The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-20

AuChADcE VI the cOE-rega
non with cake. while the men, dresse,
In conventional blacks. wait simIlar,,
upon their W sex, seated upon IN.
u opposite side OF the church.
Nnen all are served with sweetsne,
bread. the walters pass out and return
with the trays full Of huge porcelain
mugs of hot. steaming coffee. TbeS.
are likewise served TO the c-ongreratior
which led by the choir, sing thronrn
the whole distribution
me choir pauses when the hr.a.
7 anu coffee have been passed a-onns
ana the minister arises. a a fa,,
,ehaFhs' N finally. after asking the
oiesslng or God upon the service
breaks the bread and begins ~ CO..
luis IS the signal TO the congreratio,
10 40 likewise; after which they c,r-
unue the anthem which the min,s,a-
reads out stanza by stanza-
Inc cups u remnants Of bread ara
iaser on borne out by the same wa
'ers, and after more singing inter-
persed with words from the preacbe~
the congregation rises to receive the
oeiediction, and departs amid sonor-
u peals from the organ.
10 the visitor at Salem during tho
Easter Festivities the early morn,nc
service on Sunday, in the yravar.~s
- the o solemn and impressive or
Inc entire week. Very early in .h-
morning, long before the first ST.
Vi DAWN is seen on the eastern Nv,
HoH, the church band according In =,
'inLieihorlal custom goes around tho
to"h n aWakens the sleeping inhah,
ltahls by an Easter Choral PLAYED n,
tile tfombOnes. In the deepes, d,,e-
ness that preceaes the dawn the svvaa,
solemn musi~ OF the Moravian hvnn
noats out rom the trombones unon n.
COOL, Qraet AR Of early morninp. ~nf,
andi"N Il 1rst, each succeeding NJ
SMeiiihe II. volume, evoking c3un,Iasc
-, III" ere waited back from RI. ,
vs. ar Ssd hillside until all the -.
~ enns nv with the sweet iovo,. ?
ahno'"InS Christ has So" ,
SooI Iish.S Are and there indic.ts ,
nc "aAenins the households in. !.
Ne"Sihs III hunh@r until no dwellir.. :,
cab be seen withlt . u"eiIlhs s
ment. All is ACT, ~ e~nns case v
home, and sounds = mnunih each u
and ripples of youtu noiceS g
heard on every side. Iaush'er are 81
are on the streets, wef.leauS people ii
to the church, before = uhelr way u
doors the congregation use massive -
sembling. quickly as III
The old clock in the ST
forth the our of five; tie peals sh
N out from the church pastor In
es upon the stone steps benz paus- ha
light of a gas jet. He reads 4 the III
and a hymn-which is sung tany
multitude, with whose voices She sh
clear the notes of the trombones.d We
procession is formed in tours, a. CO.
with the band at its head playing 'ha
sacred hymn marches slowly past thael
church into an avenue lined on eitherI
side with majestic cedars a century
old, which leads to the burying ground
When the weather is favorable, this
spectacle is replete with pathetic and
lovely suggestions. The performers in
it are not merely reading of the great
event, but are acting it over, under
the inspiring influence of the open air
west at break of day.
The old cemetery is in the center OF
the town, and within it's precincts the
dead are buried in rows, rich and poor,
old and young side by side without
regard to station or family ties. 4
tiny slab with name and date rests on
each grave; and there is no other
monument to distinguish the resting
place Of n brother more than another
Their names, their years, spelt By
the unlettered muse.
The place of fame and elegy supply"
Awe-inSpiring, almost weird, is the
early morning pilgrimage TO the city
of the dead. The sombre shadows or
the night are beginning to disappear,
as, in long line, delicately defined sill
houettes wend their way along, clear
ly and slowly the band plays its meas
ured march, while echoing footsteps
keep perfect time to the p~laintive yet
joyous melody.
The procession is timed to meet the
rising sun. The pastor. the choir, and
the band walk down the broad central
path to the middle of the burying
ground, while the people, separating
to right and left. march around the
outer paths, forming a hollow SQUARE
the living around the dead. When Ill
are in their places, in the midst OF
solemn silence, the choir suddenly
bursts forth into an awakening song,
and just then-fOr everything has been
arranged to a second-the u rises
behind a gray hill to the east. The
band ceases playing, and, with head
barred, the man Of God reads in slow
solemn tones the Easter morning lit
my. and the multitude responds. ST.
lence, solemn and profound. broods
over the gathered throng whose faith
sheds q radiance Of sanctity and heav-
emily grandeur upon their humble and
devout expectancy, as on this balmy
morning of the early spring they a.
wait III spiritual communion with their
departed loved ones. tie resurrection
hour.
Then from the voices of the assem-
bIed host there bursts a melody OF
joyous song mingling with the full,
resounding strains Of trumpet and
trombone, and rising in gladstone hos
annals I the purpling sky, where now
shines the God symbol of the