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！
argue the matter； and a spirited debate ensued； of which the following is a
resume。
Causton。〃Everybody must go to the war and fight for his own safety；
and if you will not join the army the townspeople will burn down your
house； and will kill you all。〃
Toeltschig。〃That may happen； but we can not help it； it is against our
conscience to fight。〃
Causton。〃If you do not mean to fight you had better go and hide in the
woods； out of sight of the people； or it will be the worse for you； and you
had better go before the enemy comes； for then it will be too late to escape；
the townspeople will certainly kill you。〃
Toeltschig。〃You forget that Gen。 Oglethorpe promised us exemption
from military service； and we claim the liberty he pledged。〃
Causton。〃If the Count； and the Trustees and the King himself had
agreed on that in London it would count for nothing here； if war comes it
will be FIGHT OR DIE。If I were an officer on a march and met people
who would not join me； I would shoot them with my own hand； and you
can expect no other treatment from the officers here。〃
Toeltschig。〃We are all servants； and can not legally be impressed。〃
Causton。〃If the Count himself were here he would have to take his gun
on his shoulder； and all his servants with him。 If he were living on his
estate at Old Fort it would make no difference； for the order of the
Magistrates must be obeyed。If the English； to whom the country belongs
must fight； shall others go free？〃
Toeltschig finally yielded so far as to tell him the number of men in
their company； 〃it could do no harm for we could be counted any day；〃 but
their names were resolutely withheld； and service firmly refused。
109
… Page 110…
The Moravians in Georgia
Then the townspeople took up the cry。Should they fight for these
strangers who would not do their share toward defending the land？ They
would mob and kill them first！They only injured the colony at any rate； for
they worked so cheaply that they lowered the scale of wages； and besides
they received money from many people； for their services； but spent none
because they made everything they needed for themselves！
Still the Moravians stood firm in their position； indeed they could do
nothing else without stultifying themselves。The instructions from
Zinzendorf and the leaders of the Church at Herrnhut； with the approval of
the lot； were definite； they should take no part in military affairs； but
might pay any fines incurred by refusal。 To Oglethorpe and to the Trustees
they had explained their scruples； making freedom of conscience an
essential consideration of their settling in Georgia； and from them they had
received assurances that only freeholders were liable to military duty。
Therefore they had claimed no land as individuals； but had been content to
live； and labor； and be called 〃servants〃； paying each week for men to
serve in the night watch； in place of the absent owners of the two town
lots。In Savannah their views were well known； and to yield to orders from
a Magistrate； who openly declared that promises made by the Trustees；
who had put him in office； were not worth regarding； and who threatened
them with mob violence； would have been to brand themselves as cowards；
unworthy members of a Church which had outlived such dire persecution
as that which overthrew the ancient Unitas Fratrum； and recreant to their
own early faith； which had led them to abandon homes and kindred in
Moravia； and seek liberty of conscience in another kingdom。That Georgia
needed armed men to protect her from the Spaniards was true； but equally
so she needed quiet courage； steady industry； strict honesty； and pious
lives to develop her resources； keep peace with her Indian neighbors； and
win the respect of the world； but these traits were hardly recognized as
coin current by the frightened； jealous men who clamored against the
Moravians。
On the 28th； it was demanded that the Moravians help haul wood to
the fort which was being built。They replied that their wagon and oxen
were at the officers' service without hire； and that they would feed the
110
… Page 111…
The Moravians in Georgia
animals； but personally they could take no share in the work。 This angered
the people again； and several of the members began to wonder whether
they might perhaps comply so far as to assist； as a matter of friendship； in
hewing logs for the fort； refusing the wages paid to others。The lot was
tried； and absolutely forbade it； which was well； for it developed that the
people were watching for their answer； having agreed that if they helped
on the fort it would be a proof that they COULD do what they chose； and
were simply hiding behind an excuse in refusing to fight。
But the tension was not relaxed； and on the 2nd of March； the
Moravians met to decide on their further course。 Should they keep quiet；
and wait for times to change； or should they go away？ It was referred to
the lot； and the paper drawn read 〃GO OUT FROM AMONG THEM。〃
This meant not merely from the city； but from the province； for Mr。
Causton had told them that they would be subject to the same
requirements if they were living in the adjoining country。
On the strength of this they wrote a letter to Mr。 Causton； rehearsing
their motives in coming to Georgia； and the promises made them；
reiterating their claim for liberty of conscience； and concluding； 〃But if
this can not be allowed us； if our remaining here be burdensome to the
people； as we already perceive it begins to be； we are willing； with the
approbation of the Magistrate； to remove from this place； by this means
any tumult that might ensue on our account will be avoided； and occasion
of offense cut off from those who now reproach us that they are obliged to
fight for us。〃
When it came to this point Mr。 Causton found himself by no means
anxious to drive away some thirty of his best settlers； who stood well with
Oglethorpe and the Trustees； and had given him all their trade for su