Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-09
WINSTON-SALEM.
HISTORY or THE MoaAviAN ssr-
ELEMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA
Interesting Facts Abost salem and che
Growth Of tho Twin Cities--Grcens-
boro' and It's improvements.


was practically destroyed In the death OF
John Huss. who was burned to death at q
stake in Prague. The Moravians were
then driven out OF Bohemia aud scattered
all over Europe. In l727 they again got
together at Hernhut Cor Gods house,. IN
Saxony, and under the leadership OF Count
Zinzendorf, German nobleman OF
great wealth. the renewed brother churcn
was established, and under his leadership
emigration to America and England be-
gan. The first settlement OF tine Mora
VANS in America was at fniiaueipnla;
Thence they moved into the WOODLAND
country near by and located at Betnie-
ham, ffty-two miles from Philadeiphia.
and To tins day Bethlehem IS the mead
quarters Of the Moravian Church In
America.
noRAvIAN's IN NORTH CAROLINA.
In l765 Bishop Spannenberg, Of the Mo-
ravian Church. with number OF believers
in the creed. located Salem. The Bishop
first entered North Carolina at Edenton
and travelled to the extreme western pot-
ton. After nearing the Tennessee line no
came back down the Iadkin river ana
finally settled at the point now known as
Salem. The Moravian church which was
built here in 1900 has no special architec-
communicate membership is about l.OOJ.
There Is no other church In Salem. Inc
burial.pround, which by some Is called
the Lords Land, rs but short distance
from the church has extensive and lovely
avenues and beautiful shade-trees. and the
first settlers are there buried. NO as,
tlnction is made between the rlcn ana
poor, all graves look alike. The grounds
are divided into sections, and the ceau
lao bt,ria1 N rowa piOaa eIl0 DV SIDE.
HUGE FAMILY BUBYING-aE
The burying.qrou is as of one large
family. and the dead are inferred
according to sex. age. and condition.
For exam pie. all the married men
are buried together and so on with
the married women. single men. single
women. male children, and female chill
dren. Each grave has plain marble slap
al the head. which lies fiat. and upon II
is simply inscribed the name. age, ana
date of death There are no erect tomb
stones to be seen. In the early days OF the
settlement was built a hotel. 1t is said
that whom General Washington was making
his tour of the United States after having
been elected President he was met by
Governor Martin. of North Carolina. and
the Moravian church authorities, with a
brass band, and escorted TO the NOT
from which now write. The brass band,
this country at the time.
CURIosITIEs OF ANCIENT DAYS.
The room which was occupied by Wash
ineton at that time Is freQuented by
strangers who visit the town. The furni-
ture which was in his room has been
moved TO the museum, where various curl
oslties of ancient DAYS can be found at
this time. visit to the museum, when
is kept up BY the Moravlan Church. is well
ii .. a.. vi
ositles from Morayian missions all over
the world, including every kind of relics
from the early days of the church'ln tins
country and in Europe.
MANY of these relics are century or
more old. Perhaps the most valuable OF
them is the hand fire-engine. which was
brought to Salem in 1855, being the second
of its kind IN the United States, the hrst
hayInc been brought TO Bethleham twenty
wears preyioue. 1t IS still in good state
of preservation and has been exhibited at
the Sta,e fairs OF North Carolina. While
on exhibition the engine was kept IN
bauk-vauit great part of the time to en-
sure its preservation.
Apphcation has been made to the au-
.horlties t. take the engine TO the WORLDS
Fair but this request has been refused.
Another remarkable curiosity IS the old
spiuet Tor piano. which was used to enter
tain General Washington during his visit.
This instrument Is about four feet long
and three feet high, with slender legs. The
KEYS are yellew and worn, and the tone
very thin and weak a. compared with
modern grand. Tue lady who performed
for Washington has many descendants
living here now, and they are noted musi-
Clans.
OLD SCHOOL.
Salem Female Academy was established
in 1902, and Is consequently one of the old
est female schools in the South. There are
about 10000 names on their alumnl-list.
The institution is conducted on principles
dominating II for ninety-odd years. But
modern ideas, not conflicting with these
principles, have been constantly added.
until II Is now progressive and IN the mont
rank of female semlnarlos: Among the
prominent graduates of this institution
are Mrs. James X. Polk Mrs. Patterson,
daughter of President Andrew jackson,
who go gracefully presided over the White
House during his term, Mrs. General
Stonewall jackson. and Mrs. General. ID. ID.
Hill and many Others. The last graduating
class numbered forty-one. or whom hve
were from Virginia, as follows: MISS
Claudia Palmer, of Richmond MISS
Nancie TAYLOR, of North DanYlle; Miss
Carrie Green, OF Rocky Mount; Miss Lena
Chafin, of Fosters Falls :; Miss Fannie
Perrow. of Lynchburg.
The total attendance at tins school
during the past term was 1862.
CUSTOMS OF THE CHURCH.
In ancient DAYS marriage by law was the
rule of the church, but was abolished In
this section in 1877. The marriage was al
WAYS celebrated at the church, the bride
and groom meeting at the altar, perhaps,
tor the first time.
The DISPATCH man was told by promi-
nent Moravian that such a thing as di-
yorce among its members was not known
IN Salem. On New Years eve, at .
O'Clock. a meeting is held in the church:
during which Is read the Memorabilia"
or history of the events of the past year.
The events noted are births, deaths, mar
riages, accidents. fires, changes of business.
new business, and any other occasions OF
general interest. For 127 years continu-
ously have these papers been read and are
now carefully filed away in the archives.
At IL O'clock the same evening watch
night services are held.
AwEALrHY CHURCH.
The Moravian Church, South, is we'll OF
financially. 1t has something like S225,-
O0O invested in bonds and other securities,
and besides this owns o large amount of
real estate situated for the greater part in
Winston Salem. The valuation of this
latter is not far FROM $1,000 900. but is not
on the market at present.
The streets are we'll graded. Main street
being laid with Belgian blocks for dis
lance of one mile. There are electric
lights. electric street-cars, gas and water
works. There is first-class graded school
here and several private institutions
besides the academy. Some of the
private residences of Salem are pic
lures of comfort, with their smoothly
shorn lawns and surrounded by the mys-
tic halo OF contentment.
INDUSTRIES.
The principal industries Of Salem are
the cotton and woollen-milis of +. & III.
Fries, which have been in existence for
half century. The cotton-mills are now
producing piaids and kerseys of the finest
quality and are constantly raising the
grade of their product. The goods ind
their way to China and other antipodal
countries. The Fries mills is one of those
sonthern mills which are causing so much
CONSERVATION in the cotton manu-
featuring districts Of New England 1t is
said that one of the largest manufacturers
of that section has practically given up
that the South Is In the lead for the
better grades of cotton studs, and that the
competition of the southern mills is so
active that northern mills must eyentu-
ally come into the South, where labor is
cheaper and all other conditions are more
favorable. Augusta and Columbus, Ga,
and the mills Of South Carolina and North