nd, Nitschmann was
to remain only until the organization of the Congregation was complete,
and there was much to be done before these two able leaders took their
departure.
Scarcely had Bishop Nitschmann greeted the members of the "first
company" in the dawn of Feb. 17th, 1736, when Spangenberg and Toeltschig
took him to the garden two miles distant, that they might have a private
and undisturbed conference. All too soon, however, word was brought
that Gen. Oglethorpe wanted to see Spangenberg at once, so they retraced
their steps, and Spangenberg received a hearty greeting from the
General, and many compliments on what he and his party had accomplished.
There is no record of the conversations among the Moravians on that day,
but they are not difficult to imagine, for the news from home and from
the mission fields on the one side, and the problems and prospects in
Georgia on the other, would furnish topics which many days could not
exhaust.
That evening Spangenberg again called on Gen. Oglethorpe, who gave
orders that a boat should take him next day to Tybee, where the ship
lay at anchor, with all her passengers aboard. He also told Spangenberg
about the English preacher whom he had brought over, and made inquiries
about Nitschmann's position, asking that the explanation be repeated to
the English preacher, who was also interested in him.
The following day Spangenberg waited upon Gen. Oglethorpe to ask about
Hermsdorf, as he heard the General had promised to take him to the
Altamaha, where a new town was to be built. He also begged Oglethorpe
to help him arrange his departure for Pennsylvania as soon as possible,
which the General agreed to do.
About six o'clock that evening Spangenberg reached the ship at Tybee,
and was warmly welcomed by the Moravians, and at their song service he
met the much-talked-of English preacher, John Wesley. The two men liked
each other at the first glance; Wesley wrote in his Journal, "I soon
found what spirit he was of, and asked his advice in regard to my
own conduct," while Spangenberg paralleled this in his Diary with the
remark, "He told me how it was with him, and I saw that true Grace dwelt
in and governed him."
During the two days which elapsed before the transport came to take
the Moravians from the ship, Wesley and Spangenberg had several long
conversations, each recording the points that struck him most, but
without comment. These discussions regarding doctrine and prac
|