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！
At this time the Salzburgers were in a very bad condition。 Bolzius had died in 1765； and Rabenhorst and Triebner； who shared the pastorate； were greatly at variance； so that the entire settlement was split into factions。 Dr。 Muehlenberg； 〃the father of Lutheranism in Pennsylvania〃； had come to settle the difficulties； and heard with much displeasure of the plan to have the Moravians preach at Goshen。 He declared； 〃I doubt not； according to their known method of insinuation； they will gain the most； if not all the remaining families in Goshen； and will also make an attempt on Ebenezer； for their ways are well adapted to awakened souls。 I have learned by experience that where strife and disunion have occurred in neighborhoods and congregations among the Germans in America； there black and white apostles have immediately appeared； and tried to fish in the troubled waters； like eagles which have a keen sight and smell。〃
Dr。 Muehlenberg was too much prejudiced against the Moravians to judge them fairly； for he belonged to the Halle party in Germany； and in Pennsylvania had clashed with Zinzendorf during the latter's residence there。 The Lutheran Church was in no way endangered by the preaching of the missionaries； for their instructions were explicit： 〃If you have an opportunity to preach the Gospel to German or English residents use it gladly； but receive none into your congregation； for you are sent expressly to the negroes。〃 〃You will probably find some of the so…called Salzburgers there； with their ministers。 With them you will in all fairness do only that to which you are invited by their pastor。 You will do nothing in their congregation that you would not like to have another do in yours。〃 Dr。 Muehlenberg； therefore； might safely have left them free to preach the Gospel where they would； even to his own distracted flock； which was weakened by dissensions； suffered severely in the Revolutionary War； and gradually scattered into the adjoining country。
In accordance with his instructions； Mueller at once gave up all idea of using the Goshen church； and occupied himself with those who heard him gladly at Knoxborough。 After a careful examination of the land； the Moravians decided not to build a house for themselves； but to continue with the overseer； who was kind to them； and gave Mueller the use of a horse for his visits to adjoining plantations。
James Habersham； who had come over with George Whitefield in 1738； was one of the most prominent men in Savannah at this time。 In 1744 he had established a commercial house in Georgia； the first of its kind； to ship lumber； hogs； skins； etc。； to England； and this business had been a success。 He had taken a great interest in Whitefield's Orphan House； and had been active in governmental affairs； having served as Secretary of the Province； President of the Council； and Acting Governor of Georgia。 For many years he had been the Agent in charge of the Moravian lots in and near Savannah； and now； in failing health； and a sufferer from gout； he asked that one of the missionaries might be sent to his three estates on the Ogeechee River； partly as his representative and partly to instruct the slaves。 It was decided that Wagner should accept this invitation and go to 〃Silkhope〃； while Mueller and Broesing remained at Knoxborough； Mueller preaching at 〃Silkhope〃 every two weeks。
Marshall was much pleased with the reception accorded him and the missionaries； and hoped the time was coming for again using the lots in Savannah； but the hope again proved to be fallacious。 The missionaries all suffered greatly from fever； always prevalent on the rice plantations in the summer； and on Oct。 11th； 1775； Mueller died。 The outbreak of the Revolutionary War made Wagner's and Broesing's position precarious； for the English Act exempting the Moravians from military service was not likely to be respected by the Americans； and in 1776 Broesing returned to Wachovia； where the Moravians had settled in sufficient numbers to hold their own； though amid trials manifold。 Wagner stayed in Georgia until 1779； and then he too left the field； and returned to England。
The Savannah Lands。
In January； 1735； fifty acres of Savannah land was granted by the Trustees of Georgia to August Gottlieb Spangenberg； who was going to Georgia as the leader of the first company of Moravian colonists。 Spangenberg had the habit of speaking of himself as 〃Brother Joseph〃 in his diaries； and in the records he sometimes appears as Joseph Spangenberg； sometimes as Joseph Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg； and sometimes by his true name only。 According to custom； the fifty acre grant embraced three lots； Town Lot No。 4； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in the town of Savannah； Farm Lot No。 2； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in the township of Savannah； and Garden Lot No。 120； East。 （Office of the Secretary of State of Georgia； Book D of Grants； Folio 208。）
A few days later a similar grant was made to David Nitschmann； 〃Count Zinzendorf's Hausmeister〃； generally known as the Syndic from his office in later years； who had conducted the first company from Herrnhut to London。 This grant consisted of Town Lot No。 3； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in the town of Savannah； Farm Lot No。 3； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in the township of Savannah； and Garden Lot No。 121 East。 （Office of the Secretary of State of Georgia； Book D of Grants； Folio 207。）
When the Moravians left Georgia in 1740； these lots were placed in the hands of an Agent； probably James Habersham； who was acting as Whitefield's assistant in his hospital and charity school； the Moravian house being rented for the former purpose。
When the Trustees of Georgia surrendered their Charter to the English Crown in 1754； it was found that no formal deeds had ever been made for many of the tracts granted by the Trustees； and it was decreed that any who could legally claim land under grant from the Trustees should have their rights confirmed by royal grant upon application to the Governor and Council of Georgia； within a specified time； the land otherwise to be considered forfeited。 In June； 1761； Habersham wrote to Bethlehem that the time for entering claim had expired； but that he had asked for and obtained six months grace for the Moravians； who had previously sent him a full power of attorney； which had failed to reach him。
A new power of attorney was at once sent； and on September 7th； 1762； royal patents were issued to Nitschmann and Spangenberg； for the Town Lots and Farm Lots above mentioned。 （Register's Office； Book D； Folios 207 and 208。）
Meanwhile the two Garden Lots had been sold to Sir James Wright for 10 Pounds； and deeds； bearing date of March 15th； 1762； were made to him by Spangenberg and Nitschmann。 The deeds to the Town and Farm lots were deposited in Bethlehem； and the Agent took his instructions from the Manager there。
In 1765 Bishop Ettwein went from Bethlehem to Savannah to look after the property。 He found that the large house on Spangenberg's lot had been condemned as ruinous and pulled down。 Some one had built a small house on the other end of the same lot； and it was supposed to pay 4 Pounds a year ground rent； but the family living there was very poor； and Habersham had been unable to collect anything。 By permission a poor woman had fenced in the Nitschmann lot； and was using it as a kitchen…garden； rent free。 The title to the farm lots was in jeopardy； for a certain Alderman Becker in London claimed that the Trustees had given him a tract； including these and many other farms； but the settlers thereon were making a strong fight to hold their property； in which they were finally successful。
At the time of Frederick William Marshall's visit to Savannah in 1775； the two farm lots were reported to have some good timber； even if they were not of much use otherwise； and the town lots had increased in value with the growth of the town。 Marshall thought the latter could again be used for residence； and as a centre for such missionary work as was already begun by Mueller； Wagner and Broesing； but the Revolutionary War put an end to their efforts。
At this point in the records appears a peculiar uncertainty as to the identity of the owner of the David Nitschmann lots。 The fact that there were three David Nitschmanns in the active service of the Moravian Church during a number of years after its renewal in Herrnhut affords ample opportunity for confusion； but one would not expect to find it in the minds of their contemporaries。 But even such a man as Frederick William Marshall wrote； 〃The Deeds to these two lots； Nos。 3 and 4； are kept in Bethlehem （one stands in the name of Brother Joseph； the other of Bishop D'd Nitschmann； who passed away in Bethlehem） and it would be well if something were done about them。 I do not know what can be arranged with the son of the latter； but Brother David Nitschmann； who is now in Zeist； said when he was in America that he himself was the David Nitschmann in whose name the grant was made； because he was the one who had shared in the negotiations with the Trustees of Georgia。〃 Bishop David Nitschmann had died in Bethlehem； Oct。 9th； 1772； where his son Immanuel lived until 1790。 The David Nitschmann residi