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！
Wernigerode； and your letters have decided me to stay in Germany this
winter； in the first place because my going would be a grief to my dear
Urlsperger； whom I love as a father； secondly because the English will
send over a third transport of Salzburgers in the coming spring and wish
me to take them； and thirdly because I wish to obey worthy and chosen
men of God。〃
He wrote to the same effect to Zinzendorf； and the Count； though
doubtless annoyed； replied simply：〃Your Highness' resolution to
accomodate yourself to your superiors would be known by us all for right。
You will then not blame us if we go our way as it is pointed out to us by
the Lord。〃
A few days later Reck received a sharp note from the Trustees of
Georgia； reproving him for his temerity in agreeing to take the Moravians
with him to Georgia without consulting them； and reiterating the statement
that the funds in their hands had been given for the use of the Salzburgers；
and could be used for them alone。
The young man must have winced not a little under all this censure；
but while he yielded his plan to the wishes of the Halle party； he held
firmly to the opinion he had formed of the Moravians。 He wrote to
Urlsperger and others in their behalf； declaring that they were a godly
people； much misunderstood； that it was a shame to persecute them and try
to hinder their going to Georgia； and he felt sure that if their opponents
would once meet the Moravians and converse with them freely；
confidentially； and without prejudice； they would come to respect them as
he did。He also suggested that there were many protestants remaining in
20
… Page 21…
The Moravians in Georgia
Bohemia； who would gladly leave； and who might be secured for Georgia
on the terms offered to the Salzburgers。 The next year in fact； an effort was
made to obtain permission from the Austrian Government for the
emigration of these people； and Reck was authorized by the Trustees to
take them to Georgia； but nothing came of it。
Nor did his championship of the Bohemians and Moravians already in
Saxony have any result。Urlsperger was offended that the negotiations from
Herrnhut with the Trustees were not being carried on through him； 〃the
only one in Germany to whom the Trustees had sent formal authority to
receive people persecuted on account of religion； or forced to emigrate；〃
and the Halle party were unable or unwilling to meet the leaders of the
Moravians 〃without prejudice〃。The company of Salzburgers therefore
sailed for Georgia in November without Baron von Reck； and without the
Moravians； Mr。 Vat acting as Commissary。The Moravians； meanwhile；
were not waiting idly for matters to turn their way； but even before Reck
reached his decision Spangenberg had started for England to arrange
personally with the Georgia Trustees for their emigration。
August Gottlieb Spangenberg was born July 15th； 1704； at Klettenberg；
Prussia。 In the year 1727； while a student at Jena； he became acquainted
with the Moravians through a visit of two of their number； which won
them many friends at that institution。Later； when he was Assistant
Professor of Theology at Halle； he was required to sever his connection
with the Moravians； or leave the University； and choosing the latter he
came to Herrnhut in the spring of 1733。 He was one of the strongest； ablest；
and wisest leaders that the Unitas Fratrum has ever had； and eventually
became a Bishop of the Unity； and a member of its governing board。He
was a writer of marked ability； and in his diaries was accustomed to speak
of himself as 〃Brother Joseph〃； by which name he was also widely known
among the Moravians。
Spangenberg left Herrnhut in the late summer or early fall of 1734；
bearing with him Zinzendorf's Power of Attorney to receive for him a
grant from the Georgia Trustees of five hundred acres of land； and to
transact all other necessary business。He stopped for some time in Holland；
where he made a number of acquaintances； some of whom gave him
21
… Page 22…
The Moravians in Georgia
letters of introduction to friends in England and in America； and others
contributed toward the necessary expenses of the emigrants。 From
Rotterdam he wrote to Zinzendorf； saying that he heard no ship would sail
for America before February or March； and that he thought it would be
best for the colonists to wait until he wrote from London； and then to
come by way of Altona； as the Holland route was very expensive。 These
suggestions； however； came too late； as the party had left Herrnhut before
the arrival of his letter。
Spangenberg had a stormy voyage to England； and on reaching
London； rented a room in 〃Mr。 Barlow's Coffee House； in Wattling's street；
near St。 Anthelius Church。〃He found the outlook rather discouraging； and
a long letter written on the 10th of January； gives a vivid picture of the
English mind regarding the 〃Herrnhuters〃。Spangenberg had called on
several merchants to see if he could arrange a loan for the Moravians； for
Zinzendorf's means were already strained to the utmost by what he was
doing for the Church； and he did not see how it was possible to provide the
money in any other way。But the merchants declined to make the loan；
saying：〃We can not take the land （in Georgia） as surety； for it is not yet
settled； and no man would give us a doit for it； the personal security （of
the emigrants） is also not sufficient； for they might all die on the sea or in
Georgia； there is danger of it； for the land is warmer than Europeans can
bear； and many who have moved thither have died； if they settle on the
land and then die the land reverts to the Trustees； so we would lose all； and
the six per cent interest offered is not enough； for the money applied to
business would yield twenty per cent。
Others objected to having the Moravians