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the moravians in georgia-第25部分

小说: the moravians in georgia 字数: 每页4000字

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Dober's effort to make pottery was a failure; for lack of proper clay; but through Gen。 Oglethorpe's kindness a good deal of carpenter's work was given to them。  They built a house for Tomochichi at his village; and a house in Savannah; both in the style of the Moravian house; and another town house in English fashion; as well as the Indian school; a large share of their wages being applied on account; so that their debt was gradually reduced; and their credit sustained。

Their manner of living remained very simple。  Morning and evening prayers began and ended their days of toil; the company being divided; part living at the garden; and part in town during the week; all gathering in the town…house for Sunday's rest and worship。 When the weather was very warm the morning Bible reading was postponed until the noon hour; that advantage might be taken of the cooler air for active labor。  Once a month a general conference was held on Saturday evening; with others as needed; so that all might do the work for which they were best fitted; and which was most necessary at the time。 〃Who worked much gave much; who worked less gave less; who did not work because he was sick or weak gave nothing into the common fund; but when they needed food; or drink; or clothing; or other necessary thing; one was as another。〃

On the 3rd of April; Matthias Seybold asked to be received into the communicant Congregation; which was done on the 5th of May; and he shared in the Lord's Supper for the first time June 3rd。 John Boehner also was confirmed on January 12th of the following year。

On the 11th of November two little girls; Anna and Comfort; were added to their household。  The mother had recently died; and the father offered to pay the Moravians for taking care of them; but they preferred to have them bound; so they could not be taken away just when they had begun to learn; and so it was arranged。  On the 28th; a man from Ebenezer brought his son; and apprenticed him to Tanneberger; the shoemaker。

The dark side of the picture arose from two causes; ill health; and matrimonial affairs。  There was a great deal of sickness throughout Georgia that summer; and the second company became acclimated through the same distressing process that the first had found so hard to bear。 Mrs。 Dober; Mrs。 Waschke; Mrs。 Toeltschig; Gottlieb Demuth; John Boehner and others were sick at various times; and David Jag cut his foot so severely that he was unable to use it for four months。  Nor was this the worst; for three more of their number died。  Roscher was sick when he reached Savannah; with consumption; it was supposed; but Regnier suspected that this was not all; and when Roscher died; March 30th; he secured permission to make an autopsy; in which he was assisted by John Wesley。  The examination showed a large hematoma in the left wall of the abdomen; and other complications。 The records say; 〃we have no cause to grieve over his departure; for he was a good soul;〃 and died in peace。

The next to pass away was Mrs。 Haberecht。  Her health began to fail the latter part of March; but she did not become seriously ill until the 26th of May; when she returned from the farm; where she and others had been employed; and told her friends that the Saviour had called her; and her end was near。  With joy and peace she waited for the summons; which was delayed for some time; though on several occasions her death seemed only a matter of hours。  On the 16th of June she shared with the others in the celebration of the Communion; and on the following evening 〃went to the Saviour〃。

Matthias Boehnisch's illness was of short duration; lasting only from the 27th of September to the 3rd of October。 He had had a severe fall on the ship coming over; from which he continued to suffer; and now a hard blow on the chest injured him mortally。 Some of his companions found it hard to understand why he should be taken; for he was a good man; who gave promise of much usefulness in the Lord's service。  It is an old question; often asked and never fully answered; but Boehnisch; conscious almost to the last; was perfectly willing to go; and his associates felt that the influence of his life 〃would be a seed; which would bear fruit〃 in others。

It was a serious mistake that sent Juliana Jaeschke to Savannah with the second company。  A seamstress was badly needed; and had she been so minded she might have been very useful; but in a list giving very briefly the standing of each one in the 〃Society〃; it is curtly stated that she was 〃ill…mannered; and obstructing everything。〃 Soon after her arrival it was suggested that she marry Peter Rose; but the lot forbade and he found a much better helpmeet in the widow of Friedrich Riedel。  Waschke thought he would like to marry Juliana; but she refused; even though Bishop Nitschmann; Mr。 and Mrs。 Toeltschig pled with her。  Her preference was for George Haberland; and the result was an uncomfortable state of affairs; which disturbed the leaders of the 〃Society〃 not a little; for living as they did as one large family it meant constant friction on all sides。  They did not know whether to force Juliana to submit to their authority; (as a member of the 〃Society〃 she had pledged herself to obedience to the duly elected officers); or whether they should wait and hope for a better frame of mind。  At last they referred it to the lot; which read 〃Juliana shall not marry any one yet。〃 This settled the question for the time being; but did not improve the spirit of the parties concerned。  A few of the others were homesick; and lost interest in their work and the cause for which they had come over。 Hermsdorf returned from Frederica; sick and depressed; and was kindly received by the Moravians in Savannah; though their first favorable impression of him had been lost on the voyage across the Atlantic; when he complained of the fare; and lay in bed most of the time。

The leaders of the party; trying to pacify the discontented; comfort the sick; and strengthen those that were left as one and another was called away; planning the daily routine to the best advantage so that they might repay their debt; and still have the necessaries of life for their large company; seeking to teach and convert the Indians; and help the poor about them;  these leaders were further tried by the non…arrival of answers to the letters sent to Germany。  Feeling that they MUST know the will of those at home if they were to be able successfully to continue their work; they at last decided to send a messenger to Count Zinzendorf; and the lot designated Andrew Dober。

A ship was lying at anchor; ready to take Gen。 Oglethorpe to England; and he readily agreed to take Dober and wife with him; and on December 2nd; they embarked; Dober carrying a number of letters and papers。 Mrs。 Dober was quite ill when they left; but rapidly improved in the sea breezes。  January 20th; the ship reached London; and Mr。 and Mrs。 Dober went at once to Mr。 Weintraube; who was to forward the letters to Herrnhut。  As they were talking Bishop Nitschmann walked in; to their mutual great astonishment。 He reported that Count Zinzendorf had just arrived in London; and had sent to inquire for letters; so those brought from Georgia were at once delivered。  Zinzendorf rented a house; the Countess arrived a few days later; and Dober and wife remained in his service during the seven weeks of his stay。

The Count's object in visiting London at this time was fourfold: to confer with the Georgia Trustees about the Moravians in Savannah; to extend acquaintances among the Germans in London and do religious work among them; to discuss the Episcopate of the Unitas Fratrum with Archbishop Potter of Canterbury; and if possible to revive the 〃Order of the Mustard Seed〃。  This order had been established by Zinzendorf and several companions in their early boyhood; and grew with their growth; numbering many famous men in its ranks; and it is worthy of note that even in its boyish form it contained the germs of that zeal for missions which was such a dominant feature of the Count's manhood。

Archbishop Potter not only fully acknowledged the validity of the Unity's Episcopate; but urged Zinzendorf himself to accept consecration at the hands of Jablonski and David Nitschmann; and encouraged by him Zinzendorf was consecrated bishop at Berlin; May 20th; 1737。

The Count held frequent services during his stay in London; and before he left a society of ten members had been formed among the Germans; with a few simple regulations; their object being 〃in simplicity to look to these three things:   to be saved by the blood of Christ; to become holy; or be sanctified by the blood of Christ; to love one another heartily。〃

With the Trustees it was agreed:  〃That the Count's men〃 might remain for two years longer at Savannah; without cultivating the five hundred acre tract; 〃and be exempt from all forfeitures arising from such non…cultivation;〃 but if they chose they might move to the tract any time during the two years。 They might go to Tomochichi's Indians whenever they saw fit and he consented。 Other Indians could not be visited in time of war; but in peace four Moravians should be licensed to go to them; on the same footing as the English ministers。  Thos

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