tice
were renewed at intervals during the remainder of Spangenberg's stay
in Savannah, and the young Englishman showed himself eager to learn the
Indian language so that he might preach to the natives, generous in his
offers to share his advantages of study with the Moravians, and above
all determined to enforce the letter of the ecclesiastical law, as he
understood it, in his new parish. He thought "it would be well if two of
the Moravian women would dedicate themselves to the Indian service, and
at once begin to study the language," and "as the early Church employed
deaconesses, it would be profitable if these women were ordained to
their office." He was also convinced "that the apostolic custom of
baptism by immersion ought to be observed in Georgia." "He bound himself
to no sect, but took the ground that a man ought to study the Bible
and the writings of the Church Fathers of the first three centuries,
accepting what agreed with these two sources, and rejecting all else."
He requested the Moravians to use the Lord's Prayer at all their public
services, "since this is acknowledged to have been the custom of the
early Church," and since that early Church celebrated the Holy Communion
every day, he thought it necessary that all members should partake at
least on every Sunday. "He also had his thoughts concerning Fast days."
Spangenberg promised to lay these matters before the congregation, but
so far as Fast days were concerned, he said that while he would observe
them as a matter of conscience if he belonged to a Church which required
them, he doubted the wisdom of forcing them upon a Church in which they
were not obligatory.

On the 21st, the periagua ("so they call a rather deep, large boat")
came to take the Moravians to Savannah, but it was necessary to call
at the other ship, as some of their baggage had been brought in that
vessel. Spangenberg went ahead, and found that for some reason the
baggage could not be taken off that day. He was pleasantly received by
"the younger" Reck, but the Baron was absent, having gone to see the
site to which the Salzburgers wished to move their settlement, Gen.
Oglethorpe having given his permission. About the time the periagua
arrived, a heavy rain came up, and fearing the effect on the new-comers,
Spangenberg obtained permission to take them into the cabin. When ten
o'clock came they decided to wait no longer, and started for Savannah,
with the result that they spent the entire