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The Moravians in Georgia
letters of introduction to friends in England and in America； and others
contributed toward the necessary expenses of the emigrants。 From
Rotterdam he wrote to Zinzendorf； saying that he heard no ship would sail
for America before February or March； and that he thought it would be
best for the colonists to wait until he wrote from London； and then to
come by way of Altona； as the Holland route was very expensive。 These
suggestions； however； came too late； as the party had left Herrnhut before
the arrival of his letter。
Spangenberg had a stormy voyage to England； and on reaching
London； rented a room in 〃Mr。 Barlow's Coffee House； in Wattling's street；
near St。 Anthelius Church。〃He found the outlook rather discouraging； and
a long letter written on the 10th of January； gives a vivid picture of the
English mind regarding the 〃Herrnhuters〃。Spangenberg had called on
several merchants to see if he could arrange a loan for the Moravians； for
Zinzendorf's means were already strained to the utmost by what he was
doing for the Church； and he did not see how it was possible to provide the
money in any other way。But the merchants declined to make the loan；
saying：〃We can not take the land （in Georgia） as surety； for it is not yet
settled； and no man would give us a doit for it； the personal security （of
the emigrants） is also not sufficient； for they might all die on the sea or in
Georgia； there is danger of it； for the land is warmer than Europeans can
bear； and many who have moved thither have died； if they settle on the
land and then die the land reverts to the Trustees； so we would lose all； and
the six per cent interest offered is not enough； for the money applied to
business would yield twenty per cent。
Others objected to having the Moravians go at all； especially Court
Preacher Ziegenhagen； who belonged to the Halle party； and who；
Spangenberg found； had much influence on account of his good judgment
and spotless character。They claimed：（1） That the Moravians were not
oppressed in Saxony； and had no good reason for wishing to leave； （2） that
to say they wished to be near the heathen was only an excuse； for Georgia
had nothing to do with the West Indies where they had a mission； （3） the
Moravians could not bear the expense； and neither the Trustees nor the
Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge would help them； （4）
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The Moravians in Georgia
they could neither speak nor understand English； and would therefore be
unable to support themselves in an English colony； （5） their going would
create confusion； for Herr Bolzius； the pastor of the Salzburgers at
Ebenezer； had written to beg that they should not be allowed to come； （6）
if they went it would involve England in trouble with Saxony； and the
Georgia Colony was not meant to take other rulers' subjects away from
them； only to furnish an asylum for exiles； and poor Englishmen； （7） the
Moravians could not remain subject to Zinzendorf； for they must all
become naturalized Englishmen； （8） the suggestion that Zinzendorf's land
could be cultivated by the heathen was absurd； for slavery was not
permitted in Georgia and the Moravians could not afford to hire them； （9）
ten or fifteen men； as were said to be on the way； would never be able to
make headway in settling the forest； a task which had been almost too
much for the large company of Salzburgers。
Some of these statements dealt with facts； about which the critics
might have acquired better information； had they so desired； others were
prophecies of which only the years to come could prove or disprove the
truth； others again touched difficulties which were even then confronting
Count Zinzendorf's agent； but in the light of contemporary writings and
later developments； it is possible to glance at each point and see in how far
the Halle party were justified in their argument。（1） The treatment in
Saxony； while not as yet a persecution which threatened them with torture
and death； had many unpleasant features； and the constant agitation
against them might at any time crystalize into harsh measures； for those
members of the Herrnhut community who had left friends and relatives in
the homelands of Bohemia and Moravia were already forbidden to invite
them to follow； or even to receive them if they came unasked seeking
religious freedom。 （2） There was no idea of associating the missions in
Georgia and the West Indies； for the heathen whom they wished to reach
by this new settlement were the Creek and Cherokee Indians with whom
Governor Oglethorpe had already established pleasant relations； bringing
several of their chiefs to England； and sending them home filled with
admiration for all they had seen； much impressed by the kindness shown
them； and willing to meet any efforts that might be made to teach them。 （3）
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The money question was a vital one； and it was principally to solve that
that Spangenberg had come to England； where with Oglethorpe's help he
later succeeded in securing the desired loan。（4） That they could speak little
English was also a real difficulty； Spangenberg used Latin in his
conferences with the educated men he met in London； but that medium
was useless in Georgia； and while the Moravians learned English as
rapidly as they could； and proved their capability for self…support； the
failure to fully understand or be understood by their neighbors was
responsible for many of the trials that were awaiting them in the New
World。（5） The protest of Bolzius was only a part of the general Salzburger
opposition； and to avoid friction in Georgia； Zinzendorf had particularly
recommended that the Moravians settle in a village apart by themselves；
where they could 〃lead godly lives； patterned after the writings and
customs of the apostles；〃 without giving offense to any； and he promised；
for the same reason； that as soon as they were established he would send
them a regularly ordained minister； although laymen were doing
missionary work in other fields。（6） In order to avoid any danger of
creating trouble between the Governments； the Moravian colonists
carefully said nothing in London regarding their difficulties in Saxony； or
the persecutions in Bohemia and Moravia； and instead of proclaiming
themselves exiles for the Faith as they might have done with perfect truth；
they appeared simply as Count Zinzendorf's servants； sent by him to
cultivate the five hundred acres about to be given to him； and by his orders
to preach to the Indians。（7） A change of nationality would not affect the
relation between Zinzendorf and his colonists； for their position as his
dependents in Germany was purely voluntary； such service as they
rendered was freely given in exchange for his legal protection； and his
supremacy in Church affairs then and later was a recognition of the
personal character of the man； not a yielding of submission to the Count。（8）
That the Indians could not be employed on Zinzendorf's estate was quite
true； not so much on account of the law against slavery； for the Count
intended nothing of that kind； but their character and wild habits rendered
them incapable of becoming good farmers； as the American Nation has
learned through many years of effort and failure。（9） Whether the ten or
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The Moravians in Georgia
fifteen men； reinforced by those who foll