按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
favorable site for their hut。Until the hut was finished the men lodged with
the Indians； Tomochichi himself taking charge of their belongings。
Toeltschig returned the same day to Savannah； going back later with a
supply of provisions。The Indians made them heartily welcome to their
101
… Page 102…
The Moravians in Georgia
neighborhood； and the Moravians； even in the midst of their building
operations； began to teach them the English alphabet； at the same time
putting forth every effort to learn the Indian tongue； in which Rose was
rapidly becoming proficient。
By the 20th of September the schoolhouse was finished； and Ingham
and the Moravians held a conference to plan the future work； and decide
what duties each should assume； as he proposed to move thither at once；
and； with the approval of the lot； Rose and his wife were to do the
same。Morning and evening they were to read the English Bible；
accompanied by silent prayer； morning； mid…day and evening an hour was
to be given to the study of the Indian language； and Rose and his wife
were to have an hour for their private devotions。Mrs。 Rose was to teach
the Indian girls to read； and the boys； who had already begun to read； were
to be taught to write。 In their remaining time they were to clear and plant
some land； that they might not be too long dependent on the Congregation
at Savannah； and on the friendly Indians； who were giving them much。
The next day Mr。 and Mrs。 Toeltschig escorted Rose and his wife to
their new home； and at Ingham's request united with them in a little prayer
service。Four days later fourteen of the Moravians went to the schoolhouse；
which was solemnly consecrated by Seifert； the Chief Elder。That evening；
in Savannah； Rose and his wife were formally set apart for their
missionary work； and the next day they returned to 〃Irene〃； as the school
was called； to enter upon their duties。
At first everything was encouraging。The children learned readily； not
only to read but some to write； they committed to memory many passages
of Scripture； and took special delight in the hymns they were taught to
sing。
The older Indians looked on with wonder and approval； which
stimulated the missionaries to new zeal in mastering the language； and in
taking every opportunity to make the 〃Great Word〃 known to them。
Zinzendorf wrote a letter from Herrnhut to Tomochichi； commending his
interest in their message； and urging its full acceptance upon him； the
Indians gave some five acres of land for a garden； which Rose cleared and
planted； and everything looked promising； until the influence of the
102
… Page 103…
The Moravians in Georgia
Spanish war rumor was felt。 True to their nature； the fighting spirit of the
Indians rose within them； and they took the war…path against the Spanish；
for the sake of their English allies； and perhaps more for the pure love of
strife。 Then Ingham decided to go to England for reinforcements； and
Rose was left in charge of the work。He seems to have been a well…
meaning man； and much beloved by the Indians； but he was not a man of
much mental strength or executive ability； and the Congregation at
Savannah soon decided that he and his wife should be recalled until the
way opened for one or more of the others to go back to Irene with him。
The 〃Society〃。
In their personal affairs the Moravians were experiencing the usual
mingling of light and shadow。
Dober's effort to make pottery was a failure； for lack of proper clay；
but through Gen。 Oglethorpe's kindness a good deal of carpenter's work
was given to them。They built a house for Tomochichi at his village； and a
house in Savannah； both in the style of the Moravian house； and another
town house in English fashion； as well as the Indian school； a large share
of their wages being applied on account； so that their debt was gradually
reduced； and their credit sustained。
Their manner of living remained very simple。Morning and evening
prayers began and ended their days of toil； the company being divided；
part living at the garden； and part in town during the week； all gathering in
the town…house for Sunday's rest and worship。 When the weather was very
warm the morning Bible reading was postponed until the noon hour； that
advantage might be taken of the cooler air for active labor。Once a month a
general conference was held on Saturday evening； with others as needed；
so that all might do the work for which they were best fitted； and which
was most necessary at the time。 〃Who worked much gave much； who
worked less gave less； who did not work because he was sick or weak
gave nothing into the common fund； but when they needed food； or drink；
or clothing； or other necessary thing； one was as another。〃
On the 3rd of April； Matthias Seybold asked to be received into the
communicant Congregation； which was done on the 5th of May； and he
shared in the Lord's Supper for the first time June 3rd。 John Boehner also
103
… Page 104…
The Moravians in Georgia
was confirmed on January 12th of the following year。
On the 11th of November two little girls； Anna and Comfort； were
added to their household。The mother had recently died； and the father
offered to pay the Moravians for taking care of them； but they preferred to
have them bound； so they could not be taken away just when they had
begun to learn； and so it was arranged。On the 28th； a man from Ebenezer
brought his son； and apprenticed him to Tanneberger； the shoemaker。
The dark side of the picture arose from two causes； ill health； and
matrimonial affairs。There was a great deal of sickness throughout Georgia
that summer； and the second company became acclimated through the
same distressing process that the first had found so hard to bear。 Mrs。
Dober； Mrs。 Waschke； Mrs。 Toeltschig； Gottlieb Demuth； John Boehner
and others were sick at various tim