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the chief of the nearest Indian tribe； which was later ratified in a full
Council of the chiefs of all the Lower Creeks。 His fairness and courteous
treatment won the hearts of all； especially of Tomochichi and his people；
who for many years remained on the best of terms with the town which
was now laid out upon the bluff。
The Salzburgers。
The Salzburgers； referred to by name in the proposals of the Georgia
Trustees； were； at this time； very much upon the mind and heart of
Protestant Europe。 They were Germans； belonging to the Archbishopric of
Salzburg； then the most eastern district of Bavaria； but now a province of
Austria。 〃Their ancestors； the Vallenges of Piedmont； had been compelled
by the barbarities of the Dukes of Savoy to find a shelter from the storms
of persecution in the Alpine passes and vales of Salzburg and the Tyrol；
before the Reformation； and frequently since； they had been hunted out by
the hirelings and soldiery of the Church of Rome； and condemned for their
faith to tortures of the most cruel and revolting kind。 In 1684…6； they were
again threatened with an exterminating persecution； but were saved in part
by the intervention of the Protestant States of Saxony and Brandenburg；
though more than a thousand emigrated on account of the dangers to
which they were exposed。
〃But the quietness which they then enjoyed for nearly half a century
was rudely broken in upon by Leopold； Count of Firmian and Archbishop
of Salzburg； who determined to reduce them to the Papal faith and power。
He began in the year 1729； and ere he ended in 1732 not far from thirty
thousand had been driven from their homes； to seek among the Protestant
States of Europe that charity and peace which were denied them in the
glens and fastnesses of their native Alps。
〃The march of these Salzburgers constitutes an epoch in the history of
Germany。* * *Arriving at Augsburg； the magistrates closed the gates
against them； refusing them entrance to that city which； two hundred years
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The Moravians in Georgia
before； through Luther and Melancthon and in the presence of Charles V
and the assembled Princes of Germany； had given birth to the celebrated
Augsburg Confession； for clinging to which the Salzburgers were now
driven from their homes； but overawed by the Protestants； the officers
reluctantly admitted the emigrants； who were kindly entertained by the
Lutherans。
〃The sympathies of Reformed Christendom were awakened on their
behalf； and the most hospitable entertainment and assistance were
everywhere given them。〃 Only a few months after the signing of the
Georgia Colony Charter； the 〃Society for the Propagation of Christian
Knowledge〃 requested the Trustees to include the Salzburgers in their
plans。 The Trustees expressed their willingness to grant lands； and to
manage any money given toward their expenses； but stated that they then
held no funds which were available for that purpose。
In May； 1733； the House of Commons appropriated 10；000 Pounds to
the Trustees of Georgia； 〃to be applied towards defraying the charges of
carrying over and settling foreign and other Protestants in said colony；〃
and over 3；000 Pounds additional having been given privately； the
Trustees； at the suggestion of Herr von Pfeil； consul of Wittenberg at
Regensberg； wrote to Senior Samuel Urlsperger； pastor of the Lutheran
Church of St。 Ann in the city of Augsburg； who had been very kind to the
Salzburgers on their arrival there； 〃and ever afterward watched over their
welfare with the solicitude of an affectionate father。〃On receipt of the
invitation from the Trustees； seventy…eight persons decided to go to
Georgia； and left Augsburg on the 21st of October； reaching Rotterdam the
27th of November； where they were joined by two ministers； Rev。 Mr。
Bolzius； deputy superintendent of the Latin Orphan School at Halle； and
Rev。 Mr。 Gronau； a tutor in the same； who were to accompany them to
their new home。In England they were treated with marked kindness； and
when they sailed； January 19； 1734； it was with the promise of free
transportation to Georgia； and support there until they could reap their first
harvest from the fifty acres which were to be given to each man among
them。
They reached Charlestown； South Carolina； the following March； and
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met General Oglethorpe； the Governor of Georgia； who was intending an
immediate return to Europe； but went back to help them select a suitable
place for their settlement； they preferring not to live in Savannah itself。The
site chosen was about twenty…five miles from Savannah； on a large stream
flowing into the Savannah River； and there they laid out their town； calling
it 〃Ebenezer〃； in grateful remembrance of the Divine help that had brought
them thither。 Baron von Reck； who had accompanied them as Commissary
of the Trustees； stayed with them until they had made a good beginning；
and then returned to Europe； leaving Ebenezer about the middle of May。
Unitas Fratrum。
But while the Salzburgers received so much sympathy and kindness in
Germany on account of their distress； other exiled Protestants； whose story
was no less touching； were being treated with scant courtesy and
consideration。
On the 6th of July； 1415； the Bohemian Reformer； John Hus； was
burned at the stake。But those who had silenced him could not unsay his
message； and at last there drew together a little body of earnest men； who
agreed to accept the Bible as their only standard of faith and practice； and
established a strict discipline which should keep their lives in the
simplicity； purity； and brotherly love of the early Apostolic Church。 This
was in 1457； and the movement quickly interested the thoughtful people in
all classes of society； many of whom joined their ranks。The formal
organization of the Unitas Fratrum （the Unity of Brethren） followed； and
its preaching； theological publications； and educational work soon raised it
to great influence in Bohemia； Moravia； and Poland； friendly intercourse
being established with Luther； Calvin； and other Reformers as they
became prominent。
Then came destruction； when the religious liberty of Bohemia and
Moravia was extinguished in blood； by the Church of Rome。The great
Comenius went forth； a wanderer on the face of the earth； welcomed and
honored in courts and universities； introducing new educational principles
that revolutionized methods of teaching； but ever longing and praying for
the restoration of his Church； and by his publication of its Doctrine and
Rules of Discipline； and by his careful transmission of the Episcopate
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The Moravians in Georgia
which had been bestowed upon him and his associate Bishops； he did
contribute largely to that renewal which he was not destined to see。
In the home lands there were many who held secretly； tenaciously；
desperately； to the doctrines they loved； 〃in hope against hope〃 that the
great oppression would be lifted。But the passing of a hundred years
brought no relief； concessions granted to others were still denied to the
children of those who had been the first 〃protestants〃 against religious
slavery and corruption； and in 1722 a small company of descendants of the
ancient Unitas Fratrum slipped over the borders of Moravia； and went to
Saxony； Nicholas Lewis； Count Zinzendorf； having given them permission
to sojourn on his estates until they could find suitable homes elsewhere。
Hearing that they had reached a place of safety； other Moravians took
their lives in their hands and followed； risking the imprisonment and
torture which were sure to follow an unsuccessful att