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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
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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。
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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 like Daniel in the midst of the lions；〃
wrote Boehler； for the quiet； Bible…reading Moravians found little to like
in their rough associates； who cared for them just as little； and wished they
could be thrown overboard。
The ships put to sea July 16th and reached the Madeiras on the 29th；
where they were detained until the 8th of August。Boehler and Schulius
went on shore a number of times； were courteously treated by the most
prominent Catholic priest there； climbed a mountain for the exercise； and
particularly enjoyed their escape from turmoil and confusion。The captain；
who had taken a dislike to them； tried to prevent their leaving the ship； but
Oglethorpe stood their friend； and ordered that they should have entire
liberty。For Boehler； as for many who had preceded him； Georgia and
Carolina were to be a school where great life lessons would be
learned。Fresh from the University halls of Jena； he had met the students of
Oxford on equal footing； quickly winning their respect and admiration； but
these soldiers and sailors； restless； eager for excitement； rude and
unlettered； were a new thing to him； a book written in a language to which
he had no key。Later he would learn to find some point of contact with the
unlearned as well as the learned； with the negro slave and the Yorkshire
collier as well as the student of theology； but just now his impulse was to
hold himself aloof and let their wild spirits dash against him like waves
about the base of a lighthouse which sends a clear； strong beam across the
deep； but has few rays for the tossing billows just beneath。
On the 18th of September land was sighted； and on the 29th the fleet
anchored in the harbor of St。 Simon's Island； and with grateful hearts the
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Moravians watched the landing of the soldiers。 On the 4th of October they
transferred their baggage to a sloop bound for Savannah； which sailed the
6th； but on account of head winds did not reach Savannah until the 16th。
The Moravians still at Savannah came in a boat to welcome them； and take
them to their house； but Boehler was anxious to see the scene of his future
labors； and stayed in town only a few days； leaving on the 21st for a tour
through Carolina。Schulius accompanied him all the way； and several
others as far as the Indian town where Rose was living with his wife and
child。Here they talked of many things regarding the Savannah
Congregation； but on the following afternoon the missionaries went on
their way； Zeisberger； Haberland； Boehner and Regnier accompanying
them to Purisburg。
There Boehler and Schulius lodged with one of the Swiss who had
come to Georgia with Spangenberg and the first company。 His wife
expressed the wish that the Moravians in Savannah would take her
thirteen…year…old daughter the following winter； and give her instruction；
for which she would gladly pay。 Boehler took occasion to speak to the
couple about salvation and the Saviour； and they appeared to be
moved。Indeed this was the main theme of all his conversations。To the
owners of the plantations visited； he spoke of their personal needs； and
their responsibility for the souls of their slaves； while to the slaves he told
the love of God； filling them with wonder； for most of them were newly
imported from the wilds of Africa； and suspicious even of kindness。 Many
knew little of the English tongue； and the few who could understand his
words had not yet learned that there was a God who cared how they lived
or what became of them。Their masters； as a rule； thought the missionaries
were attempting an almost hopeless task in trying to lift these negroes
above the brute creation； but were quite willing to give permission and an
opportunity to reach them； and on this tour Boehler found only one land…
owner who refused his consent。
Purisburg had been named as the location of the negro school； but
Boehler found there were very few negroes in the town； which had been
largely settled by Swiss； who had not prospered greatly and had bought
few slaves。The nearest plantation employing negroes was five miles
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distant； and only