第34章 Reinforcements(12)

He also advised them to buy oxen to use in cultivating their land;and said that they should have one-third of the grape-vines he had brought over with him, another portion was to be given to Tomochichi, the remainder to be planted in his own garden.

On the 8th, Spangenberg and Nitschmann returned to Savannah, and with Andrew Dober and John Wesley, (who had now moved from the ship,)proceeded up the river to Mrs.Musgrove's, about five miles distant.

Wesley wished to select a site for a small house, which Oglethorpe had promised to build for him, where he and his companions might live while they were studying the Indian language, under Mrs.Musgrove's direction.

Nitschmann wanted to visit and talk with the Indian "King", Tomochichi, and Dober was trying to find some clay suitable for pottery.

The following day they returned to Savannah, and Mr.Wesley and Mr.Delamotte took up their abode with the Moravians, as Mr.Quincy, Wesley's predecessor in the Savannah pastorate, had not yet vacated his house.

Wesley writes, "We had now an opportunity, day by day, of observing their whole behaviour.For we were in one room with them from morning to night, unless for the little time I spent in walking.

They were always employed, always cheerful themselves, and in good humor with one another; they had put away all anger, and strife, and wrath, and bitterness, and clamor, and evil speaking;they walked worthy of the vocation wherewith they were called, and adorned the Gospel of our Lord in all things." The impression thus made upon John Wesley was lasting, and even during the subsequent years in England, when differences of every kind arose between him and the Moravians, and his Journal is full of bitter denunciations of doctrines and practices which he did not understand, and with which he was not in sympathy, he now and again interrupts himself to declare, "I can not speak of them but with tender affection, were it only for the benefits I have received from them."An event which occurred on March 10th, is of more than local interest, in that it is the first unquestioned instance of the exercise of episcopal functions in the United States.Prior to this, and for a number of years later, clergymen of the Church of England, and English-speaking Catholic priests, were ordained in the Old World, before coming to the New, remaining under the control of the Bishop and of the Vicar Apostolic of London, while the Spanish Catholics were under the Suffragan of Santiago de Cuba, and the French Catholics under the Bishop of Quebec.Tradition mentions the secret consecration of two Bishops of Pennsylvania before this time, but its authenticity is doubted, and the two men did not exercise any episcopal powers.

Therefore when Bishop Nitschmann came to Georgia, and in the presence of the Moravian Congregation at Savannah ordained one of their number to be their pastor, he was unconsciously doing one of the "first things"which are so interesting to every lover of history.

Whenever it was possible the Moravians spent Saturday afternoon and evening in rest, prayer, and conference, and on this occasion four services were held at short intervals.

At the first service the singing of a hymn was followed by the reading of Psalm 84, a discourse thereon, and prayer.

The second was devoted to reading letters from Germany, and some discussion as to Hermsdorf and his relation to the Congregation.

The third service was the important one, and the following account was recorded in the Diary."When we re-assembled the question:

`Must not our Congregation have a Chief Elder (Aeltester)?'

was presented for discussion.All thought it necessary, and were unanimous in their choice of Anton Seifert, and no other was even suggested.While his name was being considered, he was sent from the room, and when he had been recalled, we sang a hymn, and Nitschmann and Toeltschig led the Congregation in most earnest prayer.

Then Nitschmann delivered an earnest charge, setting before him the importance of his office, which made him the foremost member of the Congregation, especially in times of danger, for in the early Church, as well as among our forefathers in Moravia, the bishops were ever the first victims.He was asked if he would freely and willingly give up his life for the Congregation and the Lord Jesus.He answered, `Yes.'

Then he was reminded of the evil which arose when bishops, seeing their power in a Congregation, began to exalt themselves, and to make outward show of their pre-eminence.He was asked whether he would recognize as evil, abjure, and at once suppress any inclination he might feel toward pride in his position as Chief Elder, and his larger authority.He answered with a grave and thoughtful `Yes.'

Then our Nitschmann prayed over him earnestly, and ordained him to his office with the laying on of hands.Nitschmann was uncommonly aroused and happy, but Anton Seifert was very humble and quiet." John Wesley, who was present, wrote "The great simplicity, as well as solemnity, of the whole, almost made me forget the seventeen hundred years between, and imagine myself in one of those assemblies where form and state were not;but Paul the tent-maker, or Peter the fisherman, presided;yet with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power."Both Wesley and Benjamin Ingham refer to Seifert as a "bishop", which is a mistake, though a natural one.Wesley was present at the ordination, and heard the charge, with example and warning drawn from the actions of earlier bishops; while Ingham, in the course of several long conversations with Toeltschig concerning the Moravian Episcopate and Seifert's ordination, asked "is Anton a bishop?" and was answered, "yes, FOR OUR CONGREGATION."This was in view of the fact that Bishop Nitschmann, in ordaining Seifert, had empowered him to delegate another member to hold the Communion, baptize,or perform the marriage ceremony in case of his sickness or necessary absence.