第 27 节
作者:一半儿      更新:2021-02-20 18:38      字数:9322
  inheritance   from   the   earlier   days。   It   is   now   more   commonly   called   〃the
  Workers' Lovefeast〃; an attempt to unite 〃Helper〃 and 〃Diener〃 in a term
  understood by all。
  At a 〃Helpers' Conference〃 held on March 13th; it was decided to have
  nothing     more    to  do   with   Vollmar;    the   Wittenberg     carpenter;    who    had
  crossed with the second company; had proved false and malicious; and had
  now joined Herr von Reck's party without the consent of the Moravians。
  More      important;    however;     than   the   Vollmar     affair;  was   the   proposed
  departure of Spangenberg for Pennsylvania。Most faithfully had he fulfilled
  his   commission   to   take   the   first   company  of   Moravians   to   Georgia;   and
  settle them there; patiently had he labored for and with them during their
  days of greatest toil and privation; controlling his own desire to keep his
  promise and go to the Schwenkfelders; who were complaining with some
  bitterness of his broken faith; but now his task was ended; the Savannah
  Congregation        was    ready    to  be   thrown     on   its  own     resources;    Gen。
  Oglethorpe   had   provided   him   with   letters   of   introduction;   and   the   〃lot〃
  said; 〃Let him go; for the Lord is with him。〃
  Final questions were asked and answered; Spangenberg's Commission
  was   delivered   to   him;   and   then    Bishop   Nitschmann   〃laid   his   blessing
  upon〃 him。 In the Lutheran Church; to which he belonged before he joined
  the Moravians; Spangenberg had been an accredited minister of the Gospel。
  The Church of England refused to acknowledge the validity of Lutheran
  ordination;   because   that   Church   had   no   Episcopate;   but   the   Moravians;
  influenced      by   Count    Zinzendorf;     himself    a  Lutheran     by   birth;  broad…
  minded;      liberal;   and   devout;    did   not   hesitate    to  fraternize    with   the
  Lutherans; or even to accept the Sacraments at the hands of Pastor Rothe;
  in   charge   of   the   Parish   Church   of   Berthelsdorf。   At   the   same   time   they
  92
  … Page 93…
  The Moravians in Georgia
  prized   the   Episcopate   lately  transferred   to   them  from   the   ancient   Unitas
  Fratrum;   and   while   continuing   in   free   fellowship   with   Christians   of   all
  denominational names; they now intended to so ordain their own ministry
  that no church could question it。 When the three grades were established in
  1745; a license to preach granted by the Lutheran Church was considered
  equivalent   to   the   rank   of   Deacon;   ordination   in   the   Moravian       Church
  making the minister a Presbyter。
  Now      fully   equipped     for   his  mission     to   the  English     Colony     of
  Pennsylvania; Spangenberg left Savannah on March 15th; going on Capt。
  Dunbar's ship to Port Royal; where he lodged with a man who was born in
  Europe; his wife in Africa; their child in Asia; and they were all now living
  in America!From Port Royal he went by land almost to Charlestown; the
  last short distance being in a chance boat; and from Charlestown he sailed
  to   New     York。From       there   he   proceeded     to   Philadelphia;     and   to   the
  Schwenkfelders; making his home with Christopher Wiegner on his farm
  in    the  Skippack      woods;     where     George     Boehnisch      was    also   living。
  Spangenberg worked on the farm that he might not be a burden to his host;
  and    might    meet    the  neighbors     in  a  familiar    way;   meanwhile       making
  numerous acquaintances; and gaining much valuable information。
  Bishop Nitschmann remained in Savannah until March 26th; when he
  sailed    to  Charlestown。There         he  was    detained    ten   days   waiting    for  a
  northbound   ship;   and   employed   the   time   in   delivering   several   letters   of
  introduction; and learning all he could about Carolina; and the conditions
  there。On   the   28th   of April   he   reached   New York;   and   left   on   the   9th   of
  May for Philadelphia; going partly by boat; and partly on foot;  reaching
  there on the 13th。Six weeks he and Spangenberg spent together;  visiting
  many   neighborhoods;   and   informing   themselves   as   to   the   religious   and
  material     outlook     in   Pennsylvania;      and    then   Nitschmann        sailed   for
  Germany。
  His   report   gave   a   new   turn   to   the American   plans;   for   both   he   and
  Spangenberg were much pleased with Pennsylvania。Quite a number of the
  settlers seemed open to the idea of mutual aid in the spiritual life; material
  conditions were very different from those in Georgia and better suited to
  the Moravian needs; the Quaker Governor was not likely to force military
  93
  … Page 94…
  The Moravians in Georgia
  service   upon   people   who   held   the   same   theories   as   himself  in   regard   to
  warfare; and there were large tribes of Indians within easy reach; to whom
  the    Gospel     might     be   preached。As       troubles    thickened     in   Savannah;
  therefore;   the    heads   of   the  Church     at  Herrnhut     began   to   look   toward
  Pennsylvania; and ultimately sent   thither  the larger  companies   originally
  destined for Georgia。
  In   August;   Spangenberg   went   to   visit   the   Moravian   Mission   on   the
  island   of   St。 Thomas;   returning   to   Pennsylvania   in   November;   where   he
  remained until the following year。
  94
  … Page 95…
  The Moravians in Georgia
  Chapter V。 The Second Year in
  Georgia。
  The English Clergymen。
  The   same   day   that   Bishop   Nitschmann   left   Savannah;   John   Wesley
  moved into the parsonage which had just been vacated by his predecessor;
  Mr。 Quincy。 A week earlier he had entered upon his ministry at Savannah;
  being    met   by   so  large  and   attentive   an   audience    that  he  was   much
  encouraged; and began with zeal to perform his pastoral duties。He was the
  third Rector of the Savannah Parish; the Rev。 Henry Herbert having been
  the first; and he preached in a rude chapel built on the lot reserved for a
  house of worship in the original plan of Savannah;  the site of the present
  Christ Church。
  The    first  word   of  discouragement       was   brought    by  Ingham;     who
  returned    from   Frederica    on   April  10th;   with  a  message     from   Charles
  Wesley begging his brother to come to his relief。He told a woeful story of
  persecution     by   the  settlers;  and  injustice   from   Oglethorpe     to  Charles
  Wesley; all undeserved; as Oglethorpe freely admitted when he threw off
  the weight of suspicion laid upon his mind by malicious slanderers;  and
  sought     an  interview    with   his   young    secretary;   in  which    much    was
  explained and forgiven。But poor Charles was in great straits when he sent
  Ingham   to   Savannah;   sick;   slighted;   and   abused;   deprived   even   of   the
  necessaries of life; and so cast down that on one occasion he exclaimed;
  〃Thanks be to God; it is not yet made a capital offence to give me a morsel
  of bread!〃
  Wesley   obeyed      the   summons;     taking   Delamotte    with   him;   Ingham
  caring for the Church and Delamotte's school during their absence。 There
  were poor school facilities in Savannah prior to Delamotte's arrival; and he
  at once saw the need; and devoted himself to it。 Delamotte seems to have
  been   a   quiet   man;   who   took   little   share   in   the   aggressive   work   of   his
  companions; and consequently escaped the abuse which was heaped upon
  them。
  95
  … Page 96…
  The Moravians in Georgia
  On April   22nd;   Ingham  sent   an   invitation   to Toeltschig   to   visit   him;
  and this was the beginning of a close personal friendship which lasted for
  the rest of their lives; and of such a constant intercourse between Ingham
  and   the   Moravian   Church;   that   he   is   often   supposed   to   have   become   a
  member   of   it;   though   he   really   never   severed   his   connection   with   the
  Church of England。Toeltschig speaks of him as 〃a very young man; about
  24 or   25   years   of   age;   who   has   many  good   impulses   in his   soul;   and   is
  much awakened。〃He had come to Georgia for the sole purpose of bearing
  the    Gospel    message      to  the  Indians;    and   it  was   through     him   that   the
  Moravians were finally able to b