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Group wants Moravian settlements on U.N. historical list ** International officials meet in Bethlehem, visit Nazareth site.

Morning Call - Allentown, Pa. Author: Arlene Martnez Of The Morning Call

Copyright Morning Call Nov 11, 2004

Moravian communities throughout the world have been working to get their settlements formally recognized by the United Nations as historical sites.

Nazareth would like to be part of that international list.

On Wednesday, the final day of a four-day conference sponsored by Historic Bethlehem, Moravian preservationists in Nazareth took the opportunity to introduce an international gathering to their settlement.

So far, Bethlehem is the only U.S. Moravian community seeking inclusion on the World Heritage List. Other historical groups are trying to win the designation for Moravian settlements in other parts of the world.

At the second conference of the Moravian Heritage Network, the discussion focused largely on what has to be done to gain U.N. recognition of Moravian sites as examples of the unity of spiritual, individual and community values.

The conference included government representatives, historians and Moravians from Britain, Denmark and South Africa and the United States.

The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization compiles the heritage list. The leaders in Bethlehem -- and later, Nazareth -- on Wednesday said that adding Moravian settlements to the list could introduce the world to their culture and ensure their preservation.

To get on the exclusive list, an applicant must demonstrate the Moravian settlements are a cultural monument. Criteria for that includes proving the settlements are "an outstanding example of a traditional way of life that represents a certain culture," according to UNESCO's Web site.

The movement to recognize Moravian settlements is known as the Christiansfeld Initiative, named after the Denmark Moravian settlement that began the global partnership.

"We're trying to get on the same page and move in the same direction," said Mark Turdo, curator of Whitefield House in Nazareth. The shared history between Nazareth and Bethlehem make it natural for Nazareth to join Bethlehem's campaign, he said.

On Wednesday, the group of about 20 started at the Whitefield House, home to the Moravian Historical Society and the first place of worship in Nazareth. Like Bethlehem, Nazareth was founded in the early 1740s.

Next, the visitors were shown the inaugural fire engine brought in the late 18th century from Germany to Nazareth.

On Main Street, next to an old alley, they saw gunsmith William Henry's old house. Henry used to fire weapons in the alley to test them until neighbors' complaints eventually led him to Jacobsburg, explained Sue Dreydoppel, executive director of the Moravian Historical Society.

At just past noon, traditional Moravian music played as usual in front of the home built for Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf, considered a founder of the reorganized Moravian Church.

"My impression is that there's so many things that Moravian settlements have in common, but so many things that are different," said Hannetjie Du Preez, director of culture for the government of Western Cape, South Africa.

Other U.S. Moravian settlements include New Hope, N.J.; Winston- Salem, N.C.; and Lititz in Lancaster County. They originally were populated by members of the Moravian Church. Today, their residents are more diverse.

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