trengthen their
hands for the work among the Indians, and even now it was disappointing
to hear that Zinzendorf had decided not to send any more colonists to
Georgia. He argued that it would take very few men to supply teachers
for Tomochichi's little village, and that as the Trustees would only
permit four missionaries among the more distant tribes, that number
could easily be spared from the company already in Savannah.

Regarding military service he repeated his former definite instructions,
"you will not bear arms either defensive or offensive." He said that he
had tried to secure from the Trustees a formal "dispensation", either
verbal or written, exempting the Moravians entirely from military duty,
but they refused to give it, insisting that the Moravians must at least
employ two men to represent the two town lots in defense of the country.
Zinzendorf had agreed to this, so far as the night watch was concerned,
since such a watch was necessary for civic peace and well-being, and
the Moravians were authorized to pay the necessary sums therefor, but he
considered it inconsistent to refuse to fight as a matter of conscience
and then hire others to do it, and so, as he said, "there is nothing to
do but to say NO, and wait."

Although Spangenberg had hoped it would not be necessary for the
Moravians to leave Georgia, he had sent the Trustees their request
for permission to go, adding, "Nor indeed is there any reason why they
should be detained, since it is their full intention and design to pay
every farthing of their debt before they stir a foot; and they have
never yet sold their liberty to any man, neither are they bound to any
man by any writing or agreement whatsoever. I doubt not therefore but
ye will readily shew the same clemency towards innocent and inoffensive
men, which any one may expect from your Honors, whose business is not to
destroy but to save and benefit mankind. May it please you therefore
to send orders to the Magistrate of Savannah that these people may
have leave to depart that Province. I do assure your Honors they always
thought it a great favor that ye were pleased to send them thither; but
now they will think it a greater to be dismissed."

In reply the Trustees wrote to Mr. Causton, forbidding the introduction
of martial law without their express order, and reproving him for having
required more than two men from the Moravians, but in that very reproof
practically insisting that two must s