第 43 节
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一半儿 更新:2021-02-20 18:39 字数:9321
Congregation paying his way。He probably went to Herrnhut; as that had
been his intention some months previously; and later he served as a
missionary in Surinam。In after years he returned to Pennsylvania; where
he joined those who were inimical to the Moravians。
Peter Rose; his wife and daughter left for Pennsylvania soon after their
withdrawal from Irene。They settled in Germantown; and there Peter died
March 12th; 1740。Catherine married John Michael Huber in 1742; who
died five years later on a voyage to the West Indies。 Being for the third
time a widow; she became one of the first occupants of the Widows' House
in Bethlehem; and served as a Deaconess for many years; dying in
1798。Mary Magdalena became the wife of Rev。 Paul Peter Bader in 1763。
On August 10th; 1739; John Michael Schober died after a brief illness;
the ninth of the Moravian colonists to find their final resting place beside
the Savannah River。
In September; General Oglethorpe received instructions to make
reprisals on the Spanish for their depredations on the southern borders of
the Georgia Province。He rightly judged this to be the precursor of open
hostilities; and hastened his preparations to put Carolina and Georgia in a
state of defense。In October the British Government declared war on Spain;
and November witnessed the beginning of fighting in the Colonies。Of
course this meant a re…opening of the old discussion as to the Moravians'
liability for service; a repetition of the old arguments; and a renewal of the
popular indignation。 Oglethorpe was fairly considerate of them; thought
Zinzendorf ought to have provided for two men; but added that he did not
want the Moravians driven away。Still the situation was uncomfortable; and
the Moravians began to make arrangements for their final departure。
By this time Boehler had won his way into the confidence of the
Savannah congregation; and had learned that he was not the only one who
had the Lord's interests at heart。With Seifert again in charge of affairs; the
religious services had taken on new life; and on October 18th; John Martin
Mack was confirmed。Judith Toeltschig; however; gave them great concern;
and her brother Michael Haberland sided with her; so that the company
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gladly saw them sail for Germany in the latter part of January; 1740。There
Michael married; and returned to America in May; 1749; as one of the
large company which came to settle in Bethlehem; where he died in 1783。
Judith joined her husband in England; and in 1742 was serving as 〃sick…
waiter〃 of the Pilgrim Congregation in London。
This left only six Moravians in Savannah; for John Boehner had
already started for Pennsylvania on January 20th。 He had a very sore arm
which they hoped would be benefited by the change; and he was
commissioned to try and gather together the members who had preceded
him; and to make arrangements for the reception of the remnant which
was soon to follow。He aided faithfully during the early days of the
settlement at Nazareth and Bethlehem; and in 1742 went as a missionary
to the island of St。 Thomas; where he labored earnestly and successfully
for the rest of his life; and died in 1787。
Nothing now remained for the members still in Savannah; but to so
arrange matters that they might leave on the first opportunity。 Oglethorpe
had already bought their trumpets and French horns at a good price; but
they needed to sell their rice and household furniture to provide sufficient
funds for their journey。This was happily arranged on the 2nd of February;
when George Whitefield; who had reached Savannah for the second time a
few days before; came to see them; promised to buy all they cared to sell;
and offered them free passage to Pennsylvania。 This offer they gratefully
accepted; receiving 37 Pounds for their household goods; and on April
13th; 1740; they sailed with Whitefield on his sloop the ‘Savannah';
Captain Thomas Gladman。 Their land and improvements were left in the
hands of an Agent; and the town house was rented to some of Whitefield's
followers for a hospital。
With the Moravians went the two boys; Benjamin Somers and James
; who had been given into their hands by the Savannah magistrates in
1735; and a young woman; Johanna Hummel; of Purisburg。The two lads
gave them much trouble in Pennsylvania; and Benjamin was finally bound
out in 1748; while James ran away。Johanna married John Boehner; and
sailed with him to the West Indies in 1742; but died at sea before reaching
there。
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Boehler and his company expected to find Spangenberg and Bishop
Nitschmann in Pennsylvania; and were much disappointed to learn that
both were absent。 They scarcely knew what to do; but Boehler held them
together; and when Whitefield decided to buy a large tract of land and
build thereon a Negro school; and a town for his English friends of
philanthropic mind; and when the Moravians were offered the task of
erecting the first house there; Boehler and his companions gladly accepted
the work。Bethlehem followed in due time; and all were among those who
organized that congregation。 David Zeisberger; Sr。; died there in 1744; his
wife in 1746。 Anton Seifert was appointed Elder; or Pastor of the
Bethlehem Congregation; married; and took an active part in the Church
and School work there and at Nazareth; the latter tract having been
purchased from Whitefield in 1741。April 8th; 1745; he sailed for Europe;
laboring in England; Ireland and Holland; and dying at Zeist in 1785。
John Martin Mack became one of the leaders of the Moravian Church
in its Mission work among the Indians in New York; Connecticut and Ohio
until 1760; when he was sent to the negro slaves on St。 Thomas; preaching
also on St。 Croix and St。 Jan; and the English West Indies。 He was
ordained to the ministry November 13th; 1742; and was consecrated
bishop October 18th; 1770; during a visit to Pennsylvania; this being the
first Episcopal consecration in the American Province of the Moravian
Church。He was married four times; his last wife passing away two years
before his departure。He died June 9th; 1784; and was buried in the
presence of a great concourse of people; negro converts; planters;
government officers and the Governor…General。
David Zeisberger; Jr。; lived a life so abundant in labors; so picturesque
in experiences that a brief outline utterly fails to give any conception of
it。〃The apostle of the Western Indians traversed Massachusetts and
Connecticut; New York; Pennsylvania and Ohio; entered Michigan and
Canada; preaching to many nations in many tongues。 He brought the
Gospel to the Mohicans and Wampanoags; to the Nanticokes and
Shawanese; to the Chippewas; Ottowas and Wyandots; to the Unamis;
Unalachtgos and Monseys of the Delaware race; to the Onondagas;
Cayugas and Senecas of the Six Nations。 Speaking the Delaware language
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fluently; as well as the Mohawk and Onondaga dialects of the Iroquois;
familiar with the Cayuga and other tongues; an adopted sachem of the Six
Nations; naturalized among the Monseys by a formal act of the tribe;
swaying for a number of years the Grand Council of the Delawares; at one
time Keeper of the Archives of the Iroquois Confederacy; versed in the
customs of the aborigines; adapting himself to their mode of thought; and;
by long habit; a native in many of his ways; no Protestant missionary
and few men of any other calling; ever exercised more real influence and
was more sincerely honored among the Indians; and no one; except the