The daily state chronicle., 1891-03-31
Especial to STATE CHRoNlcLE.1


Having been drawn 10 Winston at this
time by busln, s. enterprise, it was my
good fortune to be prese Mt at the Easter
ceremonies of the Moravian church in the
quaint old town of Salem, which ad-
Joins this new and bustling municipal
ity on the south. There may have been
grander and more elaborate services in
many more pretentious churches |
throughout the land this bright and |
beautiful Easter day, but doubt if there |
could have been found an observance |
more picturesquely pleasing to the
stranger. or one in which the partici-
pants we're more palpably imbued with
the calm religious JOY and fervor which
is expected to pervade all Christian
churches on this occasion. Insular and
long exp Z - the hardships Of from
tier sett.l .uen ~! offeu the perls OF
wars, and lhe attacks savagos, the
community Of Moraviaus here were
naturally most closely drawn toward
each other and kept alive to the tradit-
ions ana customs of their fathers, and
thus il happens that the visitor of to day
finds this church in the daily practice
and regular observance of all the forms
and ceremonies which were brought here
by the Wachovia pioneers more than a
century aud a quarter ago. Indeed, it
is almost as if one were transported to
the home Of the old chul ch IL far off
Moravia, and allowed a glimpse of the
time when expressions and prosecutions
welded into the band of simple, faithful
followers a power they might not have
otherwise possessed and gave them a
Z,al which has far outlasted the strength
of the oppressor
Drawing their inspiration and forms
of worship from the primitive church,
from which the Roman Catholic as well
as the Greek church adopted much,
manV Of their customs are similar to
those Of the churches which have come
down through the Roman Catholic line;
but with the Moravian church Lent Is q
season Of unusually serious reflection on
the Life and mission OF the Lord Jesus
rather than an occasion Of fasting OF
sadness. The observanceS of the occas
ion are intended to be as typical as poSsi
BILE of the events of the time as narrated
in sacred history. Thus the services o
Good Frilay are held at 3 o'clock in tn,
afternoon aa ut the hour OF the crucliX
iop, and ou the afternoon of Saturday
love least Of che brethren Is held, "a
typ,Ca of the ap)Stolc gatherings.
But 1t is after midnight of Saturda
and b fore the + ster sun has II en tha
the most striking and distinctive iea
lures occur. Ab ut three O'Clock IN tn
morning q band of musicians starts ou
and on every corner IN the populOu
portions Of Salem Moravian hymn
played to announce that the ElSte
morning now Is breaking. The Mora
yians have all OF the German fondneS
for music, and musicians among thet
are plentiful | was told there were
pieces French--hornS in the band Thlc
made the rounds this morning, ald th
weird aud ave inspiring music Whlc
breaks out on the stiffness OF the nlgl
and fl oats away to mlngle with ont
half slumberipg thoughts produces an IL
pressive effect wholly indiscribaole. a
the last strains of music die away, the
is hustle on the streets az
an activity which betokens
occasion of more than ordina1
interest. For days the note
and boarding houses of these cities ha'
been filing up with visitors from t
and near, and they, with multitudes
the populace, now turn their steps
ward the old Moravan burying grOun
where the resurrection services are to
held
In the halfdim light of early mo
the pastor meets his fl }ck in front OF t
church in which their fathers and gran
fathers worshipped at the bt ginning
the century. Mounting the steps,
impressively gives to them the greetlr
"The Lord is risen," to which the
sembled worshippers respond, The Lo
is risen indeed" these expressions bel
those with which he early Christ 9
greeted each other 1900 years ago 10
streets of Rome Then follows hyn
with horn Nccompaniments, prayer a
the reading of the litany, which consl
of confession of faith, an elaboratl
The Apostles Creed Presently the
is formed for proceeding to the cemete
With great care and precision the S
tons and the ushers see that this Worl
impressively carried out The proc
sion is arranged four abreast, ana
headed by the band OF twelve or
pieces. Next comes the minister, u
the church choir OF fifteen Vol'
then the Sunday schools, number
about $50 children. then the boaro
pupils of the Salem Academy for yol
ladies, about 900 strong; then dele
tion of Davis Military School cad
numbering about 200; and lastly m
bers of the congregation and Il
friends. more than thousand In NJ
Der. When all this is in readir
the column moves up toward
graudly beautiful cedar aver
s,szySsad qraveled walk, leading @ the WI WI
the o1mS!erE aaa osdaTs o1sus'si vi
ST.: ;e; 4s: ssS ss'FS ,s: s
the RspnSsso moves r10py; hopvius spa gro
!; IS =; ;;: +. :: !:
faith Cement H herS. at e4oa insstss'ttlSd t,.nted
a5 in sqi res, paths na have onds Deeh of Of uni
thd aadars u OILY 'y seen, aud the p name,
appipSitsslaD apple Snsth r,s is the only nassrryin n;y