the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第39部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
By this time Boehler had won his way into the confidence of the
Savannah congregation； and had learned that he was not the only one who
had the Lord's interests at heart。With Seifert again in charge of affairs； the
religious services had taken on new life； and on October 18th； John Martin
Mack was confirmed。Judith Toeltschig； however； gave them great concern；
and her brother Michael Haberland sided with her； so that the company
144
… Page 145…
The Moravians in Georgia
gladly saw them sail for Germany in the latter part of January； 1740。There
Michael married； and returned to America in May； 1749； as one of the
large company which came to settle in Bethlehem； where he died in 1783。
Judith joined her husband in England； and in 1742 was serving as 〃sick…
waiter〃 of the Pilgrim Congregation in London。
This left only six Moravians in Savannah； for John Boehner had
already started for Pennsylvania on January 20th。 He had a very sore arm
which they hoped would be benefited by the change； and he was
commissioned to try and gather together the members who had preceded
him； and to make arrangements for the reception of the remnant which
was soon to follow。He aided faithfully during the early days of the
settlement at Nazareth and Bethlehem； and in 1742 went as a missionary
to the island of St。 Thomas； where he labored earnestly and successfully
for the rest of his life； and died in 1787。
Nothing now remained for the members still in Savannah； but to so
arrange matters that they might leave on the first opportunity。 Oglethorpe
had already bought their trumpets and French horns at a good price； but
they needed to sell their rice and household furniture to provide sufficient
funds for their journey。This was happily arranged on the 2nd of February；
when George Whitefield； who had reached Savannah for the second time a
few days before； came to see them； promised to buy all they cared to sell；
and offered them free passage to Pennsylvania。 This offer they gratefully
accepted； receiving 37 Pounds for their household goods； and on April
13th； 1740； they sailed with Whitefield on his sloop the ‘Savannah'；
Captain Thomas Gladman。 Their land and improvements were left in the
hands of an Agent； and the town house was rented to some of Whitefield's
followers for a hospital。
With the Moravians went the two boys； Benjamin Somers and James
； who had been given into their hands by the Savannah magistrates in
1735； and a young woman； Johanna Hummel； of Purisburg。The two lads
gave them much trouble in Pennsylvania； and Benjamin was finally bound
out in 1748； while James ran away。Johanna married John Boehner； and
sailed with him to the West Indies in 1742； but died at sea before reaching
there。
145
… Page 146…
The Moravians in Georgia
Boehler and his company expected to find Spangenberg and Bishop
Nitschmann in Pennsylvania； and were much disappointed to learn that
both were absent。 They scarcely knew what to do； but Boehler held them
together； and when Whitefield decided to buy a large tract of land and
build thereon a Negro school； and a town for his English friends of
philanthropic mind； and when the Moravians were offered the task of
erecting the first house there； Boehler and his companions gladly accepted
the work。Bethlehem followed in due time； and all were among those who
organized that congregation。 David Zeisberger； Sr。； died there in 1744； his
wife in 1746。 Anton Seifert was appointed Elder； or Pastor of the
Bethlehem Congregation； married； and took an active part in the Church
and School work there and at Nazareth； the latter tract having been
purchased from Whitefield in 1741。April 8th； 1745； he sailed for Europe；
laboring in England； Ireland and Holland； and dying at Zeist in 1785。
John Martin Mack became one of the leaders of the Moravian Church
in its Mission work among the Indians in New York； Connecticut and Ohio
until 1760； when he was sent to the negro slaves on St。 Thomas； preaching
also on St。 Croix and St。 Jan； and the English West Indies。 He was
ordained to the ministry November 13th； 1742； and was consecrated
bishop October 18th； 1770； during a visit to Pennsylvania； this being the
first Episcopal consecration in the American Province of the Moravian
Church。He was married four times； his last wife passing away two years
before his departure。He died June 9th； 1784； and was buried in the
presence of a great concourse of people； negro converts； planters；
government officers and the Governor…General。
David Zeisberger； Jr。； lived a life so abundant in labors； so picturesque
in experiences that a brief outline utterly fails to give any conception of
it。〃The apostle of the Western Indians traversed Massachusetts and
Connecticut； New York； Pennsylvania and Ohio； entered Michigan and
Canada； preaching to many nations in many tongues。 He brought the
Gospel to the Mohicans and Wampanoags； to the Nanticokes and
Shawanese； to the Chippewas； Ottowas and Wyandots； to the Unamis；
Unalachtgos and Monseys of the Delaware race； to the Onondagas；
Cayugas and Senecas of the Six Nations。 Speaking the Delaware language
146
… Page 147…
The Moravians in Georgia
fluently； as well as the Mohawk and Onondaga dialects of the Iroquois；
familiar with the Cayuga and other tongues； an adopted sachem of the Six
Nations； naturalized among the Monseys by a formal act of the tribe；
swaying for a number of years the Grand Council of the Delawares； at one
time Keeper of the Archives of the Iroquois Confederacy； versed in the
customs of the aborigines； adapting himself to their mode of thought； and；
by long habit； a native in many of his ways； no Protestant missionary
and few men of any other calling； ever exercised more real influence and
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
147
… Page 148…
The Moravians in Georgia
a year on a visitation to the English congregations of the Moravian
Church。
148
… Page 149…
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
