The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
History
The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740
Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
Moravians -- Georgia
Other arrangements are recorded later, when, having grown accustomed to
ship life, they sought additional means of grace. In the early morning,
before the other passengers were up, the Moravians gathered on deck to
hold a service of prayer; in the afternoon much time was given to Bible
reading; and in the evening hymns were sung that bore on the text that
had been given in the morning. Spangenberg, Toeltschig, and Seifert, in
the order named, were the recognized leaders of the party, but realizing
that men might journey together, and live together, and still know each
other only superficially, it was agreed that each of the ten in turn
should on successive days speak to every one of his brethren face to
face and heart to heart. That there might be no confusion, two were
appointed to bring the food to the company at regular times, and see
that it was properly served, the following being “the daily Allowance
of Provisions to the Passengers on board the “Two Brothers”, Captain
William Thomson, for the Town of Savannah in Georgia.
“On the four beef-days in each week for every mess of five heads
(computing a head 12 years old, and under 12 two for one, and under 7
three for one, and under 2 not computed), 4 lbs. of beef and 2-1/2 lbs.
of flour, and 1/2 lb. of plums.
“On the two pork days in each week for said mess, 5 lbs. of pork and
2-1/2 pints of peas.
“And on the fish day in each week for said mess, 2-1/2 lbs. of fish and
1/2 lb. of butter.
“The whole at 16 ounces to the pound.
“And allow each head 7 lbs. of bread, of 14 ounces to the pound, by the
week.
“And 3 pints of beer, and 2 quarts of water (whereof one of the quarts
for drinking), each head by the day for the space of a month.
“And a gallon of water (whereof two quarts for drinking) each head, by
the day after, during their being on their Passage.”
Another Moravian was chosen as nurse of the company, although it
happened at least once that he was incapacitated, for every man in the
party was sick except Spangenberg, who was a capital sailor, and not
affected by rough weather. His endurance was severely tested too, for
while the breeze at times was so light that they unitedly prayed for
wind, “thinking that the sea was not their proper element, for from the
earth God had made them, and on the earth He had work for them to do,”
at other times storms broke upon them and waves swept the decks, filling
them with awe, though not with fear. “The wind was high, the waves
great, we were happy that we have a Saviour who would never show us
malice; especially were we full of joy that we had a witness in our
hearts that it was for a pure purpose we sailed to Georgia,”--so runs
the quaint record of one tempestuous day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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