subject and refuse to discuss it further； but in
Boehler he found a clearness of argument； and power of persuasion which
convinced without irritating him。
Having passed through many stages with the guidance； sympathy； and
encouragement of Boehler； Wesley at last found the assurance of salvation
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he had sought for so many years； and three weeks after Boehler left
London； he records that at a meeting of their society 〃I felt I did trust in
Christ； Christ alone for salvation； and an assurance was given me that he
had taken away my sins； even mine； and saved me from the law of sin and
death。〃A few days previously his brother Charles had made the same
happy experience； and this gave to their religious life the warmth and
fervor which； added to the zeal； industry and enthusiasm that had always
characterized them； made their labors of so much value to England； and
founded the denomination which has grown so rapidly in America； still
bearing the name once given in derision to the little group of Oxford
〃Methodists〃。
But Wesley's mind was not one of those which can rest contentedly
upon one vital truth； he must needs r
