the moravians in georgia-第37章
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here； and then returned to England； in August； to raise funds for his Orphan House； Habersham meanwhile beginning to collect and instruct the most neglected children。
During his stay in Georgia； Whitefield lodged with Charles Delamotte； who was still carrying on the little school。 During the winter Delamotte had boarded for a while with the Moravians； and when he returned to England in the autumn； he at once associated himself with the English members。 Tyerman in his 〃Life and Times of John Wesley〃； says； 〃On his return to England； Charles Delamotte became a Moravian； settled at Barrow…upon…Humber； where he spent a long life of piety and peace； and died in 1790。〃
On the 16th of October； Peter Boehler and George Schulius arrived in Savannah； accompanied by the lad； Simon Peter Harper。 They came as missionaries to the negroes of Carolina； the hearts of various philanthropic Englishmen having been touched by reports of the condition of these half wild savages recently imported from the shores of Africa to till the fields of the New World。
The plan originated during Count Zinzendorf's visit to London； in February； 1737； when it was suggested to him that such a mission should be begun by two Moravian men； under the auspices of 〃the associates of the late Dr。 Bray〃。
Thomas Bray； an English divine； was born in 1656； made several missionary trips to America； and in 1697 organized a society for the propagation of the Gospel in the English Colonies。 He died in 1730； but the work was continued by his 〃associates〃； many of whom were also interested in the Georgia Colony。
As this mission was to be under their direction； 〃the associates of the late Dr。 Bray〃 wished to be very sure that the doctrine and rules of the Unitas Fratrum did not conflict with the Church of England； but being assured by the Archbishop of Canterbury that he considered them as agreeing in all essential points； they closed an agreement with Zinzendorf whereby the Count received 30 Pounds with which to prepare 〃two Brethren to reside for the instruction of the Negroes at such place in Carolina as the said associates shall direct。〃 The missionaries； when they had entered upon their work； were to receive a salary； 〃not exceeding thirty pounds a year；〃 from the 〃associates〃。
For this missionary enterprise； so much to his liking； Zinzendorf appointed 〃one of my chaplains； master Boehler；〃 and 〃Schulius； a Moravian brother；〃 who with Richter and Wenzel Neisser arrived in London； February 18th； 1738。 At the house of their friend Wynantz； the Dutch merchant； they met John Wesley； who offered to secure them a pleasant； inexpensive lodging near James Hutton's； where he was staying。
Peter Boehler had been a student at Jena when Spangenberg was lecturing there； and was himself a professor at that seat of learning when he decided to accept Zinzendorf's call to mission work； and join the Moravians； with whom he had been for a long time in sympathy。 Like Spangenberg he was a highly educated man； and an able leader； fitted to play an important part in the Church of his adoption。 In December； 1737； he was ordained at Herrnhut by the bishops； David Nitschmann and Count Zinzendorf； and in later years he； too； became a bishop of the Unity。
On the 22nd of February； Boehler and his companions called on Gen。 Oglethorpe； who at first supposed they were simply going over to join the Savannah congregation。 Boehler explained that Richter； who spoke French as well as German； had come as the Agent of the Moravians； in accordance with the suggestion made by the Trustees to Bishop Nitschmann in 1736； that Wenzel Neisser was going on an official visitation to America； especially to the West Indies； and that he and Schulius were the missionaries promised by Count Zinzendorf for work among the negroes in Carolina。 The General courteously invited them to confer with him further； either by letter or in person； and offered to take them with him； as he expected shortly to sail for Georgia with his regiment。
Later； when they wished to come to a definite agreement with Oglethorpe； who represented the 〃associates of Dr。 Bray〃； they experienced some difficulty； owing to the fact that a letter of introduction Oglethorpe expected to receive from Count Zinzendorf had failed to arrive； but the exhibition of their passports； and Richter's explanation that Zinzendorf thought （from newspaper notices） that Oglethorpe had already left England； enabled Boehler and Schulius to establish their identity。 So soon as Zinzendorf heard that his word was needed； he sent them a formal letter of introduction to Oglethorpe； which was gladly received as corroboration of their statements。 The Moravians were at their own expense while waiting in London； but Oglethorpe promised that they should be provided with Bibles； grammars； and other things they might need for the negro school。
Being detained in London for three months； instead of three weeks as they expected； Boehler and his friend had ample opportunity to make acquaintances in the metropolis。 They sent word of their arrival to those Germans who had learned to know Zinzendorf and the earlier Moravian emigrants to Georgia； and on the first Sunday 〃the brethren〃； （as they affectionately called all who； like themselves； were interested in living a Christian life；） came to them； and a series of meetings for prayer； conference； and instruction was begun。 Boehler was a man of attractive personality； and convincing earnestness； and in spite of his slight knowledge of their language many English also became interested and formed a society similar to that begun by Zinzendorf； the two soon uniting in the Fetter Lane Society。
Ten days after Boehler reached London he accepted an invitation from the two Wesleys； and went with them to Oxford。 There he was most kindly received； preached in Latin once or twice each day； and had many private conversations with inquirers。 Among those with whom he became acquainted was the Rev。 John Gambold； who later became a bishop in the Moravian Church； and many others were mightily stirred to seek the salvation of their souls。
Noting how little English Boehler and Schulius knew； Gen。 Oglethorpe offered them a boy who was bright and intelligent； could speak both English and German； and understood some French； and they found him so serviceable that they asked and obtained permission to take him with them to Carolina。
Through Wesley； Boehler heard that Gen。 Oglethorpe was much surprised at the speed with which he acquired English； and that he had asked whether Boehler would consent to serve as Minister of the Church of England in Savannah； if that Congregation remained without a pastor。 Boehler expressed his willingness to preach at any time； but declined to administer the Sacraments for any denomination except his own； so the appointment was not made。
On the 28th of April； the baggage of the Missionaries was put aboard the ‘Union Galley'； Capt。 Moberley； with instructions that Boehler and his companions should join her at Portsmouth。 Neisser was to go with them to Georgia； and from there； as opportunity offered； to St。 Thomas； but while the ship lay at Portsmouth other instructions reached him； and Oglethorpe kindly made no objection to his withdrawing his box and staying behind； though he did not quite understand it。
On the 15th of May； Peter Boehler； George Schulius； and the lad Simon Peter Harper； left London； but finding the ship not yet ready to sail； they； by Oglethorpe's instructions； went to Southampton where some of the vessels were lying。
Returning to Portsmouth they embarked on May 22nd； and soon found they were 〃to dwell in Sodom and Gomorrah〃 during their voyage。 On the 30th the fleet sailed to Southampton for the soldiers； and when they came aboard four days later 〃Sodom and Gomorrah were fully reproduced。〃 As the ships lay off Spithead a conspiracy was discovered； the soldiers on one vessel had planned to kill their officers； take what money they could find； and escape to France。 During the voyage there were several fights among the soldiers； or between them and the sailors； and in one drunken riot a soldier cut off a young girl's hand。 〃The Lord was our defense and shield； and we were among them
