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MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY HEARS OF COMENIUS' WORK

Morning Call - Allentown, Pa. Author: The Morning Call

Copyright Morning Call Oct 11, 1991

The life and work of John Amos Comenius, the "Father of Modern Education," were detailed yesterday for members and guests of the Moravian Historical Society.

Comenius, 17th century bishop, educator and philosopher was the subject of an in-depth study by Dr. Daniel C. Crews, acting director of the Moravian Music Foundation Inc. of Winston-Salem, N.C. The presentation marked the start of the society's yearlong celebration of the 400th anniversary of Comenius' birth.

Prior to the 134th annual vesper in Schoeneck Moravian Church, above Nazareth, officers and members of the Board of Managers were elected at the annual meeting in the Whitefield House, Nazareth.

Susan M. Dreydoppel, executive director of the society, noted receipt of grants totaling more than $35,000 this year. They will partly underwrite the cost of a "Father of Modern Education" exhibit dealing with Comenius and education today to be held March 28-Oct. 11 at the Whitefield House, and for research and repairs to the Gray Cottage, the first log structure in Nazareth.

Among the grants were $5,000 from the Institute of Museum Services, Washington, D.C.; $4,700 from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, and $4,500 from the United Brethrens Congregation on Staten Island, Board of Elders, which will be used for the exhibit.

A $17,000 matching grant will also be received from the Church Extension Fund of the United Brethrens Congregation on Staten Island for research and installation of a historically accurate roof on the Gray Cottage.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission gave $2,000 for research on the Gray Cottage, which also must be matched by the society; the 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee of Nazareth, $2,000 for exterior lighting of the Whitefield House, and assistance from the Board of Christian Education, Moravian Church, Southern Province and the Department of Educational Ministries, Moravian Church Northern Province, to fund traveling for the Comenius exhibit, beginning April 15.

Dreydoppel cited the increasing number of visitors to the Whitefield House Museum, with more than 9,000 touring and taking part in programs.

The Rev. Arthur Nehring of Bethlehem was re-elected president. Robert Brown, Nazareth, was named vice president emeritus. Vice presidents are the Rev. Robert Engelbrecht, Emmaus; attorney Walter L. Peters, Nazareth; the Rev. Henry Williams and Bishop Edwin Sawyer, Bethlehem. Emma Williams, Newfoundland, was re-elected secretary, and Jean K. Haupt, Nazareth, treasurer.

Newly elected to the board were Berlie Dishong, Nazareth, and Lorna Weil, Bethlehem. Re-elected were the Rev. Charles Eichman, Easton; Evelyn Huth, attorney Charles Peischl, Robert Pharo, Nazareth; Frederick Koehler, Bath; the Rev. John Morman, Coopersburg; Millard Rice, Bangor, and Dr. David Schattschneider, the Rev. J. Thomas Minor and Helen Woodbridge, Bethlehem.

Announcement was made of a society-sponsored trip to Czechoslovakia to visit sites relating to Hus, Comenius and the Early Unity. The July 1-15, trip will include four days in Herrnhut, Germany. The assemblage was welcomed to Schoeneck Church by the Rev. Richard L.Bruckart, pastor.

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