第7章 Negotiations with the Trustees of Georgia(2)

f.That he, and the colonists who will go with him, shall have full religious liberty, they being neither papists nor visionaries.

g.That if any of his dependents should fall into error no one should attempt to correct them, but leave him to handle the matter according to his own judgment; on the other hand he will stand surety for the conduct of his dependents as citizens.

h.That he and his descendents shall be taken under the protection of the English Nation if they request it.

i.That he may be permitted to choose whether he will go himself to Georgia, or send a representative to set his affairs in order, and if the latter, then the representative shall receive the courteous treatment that would have been accorded him.

j.That those among his colonists who wish to preach the gospel to the heathen shall be allowed to do so; and their converts shall have the same religious freedom as his colonists.

k.That he and his dependents in Georgia shall be given the privileges in spiritual affairs which the independent Lords of Germany enjoy in temporal affairs.

l.That all his property shall be at the service of the State in time of need, but neither he nor his dependents shall be called on for military duty, in lieu whereof he will, if necessary, pay a double war tax."From this document it appears that even at this early stage of the negotiations Zinzendorf's plans for the settlement in Georgia were well matured.A town was to be built by his colonists, where they should have all privileges for the free exercise of their religion;they, as thrifty citizens, were to assist in the upbuilding of Georgia;they were to preach the gospel to the heathen; they were NOT to bear arms, but in case of war to pay a double tax.His careful avoidance of the plea of religious persecution was caused by the fact that his own King had ordered the exile of the Schwenkfelders, for Zinzendorf all his life sought to pay due respect to those in authority, and even when his conscience forced him to differ with them it was done with perfect courtesy, giving equal weight to all parts of the commandment "Honor all men;love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the King."The proposals of the Count were forwarded through Herr von Pfeil, and were presented to the Trustees of the Colony of Georgia by a Mr.Lorenz.

Who this gentleman was does not appear, but a man bearing that name was one of the Germans, living in London, who in 1737 formed a society for religious improvement under the influence of Count Zinzendorf.

Through the same channel the answer of the Trustees was returned:

"Mr.Lorenz,The proposals sent by Baron Pfeil from Ratisbon (Regensberg)to the Trustees of Georgia have been read at their meeting, but as they see that the gentleman asks pecuniary assistance for the establishment he contemplates, they answer that they have absolutely no fund from which to defray such expenses, but that in case the gentleman who suggests it wishes to undertake the enterprise at his own cost they will be able to grant him land in Georgia on conditions to which no one could object, and which he may learn as soon as the Trustees have been informed that he has decided to go at his own expense.

You will have the kindness to forward this to Baron Pfeil, and oblige, your most humble servant J.Vernon."Whether this plea of "no fund" was prompted by indifference, or whether they really considered the money appropriated by Parliament as intended for the Salzburgers alone, is immaterial.

Perhaps Zinzendorf's very proposals to consider any assistance as a loan made them think him able to finance the scheme himself.

The Schwenkfelders, being under orders to expatriate themselves, left Berthelsdorf on the 26th of May, 1734, under the leadership of Christopher Wiegner (sometimes called George in Moravian MSS.)and at their request George Boehnisch, one of the Herrnhut Moravians, went with them.Their plan was to go through Holland to England, and thence to Georgia, but in the former country they changed their minds and sailed for Pennsylvania.In December of the same year Spangenberg was in Rotterdam, where he lodged with a Dr.Koker, from whom he learned the reason for their, until then, unexplained behavior.

Dr.Koker belonged to a Society calling themselves the "Collegiants", the membership of which was drawn from the Reformed, Lutheran, and various other churches.Their cardinal principles were freedom of speech, freedom of belief, and liberty to retain membership in their own denominations if they desired.The Society was really an offshoot of the Baptist Church, differing, however, in its non-insistance upon a particular form of baptism.

Twice a year the members met in the Lord's Supper, to which all were welcomed whose life was beyond reproach.In Holland they enjoyed the same privileges as other sects, and had a following in Amsterdam, Haarlem, Rotterdam, Leyden, etc.

It appeared that the Schwenkfelders had first addressed themselves to these Collegiants, especially to Cornelius van Putten in Haarlem, and Pieter Koker in Rotterdam, but when their need grew more pressing they appealed to Count Zinzendorf.When he was not able to obtain for them all they wanted, they turned again to the Collegiants, and were in conference with them in Rotterdam.The Collegiants were very much opposed to the Georgia Colony, -- "the Dutch intensely disliked anything that would connect them with England," -- and although Thomas Coram, one of the Trustees, who happened to be in Rotterdam, promised the Schwenkfelders free transportation (which had been refused Zinzendorf), the Collegiants persuaded them not to go to Georgia.Their chief argument was that the English Government sent its convicts to Georgia, a proof that it was not a good land, and the Schwenkfelders were also told that the English intended to use them as slaves.