the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第6节
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published in the newspapers； and when we realized the opportunity it
would give to carry the Truth to the heathen； several Brethren； who had
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the Lord's honor much at heart； were led； doubtless by His hand； to think
that it would be a good plan to send some Brethren thither； if it might
please the Lord to bless our work among the heathen； and so to bring those
poor souls； now far from Christ； nigh unto Him。We tried to learn about the
land； but could secure no accurate information； for some spoke from
hearsay； others with prejudice； and many more with too great partiality。But
we at last decided to venture； in the faith that the Lord would help us
through。〃
The needs of the Schwenkfelders gave a new turn to their thoughts；
and suggested the advantages that might accrue from a settlement in
America to which they might all retreat if the persecution in Saxony
waxed violent； but early in the year 1734； the question 〃Shall we go to
Georgia only as Colonists； or also as Missionaries？〃 was submitted to the
lot； and the answer was 〃As Missionaries also。〃
The defection of the Schwenkfelders； therefore； while a serious
interference with the Herrnhut plan； was not allowed to ruin the project。
Zinzendorf wrote again to the Trustees； and they repeated their promise of
land； provided his colonists would go at their own expense。
After much consultation the decision was reached that Zinzendorf
should ask for a tract of five hundred acres； and that ten men should be
sent over to begin a town； their families and additional settlers to follow
them in a few months。
The next step was to find a way to send these men across the Atlantic。
Baron George Philipp Frederick von Reck； a nephew of Herr von Pfeil；
who had led the first company of Salzburgers to Georgia； was planning to
take a second company in the course of the next months。 He was young
and enthusiastic； met Zinzendorf's overtures most kindly； and even visited
Herrnhut in the early part of October； 1734； when； as it happened； nine of
the prospective colonists were formally presented to the
Congregation。Baron Reck was very much impressed； promised to take
with him to Georgia any of the Moravians who wished to go； and even
sent to David Nitschmann； who was to conduct the party as far as London；
full authorization to bring as many as desired to come； promising each
man who went at his own expense a fifty…acre freehold in Georgia； and
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offering others necessary assistance when they reached London。 This
paper was signed at Bautzen； October 22nd； 1734。
But Reck had failed to realize the force of the Halle opposition to
Herrnhut； and soon weakened under the weight of persuasion and
command laid upon him by those whose opinion he felt obliged to
respect。On the 4th of November he wrote from Windhausen to Graf
Stolberg Wernigerode； 〃I have hesitated and vexed myself in much
uncertainty whether or not I should go with the Herrnhuters to
America。And now I know that God has heard our prayer at Halle and
Wernigerode； and your letters have decided me to stay in Germany this
winter； in the first place because my going would be a grief to my dear
Urlsperger； whom I love as a father； secondly because the English will
send over a third transport of Salzburgers in the coming spring and wish
me to take them； and thirdly because I wish to obey worthy and chosen
men of God。〃
He wrote to the same effect to Zinzendorf； and the Count； though
doubtless annoyed； replied simply：〃Your Highness' resolution to
accomodate yourself to your superiors would be known by us all for right。
You will then not blame us if we go our way as it is pointed out to us by
the Lord。〃
A few days later Reck received a sharp note from the Trustees of
Georgia； reproving him for his temerity in agreeing to take the Moravians
with him to Georgia without consulting them； and reiterating the statement
that the funds in their hands had been given for the use of the Salzburgers；
and could be used for them alone。
The young man must have winced not a little under all this censure；
but while he yielded his plan to the wishes of the Halle party； he held
firmly to the opinion he had formed of the Moravians。 He wrote to
Urlsperger and others in their behalf； declaring that they were a godly
people； much misunderstood； that it was a shame to persecute them and try
to hinder their going to Georgia； and he felt sure that if their opponents
would once meet the Moravians and converse with them freely；
confidentially； and without prejudice； they would come to respect them as
he did。He also suggested that there were many protestants remaining in
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Bohemia； who would gladly leave； and who might be secured for Georgia
on the terms offered to the Salzburgers。 The next year in fact； an effort was
made to obtain permission from the Austrian Government for the
emigration of these people； and Reck was authorized by the Trustees to
take them to Georgia； but nothing came of it。
Nor did his championship of the Bohemians and Moravians already in
Saxony have any result。Urlsperger was offended that the negotiations from
Herrnhut with the Trustees were not being carried on through him； 〃the
only one in Germany to whom the Trustees had sent formal authority to
receive people persecuted on account of religion； or forced to emigrate；〃
and the Halle party were unable or unwilling to meet the leaders of the
Moravians 〃without prejudice〃。The company of Salzburgers therefore
sailed for Georgia in November without Baron von Reck； and without the
Moravians； Mr。 Vat acting as Commissary。The Moravians； meanwhile；
were not waiting idly for matters to turn their way； but even before Reck
reached his decision Spangenberg had started for England to arrange
personally with the Georgia Trustees for their emigration。
August Gottlieb Spangenberg was born July 15th； 1704； at Klettenberg；
Prussia。 In the year 1727； while a student at Jena； he became acquainted
with the Moravians through a visit of two of their number； which won
them many friends at that institution。Later； when he was Assistant
Professor of Theology at Halle； he was required to sever his connection
with the Moravians； or leave the University； and choosing the latter he
came to Herrnhut in the spring of 1733。 He was one of the strongest； ablest；
and wisest leaders that the Unitas Fratrum has ever had； and eventually
became a Bishop of the Unity； and a member of its governing board。He
was a writer of marked ability； and in his diaries was accustomed to speak
of himself as 〃Brother Joseph〃； by which name he was also widely known
among the Moravians。
Spangenberg left Herrnhut in the late summer or early fall of 1734；
bearing with him Zinzendorf's Power of Attorney to receive for him a
grant from the Georgia Trustees of five hundred acres of land； and to
transact all other necessary business。He stopped for some time in Holland；
where he made a number of acquaintances； some of whom gave him
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letters of introduction to friends in England
