Speech #1020077038

Smith. mayor of Bethlehem. read a proclamation from the city to the academy. This proclamation stated that the educational philosophy the Moravian forefathers brought to Bethlehem was unique. that Bethlehem is the only city in the United States which has the same school continuously using some of its original facilities for 250 years. and that the city and the school are celebrating their sesquibicentennial in the same year. Fortyfive years before the Congress of the United States was convened and within 6 months after the city of Bethlehem was named by the Moravian settlers who came to the new world to share their faith with other immigrants and to convert the Indians to Christianity. two schools were founded. For the Moravians. their religious faith and belief in education go hand in hand. when they established a church. they also built a school. From their founding in preReformation Bohemia. the members of the Unitas Fratrum. as they were known. felt that religion without learning risked false doctrine and error and that the Bible should be in the language of the people.