Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-10

cleaning easement. All is activity
within each home, ana
SOUNDS OF MERRY VOICES,
and ripples of youthful laughter are
heard on every side. Already people are
on the streets vending their way to the
church, before whose massive doors the
congregation is quickly assembling.
The old clock in the steeple peals forth
the hour of five; the pastor comes out
from the church and pauses upon the
broad stone steps, beneath the light of q
gas jet. He reads q litany and hymn
which is sung by the multitude, with
whose voices sound the clear mellow notes
of the comets. procession is formed
in twOs, and, with the band at its head
playing sacred hymn, marches slowly
past the church into an avenue lined on
either side with majestic oedars a century
old, and then proceeds to the Moravian
God IS Acre, the graveyard
Few more strangely impressive sights
can be imagined than this early morning
pilgrimage to the city of the dead. The
somber shadows of the night are begin
ming to disappear, as in long line, deli
cately defined sllhouettes wend their
way. At regular intervals, on either
side of the white graveled walk, senti-
nel-like, stand venerable messy oedars.
The bracing air is sweet with the per-
fume of the first flowers OF spring.
Clearly and slowly the band plays its
measured march, while echoing foot
falls keep perfect time to the cadence of
the quaint Moravian melody.
Arriving at the cemetery the band
ceases its wierd strains, and with head
barred the man of God reads in slow and
solemn tones the Easter morning tiffany;
hymns are sung by the congregation,
and the servioes-commemora of the
two
HOLY WOMEN AT THE TOMB OF JESUS,
at an early hour on ''the first day of the
week are prolonged until tbs bright
beams of the sun peep over the neighbor-
ing hill-tops, when the band bursts forth
in joyous strain, aided by the voices of
the whole congregation. After this the
vast throng CT participants and specta-
tors dispense, thousands of people wit
ness these early morning ceremonies
every year.
Appropriate sermons are preached,
both in the morning and in the evening
of Easter Sunday, attracting large audi
ences. The music during the services is
grander, if possible, than that which ac-
companies any of the other exercises of
Passion Week, and partskes OF a more
joyous nature.
Confirmation is usually administered
during this day, but the ceremony has
recently been observed on Palm Sunday
instead.
During the afternoon of Easter Sum-
day, the cemetery is thronged with Wis
itors, viewing the exquisite floral trib-
utes on the graves of departed loved
ones. The services held IN the church
during the evening, concludes the for
nal ceremonies of a Moravian Easter.
The next day, Easter Monday, is a
great holiday, and is celebrated chiefly
by the young people, who organize fish
ing and picniring parties, and spend the
day in some neighboring wood, or upon
the banks of ripping mountain stream.
This observance of Easter Monday is
general among surrounding communi-
ties, and is gradually becoming a custom
among the young folks throughout the
state.
The vast crowds of visitors from dis
tanoe, who go to Salem to witness the
imposing ceremonies of Easter, increase
every year, being drawn thither by the
fame Of the music, the quaint distino-
tiveness of the services, and the whole
souled oordialitv of the citizens Then
returning to their homes, the pilgrims to
this new world, Mecca, carry with them
the most indelible impressions of the
beautiful piety of the MOravian people.
EDWARD A. OLDHAM.