贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the moravians in georgia >

第4章

the moravians in georgia-第4章

小说: the moravians in georgia 字数: 每页4000字

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!



ponsor。

Being of a warm…hearted; devout nature; young Zinzendorf yielded readily to the influence of his pious grandmother; to whose care he was left after his father's death and his mother's second marriage; and by her wish he entered the Paedagogium at Halle in 1710; remaining there six years。  Then his uncle; fearing that he would become a religious enthusiast; sent him to the University of Wittenberg; with strict orders to apply himself to the study of law。  Here he learned to recognize the good side of the Wittenberg divines; who were decried by Halle; and tried to bring the two Universities to a better understanding; but without result。

In 1719 he was sent on an extensive foreign tour; according to custom; and in the picture gallery of Duesseldorf saw an Ecce Homo with its inscription 〃This have I done for thee; what hast thou done for me?〃 which settled him forever in his determination to devote his whole life to the service of Christ。

Rather against his wishes; Count Zinzendorf then took office under the Saxon Government; but about the same time he bought from his grandmother the estate of Berthelsdorf; desiring to establish a centre of piety; resembling Halle。  The coming of the Moravian and other refugees and their settlement at Herrnhut; near Berthelsdorf; was to him at first only an incident; but as their industry and the preaching of Pastor Rothe; whom he had put in charge of the Berthelsdorf Lutheran Church; began to attract attention; he went to Halle; expecting sympathy from his friends there。  Instead he met with rebuke and disapproval; the leaders resenting the fact that he had not placed the work directly under their control; and apparently realizing; as he did not; that the movement would probably lead to the establishment of a separate church。

In spite of their disapprobation; the work at Herrnhut prospered; and the more it increased the fiercer their resentment grew。  That they; who had gained their name from their advocacy of the need for personal piety; should have been foremost in opposing a man whose piety was his strongest characteristic; and a people who for three hundred years; in prosperity and adversity; in danger; torture and exile; had held 〃Christ and Him Crucified〃 as their Confession of Faith; and pure and simple living for His sake as their object in life; is one of the ironies of history。

Nor did the Halle party confine itself to criticism。  Some years later Zinzendorf was for a time driven into exile; and narrowly escaped the confiscation of all his property; while its methods of obstructing the missionary and colonizing efforts of the Moravians will appear in the further history of the Georgia colony。




Chapter II。  Negotiations with the Trustees of Georgia。



  The Schwenkfelders。

Among those who came to share the hospitalities of Count Zinzendorf during the years immediately preceding the renewal of the Unitas Fratrum; were a company of Schwenkfelders。  Their sojourn on his estate was comparatively brief; and their association with the Moravian Church only temporary; but they are of interest because their necessities led directly to the Moravian settlements in Georgia and Pennsylvania。

The Schwenkfelders took their name from Casper Schwenkfeld; a Silesian nobleman contemporary with Luther; who had in the main embraced the Reformer's doctrines; but formed some opinions of his own in regard to the Lord's Supper; and one or two other points。  His followers were persecuted in turn by Lutherans and Jesuits; and in 1725 a number of them threw themselves on the mercy of Count Zinzendorf。  He permitted them to stay for a while at Herrnhut; where their views served to increase the confusion which prevailed prior to the revival of 1727; about which time he moved them to Ober…Berthelsdorf。

In 1732; Zinzendorf's personal enemies accused him; before the Saxon Court; of being a dangerous man; and the Austrian Government complained that he was enticing its subjects to remove to his estates。 The Count asked for a judicial investigation; which was granted; the Prefect of Goerlitz spending three days in a rigid examination of the affairs of Herrnhut。  The result was a most favorable report; showing the orthodoxy of the settlers; and that instead of urging emigration from Bohemia and Moravia; Zinzendorf had protested against it; receiving only those who were true exiles for conscience' sake。 In spite of this the Saxon Government; a few months later; forbade him to receive any more refugees。

In April; 1733; a decree went forth that all Schwenkfelders were to leave the Kingdom of Saxony。  This; of course; affected those who were living at Ober…Berthelsdorf; and a committee of four waited on Count Zinzendorf; and requested him to secure a new home for them in the land of Georgia in North America。  Probably Zinzendorf; whose attention had been caught by the attractive advertisements of the Trustees; had unofficially suggested the idea to them。

Lest his opening negotiations with the English Company should foment the trouble at home; he sent his first communication to them anonymously; about the end of 1733。

〃A nobleman; of the Protestant religion; connected with the most influential families of Germany; has decided to live for a time in America; without; however; renouncing his estates in Germany。  But as circumstances render it inadvisable for him to take such a step hastily; he wishes to send in advance a number of families of his dependents; composed of honest; sturdy; industrious; skillful; economical people; well ordered in their domestic affairs; who; having no debts; will try to sell such possessions as they cannot take with them in order to raise the funds for establishing themselves in their new home。

〃This nobleman; on his part; promises:

(1)  To be governed by the King; and the English Nation; in all things; matters of conscience alone excepted; that is; he will be true to the Prince; the Protestant Succession; and Parliament in everything relating to the estates he may receive in this country; and thereto will pledge his life; and the property he may in future hold under the protection of His Majesty of Great Britain。

(2)  To be surety for the dependents that he sends over; and to assume only such jurisdiction over them as is customary among English Lords on their estates。

(3)  To carefully repay the English Nation such sums as may be advanced for his establishment in Georgia; and moreover; as soon as the property is in good condition; to consider it only as rented until the obligation is discharged。

(4)  To assist the King and Nation; with all zeal and by all means in his power; to carry out His Majesty's designs for Georgia。 He will bring to that all the insight and knowledge of a man of affairs; who from youth up has studied the most wholesome principles and laws for a State; and has had personal experience in putting them into execution; but; on the other hand; he has learned such self…control that he will meddle with nothing in which his services are not desired。

〃In consideration of these things the nobleman asks that 

(1)  If more knowledge of his standing is desired he shall be expected to give it to no one except a Committee of Parliament; composed of members of both houses; appointed by his Britannic Majesty; or to a Committee of the ‘Collegii directoriatis' of America; who shall be empowered to grant his requests; this in view of the fact that the petitioner is a German Nobleman; whose family is well known; his father having been Ambassador to England; and his kindred among the foremost statesmen of Europe。

(2)  After the Committee has received sufficient and satisfactory information it shall be silent in regard to the circumstances and his personality; as he has weighty reasons for not wishing to subject himself to criticism。

(3)  He shall be given a written agreement; guaranteeing the following things:

 a。  That he shall receive enough land for a household  of fifty to sixty persons; and for about a hundred other dependents;  most of whom have a trade or profession; and all able  to help build up the country。

 b。  That his dependents shall be given free transportation;  and supplies for the voyage。

 c。  That they

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的