The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-11
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES
The Closing Exercises of the Meeting
Will Take Place Today.
HISTORY or THE MORAviAN SETTLEMENT
In 1853 the Settlement Of Wachovia WaS
Begun and Sltem Was Founded in 1866.
The Church is Today as i Was
100 Years Ago.


town of Salem is today celebrating an
event which Is OF more than local inter-
est. 1t is OF interest to manY OF our
people all through the Old North state
and it is safe to say that il will call
forth a feeling of sympathetic notice OF
the part of many in every porlio OF our
land.
The occasion Is Inc celebration Of the
centennial OF the conservation of the
Moravian church building. II is Jast one
hundred years since this large structure
was completed, and whom II is considered
that the congregation then consisted Of
only n handful Of people. and that The
colony lived In he midst Of the prime
val forest, the magnitude of the work
appears as a source of surprise 10 all
who study the subject. In order to enter
into sympathy without friends in Salem
in the celebration which Is in progress
today ii will be necessary tc turn page
in history
1t Is one hundred and & ycars since
L company OF eXplorefs came rom Penn
sylvania to Edenton. whete resided the
representative of Lord Granville. the
lima. With the official surveyor of his
lordshp the company started sat with
the intention of securing a tract of 100
900 acres of land. which amount had been
purchased by the Moravian churcn With
view to the settlement of the same.
The account of the journey of these men
would form a very interesting page of his
tory as they journeyed westward to the
mountains, nearly TO the Virginia line.
to the vicinity Of what was later Wilkes
boro. TO the Catawba and Yadkin rivers,
till they finally selected the tract which
named Wachovia, in the center OF which
now stands Winston Salem.
Another interesting page in history
would be to trace the journey of the fif-
teen men, who twelve months later left
Pennsylvania and journeyed through the
forests and over the mountains and across
the river till they finally arrived at their
new possessions.
1t was in 1853 that the settlement OF
Wachovia was begun. The company of
men who came to make North Carolina
their home consisted of able and brave
men, godly and upright men who within
the next few years made their iniiu-
ence felt, as professional men and as
business men, In almost every portion OF
he State.
The life in this rrmeval forest was
no. an easy one. for in addition TO the
natural difficulties we fad the brave and
thrifty little colony twice threatened WITH
destruction. The frst time during the
indian war before 1850, when It was nec-
essary to surround their town with 2
| stockade, and again when the dark days
| OF the American Revolution caused them
| to be menaced with enemies, and more
| than once hope deserted them But by
exercising great wisdom. strict honesty
and by showing kindness to friend and
foe, coupled with staunch patriotism.
by means of this method in all their
actions. they were finally saved from all
| their dangers.
THE CLOSE or THE CENTURY.
After the war OF the American Revoiu-
| ton the colony in Wachova passed into
a season Of prosperity. and spiritual ac-
tvity. New towns and congregations
were established, and the future appear.
| ed bright. Among the towns established
| In these early years was Salem, in l7G6.
| The natural location was good. and Salem
| became the center Of the government o.
| the colony Of Wachovla As it was evi-
| dent that the town would grow with the
| passing years, all things were planned
| on a liberal scale The beautiful ave-
nue. OF cedars in front OF the not lese
| beautiful graveyard was planted. The
| large buildings around the Salem Square
we're built in these years. The Salem
| Academy and college, the first instltu-
| ton fer the higher education OF young
| women in the South was founded, and
| In 1T9S ii was decided 70 erect church
which for size. and completeness OF arch
| itoctural design bad no equal in Western
| Carolina, possibly nor in any portion OF
| the State at that time.
THE CHURCH BUILDING
The church stands today practically as
| ii was built hundred years ago 1t
Is nearly 100 feet long, and almost half
as wide. The ceiling Is very high. and
the portion Of the ceiling which joins
the walls Is curved with en- architectural
correctness that could not well be inn
proved upon at the present day. The
walls are about three feet thick. and Tho
timbers in The roof are so heavy that
they call forth the wonder of visitors.
The interior has been artistically fres-
coed within recent years, but otherwise
the walls and ceiling have not beer
| changed
Another surprise to visitors rs the large
| nine organ which vaa angahnd T., .l.a a.a,s.1