he instruction of the Negroes at such place in Carolina as the said associates shall direct。〃 The missionaries； when they had entered upon their work； were to receive a salary； 〃not exceeding thirty pounds a year；〃 from the 〃associates〃。
For this missionary enterprise； so much to his liking； Zinzendorf appointed 〃one of my chaplains； master Boehler；〃 and 〃Schulius； a Moravian brother；〃 who with Richter and Wenzel Neisser arrived in London； February 18th； 1738。 At the house of their friend Wynantz； the Dutch merchant； they met John Wesley； who offered to secure them a pleasant； inexpensive lodging near James Hutton's； where he was staying。
Peter Boehler had been a student at Jena when Spangenberg was lecturing there； and was himself a professor at that seat of learning when he decided to accept Zinzendorf's call to mission work； and join the Moravians； with whom he had been for a long time in sympathy。 Like Spangenberg he was a highly educated man； and an able leader； fitted to play an important part in the Church of his adoption。 In December； 1737； he was ordained at Herrnhut by the bishops； David Nitschmann and Count Zinzendorf； and in later years he； too； became a bishop of the Unity。
On the 22nd of February； Boehler and his companions called on Gen。 Oglethorpe； who at first supposed they were simply going over to join the Savannah congregation。 Boehler explained that Richter； who spoke French as well as German； had come as the Agent of the Moravians； in accordance with the suggestion made by the Trustees to Bishop Nitschmann in 1736； that Wenzel Neisser was going on an official visitation to America； especially to the West Indies； and that he and Schulius were the missionaries promised by Count Zinzendorf for work among the negroes in Carolina。 The General courteously invited them to confer with him further； either by letter or in person； and offered to take them with him； as he expected shortly to sail for Georgia with his regiment。
Later； when they wished to come to a definite agreement with Oglethorpe； who represented the 〃associates of Dr。 Bray〃； they experienced some difficulty； owing to the fact that a letter of introduction Oglethorpe expected to receive from Count Zinzendorf had failed to arrive； but the exhibition of their passports； and Richter's explanation that Zinzendorf thought （from newspaper notices） that Oglethorpe had already left England； enabled Boehler and Schulius to establish their identity。 So soon as Zinzendorf heard that his word was needed； he sent them a formal letter of introduction to Oglethorpe； which was gladly received as corroboration of their statements。 The Moravians were at their own expense while waiting in London； but Oglethorpe promised that they should be provided with Bibles； grammars； and other things they might need for the negro school。
Being detained in London for three months； instead of three weeks as they expected； Boehler and his friend had ample opportunity to make acquaintances in the metropolis。 They sent word of their arrival to those Germans who had learned to know Zinzendorf and the earlier Moravian emigrants to Georgia； and on the first Sunday 〃the brethren〃； （as they affectionately called all who； like themselves； were interested in living a Christian life；） came to them； and a series of meetings for prayer； conference； and instruction was begun。 Boehler was a man of attractive personality； and convincing earnestness； and in spite of his slight knowledge of their language many English also became interested and formed a society similar to that begun by Zinzendorf； the two soon uniting in the Fetter Lane Society。
Ten days after Boehler reached London he accepted an invitation from the two Wesleys； and went with them to Oxford。 There he was most kindly received； preached in Latin once or twice each day； and had many private conversations with inquirers。 Among those with whom he became acquainted was the Rev。 John Gambold； who later became a bishop in the Moravian Church； and many others were mightily stirred to seek the salvation of their souls。
Noting how little English Boehler and Schulius knew； Gen。 Oglethorpe offered them a boy who was bright and intelligent； could speak both English and German； and understood some French； and they found him so serviceable that they asked and obtained permission to take him with them to Carolina。
Through Wesley； Boehler heard that Gen。 Oglethorpe was much surprised at the speed with which he acquired English； and that he had asked whether Boehler would consent to serve as Minister of the Church of England in Savannah； if that Congregation remained without a pastor。 Boehler expressed his willingness to preach at any time； but declined to administer the Sacraments for any denomination except his own； so the appointment was not made。
On the 28th of April； the baggage of the Missionaries was put aboard the ‘Union Galley'； Capt。 Moberley； with instructions that Boehler and his companions should join her at Portsmouth。 Neisser was to go with them to Georgia； and from there； as opportunity offered； to St。 Thomas； but while the ship lay at Portsmouth other instructions reached him； and Oglethorpe kindly made no objection to his withdrawing his box and staying behind； though he did not quite understand it。
On the 15th of May； Peter Boehler； George Schulius； and the lad Simon Peter Harper； left London； but finding the ship not yet ready to sail； they； by Oglethorpe's instructions； went to Southampton where some of the vessels were lying。
Returning to Portsmouth they embarked on May 22nd； and soon found they were 〃to dwell in Sodom and Gomorrah〃 during their voyage。 On the 30th the fleet sailed to Southampton for the soldiers； and when they came aboard four days later 〃Sodom and Gomorrah were fully reproduced。〃 As the ships lay off Spithead a conspiracy was discovered； the soldiers on one vessel had planned to kill their officers； take what money they could find； and escape to France。 During the voyage there were several fights among the soldiers； or between them and the sailors； and in one drunken riot a soldier cut off a young girl's hand。 〃The Lord was our defense and 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 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 distant； and only se