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！
The Moravians in Georgia
distant； and only seven lived there； so the outlook was far from
encouraging at that point。
Boehler and Schulius then made their way from one plantation to
another； until they reached Charlestown。The Rev。 Mr。 Garden； to whom
they had a letter of introduction； advised that the school should be begun
in Charlestown； where there was a large negro population； perhaps a
thousand souls。This was more than could be found on any single
plantation in Carolina； and as the slaves were strictly forbidden to go from
one plantation to another it would hardly be possible to find another place
where so many could be reached at the same time。Boehler and Schulius
were much impressed with the advantages offered； especially as Mr。
Garden promised all the assistance he could give； and they debated
whether Schulius should not stay and begin at once； while Boehler
returned to report to Oglethorpe。The lot was finally tried； and the direction
received that they should carefully study the situation but wait until later
to commence work。Therefore on the 1st of November the two companions
set out for Savannah； which they reached in eight days。
The following weeks were a sore trial for the missionaries。 With a
promising field in sight； and eager to commence work in it； they were
obliged to wait for Oglethorpe's permission； and Oglethorpe was very
busy on the frontier establishing the outposts for which his regiment had
been brought over。When he did return to Savannah； it was only for a few
hours； and he was in no frame of mind for a long argument of pros and
cons。He told Boehler rather testily that they should not go to Charlestown
with his consent； that if they were not willing to follow the plan for
Purisburg he would have nothing more to do with them； and that if they
wanted to talk further they must wait till he came again。
Boehler and Schulius wished themselves free to proceed without his
consent； wished they had not entered into an agreement with 〃the
associates of the late Dr。 Bray〃； but under the circumstances felt
themselves bound to give the work at Purisburg a fair trial。In December；
Schulius went to Purisburg to look over the field； and make acquaintance
with the people； while Boehler waited at Savannah for Oglethorpe； and
finally； when his patience was quite exhausted； followed the General to St。
141
… Page 142…
The Moravians in Georgia
Simons。 Oglethorpe persisted in his intention to have the school at
Purisburg； and when he learned that his wishes would be obeyed he gave
instructions for the renting of a large house and two acres of ground； and
for supplies to be furnished from the store at Savannah。
In February； 1739； therefore； Boehler and Schulius settled in Purisburg。
Young Harper seems to have been with them in Purisburg on some of their
earlier visits； but was sent temporarily to Savannah； and as he does not
reappear in the records； he probably went back to his English home。David
Zeisberger； Jr。； joined Boehler and was his willing helper in many ways。
At first the outlook was rather more promising than they expected。
There were very few colored children for the school； but 〃daily more were
bought and born；〃 there was some interest aroused among the older
negroes； and the owners were disposed to be friendly； and allow the
missionaries free access to their slaves。 The German and Swiss settlers
were unaffectedly glad to have the Moravians in their midst； and begged
for religious services； and instruction for their children； so Boehler and
Schulius agreed on a division of labor； the latter to devote himself to the
white residents and their little ones； while Boehler spent most of his time
visiting adjoining plantations。
But when the warm weather came Boehler was taken with fever； and
from June to October he suffered severely。From time to time he was able
to be up； and even to visit Savannah； but he was so weak and his feet were
so badly swollen that walking was very difficult； and of course missionary
tours were impossible。
On the 4th of August； George Schulius died； after an illness of
eighteen days' duration。Boehler was in Savannah when he was taken sick；
but returned in time to nurse him； to soothe him in delirium； and to lay
him to rest amid the lamentations of the Purisburg residents。 At his death
the school for white children was given up； for Boehler was too weak to
shoulder the additional load； and felt that his first duty was to the
negroes。In September； Oglethorpe was in Savannah； and after much
difficulty Boehler obtained speech with him； and succeeded in convincing
him that a negro school at Purisburg was hopeless。He approved of
Boehler's plan to itinerate among the plantations and promised that both
142
… Page 143…
The Moravians in Georgia
his own and Schulius' salaries should be paid him； that he might be
supplied for traveling expenses。In November； when his health was
restored； Boehler wished to make his first journey； but the storekeeper
declined to pay him any money until the expiration of the quarter year。
When he went again at the appointed time the storekeeper refused to pay
anything without a new order from Oglethorpe； except the remainder of
the first year's salary； now long overdue。Boehler concluded that the man
had received private instructions from Oglethorpe； and that his services
were no longer desired by the representative of 〃the associates〃； so in
January； 1740； he gave up further thought of obligation to them； and
prepared to go on his own account。 He planned to go by boat to Purisburg
and from there on foot through Carolina to Charlestown； but on the way
up the Savannah River the canoe was overtaken by a severe thunderstorm；
and forced to land。 Knowing that a sloop would sail in two days he
returned to Savannah； meaning to go to Charlestown on her； but on trying
the lot he received direction to wait for the present in Savannah。
While Boehler was making his attempt among the negroes； some
changes were taking place in the Savannah Congregation。 He had been
very much distressed by the condition he found when he arrived； for
owing partly to their many difficulties and partly to Seifert's absence
among the Indians； no Communion had been celebrated for a year； and the
〃bands〃 had been dropped。The Bible and prayer gatherings were steadily
observed； but it seemed to him there was a lack of harmony among the
members； and they were by no means ready to take him at once into their
confidence。Seifert； too； was not well； and had been obliged to leave the
Indians； and return to Savannah。
The Indian work was most discouraging； for the men were careless
and drunken； and in January； 1739； even Rose gave up； and moved back to
Savannah with his family。In October； Tomochichi died； and was buried
with great pomp in Percival Square in Savannah。The Moravians were
asked to furnish music at the funeral； but declined； and it was hardly
missed amid the firing of minute guns； and three volleys over his grave。
After his death his little village was abandoned； and the question of further
missionary efforts there settled itself。
143
… Page 144…
The Moravians in Georgia
During the winter John Regnier became deeply incensed at some plain
speaking from Schulius； and decided to leave at once for Europe； the
Congregation paying his way。He probably went to Herrnhut； as that had
been his i