第 4 节
作者:一半儿      更新:2021-02-20 18:38      字数:9322
  during the years immediately preceding the renewal of the Unitas Fratrum;
  were     a  company      of  Schwenkfelders。Their        sojourn    on   his  estate   was
  comparatively brief; and their association with the Moravian Church only
  temporary; but they are of interest because their necessities led directly to
  the Moravian settlements in Georgia and Pennsylvania。
  The    Schwenkfelders       took   their  name    from   Casper    Schwenkfeld;       a
  Silesian     nobleman     contemporary       with   Luther;    who    had   in  the   main
  embraced the Reformer's doctrines; but formed some opinions of his own
  in regard to the Lord's Supper; and one or two other points。His followers
  were persecuted in turn by Lutherans and Jesuits; and in 1725 a number of
  them   threw   themselves   on   the   mercy   of   Count   Zinzendorf。He   permitted
  them to stay for a while at Herrnhut; where their views served to increase
  the confusion   which   prevailed   prior   to   the   revival   of   1727;  about   which
  time he moved them to Ober…Berthelsdorf。
  In 1732; Zinzendorf's personal enemies accused him; before the Saxon
  Court;     of   being    a  dangerous      man;    and    the   Austrian     Government
  complained that he was enticing its subjects to remove to his estates。 The
  Count asked for a judicial investigation; which was granted; the Prefect of
  Goerlitz     spending    three   days   in  a  rigid  examination      of  the  affairs  of
  Herrnhut。The result was a most favorable report; showing the orthodoxy
  of   the   settlers;   and   that   instead   of   urging   emigration   from   Bohemia   and
  Moravia;   Zinzendorf   had   protested   against   it;   receiving   only   those   who
  were     true   exiles   for   conscience'     sake。   In  spite   of   this  the   Saxon
  Government;        a  few   months     later;  forbade    him    to  receive   any    more
  refugees。
  In April;   1733;   a   decree   went   forth   that   all   Schwenkfelders   were   to
  leave   the   Kingdom   of   Saxony。This;   of   course;   affected   those   who   were
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  The Moravians in Georgia
  living   at   Ober…Berthelsdorf;   and   a   committee   of   four   waited   on   Count
  Zinzendorf; and requested him to secure a new home for them in the land
  of   Georgia   in   North   America。Probably   Zinzendorf;   whose   attention   had
  been     caught    by    the   attractive   advertisements       of   the   Trustees;    had
  unofficially suggested the idea to them。
  Lest    his  opening     negotiations     with    the  English     Company       should
  foment     the   trouble   at  home;    he   sent  his  first  communication        to  them
  anonymously; about the end of 1733。
  〃A   nobleman;      of   the  Protestant    religion;   connected     with    the  most
  influential families of Germany; has decided to live for a time in America;
  without; however; renouncing his estates in Germany。But as circumstances
  render it inadvisable for him to take such a step hastily; he wishes to send
  in advance a number of families of his dependents; composed of honest;
  sturdy;    industrious;     skillful;  economical      people;    well   ordered    in  their
  domestic affairs; who; having no debts; will try to sell such possessions as
  they   cannot   take   with   them   in   order   to   raise   the   funds   for   establishing
  themselves in their new home。
  〃This nobleman; on his part; promises:
  (1)To be governed by the King; and the English Nation; in all things;
  matters of conscience alone excepted; that is; he will be true to the Prince;
  the   Protestant   Succession;   and   Parliament   in   everything   relating   to   the
  estates he may receive in this country; and thereto will pledge his life; and
  the property he may in future hold under the protection of His Majesty of
  Great Britain。
  (2)To be surety for the dependents that he sends over; and to assume
  only such jurisdiction over them as is customary among English Lords on
  their estates。
  (3)To     carefully   repay    the   English    Nation     such   sums    as   may    be
  advanced for his establishment in Georgia; and moreover; as soon as the
  property   is    in  good    condition;    to  consider    it  only   as  rented   until  the
  obligation is discharged。
  (4)To assist the King and Nation; with all zeal and by all means in his
  power; to carry out His Majesty's designs for Georgia。 He will bring to that
  all the insight and knowledge of a man of affairs; who from youth up has
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  The Moravians in Georgia
  studied the most wholesome principles and laws for a State; and has had
  personal experience in putting them into execution; but; on the other hand;
  he has learned such self…control that he will meddle with nothing in which
  his services are not desired。
  〃In consideration of these things the nobleman asks that
  (1)If more knowledge of his standing is desired he shall be expected to
  give it to no one except a Committee of Parliament; composed of members
  of both houses; appointed by his Britannic Majesty; or to a Committee of
  the ‘Collegii directoriatis' of America;  who shall be   empowered to  grant
  his   requests;    this  in  view   of  the   fact  that  the  petitioner   is  a  German
  Nobleman;        whose     family    is   well   known;      his   father   having     been
  Ambassador to England; and his kindred among the foremost statesmen of
  Europe。
  (2)After     the   Committee       has   received     sufficient   and    satisfactory
  information      it  shall  be   silent  in  regard    to  the  circumstances      and   his
  personality; as he has weighty reasons for not wishing to subject himself to
  criticism。
  (3)He shall be given a written agreement; guaranteeing the following
  things:
  a。That he shall receive enough land for a householdof fifty to sixty
  persons; and for about a hundred other dependents;most of whom have a
  trade or profession; and all ableto help build up the country。
  b。That his dependents shall be given free transportation;and supplies
  for the voyage。
  c。That    they  shall   be  taken    directly   to  the  place   mentionedin      the
  agreement。
  d。That he and his agent shall have certain sums advanced to himfor
  the expenses of the removal to Georgia; the money to be given themonly
  when they are ready to embark in England;  payment to be madeseveral
  years later; a rate of interest having been mutually agreed on;and the estate
  in Georgia being given for security if necessary。
  e。All that is needed for  the building of  a  village for  himself  andhis
  dependents shall be furnished them;  but as an interest bearing loan。
  f。That   he;   and   the   colonists   who   will   go   with   him;   shall   havefull
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  religious liberty; they being neither papists nor visionaries。
  g。That if   any  of   his   dependents   should   fall   into   errorno   one   should
  attempt to correct them; but leave him to handle the matteraccording to his
  own judgment; on the other hand he will stand suretyfor the conduct of his
  dependents as citizens。
  h。That he and his descendents shall be taken under the protectionof
  the English Nation if they request it。
  i。That he may be permitted to choose whether he will go himself to
  Georgia;or   send   a   representative   to   set   his   affairs   in   order;   and   if   the
  latter;then     the  representative      shall   receive    the   courteous     treatmentthat
  would have been accorded him。
  j。That those among his colonists who wish to preach the gospelto the
  heathen shall be allowed to do so; and their converts shall havethe same
  religious freedom as his colonists。
  k。That     he   and    his   dependents       in  Georgia      shall   be    given    the
  privilegesin   spiritual   affairs     which   the   independent        Lords   of   Germany
  enjoyin temporal affairs。
  l。That   all   his   property  shall   be   at   the   service   of   the   Statein   time   of
  need; but neither he nor his dependents shall be called onfor military duty;
  in lieu whereof he will; if necessary;pay a double war tax。〃
  From   this   document   it   appears   that   even   at   this   early   stage   of   the
  negotiations   Zinzendorf's   plans   for   the   settlement   in   Georgia   were   well
  matured。A town was to be built by his colonists; where they should have
  all privileges for the free exercis