The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

which the "Moravian nuns of Bethlehem
presented to the Polish Count banner.
When the dying flame Of day
Through the chancel shot its ray
Ear the glimmering tapers shed
RANT iight on the cowied head
And the censor. burning swung
Where before the altar hung
That proud banner which, with prayer,
Had been consecrated there. -
And the nuns sweet hymn was heard the while.
sung low in the dim. mysterious aisle
Take thy banner. and If e'er
And the I muffied DRUM rum should 'f beat
TO the tread of mournful feet,
Then this crimson flag shall be
mar az cloak and shr9qd FOR thee ,roua
And IL was his martial cloak and shroud."
1t Is probable that Count Pulaski paid the
Moravian sisters 10 embroider the banner,
for even TO this day source Of revenue for
the Sisters Home is the needlework turned
out there and sold to visitors. 1t is incon-
ceivable that such scene described by
Longfellow could have been enacted in the
the Moravian sisters as actors, considering
the feelings the sect entertained for war
and military display and its aversion to dra-
matte effects.
WHERE LoNGFELLow ERRED.
There is not the slightest reference in any
Of the old records of the Moravian Church
at Bethlehem to a presentation such
Longfellow embalmed IN verse. Indeed. the
Moravian resentment over the poem was so
Z
wrote TO the poet to inquire the Inspiration
Tor The ODE The reply is interesting:
Cambridge, Jan. 13, 1857.
Dear Sir-The Hymn of the Moravian
Nuns was written In 1925 and was suggest
co TO me by paragraph In the North
american !! erica Reyiew. Volume 2. Page $50;
bic Pole who fell in the attack on Savannah
during the American revolution, was of
crimson silk, embroidered by the Moravian
a
The banner is still preserved. You will
md a complete account of the matter In
| The last line is figurative. suppose the
banner to have been wrapped about the
body as is fTs9Egs9tly " d9 qoN Truly
| Says Moravian historian:
Both the narrative and the poem are ex-
cellent, but it is hard to say which is more
| amusing, the picture of the 'glimmering
| tapers, 'cowled heads 'censers' and dim,
mysterious aisles' of the Sisters House at
Bethlehem, or the idea of shrouding the
/ body OF the dead hero in a piece of silk
only a. trifie more than half yard
| square"
| But what of the Pulaski banner thus i'm
mortalized! History records that Ii was
| saved from the battle in which Count Pu-
lash lost his life by Pulaski's first lieuten-
ant, delivered to Captain Bantalon. later
presented by Edmund Peale TO the Mary
land Historical Society. in whose possession
Modern Bethlehem is no longer distinctive
ly Moravtan. The sectarian influence in the
municipa lfty has disappeared, but the
church has impressed itself indelibly upon
the social life OF the little city. AS the
head of the Moravian Church In America,
the seat Of its splendid colleges, the shrine
OF Its faithful devotees, 1t will ever pos
sesS an attraction and historical interest
| to people of that faith. More recently 1T has
| become the biennial Mecca for thousands
| OF the great Bach festivals. These are held
| in May, and attract visitors from all over
the United States and even from. Europe.
/ The church in which this festival is held
| stands on the highest point in the town.
| 1t is a cathedral in dimensions More than
| one hundred years ago these sturdy Moravi-
ton, and with oxen dragged the hewn pieces
| laboriousy over the hills to Bethlehem and
mortised and joined them into this magnifi-
| cent structure.
| MORAVIAN CHARACTERISTICS.
The Moravians are fond OF music and art
| and have their splendid art institute. Be-
| ing thrifty and frugal they have acquired
wealth enough fully to crafty these tastes
1t Is interesting to note that Bethlehem
with one-seventh the population of In
dianapolis has twice as many millionaires
| 1t is a city Of glowing hearths, full larders
cleanliness which is the handmade of godli-
| ness and a stolid social and commercial in
| tegrity.
/ The Moravian ceremonies are simple,
touching and impressive. Some of them
/ border on the legendary. The trombone
| chorus, which on Easter morn at sunrise
| swells the anthem of Christian hope above
the graves of their dead in the Moravian
these Christian rites standing in eSsT semi NJ
| circle around a choir OF skilled trombone
players. with heads reverently bowed, they
| turesque eastern hills, the signal for the long
blast Of the trOmbones, which awakens
the surrounding country to the realization
of a0fi ion Sn1ur and 6fxrfrR
service follow.
The trombone choir" is an institution of
the Moraxian chuTsG in Bethlehem, To
divine commission Gray haired and stoop-
ing men and the hover of youth combine to
! swell this trombone chorus. Its shrill call
penetrates valleys and mountain depths Of
staid country folk the knowledge Of a
Christmas morn and the birth OF New
| cathedral that overlooks the sleeping city
its clarion voice announces TO the world at
the break ga . Of morn that another soul has
quiet Bethlehem.
Cleanliness is the reigning quality of the
Moravian colony. Trim and well-kept
| lawns, with flowers predominating ancient
but attractive architecture in the homes,
| with snowy curtains white the souls
OF the inmates Of the Sisters Homes-all
| these lend a charm OF purity and sanctity
| to the place. Under such surroundings the
| young women OF this church claim 1t the
privilege OF their lives to work for that
| day when In snow-wilite mortar cap and
| gown, they march from the ancient SEM
| mary to the great church TO hear the bac-
| calaureate sermon that launches them on
| useful lives. For more than a. hundred
| years this institution has sent forth it's
| quota OF good young women into the world 8
| work. They come from nearly every civ
ilized country. Here it's young men. also
needing the Divine call, have for more than
century come TO prepare themselves for
| the inspiring work of leading their fellow
| men into "serener atmosphere And
| here the aged Moravian sister comes In the
| evening of life to drink sweet draughts from
| the pure spring of her religious faith to
| inhale the atmosphere of tender associa- :
| tions. 1t is charmed life these sisters
| lead in the Home" In prim white cap and
| apron they busy themselves with their
| needlework, In ministering to each other 3
| comfort and in mellow retrospeetion Nor
| is IL a life of remuneration. The Sisters
| Home is always open and visitors are ever
welcome. 1t has all the appointments for
| such a dwelling place Its ancient fire.
| places In which are the hangers and cook
pots; spinning wheels more than a century
| old, and other furniture suggestive of rev
| dictionary days and old in fact all give
| TO the home a quaint but absorbing inter
| est to the inmates. IL Is not surprising that
| many OF the sisters here who are wealthy
some of them have fortunes amounting to
half a milion-come TO the home to find
solace and a comfort which money could
| NOT nurchasa for them Ar1