The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
History
The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740
Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
Moravians -- Georgia
In 1732, Zinzendorf’s personal enemies accused him, before the Saxon
Court, of being a dangerous man, and the Austrian Government complained
that he was enticing its subjects to remove to his estates. The Count
asked for a judicial investigation, which was granted, the Prefect of
Goerlitz spending three days in a rigid examination of the affairs of
Herrnhut. The result was a most favorable report, showing the orthodoxy
of the settlers, and that instead of urging emigration from Bohemia and
Moravia, Zinzendorf had protested against it, receiving only those
who were true exiles for conscience’ sake. In spite of this the
Saxon Government, a few months later, forbade him to receive any more
refugees.
In April, 1733, a decree went forth that all Schwenkfelders were to
leave the Kingdom of Saxony. This, of course, affected those who were
living at Ober-Berthelsdorf, and a committee of four waited on Count
Zinzendorf, and requested him to secure a new home for them in the land
of Georgia in North America. Probably Zinzendorf, whose attention
had been caught by the attractive advertisements of the Trustees, had
unofficially suggested the idea to them.
Lest his opening negotiations with the English Company should foment the
trouble at home, he sent his first communication to them anonymously,
about the end of 1733.
“A nobleman, of the Protestant religion, connected with the most
influential families of Germany, has decided to live for a time in
America, without, however, renouncing his estates in Germany. But as
circumstances render it inadvisable for him to take such a step hastily,
he wishes to send in advance a number of families of his dependents,
composed of honest, sturdy, industrious, skillful, economical people,
well ordered in their domestic affairs, who, having no debts, will try
to sell such possessions as they cannot take with them in order to raise
the funds for establishing themselves in their new home.
“This nobleman, on his part, promises:
(1) To be governed by the King, and the English Nation, in all things,
matters of conscience alone excepted; that is, he will be true to the
Prince, the Protestant Succession, and Parliament in everything relating
to the estates he may receive in this country, and thereto will pledge
his life, and the property he may in future hold under the protection of
His Majesty of Great Britain.
(2) To be surety for the dependents that he sends over, and to assume
only such jurisdiction over them as is customary among English Lords on
their estates.
(3) To carefully repay the English Nation such sums as may be advanced
for his establishment in Georgia, and moreover, as soon as the property
is in good condition, to consider it only as rented until the obligation
is discharged.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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