The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-20
SOLEMN EASTER OBSERVANCE
Impressive Easter Ceremonies By
the m0ravians at Salem
People Housed Early I'm the Morning
by the Blowing OF Trumpet-Long
Procession to the Cemetery Where.
Solemn and Beautiful Services are
Held-A Picturesque Custom That
Still Lives.

Held-A Picturesque Custom Tn
Still Lives.
A god and be1ignant folk are th
Morarians OF Salem, a picturesque Oh
townIwhose ancient buildings, nestle
among the foothills of the Blue Ridge
: silently reeoun the peaceful history O
I one pf the oldest sehristian organ "a
tom in existence, a. full of ramati
incident.
founded in 1859. the place still re
taris many of theEold landmarks ana
q the old Moravtan customs, though
If late years thu leveling process o,
our modern civilization has given
birth to a mixId society more IN har-
mony with tie spirit of the age; so
that the Mortyian is no longer as dis
tinctly marked as before, nOr his town
SO striking nor sedate of aspect.
Salem, IS however, still sought by
the sup~erannuated brethren as the
resting place and the solace Of decliu-
Ing years 1t is the mecca to which
all those who have been EMPLOYED in
the NoraVlan caTse, either as pastors
at home or as missionaries abroad, di-
rect their steps. 1t is also u famous
charming summer resort, to which
large numbers of people repair in
search of health or tranquil leisure,
while the musical yirtuOso, especially
if he be German. is sure to find it's
society both cOngenial and appreciative
Many of the original buildings erect
ed in the middle of the last century,
stand today almost unchanged to greet
the antiquary.
AS a sect, the Morayians have been
in existence for more than five humid
red years, having been organized in
Moravia about the middle of the four
teenth century by the prosecuted fol-
lowers Of the refOrmer and Martyr
John Huss. \ Swiss historian, a
Bost, of Geneva, says that The Mora
Wan brethren are descended through
the Greek Church directly from the
primitive church" Certainly it is, that
at the beginning Of Luther's Reforma-
ton they numbered about 400 parishes
and 100000 members, scattered over
Moravia, Bohemia, and Poland, and in
spite of persecution increased in num-
bers until they obtained legal recOgnl-
ton.
The characteristics CT their cult are
catholicity, rituaiism, missionary en-
terprise, musical excellence, and emo
tionalism in education; that is, their
~ :,~%,o&ior ~ Hocn1 on
thu. theory hat the moral character of
the young is more firmly moulded By
heart culture than by that of the in
tellect, though the Moravian colleges
of America stand at the head of higher
education.
The distinguishing feature Of Mora
Wan theology is the prominence given
to the person and atonement Of Christ.
They eschew dogmatism and avoid
controversy. Quiet earnestness AND
cheerful piety mask their daily life
wherever found, and ever death itself
is met by them with sweet and cheer
full resignation. When one of their
number dies, the fact is announced by
four trumpeters who noun to the
church tower and play a solemn dlrge.
The most characteristic of all music
among the Moravians is that Of the
trombone, played usually in the open
air-on the belfry, in the graveyard,
|.or at the church door. Here the Mo-
ravian hymn is drawn out with won.
derful expression and | have never
heard music more weirdly beautiful
than is evoked from these penslVe
! wind instruments by Moravian play
| ers on Easter morning. an added rea-
| son for their being found, perhaps in
the statement that among these &c
| vout people, the anniversary Of Chr.sts
resurrection is the most reverently
cherished. the most impressively OBJ
served of all church days.
Let me describe the celebrating o!
Easter. which. anticipated with sobel
pleasure by the elders, creates vls!on
/ of happiness in the minds of the yous
people of old Salem. Large crowds OF
| visitors from all sections of the coun'
| try come yearly to this Easter service
Usually the weather is halmy and the
comely Moravian maidens ornamen
; their house of God with the fresf
sweet flowers and foliage OF earl!
spring. The floral decorations are ar
! tistic in conception and management
and so profuse that the church interlol
becomes a veritable armament Of ever
greens and flowers.
The celebration begins on Palm Sun
day. and when Iiturgical services ar
| held, accompanied by a sermon appro
] pirate to the commemoration OF Christ:
entry into Jerusalem, the exercises
presenting a f%oretaste of the muslca
feast yet to come.
During the Passion Week. between
Palm Sunday and Easter. a number o.
interesting services are held. bot
morning and evening, attracting {
very general attendance. OF these TIT
most solemn and impressive take place
on Good Friday. The following daI
Is called The Great Sabbath" o.
which the Love Feast is celebrated
The observance of one of the mos
original and distinctive feature o.
this days worship is the novel service