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and wait。〃
Although Spangenberg had hoped it would not be necessary for the
Moravians to leave Georgia； he had sent the Trustees their request for
permission to go； adding； 〃Nor indeed is there any reason why they should
be detained； since it is their full intention and design to pay every farthing
of their debt before they stir a foot； and they have never yet sold their
liberty to any man； neither are they bound to any man by any writing or
agreement whatsoever。 I doubt not therefore but ye will readily shew the
same clemency towards innocent and inoffensive men； which any one may
expect from your Honors； whose business is not to destroy but to save and
benefit mankind。 May it please you therefore to send orders to the
Magistrate of Savannah that these people may have leave to depart that
Province。 I do assure your Honors they always thought it a great favor that
ye were pleased to send them thither； but now they will think it a greater
to be dismissed。〃
In reply the Trustees wrote to Mr。 Causton； forbidding the introduction
of martial law without their express order； and reproving him for having
required more than two men from the Moravians； but in that very reproof
practically insisting that two must serve。The Moravians thought they had
defined their position clearly at the outset； and believed they had the
Trustees' promise that all should be as they desired； and if the Trustees
realized the construction placed upon their words they had taken a most
unfair advantage of the Moravians by offering them the two town lots as a
special favor； and then using the ownership of those lots as a lever to force
unwelcome service。On the other hand the Trustees claimed that
Zinzendorf had tacitly agreed to furnish two fighting men when he
allowed Spangenberg and Nitschmann to take the two freeholds； and one
can hardly imagine that the gentlemen who served as Trustees of Georgia
would stoop to a subterfuge to gain two soldiers。 Probably it was an honest
misunderstanding for which neither side was to blame； and of which
neither could give a satisfactory explanation； each party having had a clear
idea of his own position； and having failed to realize that in the confusion
of tongues the other never did grasp the main point clearly。
Regarding the Moravian request for permission to leave； the Trustees
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declined to give instructions until after an exchange of letters with
Zinzendorf； but in a second letter to his Congregation； the Count wrote； 〃If
some do not wish to remain； let them go；〃 and 〃if the authorities will not
do what you demand it is certain that you must break up and go further；
but whether to Pennsylvania； or New York or Carolina； the Lord will show
you。〃Carolina would be no better than Georgia for their purpose； for the
military conditions were identical； and Bishop Nitschmann's advice that
they go to Pennsylvania； together with Spangenberg's residence there；
decided them in favor of that location。
Zinzendorf's permission having cleared the way for departure； they
resolved to wait no longer on the Trustees； and a general conference was
held on September 18th； in which definite arrangements were made for the
assumption of the debt by those who were willing as yet to remain in
Georgia； freeing the four who were to go first。 A recent letter had informed
Tanneberger of the death of his wife and children in Herrnhut； and the
news shattered his already weak allegiance。 Without them he cared little
where he went； or what became of him； if only he could get away； and
Haberecht was more than ready to join him。 His young son went as a
matter of course； and Meyer； another member who had been lazy and
unsatisfactory； completed the party； which sailed for Pennsylvania on the
16th of October。 Jag also intended to go； but for some reason waited for
the next company。
Haberecht settled at Ephrata； and the two Tannebergers at
Germantown。 In 1741； Haberecht joined the Moravians who were building
in 〃the forks of the Delaware〃； and became one of the first members of the
Bethlehem Congregation。In 1745； David Tanneberger married Regina
Demuth； who had lost her husband the previous year； and they ultimately
moved to Bethlehem also。Meyer never renewed his association with the
Moravians。
Before the four started to Pennsylvania； another member had taken the
longer journey； and had been laid beside his brethren in the Savannah
cemetery。This was George Haberland； who died September 30th； from
flux； a prevalent disease； from which almost all of the colonists suffered at
one time or another。He had learned much during his life in Georgia； had
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been confirmed in June with his brother Michael； and had afterward
served acceptably as a 〃Diener〃 of the Congregation。
On the 7th of October； Seifert and Boehner moved to Tomochichi's
village to perfect themselves in the language； and begin their missionary
work。 As some of the congregation had already left Savannah； and others
were soon to follow； Seifert thought that he could be spared even though
he was 〃Aeltester〃； especially as at first he returned to Savannah every
Saturday to hold the Sunday services。 In November he and Boehner spent
several weeks in town helping the carpenters raise the frame of a large
house they were building； and when they returned to the Indians in
January； 1738； Peter Rose； his wife； and surviving daughter went with
them。
Friday； December 13th； John Wesley left Savannah； to return to
England。 His popularity had long since waned； in the face of his rigid
insistance on ecclesiastical rules； and it was said 〃the Brethren alone can
understand him； and remain in love with him。〃He was unfortunate enough
to provoke a spiteful woman； a niece of Mr。 Causton； the Magistrate； and
so greatly did the persecution rage under her influence； that Wesley's
chance of doing further good was ruined； and nothing was left but for him
to withdraw。The Magistrates forbade him to leave； （secretly rejoicing that
they had driven him away；） but he boldly took his departure； without
molestation； making his way to Beaufort； where Charles Delamotte joined
him。 Together they went to Charlestown； where he parted from Delamotte；
and on the 2nd of January； 1738； sailed from the continent that had
witnessed the shattering of so many fond hopes and ambitions。
Forty…seven years later Brierly Allen settled in Savannah； the first
minister there to represent the great denomination which grew from
Wesley's later work in England； and the first Methodist Society in that city
of his humiliation was organized in 1806。
During the preceding summer Zinzendorf had written to the Trustees；
asking once more for （1） entire exemption from military service for the
Georgia Moravians； for （2） permission for them to leave Georgia if this
could not be granted； and （3） that at least four might remain among the
Indians as missionaries。
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In answer the Trustees （1） repeated their former decision regarding
freehold representation； （2） gave consent for the Moravians to leave if they
would not comply with this； and （3） refused to let them stay as
missionaries。〃The privilege of going among the Indians was given to your
people out of consideration for Your Excellency； and also on account of
their good conduct； they being citizens of this colony； but if they cease to
reside there； this privilege will not be continued to any of them。To employ
them as missionaries to inst