The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
History
The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740
Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
Moravians -- Georgia
The leaders of the party, trying to pacify the discontented, comfort the
sick, and strengthen those that were left as one and another was called
away; planning the daily routine to the best advantage so that they
might repay their debt, and still have the necessaries of life for their
large company; seeking to teach and convert the Indians, and help the
poor about them;--these leaders were further tried by the non-arrival of
answers to the letters sent to Germany. Feeling that they MUST know the
will of those at home if they were to be able successfully to
continue their work, they at last decided to send a messenger to Count
Zinzendorf, and the lot designated Andrew Dober.
A ship was lying at anchor, ready to take Gen. Oglethorpe to England,
and he readily agreed to take Dober and wife with him, and on December
2nd, they embarked, Dober carrying a number of letters and papers. Mrs.
Dober was quite ill when they left, but rapidly improved in the sea
breezes. January 20th, the ship reached London, and Mr. and Mrs. Dober
went at once to Mr. Weintraube, who was to forward the letters to
Herrnhut. As they were talking Bishop Nitschmann walked in, to their
mutual great astonishment. He reported that Count Zinzendorf had just
arrived in London, and had sent to inquire for letters, so those brought
from Georgia were at once delivered. Zinzendorf rented a house, the
Countess arrived a few days later, and Dober and wife remained in his
service during the seven weeks of his stay.
The Count’s object in visiting London at this time was fourfold: to
confer with the Georgia Trustees about the Moravians in Savannah; to
extend acquaintances among the Germans in London and do religious
work among them; to discuss the Episcopate of the Unitas Fratrum with
Archbishop Potter of Canterbury; and if possible to revive the “Order
of the Mustard Seed”. This order had been established by Zinzendorf and
several companions in their early boyhood, and grew with their growth,
numbering many famous men in its ranks, and it is worthy of note that
even in its boyish form it contained the germs of that zeal for missions
which was such a dominant feature of the Count’s manhood.
Archbishop Potter not only fully acknowledged the validity of the
Unity’s Episcopate, but urged Zinzendorf himself to accept consecration
at the hands of Jablonski and David Nitschmann, and encouraged by him
Zinzendorf was consecrated bishop at Berlin, May 20th, 1737.
The Count held frequent services during his stay in London, and before
he left a society of ten members had been formed among the Germans, with
a few simple regulations, their object being “in simplicity to look to
these three things:--to be saved by the blood of Christ; to become holy,
or be sanctified by the blood of Christ; to love one another heartily.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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