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shield； and we were among them like Daniel in the midst of the lions；〃
wrote Boehler； for the quiet； Bible…reading Moravians found little to like
in their rough associates； who cared for them just as little； and wished they
could be thrown overboard。
The ships put to sea July 16th and reached the Madeiras on the 29th；
where they were detained until the 8th of August。Boehler and Schulius
went on shore a number of times； were courteously treated by the most
prominent Catholic priest there； climbed a mountain for the exercise； and
particularly enjoyed their escape from turmoil and confusion。The captain；
who had taken a dislike to them； tried to prevent their leaving the ship； but
Oglethorpe stood their friend； and ordered that they should have entire
liberty。For Boehler； as for many who had preceded him； Georgia and
Carolina were to be a school where great life lessons would be
learned。Fresh from the University halls of Jena； he had met the students of
Oxford on equal footing； quickly winning their respect and admiration； but
these soldiers and sailors； restless； eager for excitement； rude and
unlettered； were a new thing to him； a book written in a language to which
he had no key。Later he would learn to find some point of contact with the
unlearned as well as the learned； with the negro slave and the Yorkshire
collier as well as the student of theology； but just now his impulse was to
hold himself aloof and let their wild spirits dash against him like waves
about the base of a lighthouse which sends a clear； strong beam across the
deep； but has few rays for the tossing billows just beneath。
On the 18th of September land was sighted； and on the 29th the fleet
anchored in the harbor of St。 Simon's Island； and with grateful hearts the
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Moravians watched the landing of the soldiers。 On the 4th of October they
transferred their baggage to a sloop bound for Savannah； which sailed the
6th； but on account of head winds did not reach Savannah until the 16th。
The Moravians still at Savannah came in a boat to welcome them； and take
them to their house； but Boehler was anxious to see the scene of his future
labors； and stayed in town only a few days； leaving on the 21st for a tour
through Carolina。Schulius accompanied him all the way； and several
others as far as the Indian town where Rose was living with his wife and
child。Here they talked of many things regarding the Savannah
Congregation； but on the following afternoon the missionaries went on
their way； Zeisberger； Haberland； Boehner and Regnier accompanying
them to Purisburg。
There Boehler and Schulius lodged with one of the Swiss who had
come to Georgia with Spangenberg and the first company。 His wife
expressed the wish that the Moravians in Savannah would take her
thirteen…year…old daughter the following winter； and give her instruction；
for which she would gladly pay。 Boehler took occasion to speak to the
couple about salvation and the Saviour； and they appeared to be
moved。Indeed this was the main theme of all his conversations。To the
owners of the plantations visited； he spoke of their personal needs； and
their responsibility for the souls of their slaves； while to the slaves he told
the love of God； filling them with wonder； for most of them were newly
imported from the wilds of Africa； and suspicious even of kindness。 Many
knew little of the English tongue； and the few who could understand his
words had not yet learned that there was a God who cared how they lived
or what became of them。Their masters； as a rule； thought the missionaries
were attempting an almost hopeless task in trying to lift these negroes
above the brute creation； but were quite willing to give permission and an
opportunity to reach them； and on this tour Boehler found only one land…
owner who refused his consent。
Purisburg had been named as the location of the negro school； but
Boehler found there were very few negroes in the town； which had been
largely settled by Swiss； who had not prospered greatly and had bought
few slaves。The nearest plantation employing negroes was five miles
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The Moravians in Georgia
distant； and only seven lived there； so the outlook was far from
encouraging at that point。
Boehler and Schulius then made their way from one plantation to
another； until they reached Charlestown。The Rev。 Mr。 Garden； to whom
they had a letter of introduction； advised that the school should be begun
in Charlestown； where there was a large negro population； perhaps a
thousand souls。This was more than could be found on any single
plantation in Carolina； and as the slaves were strictly forbidden to go from
one plantation to another it would hardly be possible to find another place
where so many could be reached at the same time。Boehler and Schulius
were much impressed with the advantages offered； especially as Mr。
Garden promised all the assistance he could give； and they debated
whether Schulius should not stay and begin at once； while Boehler
returned to report to Oglethorpe。The lot was finally tried； and the direction
received that they should carefully study the situation but wait until later
to commence work。Therefore on the 1st of November the two companions
set out for Savannah； which they reached in eight days。
The following weeks were a sore trial for the missionaries。 With a
promising field in sight； and eager to commence work in it； they were
obliged to wait for Oglethorpe's permission； and Oglethorpe was very
busy on the frontier establishing the outposts for which his regiment had
been brought over。When he did return to Savannah； it was only for a few
hours； and he was in no frame of mind for a long argument of pros and
cons。He told Boehler rather testily that they should not go to Charlestown
with his consent； that if they were not willing to follow the plan for
Purisb