Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-04-12
THE EASTER PEOPLE OF SALEM
I'm the Woman's Magazine for
April.)
by Louise Eberle.

Here and there in quiet places
IN this big, rushing land are COM
munities of people, who, if they
were rightly named, would be
called "The Easter People" For
NJ all the truths of Christianity
none Is to them more glorious
than the Resurrection. These
neople are the Moravians, or
United Brethren, and by their
Easter celebration they affirm
each year. their indissoluble kin
ship with those of their number
who have gone before. This ar
tic]e paints a forgot
ten picture of the services in
Salem.
Three hundred and sixty-three days
in the year, Winston, North Caro-
lima. is, in the eyes of business" a
least. the important part of Winston
Salem. But on the other two days
Winston is forgotten save as base
from which to reach quiet Salem, Sa-
lem. the very picture of it's name
Peace. Thither flock people of other
creeds, of no creed at all, or even of
other races, drawn by power that
prosperous Winston in all it's busy
wear never exerted-the power that
once, on a quiet country road, made
the hearts Of certain humble men
burn within them.
There has been no seeking of the
crowd, no announcing of the services,
and there will be no gain save to the
hotels of Winston. One will only
have learned of the services from
some friend who speaks of them as
never to be forgotten, and then can
scarcely tell why, so little of out
ward happening is there to relate
One arrives in Winston early on
Great Sabbath afternoon, and leaves
Immediately for Salem. going prefer
ably on foot, for only so can the love-
Illness of the little town be fully ap-
preciated. One narrow street sepa-
rates the twin town into its COM
ponent parts; a street whose breadth
should be measured mot in feet, but
in generations, for one enters a diff
ferent age when it is crossed.
Salem does not give at all the eff
feet of an old place Wondering in
neglected sadness. Its very air is
conrentment and quiet prosperity.
There is no neater town to be found
nor one that looks more place of
homes. There are beautiful old brick
houses built at different periods sub
sequent to 1865, when the site of the
town was chosen. These are scrupu-
lousy kept, in perfect repair, and
are tribute to other workmannhlp
of those who werc as truly Pilgrim
brethren as our New England fore
fathers.
But Of all the simple buildings in
Salem, the simplest is that which is
now drawing the crowd. Into the
church pour the strangers, till one
who does not know, can scarcely pick
out the members. Beside the straight
backed pews have been placed ad-
ditional chairs, crowding up to the
very pulpit, and these are overflow
ing long before the hour set for the
love-feast.
Even as one sits there waiting, one
hears no buzz or hum among the
crowd. There are in it many who
have never taken part in the love-
feast, and do not know what is COM
ing. Yet these, too, are feeling the
touch of pure tranquility that fills
touch Of pure tranquility that fills
wooded valley.
Soon the bishop and two or three
of the clergy enter, unheralded and
without ceremony. They are differ
entiated not at all from other men.
and seat themselves at bare little
fah1o 20 tho mil
pit platform. #e
The bishop rises to greet the
throng. l wonder how many strang-
ers there find his simple welcome
poignantly sweet thing, revealing the
very heart of Moravianism, the quail
ity of love that alone could make
them United Brethren. J..
For not only is there no resentment
at the wholesale intrusion OF this,
their holy hour, but these strangers
are hidden into its sacredness sim
ply. unaffectedly, sincerely, just as
one person might invite another 10
sit with him in the sunshine, well
knowing that there would be none
the less for the sharing.
Music is the one preparation for
tHc lOV6-I0aSt. NOC Tie oO1I ~ AAN
sic that would engender sense OF
mystery, and so make of the feast to
follow an emotion instead OF sim
pie spiritual receiving. But hymns
that have been always presence ana
IA power and glory to listening
hearts, such as "Ten thousand times
ten thousand" and when | survey
the wopdrous cross" are sung by the
congregation, and, in its silences, by
the choir.
When the right moment has ar
rived, the music is stilled, an dthere
is silence throughout the church.
Then the vestry doors to the right
and left of the pulpit platform open'
and from one side appear the dea-
cons, from theiother the deaconnesses
bearing the ;viands for the love-feast'
1t Is meet, as nothing else could De:
that they are in the neat garb OF
gentlemen and gentlewomen, the dea.
cons as they would be in church OF
Sunday morning. the deaconesses
with the addition of trim white caps
and aprons that give them q dalnti-
Al