On March 26, 1758, the first Sunrise Easter Service at Bethabara was held on Manakes Hill, north of what is now Winston-Salem. Though the sunrise service can now be found across many different Christian denominations, it got its start in Germany as a distinctly Moravian tradition.
An account of the time described the service:
The congregation was awakened early with music, and as they sang the sun broke through of black of clouds, throwing its clear beams upon the scene.
The typical Moravian sunrise service begins with a brass choir waking the congregation prior to the first part of the liturgical service, which was held in the church. The entire congregation then moves to a nearby Moravian cemetery where the second part of the liturgy is read while the sun rises over the graves as a symbol of Christ’s resurrection.
The Moravians had come to the area that is now Forsyth County in 1753 from Pennsylvania in search of a large tract of available land suitable for farming. They had settled in Pennsylvania after a failed settlement attempt in Georgia and after being largely forced to leave their ancestral homelands in central Europe.
Though they had planned a community centered around farms, their first settlement at Bethabara grew to a town that included a church, gristmill, saw mill, tannery, pottery, distillery and other crafts shops by the end of 1756.
From Bethabara the group quickly fanned out across today’s Forsyth County, establishing the settlements of Bethania, Salem, Friedberg and Friedland.
Other NC History On This Date: March 26
On March 26, 1830, the North Carolina Baptist State Convention was organized at a home in Greenville. The organization had its roots in the North Carolina Baptist Missionary Society, formed in 1811 as an outlet for planning missionary work. It eventually came to be known as the Benevolent Society.
The founders of the Baptist State Convention created two other related institutions once the convention was operational. The statewide Baptist newspaper, the Biblical Recorder, was established in 1833, and Wake Forest College came into existence the following year. The Baptist Female University, now Meredith College, opened with the convention’s support in 1899.
Today, the Baptist State Convention offers an outlet for cooperative missionary work as well as guidance to church leaders and administrative staff. Resources include instruction and guidelines for general operations and advice for churches. The state convention assists groups in forming new Baptist congregations in the state, as well. The Baptist State Convention operates educational facilities, children’s homes, retirement homes and a credit union, among missionary and support programs. Its home office is in Cary.
On March 26, 1722, Governor Charles Eden died. Shortly after Eden’s death, the town nearest his home, known as “the Town on Queen Anne’s Creek”, was renamed Edenton in his honor.
Eden was governor of North Carolina during a period of progressive changes. Although there are few surviving records, he is generally credited with the improvements made during his administration. Eden’s early life is even more of a mystery than his colonial career. There are no records of his activities, public or private, prior to his 1713 appointment to become the governor of North Carolina.
An assembly that Eden called in 1715 passed various far reaching governmental reforms. The contemporary legal code was revised, taking aim at widespread disturbances that occurred during previous administrations. With the objective of enhancing trade, immigration and communication, several transportation issues were addressed, including plans to improve existing roads, build new roads and establish shipping channels. Though a a leader in his church and a devout Anglican, Eden was tolerant of religious diversity and ensured that the colony’s laws reflected that.
In 1889 Eden’s remains and gravestone were moved to St. Paul’s Churchyard in Edenton.
Other related resources:
· Historical images of governors from the State Archives
· Biographies of North Carolina’s governors on NCpedia
On March 26, 1749, signer of the Constitution and early political leader William Blount was born in Bertie County.
Blount served in the Continental Army as paymaster before being elected to six terms as a state representative and senator. He went on to accept a position with the Continental Congress, and later served both state conventions called to consider adopting the U.S. Constitution.
A supporter of handing the state’s western lands over to the federal government, Blount became territorial governor of what’s now Tennessee. After leaving North Carolina, Blount worked as the federal Superintendent of Indian Affairs and helped found the state of Tennessee, chairing the convention that drafted the Volunteer State’s first constitution in 1796.
When Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796, Blount was elected to the U.S. Senate, but the following year he was expelled from that body for having been involved in a scheme to incite the Creek and Cherokees to aid the British in conquering Spanish-held West Florida.
After leaving Congress, Blount was elected to the Tennessee state senate and chosen as president at its first session in December 1797. He died in Knoxville in 1800.
