the moravians in georgia-第28部分
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t once on a year's credit。 Meanwhile the New York merchant found an opportunity to send what was ordered from him； so the Moravians had been surprised by a double quantity； which proved to be just what they needed during the general scarcity。 When the friends in Pennsylvania heard that provisions had been sent； but not enough to last until the next harvest； they gave thirty…six hundred pounds of flour to Spangenberg to be taken； as a present； to the Georgia Moravians； and when word was received that Spangenberg's ship was lost； they sent an additional eighteen hundred pounds； so the 〃Society〃 was well supplied with this necessary article of food for some time to come。
In their household affairs the Moravians had had various experiences。 Hermsdorf had been so thoroughly frightened by the demonstrations against the Moravians that on the 16th of May he had sailed for Germany； regardless of Toeltschig's efforts to persuade him to wait； as his wife might even then be on her way to join him。 Not only did he fear the townspeople so greatly that day and night he stayed in his room 〃as in a prison〃； but he was still more afraid to face Gen。 Oglethorpe； who； it was said； would soon return。 Only once had he joined in the devotional exercises of the household after his return from Frederica； and it was rather a relief when he left for home； having first repaid the amount of his passage to Georgia。 He seems to have retained his connection with the Moravian Church； for he was in Herrnhut when Wesley visited there； and showed him many courtesies； and he is mentioned in 1742； as bearing letters to the 〃Sea Congregation〃； then about to sail for Pennsylvania。
On the 6th of June a four…year…old English boy had been taken into their household。 He was an orphan； and they meant to bring him up； but the little fellow died on the 23rd of July。
On the 10th of June the matrimonial troubles of George Waschke and Juliana Jaeschke had been happily terminated by their marriage。 Waschke had been one of the discontents ever since the arrival of the second company； but when his marriage was finally arranged he professed himself contrite； and promised all obedience to the rules of the 〃Society〃； so long as he stayed in Savannah； though he retained his desire to leave as soon as possible。 Juliana also had greatly improved in her behaviour before the wedding。
This marriage was the cause of a very interesting discussion among the Moravians； as to who should perform the ceremony。 〃In the afternoon the Brethren met to decide who should be appointed to marry Waschke and Juliana。 Properly Br。 Peter （Rose） should have been ordained by Br。 Anton （Seifert） to the office of a 〃Diener〃 in the Congregation； that he might marry and baptize； but the Brethren did not think it necessary to ordain him on Waschke's account； and voted that Toeltschig should marry them。 He objected； but they said Toeltschig had been made a ‘Diener' of the Congregation at Herrnhut。 He protested that he had not been sent to Georgia to marry and baptize； and did not wish to do it。 The others insisted； and asked that the lot be tried； Toeltschig agreed to submit to their wish； and the lot drawn read ‘he shall marry these two'；〃 which he did the next day。
Parallel with this is the baptism of Rose's twin daughters； Anna Catherina and Maria Magdalena； who were born on the 16th of September； 1737； Anna Catherina dying later in the same year。 Of this Toeltschig wrote： 〃I； at the request of the Brethren； baptized them in the name of the Father； the Son； and of the Holy Ghost； after Br。 Anton （Seifert） had ordained me a 〃Diener〃 in the Congregation。〃
It frequently happens that a puzzling action becomes clear when it is considered from the standpoint of the man who has done it； but when the motive can not be fathomed many things are hard to understand。 That Seifert had been empowered to delegate to another member a duty usually reserved for the clergy； was reasonable； though unusual； for his serious illness or death would have left the Congregation without ministration until word could be sent to Germany； and some one else could come to take his place； a matter of months； but； when the 〃Aeltester〃 was present； in full health； in entire accord with his Congregation； and when he in person confirmed candidates for Church membership； why did he not marry and baptize directly； instead of ordaining a 〃Diener〃 especially for those two offices？ There must have been some regulation in the Congregation at Herrnhut which led to it； for the idea that Seifert himself should marry Waschke and Juliana； and baptize the Rose children； evidently did not occur to them； but the rule can not now be found； and there is no clue to the strange proceeding。
Soon after the Waschke affair had been settled to the satisfaction of all parties； serious trouble had arisen with Jag and Haberecht。 It was reported to the Moravians that Jag had engaged himself to a Swiss woman living in Savannah； and when questioned he admitted that it was true。 They argued with him； and pled with him； but to no avail； and finally told him plainly that they would not allow him to bring the woman to their house； and more than that； if he persisted in his determination he would have to leave them； and angry and defiant he did take his departure the next day； July the 10th。
That 〃troubles never come singly〃 was exemplified； for the very day that Jag left； Haberecht went to Toeltschig； and asked if some way could not be found so that HE could marry that same Swiss woman！ Toeltschig was almost stunned by this second blow； and gave a stern answer； whereupon Haberecht applied to Seifert； the Aeltester； who was equally as unyielding in his condemnation of the acquaintance already made； and his refusal to countenance further steps。 Poor Haberecht； less resolute than Jag in his rebellion； drank deeply of the waters of Marah during the next weeks； promising to give up the woman； who was really unworthy of his regard； and then trying to draw Toeltschig into a discussion of his possible marriage； despairingly making his way to the garden to hide himself among the swine； feeling he was fit for no better company； and then going to the woman and asking her to marry him； to which she consented； having already thrown Jag over； again bitter repentance； confession； and a plea that his associates would forgive him。 Either he was really in earnest this time； or Spangenberg's arrival had a salutary effect； for after that the Swiss woman disappears from the story； and two months later Jag returned； promised good behaviour； and humbly asked for readmittance to the household which was at once accorded him。
The first days of his visit to Savannah； Spangenberg spent in acquainting himself with the condition of affairs； and in interviews with the members singly and collectively； trying to persuade them to content themselves in Georgia。 The 〃bands〃 were reorganized； but he was unable to re…establish a feeling of unity among them； and even those who were willing to stay； and work； and try whether their plan might not still be carried out； felt that it would be unwise to hold the rest； for as Toeltschig wrote； almost with a groan； 〃it is a blessed thing to live with a little company of brethren； who are of one heart and one soul； where heart and mind are dedicated to Jesus； but so to live； when many have weak wills and principles； and there must be a community of goods； is rather difficult； especially when many seek their own ends； not the things of Christ。〃
Spangenberg was forced to see that his arguments were futile； and wisely yielded to the inevitable。 At a general conference each man was called upon to state his wishes。 Several desired to leave at the earliest possible moment； others as soon as the debt was fully paid； two or three wanted to return to Europe； others preferred to go to Pennsylvania to Spangenberg； some longed to live among the Indians as missionaries； while quite a number were content to stay in Savannah； unless absolutely forced to leave； or definitely called to labor elsewhere。 However； no immediate steps were taken toward breaking up the settlement。
On the 12th of August； Spangenberg and Wesley visited the Salzburgers at Ebenezer； by the invitation of Bolzius； the senior pastor。 They； too； had had their troubles without and within； and Gronau had mourned over the fact to the Moravians； who deeply sympathized with him。 At this time Gronau and Bolzius differed greatly in their feeling for the Moravians。 Gronau was openly and honestly on the best of terms with them； but Bolzius； while occasionally accepting their hospitality in Savannah； sent complaints to the Trustees； in keeping with his original protest against their coming to Georgia。 The English friends of the Moravians heard of these letters； and were much puzzled； as the reports from the Savannah Congregation spoke only of pleasant relations with the Salzburgers； and requests for union of the two forces。 Probably Bolzius was fretted by their refusal to join him； even as the leaders at Halle resented the independence of Herrnhut； and after Gronau's death； in 1745； the pastors of Ebenezer steadily opposed the efforts of the Moravians to recommence a mission work in Georgia。
Apa
