Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-19
TIE .EestssvssN EASTER.
En;erestinS Scenes and Cereruonia.s.

ing and impressive IN the M0ravian faith and
nope death has no such gloom or terror as that
a"'ui change carries with it to most people II
has lis profound pathos. with them as with oil.
but 1t is 10 them only the dividing line between
the trial here and the glorious and triumphant
hereafter This idea pervades the Moraviau
liturgy. giving color not only to the ceremony
for resurrection morn. but 10 the service for the
dead.
An incident happened at the hour Of orr
arr'va! on Saturday that brought this into
prominence. and TOOK lis Immediately to the old
church and the adjoining burial ground. 4
Young Mol2Ylan who belonged TO Bethlehem
tut who had died AZ EaSton. twelve miles away
was 10 De inferred at that hour 4 part ot The
service was IN the church before IL full congrc-
eaton. and the remainder in the open ar.
there Is no putting on the garb of mourning
IN sorrow Tor the dead. The spoken part
of the service is akin to that of other
Christian churches but it is ALWAYS accom-
panied here by vocal and instrumental choirs
the instrumental music being given by an
orchestra oi tTomboncS in addition to the organ.
Death is release from toll and trial; bissful re-
pose Tor which none should sorrow That is the
prevailing idea. 1t is founded on the Sayiours
rest IN the grave. and upon the Resurrection
At the funeral ervice after the indoor service
was completed. the coffin was borne to the en-
trance OF the burial ground, where il was halted
Tor few moments and then saluted by a har-
monous burst of pathetic yet triumphant strains
from the trombone choir. Then it was borne
away to another graveyard at distance Tom
the church.
THE OLD BURIAL GROUND.
This incident. however had brought us to the
old burial ground, which was to be the scene
of the Easter morning service and where the
Moravan fathers of Bethlehem sleep with many
of their descendants. 1t is imposing in it's
grand simplicity. and in the marked neatness
OF the grounds. There is no ornamentatiou
Whatever beyond what is given by stately ave
nues of fine old trees. All the mounds are of
equal dimensions: they are of the same length
breadth and height tor all ages and conditions
they are broad and fiat, raised but about six or
eight inches above the general level: none of
them being rounded oil as newly made grave
mounds are IN our cemeteries Instead of that
they have beyeled edges on all four sides
Ihey are moulded in pattern frames which
secure uniformity in all cases On these slightly
raised fiat parailclo~rams gravestones are
placed also lying flat-on the bosom of
the grave. so to speak. The inscrp-
tons are of the simplest. being confined
mainly to the name date of birth and death and
the condition in life of the person whose re-
mains are beneath. There no lots or sep
arate places for Individual persons or families
Each new grave Is made next to the last pre-
ccdin@. and each is numbered in consecutive
Order-the men and boy children in one long
paraelogram and the women and girl children
in another. The humbest and the Hottest lie
side by side.
AS already said. nothing can exceed the beau
tiful and grand simplicity of this burial place
Its teaching In all its parts is. that death levels
all human dlstinctons-neitherr rank. nor wealth.
nor pride, nor power having place above the
plainest member of the human family. Many
hundreds of the Moravian community and con-
gregation are buried here beginning about the
year 1744-some of the earliest mounds being
those of converted Indians and their families.
ANNOUNCING A MORAVJAN DEATH
Every death that happens among the members
of the Moravian congregation in Bethlehem is
announced from the belfry OF the church by the
trombone and trumpet choir. The dirges then
played Cor tunes as they are called after the
ancient form of speech) are in three parts: the
nrSt being the simple announcement of the
death; the second denoting the sex and condi-
ton OF lie OF the deceased. as to being married
widowed or single. and certain classes or de-
grces Of aye. and the third. rs we understood
them. combination of the first two There are
ten variations OF the second part, each denoting
tie deccase Of one or other of the following
Classes: married man, a married woman. a
WId0Wer: awidOw, single 'hrOther." single
SISTER" male youth. a maiden. a boy child.
girl child BY these variations in the chords of
the dirsre sounded from the beethoven of the
church, the people OF the town usually under
stand without further notice who it is that is
just deceased.
NV h1spered to love ones IN that trumpet tone"
EASTER MORNING CELEBRATION.
1t was at the burial ground just described
that the concluding ceremony of Easter morn
Ing took place. For many years indeed from
very early days-the ceremonial has been the
same, differing mainly in the increasing num-
bers of the assembled congregation. There
were about two thousand present ;hiS morning
At about half-paSt three o'clock the choir of
tromboncs, comets and trumpets gathered i'm
the high. open belfry tower OF the old church.
There they greeted the resurrection morning.
The music was made up of simple but varied
chords. full of plantive harmony. with strains
of jubat;On. The effect OF this. rolling in
soft waves over the town from the heights of
the beltry and in the perfect stiffness Of the
night cannot be described in words. 1t must
be heard to be thoroughly understood. 1t
has been equaed by no musical effect with
in the experience of the writer. This over the
trumpet choir descended to make a tour of the
principal streets playing the same strains at dis
tant points. from which all the tOwnspeople
could hear the summons. Then the Moravian
population arose, early breakfast being prepared
prior to the serviceat quarter past five. Then
there were streams Of people cOnverging towards |
the old church from all quarters. Gathered in
the church. the service began as the clock told
the quarter hour past five. The bishop. minis |
ter and the congregation rising, the celebration
was, opened with words that told with electric |
effect on the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF devout eX- |
utation:
The Lord is risrn.'
To which the congregation responded:
'Thc Lord is risen indeed.
Then came the HYMN beginning:
''lia all hail, victorious Lord and Saviour,
Thou hast burst the bonds OF death,'
And closing With:
''.Joyfu, we with one accord
Hail Thee as Our risen Lord
We need not 90 further in describing the ser !
vice within the church. 1T an understood |
point ii was adjourned to the burial ground !
Thence the congregation proceeded in long
procession headed by Bishop De Sc:wrinitz the !
Minister Mr.. lowering. Professor KIose and |
the vocal and trumlh"t chorS In the grave
yard they RANGED themselves on four sides of a |
long square enclosing the graves. the choirs i'm !
the center the bishop and minister at one end |
and all ovcrshadowcd by the lofty natural |
arches made by the iGter!acing branches of the
grand ola trees bordering the avenues. The |
outdoor services are usually so arranged i'm
point of time as to bring the conclusion Just at
sunrise. 1t was on this occasion. Beyond |
the living and landscape picture we have
tried to paint was South Bethlehem, with
its never-ceasing railway activities and
its furnace fires that never 90 out
Beyond this again was the graceful
and noble outline of the Lehich noun
tains, swathed in the blue mist of the early |
with here and there tint reflected |
from the rosy clouds. Then the first rays of the |
rising sun burst through, and then again
pealed out the joyous words, 'The Lord is