the moravians in georgia-第32部分
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rve them all he selected lay assistants； and then 〃became convinced that presbyter and bishop are of the same order； and that he had as good a right to ordain as to administer the Sacraments。〃 He； therefore； ordained bishops for America； and Scotland； and registered his chapels in order to protect them； according to the Act of Toleration。 This gave the Methodist body a separate legal status； but Wesley always claimed that he was still a member of the Church of England； and would not allow the preachers of his English societies to administer the Sacraments； a right which was finally granted them by the Methodist Conference after his death。
When Benjamin Ingham returned from Georgia he commenced to preach the Gospel in Yorkshire； his native place； and at the time of his journey to Germany a promising work was begun there。 From Herrnhut he wrote to Count Zinzendorf asking that Toeltschig be permitted to visit him in England； and the request was granted a few months later。 Meanwhile Ingham's work prospered mightily； so that in June； 1739； he was forbidden the use of the churches； and forced to imitate Wesley and preach in the open air。 Some forty societies were formed； and in November； Toeltschig went to him； making many friends among the people； repeating his visit at intervals during the following months。
The intimacy between Ingham and the Moravians became closer and closer； and in July； 1742； he formally handed over the care of his societies in Yorkshire and Lascashire to the Moravian Church； himself going into new fields； and then giving new societies into their keeping。 It has often been stated that Ingham was a Moravian； but this is a mistake。 During these years he worked with them shoulder to shoulder； but there is no record of his having been received into their Church as a member； nor did they reordain him into their ministry。 The situation would be more strange to…day than it was then； for there was apparent chaos in England； the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters before 〃light shone； and order from disorder sprung；〃 and the Moravians did not care to emphasize their independence of the Anglican Church lest it injure their usefulness。 In 1744； when England was threatened with a French invasion； a number of loyal addresses were presented to the King； and among them one from the 〃United Brethren in England； in union with the ancient Protestant Episcopal Bohemian and Moravian church；〃 a designation selected after long and careful discussion as to a true term which would avoid placing them among the Dissenters from the Church of England。
When the Moravians took over the Yorkshire Societies in 1742 they established headquarters at Smith House； near Halifax； but this not proving permanently available； Ingham； in 1744； bought an estate near Pudsey； where the Moravians planted a settlement which they called 〃Lamb's Hill〃； later 〃Fulneck〃。 In 1746 and 1749 Ingham presented to the Moravians the ground on which the Chapel and two other houses stood； but for the rest they paid him an annual rent。 The property is now held of Ingham's descendents on a lease for five hundred years。
In 1753 Ingham withdrew from his close association with the Moravians； and established a new circle of societies； himself ordaining the ministers who served them。 These societies flourished for a while； but about 1759 Ingham became imbued with the doctrines of a certain Sandeman； and the result was the almost total wrecking of his societies。 This broke Ingham's heart； and affected his mind； so that his last days were very sad。 He passed away in 1772； and his societies gradually merged themselves into other churches。
John Toeltschig； Ingham's friend in Georgia and his co…laborer in Yorkshire； came to England in November； 1739； in company with Hutton； who had been to Germany to form a closer acquaintance with the Moravians。 After the debt to the Trustees was paid； Toeltschig had eagerly planned new things for Georgia； extension of work among the Indians； a settlement further up the Savannah River； the strengthening of the Savannah Congregation； from which missionaries could be drawn and by which they should be supported while laboring among the heathen tribes。 He offered to return to America at once； ready for any duty； but requesting that he might not be sole financial manager again； as he had found it most difficult to attend to those duties； and at the same time share in the spiritual work。
The elders of the Church； after carefully weighing all the circumstances； decided not to send him back to Georgia； but that he should go to England； to labor in the Fetter Lane Society； and among its friends。
The first step was a visit to Ingham in Yorkshire； and the reception given him was so cordial and the field so promising that he went again； and yet again。 Boehler and Spangenberg returned to England and traveled hither and thither in response to the calls that came from every side； other members aided as they could； and the societies under their direction grew apace。 Fetter Lane Society was organized into a congregation in November； 1742； and the others followed in due time。 The Moravian Church was introduced into Ireland； and took a firm hold there。 In England its successes were paralleled with much opposition； and in 1749； after several years of preparation； an appeal was made to Parliament for recognition as a Protestant Episcopal Church； with full liberty of conscience and worship throughout Great Britain and her colonies。 General Oglethorpe warmly championed their cause； and after a thorough investigation of Moravian history and doctrine； the bill was passed； May 12th； 1749； and the Moravian right to liberty of worship； freedom from military service； and exemption from oath…taking was unreservedly granted。
While not involved in these Parliamentary proceedings； Toeltschig played an important part in the development of the Moravian Church in England and Ireland。 Although he had great success as a preacher； his especial talents were as an organizer； and as leader of the 〃bands〃； as might be expected of a man with a judicial mind； executive ability； and great tact。 He was Elder of the 〃Pilgrim Congregation〃 formed at Fetter Lane in May； 1742； a congregation composed exclusively of 〃laborers〃 in the Lord's vineyard； and he was also one of the committee charged with the oversight of the general work。
In February； 1748； he went to Ireland； as superintendent of the societies there； some of which had been organized by Wesley； but now wished to unite with the Moravians。 In 1752 he conducted a company of colonists to Pennsylvania； but the next year went back to Ireland； where certain troubles had arisen which he could quiet better than any one else。
After Zinzendorf's death in 1760； Toeltschig was one of that company of leading men who met in Herrnhut to provide for the immediate needs of the Moravian Church； whose enemies prophesied disintegration upon the death of the man who had been at its head for more than thirty years。 These predictions failed of fulfillment； and 〃it was demonstrated that the Lord had further employment for the Unitas Fratrum。〃
Less renowned than many of his confreres； Toeltschig was a type of that class of Moravians who carried their Church through slight and blight into the respect and good…will of the world。 Industrious and scrupulously exact in business affairs； courteous and considerate in his dealings with others； firm and fearless in matters of conscience； bold to declare his faith； and witness for his Master； energetic and 〃conservatively progressive〃 in promoting the growth of his church； he took little part in the controversies of his day； but devoted himself unreservedly to preaching the Gospel as it was read by John Hus； by the founders of the ancient Unitas Fratrum； by the renewers of that Church in Herrnhut； 〃Salvation by faith in Christ and real Christian living according to the precepts of the Bible。〃
The Negro Mission。
John Toeltschig had been the diarist of the Moravian Congregation in Savannah； as well as their treasurer and most able member； and after he left very little record was kept of the daily occurrences。 A few stray letters have been preserved； but little of interest appears therein； beyond the facts that the summer of 1738 was hot and dry； and that the Moravians were not molested； although always conscious of the under…current of antagonism。
Some time during these months Matthias Seybold left for Pennsylvania； where he married； and was one of the company that established the settlement at Bethlehem。 He returned to Europe in 1742； and died at Herrnhut in 1787。
In May； the Rev。 George Whitefield reached Georgia； 〃authorized to perform all religious offices as Deacon of the Church of England； in Savannah and Frederica；〃 in the place of John Wesley。 The poverty of the people touched him deeply； he distributed to the most needy such sums as he had brought for their relief； and with James Habersham； who had come over at the same time； he agreed upon the erection of an Orphan House。 Whitefield visited Ebenezer； and acquainted himself with conditions there and elsewhere； and then returned to England； in August； to raise funds for his Orphan House； Habersham meanwh
