The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
History
The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740
Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
Moravians -- Georgia
courage, steady industry, strict honesty, and pious lives to develop her
resources, keep peace with her Indian neighbors, and win the respect of
the world, but these traits were hardly recognized as coin current by
the frightened, jealous men who clamored against the Moravians.
On the 28th, it was demanded that the Moravians help haul wood to the
fort which was being built. They replied that their wagon and oxen were
at the officers’ service without hire, and that they would feed the
animals, but personally they could take no share in the work. This
angered the people again, and several of the members began to wonder
whether they might perhaps comply so far as to assist, as a matter of
friendship, in hewing logs for the fort, refusing the wages paid to
others. The lot was tried, and absolutely forbade it, which was well,
for it developed that the people were watching for their answer, having
agreed that if they helped on the fort it would be a proof that they
COULD do what they chose, and were simply hiding behind an excuse in
refusing to fight.
But the tension was not relaxed, and on the 2nd of March, the Moravians
met to decide on their further course. Should they keep quiet, and wait
for times to change, or should they go away? It was referred to the lot,
and the paper drawn read “GO OUT FROM AMONG THEM.” This meant not merely
from the city, but from the province, for Mr. Causton had told them that
they would be subject to the same requirements if they were living in
the adjoining country.
On the strength of this they wrote a letter to Mr. Causton, rehearsing
their motives in coming to Georgia, and the promises made them,
reiterating their claim for liberty of conscience, and concluding, “But
if this can not be allowed us, if our remaining here be burdensome to
the people, as we already perceive it begins to be, we are willing, with
the approbation of the Magistrate, to remove from this place; by this
means any tumult that might ensue on our account will be avoided, and
occasion of offense cut off from those who now reproach us that they are
obliged to fight for us.”
When it came to this point Mr. Causton found himself by no means anxious
to drive away some thirty of his best settlers, who stood well with
Oglethorpe and the Trustees, and had given him all their trade for
supplies, so he began to temporize. “They trusted in God, and he really
did not think their house would be burned over their heads.” Toeltschig
said that was the least part of it, they had come for freedom, and now
attempts were made to force them to act contrary to the dictates of
their consciences. Then he declared that he had no power in the matter
of their leaving, that must be settled between the Count, the Trustees,
and themselves, but he could not permit them to go until he received an
order from the Trustees. Meanwhile he would do what he could to quiet
the people’s dissatisfaction with them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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