The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
Impressive Celebration of Easter
By the Moravians Of Hope, Indiana
nandU n he Ea,M the Tmbs o
the Departed Mar from F rand
alm-Su nday Observan

al Hope is northwest from the church
about one hundred yards. through an ave-
nue. of trees, and is located on a hill. One
peculiar thing about all Moravian GENE
teries is that they are located on hillside
and the gravestones are all laid fiat instead
of standing at the heads of the graves, as
IN the ordinary cemetery.
AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE.
The minister and the choir proceed to
the brow of the hill, the center of the GEM
etery, and there. as the first rays of the
sun gild the horizon, the Eastern morning
Litany is recited. This Litany is particu-
larly rich in composition, thoroughly scrip
tural and deeply impressive, and cannot
fail to carry the mind with il from the be-
ginning to the end. 1t is not the mere read
ing OF the event, but the acting of 1t over
under the inspiring influence of the open
air at break of day. while the sun lights
the eastern sky Nand turns the dewdrops
into sparkling diamonds, that makes the
impression of the words so impressive.
The outpouling of those harmonious
themes. to which trombones are so well
adapted, summon up thoughts and emo
tiOns never to be forgotten. During this
time the congregation has completely sur
rounded the cemetery and from the circle
comes responses to the Litany as recited
by the minister. This morning service is
the distinctive feature of the Easter cele-
bratiOn.
Palm Sunday is especially observed in
the Moravian Church. At Hope this day,
as at Easter, special music and decorations
are arranged. The decorations form a dis
tinctiVe part of the service, and a special
design is made each year. The altar is
banked with flowers and floral offerings
are seen in profusion on all sides. The
church is fragrant with the incense of the
blossoms, which lend a significance TO the
already impressive ceremony. Ii is during
the services Palm Sunday that new
members are received into the church by
confirmation and baptism, well as by the
right hand of fellowship. In the evening
and every day during the ensuing week
there passion services, during which
the passion manual is read. This is a COM
pilation from the four gospels, reciting the
last days, the arrest, trial, crucifiXion and
death of the Savior. They are literally
lnterspersed with songs, each remarkable
passage in the sufferings of Christ being
accompanied by a suitab BILE hymn sung dur
ing the intervals. The readings on Mon
day. Thursday and Good Friday are the
and melancholy beauty, as the picture of
divine suffering is presented to the mind S
eye.
Regarding the foundation of these Gus
toms DIR. Eugene Regennas, of Hope, says:
Possibly their origin is with the Roman
Catholic Church, for at one time, about the
fourteenth century the crucifixion and res
direction of Christ formed the subject of
sacred dramas, and were performed by
various persons representing Christ the
apostles, Herod. PLATE and others. Later
many accessories of a theatrical nature
were introduced to give more effect and
interest to the proceedings. The language
was Latin, but subsequently, when the
laity were allowed to participate. German
was substituted. Many improprieties crept
into these ceremonies until Pope Gregory
put stop TO them.
Hope, Ind, March &C.