第 16 节
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一半儿 更新:2021-02-20 18:38 字数:9320
came five or six hundred miles to renew a treaty with them; they planned a
spectacle which would at once please and impress them。 All the settlers
were put under arms; and led out to meet them; saluting them with a volley
of musketry。With great pomp they were conducted into the town;
presented with guns; clothing; etc。; and then; through an interpreter; they
were assured of the good will and faith of the English; and urged to be true
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to the treaty; and protect the settlement against those Indian tribes who
were under French and Spanish influence。
Spangenberg was ordered out with the others; but excused himself on
the ground of weakness from his recent illness; and when the officials
offered to depart from their custom; and allow one of Zinzendorf's
〃servants〃 to take his place; he explained that the Moravians did not
understand English; and knew nothing of military manoeuvres。During the
first year the question of military service was not sufficiently prominent to
cause real uneasiness; but Spangenberg foresaw trouble; and wrote to
Herrnhut; urging that the matter be given serious consideration。
When the Moravians passed through London they had fully explained
their position to Gen。 Oglethorpe; who promised them exemption; but they
had no written order from the Trustees to show to the local officials; and
not even a copy of the letter in which reference to the subject was made。
As Count Zinzendorf's 〃servants〃 nine of them were ineligible; but
Spangenberg; as a free…holder; was expected to take part in the weekly
drill; which he quietly refused to do。
All free…holders were likewise expected to take their turn in the Watch;
composed of ten men; who patrolled the town by night and day。
Spangenberg admitted that the Watch was necessary and proper; but
decided that he had better not take a personal share in it; other than by
hiring some one to take his place; which was permitted。 As the turn came
every seventeen days; and a man expected fifty cents for day and one
dollar for night duty each time; this was expensive; doubly so because the
officers demanded a substitute for the absent Nitschmann also。 Twice had
Spangenberg been before the Court; attempting to have the matter adjusted;
but he found that this; like many other things; could not be settled until
Gen。 Oglethorpe came。〃All men wait for Gen。 Oglethorpe; it is impossible
to describe how they long for him。〃 The Salzburgers especially wished for
him; for they did not like the place where they had settled; and wanted
permission to move to a more favorable location which they had chosen。
On the 14th of February; 1736; Capt。 Thomson arrived; bringing letters
from England; and one to Spangenberg announced that the second
company of Moravians was on the way and might soon be expected。At
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three o'clock in the morning of February 17th; the town was roused by the
sound of bells and drums。Thinking it meant fire; the Moravians rushed out;
but learned that Gen。 Oglethorpe's ship had reached Tybee; and the people
were awakened to welcome him。 Full of interest to learn whether the
second company was with him the Moravians paused for a hasty meal
before going to meet the ship; when to their great joy Bishop Nitschmann
appeared before them; 〃and his face was to us as the face of an Angel!〃
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The Moravians in Georgia
Chapter IV。 Reinforcements。
The 〃Second Company〃。
Before David Nitschmann; the 〃Hausmeister〃; left London; after the
sailing of the first Moravian company for Georgia; he presented to the
Trustees a series of propositions; the acceptance of which would open the
way for a large increase of Moravian emigration。 The proposals were; in
brief; that the Trustees should give credit to the Moravians to the extent of
500 Pounds sterling; which; deducting the 60 Pounds advanced to the first
company; would provide passage money and a year's provision for fifty…
five more of Count Zinzendorf's 〃servants〃; the loan to be repaid; without
interest; in five years; and to bear interest at the usual rate if payment was
longer deferred。He also suggested that the money; when repaid; should be
again advanced for a like purpose。
In addition he requested that each man of twenty…one years; or over;
should be granted fifty acres near Count Zinzendorf's tract。
The Trustees were pleased to approve of these proposals; and promised
the desired credit; with the further favor that if the debt was not paid
within five years it should draw interest at eight per cent。 only; instead of
ten per cent。; the customary rate in South Carolina。
During the summer; therefore; a second company prepared to follow
the pioneers to the New World。On the 5th of August; 1735; two parties left
Herrnhut; one consisting of three young men; and the other of thirteen men;
women and children; who were joined at Leipzig by Jonas Korte; who
went with them to London。On August 8th; five more persons left Herrnhut;
under the leadership of David Nitschmann; the Bishop; who was to take
the second company to Georgia; organize their congregation; and ordain
their pastor。
This David Nitschmann; a carpenter by trade; was a companion of
David Nitschmann; the 〃Hausmeister〃; and John Toeltschig; when they left
Moravia in the hope of re…establishing the Unitas Fratrum; and with them
settled at Herrnhut; and became one of the influential members of the
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community。When missionaries were to be sent to the Danish West Indies;
Nitschmann and Leonard Dober went on foot to Copenhagen (August 21st;
1732); and sailed from there; Nitschmann paying their way by his work as
ship's carpenter。 By the same handicraft he supported himself and his
companion for four months on the island of St。 Thomas; where they
preached to the negro slaves; and then; according to previous arrangement;
he left Dober to continue the work; and returned to Germany。In 1735; it
was decided that Bishop Jablonski; of Berlin; and Bishop Sitkovius; of
Poland; who represented the Episcopate of the ancient Unitas Fratrum;
should consecrate one of the members of the renewed Unitas Fratrum at
Herrnhut; linking the Church of the Fathers with that of their descendents;
and enabling the latter to send to the Mission field ministers whose
ordination could not be questioned by other denominations; or by the civil
authorities。David Nitschmann; then one of the Elders at Herrnhut; was
chosen to receive consecration; the service being performed; March 13th;
by Bishop Jablonski; with the written concurrence of Bishop Sitkovius。
The three parties from Herrnhut met at Magdeburg on August 13th;
proceeding from there to Hamburg by boat; and at Altona; the sea…port of
Hamburg; they found ten more colonists who had preceded them。 Here
also they were joined by Christian Adolph von Hermsdorf; who went with
them to Georgia as 〃a volunteer〃。Apparently Lieutenant Hermsdorf
wanted the position of Zinzendorf's Agent in Georgia; for the Count wrote
to him on the 19th of August; agreeing that he should go with the
Moravians; at their expense; but saying that if he desired office he must
first prove himself worthy of it by service with and for the others; even as
the Count had always done。If the reports from Georgia justified it; the
Count promised to send him proper powers later; and to find a good
opportunity for his wife to follow him。Rosina Schwarz and her child; who
had come with them to Hamburg to meet her husband; returned with him
to their