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trouble arose over a discussion on Predestination； not the first or last
time this has happened； and the two men found themselves utterly at
variance； for Whitefield held the extreme Calvinistic view； while Hagen
argued that all men who would might be saved。Hagen therefore went to
the home of John Brownfield； who shared his views； and made him very
welcome； and from there carried on his work among the residents of
Savannah and Purisburg。
Whitefield returned to Pennsylvania in November； 1740； nursing his
wrath against Hagen； and finding Boehler to be of the same mind； he
peremptorily ordered the Moravians to leave his land。Neighbors interfered；
and cried shame on him for turning the little company adrift in the depth
of winter； and he finally agreed to let them stay for a while in the log cabin
which was sheltering them while they were building the large stone
house。The opportune arrival of Bishop Nitschmann and his company； and
the purchase of the Bethlehem tract； soon relieved them from their
uncomfortable position； and later the Nazareth tract was bought from
Whitefield； and the work they had begun for him was completed for their
own use。
Whitefield； in after years； rather excused himself for his first harshness
toward the Moravians； but a letter written by him to a friend in 1742； is a
good statement of the armed truce which existed among the great religious
leaders of that day。〃Where the spirit of God is in any great degree； there
will be union of avail； tho' there may be difference in sentiments。This I
have learnt； my dear Brother； by happy experience； and find great freedom
and peace in my soul thereby。 This makes me love the Moravian Brethren
tho' I cannot agree with them in many of their principles。I cannot look
upon them as willful deceivers； but as persons who hazard their lives for
the sake of the Gospel。 Mr。 Wesley is as certainly wrong in some things as
they； and Mr。 Law as wrong also。Yet I believe both Mr。 Law and Mr。
Wesley and Count Zinzendorf will shine bright in Glory。I have not given
way to the Moravian Brethren； nor any other who I thought were in the
wrong； no； not for one hour。But I think it best not to dispute when there is
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no probability of convincing。〃
Hagen remained in Savannah until February； 1742； when he went to
Bethlehem； accompanied by Abraham Bueninger； of Purisburg； who
entered the Moravian ministry in 1742； and labored among the Indians； the
white settlers； and in the West Indies。
Nine more residents of Georgia followed the Moravians to Bethlehem
in 1745； John Brownfield； James Burnside and his daughter Rebecca；
Henry Ferdinand Beck； his wife Barbara； their daughter Maria Christina；
and their sons Jonathan and David； all of Savannah； and Anna Catharine
Kremper； of Purisburg。All of these served faithfully in various important
offices； and were valuable fruit of the efforts in Georgia。
John Hagen was appointed Warden of the Nazareth congregation；
when it was organized； and died at Shamokin in 1747。
1746。
General Oglethorpe was much impressed by the industry of the
Moravians in Savannah； and was sorry to see them leave the Province。In
October； 1746； therefore； he proposed to Count Zinzendorf that a new
attempt should be made further up the Savannah River。He offered to give
them five hundred and twenty…six acres near Purisburg； and to arrange for
two men to be stationed in Augusta； either as licensed Traders； for many
Indians came there； or as Schoolmasters。
Zinzendorf thought well of the plan； and accepted the tract； which
Oglethorpe deeded to him Nov。 1st； 1746； the land lying on the Carolina
side of the Savannah River； adjoining the township of Purisburg； where
Boehler and Schulius had made many friends。
No colonists； however； were sent over； and the title to the land lapsed
for lack of occupancy； as that to Old Fort； on the Ogeechee； had already
done。
1774。
Early in 1774； Mr。 Knox； Under…Secretary of State in London； asked
for missionaries to preach the Gospel to the slaves on his plantation in
Georgia。 He offered a small piece of land； whereon they might live
independently； and promised ample store of provisions。
This time the plan was carried into execution； and Ludwig Mueller；
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The Moravians in Georgia
formerly teacher in the Pedagogium at Niesky； with John George Wagner
as his companion； went to England； and sailed from there to Georgia。 They
settled on Mr。 Knox's plantation； and at once began to visit and instruct the
slaves； and preach to the whites living in the
neighborhood。〃Knoxborough〃 lay on a creek about sixteen miles from
Savannah； midway between that town and Ebenezer。 The land had been
settled by Germans； Salzburgers and Wittenbergers； and Mr。 Knox had
bought up their fifty acre tracts； combining them into a large rice
plantation。The homes of the Germans had been allowed to fall into ruin；
the overseer occupying a three…roomed house； with an outside
kitchen。Mueller was given a room in the overseer's house； preaching there
to the white neighbors who chose to hear him； and to the negroes in the
large shed that sheltered the stamping mill。 Wagner occupied a room cut
off from the kitchen。
In February； 1775； Frederick William Marshall； Agent of the Unitas
Fratrum on the Wachovia Tract in North Carolina； （with headquarters at
Salem） visited Georgia to inspect the Moravian property there；
accompanied by Andrew Broesing； who joined Mueller and Wagner in
their missionary work。It had been suggested that the Moravians preach in
a church at a little place called Goshen； near 〃Knoxborough〃； a church
which had been built by subscriptions of Germans and English living in
the neighborhood； and had been used occasionally by a preacher from
Ebenezer。
At this time the Salzburgers were in a very bad condition。 Bolzius had
died in 1765； and