The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27

the final doctrines of Methodism. No
church in the history of Christianity in pro-
portion TO its members and wealth has done
more missionary work than the~Moravians,
especially among the Indians.
A RITUALISTIC CHURCH.
Perhaps the Moravian is the most ritual
istic of oil the Protestant churches. EXCEPT
the Church of England yet while this is
true they do not have priesthood or mon
astic orders. and the sisters house is not
nunnery. The church has its feasts and
fasts that are duly observed. Christmas,
Easter, Epiphany, Ascension day. Whit
suntide and the several memorial days of
the church feast days, and from Ash
Wednesday TO Easter Sunday are common
ly called fast days or chastened mode of
life for and during the forty days of Lent.
Their ministers are well educated and their
education is unique in requiring them
10 nave at least a scientific knowl-
edge of music This is necessary
is quite complicated. and sometimes the
tune changes as often as fifteen or twenty
times during a single service. The Choral
Buch, In use fifty years ago. was first
printed at Leipsig. 1884. These tunes were
set in the tenor clef and written in semi
breves and figured for thorough bass They
are the productions OF the best masters,
and are religious emanatiOns written from
the very soul and science of music. The
instrumental music, of which the church is
nowhere sparse, is neither intended nor al
lowed as a diversion or an amusement in
the interim of the services Especially in
the Easter service is the beauty of this
music brought out, both in the instrumental
and vocal sections.
Very early in the morning on Easter Sun
day, and long before dawn, it has been an
old custom TO go around the town and
awaken the still sleeping inhabitants by
Easter morning choral, performed on from
bones. This is of the incidents of
Easter which impart to its celebration its
old anG essentially Moravian feature. This
early summons is the finest conceivable
opening of that eventful anniversary, and il
is no wonder that it attracts universal at
tention. About O'Clock on Easter morning
the bands appears the streets of the
town and, stopping on the different street
corners. plays a selection part of
lection, which is supposed to awaken the
members of the congregation and summon
them to church. The sound of this music
at the unseemly hour, played upon instru-
mentS that are especially adapted for the
purpose. is of the things that is never
forgotten by who hears il. The slow
and stately music, heard from afar, seems
to come from some distant land. and as the
band gradually draws nearer the music
grows stronger and louder and seems to
swell the yer! souls of the people who have
heard and know it is their summons. BY
5 o'clock the congregation has assembled,
and they file in the organ plays a pre-
lude indicating the joyous victory When
the minister enters the organ ceases and
the congregation having riSen the minis
ter makes the declaration in audible tone
THE Lord is risen; the Lord is risen in
deed" A liturgical service is given, which
includes history of the great event. after
which procession TO the graveyard takes
place, headed by the minister and the
l trombone choir. The Moravian Cemetery