| Show AMONG AMON THE IT WAS my fortune to pass the winter of 1884 84 in the pretty little town of bethlehem pa as a student in the university there situated soon after my arrival I 1 became practically aware of the existence of a somewhat peculiar and very interesting religious order known as the Moravia ns this denomination of me but little known at the time yet during my brief sojourn in their midst many peculiar customs as well as numerous interesting items of their past pressed me in a way long to be remembered As the result of some indu inquiry iry and research I 1 learned that the moravian sect is of historic importance and may with truth be said to enjoy to a degree the dignity of age the church was first organized in bohemia in the year 1457 and its establishment is to be regarded as one among many religious movements resulting from the martyrdom of john huss by the council of constance the official name adopted by jhb sect soon after the perfection of its organization was the unita Fra Fr afrum trum or unity of brethren this title w as re confirmed when the church received recognition by the parliament of great britain in the year 1749 the influence of the order spread widely throughout europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but it was not until 1736 1785 that a moravian settlement was made in america at that time however savannah georgia was selected as a nu nucleus elens but this place was soon abandoned and other more successful enterprises were undertaken in pennsylvania the town of bethlehem in that state was at one time exclusively under moravian control and there this little body of worshipers settled to the enjoyment of their religious tre freedom edon and the exercise of the tenets of their belief towards divinity in their own unostentatious and impressive way in the early times of the church the Moravia ns taught and practised practiced an almost severe simplicity in dress and manners but of late years the influence of ideas and modern fashions has made itself felt with them as with all others othera and today but littile remains of ae ane original impressive and simple ways but all of this has naught to do except by way of introduction with our proposed description of a moravian new years yearns festival the last day of the expiring year on this particular oc occasion caslon was Sunday Sunda yand ind in ilk the early evening the usual sabbath service was conducted in the quiet style of moravian worship the the watch service to celebrate toe the ending adi of ng one cycle and the begin bilog of another in the long course of time was to commence at eleven odo chyet yet soot soon after nine the main body of the spacious church hr h was fairly filled and long before the time of beginning the house was crowded in every part I 1 aras fortunate in 11 securing a convenient position interval and during the waiting was able to survey the arrangement ran gement and decoration of the building and to note with interest the way in which the artistic taste of man nay may be used to lend additional solemnity CUlty and impressiveness to the rites of sacred worship many of the embellishments had been prepared for the preceding christmas festival and others had been added for the present occasion only behind tho the pulpit extending from wall to wall Ws was vaa an elegant painting representing in natural size the stable in bethlehem of judea with the ch christ child wrapped in swaddling clot clothes hest bleesing bleeping Ble in the manger the virgin mother watching with tender and inspired devotion her god liace babe and the wise men offering thou th symbolic gifts of frankincense and enclosed iu in golden caskets above the humble roof shone in rich effulgence the herald star as aa the Celes celestial tw token of earthborn earth born delty deity this ehte maruly beautiful picture was from behind after tj the jar of a transparency the richness ric aneas of color and brilliancy of tint producing the most striking of sceble effects 4 at prominent places in the room wa placed mammoth evergreens ever greens with numerous j jets ets of colored flame and laden with gifts for old and young expressing in a strong and pleasing manner anner toe the sentiment so appropriate to the occasion LIGHT LM LIFE AND LOVE spanning the pulpit was a magnificent arch radiant in light and color and bearing upon its keystone in letters of actual flame the number of the dying year white doves each with expanded wings and holding in its mouth the symbolic olive twig were suspended by invisible threads over the heads of the audience waving and fluttering with every movement of the air and apparently just about to slight alight richly ornamented devices and spangled emblems of worship and of praise were distributed about the chancel with pleasing taste I 1 was still deeply interested in a quiet survey of this hall of worship when the service began the orchestra as is characteristic of moravian churches was large and efficient fici ent besides a magnificent organ fine toned violins and clario nets there were the typical the instruments last named are never absent from worship service the choristers cho numbered upward of a hundred choice voices and lent their choral aid to the musicians efforts till the listener felt that he was suffused in a sea of the sweetest sound the pastor then took his place beneath the emblazoned blazoned em arch and soon exercised the charm of his quiet but penetrating eloquence over the minds of the worshiping throng his oratory was not of the impassioned kind the sort that lashes the feelings luto into a a state of tumultuous enthusiasm as 8 the hurricane furrows the placid face of the ocean but rather was it like an evening breeze cooling the heated brow of care and strife and leading to soothing thoughts of better things the speakers influence was was almost magical the vast congregation seemed as if beneath a spell pell of power I 1 sat with watch in hand during the last few minutes of the year noting with eager sense the circumstances of the occasion at the precise moment the finger indicated the midnight hour and while the pastor and his flock were still wrape as one in the interest of the discourse the whole orchestra and the full AM choir in a tremendous crash and a joyous shout broke in upon the stillness with a song which is ply only performed at this solemn moment of the year simultaneously Simultaneous lythe the beautiful arch beneath which the speaker stood lost the figure from the keystone key stone and in its place blazed out brig brighter lAer than ever the number of the new year while on the outside the booming of artillery and the ringing of bells lent further enthusiasm to the advent of a new ne 0 heir upon the throne of time the musical part continued for several minutes then all again was still and the minister with a gentle exhortation and a fervent prayer bade all I 1 good morning and a happy year the monarch of the past was dead a successor had assumed the crown and the inaugural services were complete we dispersed and on our homeward way encountered bands of music and groups of carol singers breathing forth sounds both sweet and joyful J E |
