Moravians Migration into the Lehigh Valley, Pennslyvannia - Term Paper Example

The earliest history of Bethlehem is connected to Bishop David Nitschamann who builds a church, which began the Moravian settlement (Levering 24). He bought a land where the people were settled, and this was the fundamental for the development of the Bethlehem. It is here that he builds the cabin, which became the first structure in Bethlehem. Originally, they were thirteen settlers who first settled at Bethlehem. The book “A History of Bethlehem”, by Joseph Mortimer Bishop explains of the migration of the Moravian to Bethlehem.

It explains the cause of migration, and the settlement of the people in the new land (Township News 7). The article “city of Bethlehem” in 2008, also explains the challenges the people faced in the migration, reasons for migration. It also speaks of the people settlement in their new land. Mortimer the author of the book “A History of Bethlehem,” sees Nitschmann as being fundamental in the migration of Moravian to Bethlehem. Nitschmann belonged to the ancient Brethrens church. He was born in Moravia at Zauchtenthal.

It is said that he suffered persecution because of his faith, and he had to free his native land. He fled Moravia in1724, and on 1732, he was one of first missionaries in St. Thomas from Moravian (Levering 28). It is said that he spent the rest of his life-spreading gospel, he is said to have contributed to the development of many settlement across the world before his death in 1771. The rest of the missionaries had a different upbringing before they came together in their missionary works and were among the founders of Bethlehem.

The article on the City of Bethlehem, also mentions the role played by the first missionaries in the settlement of people in Bethlehem and the consequent growth of the city. The article however, does not explain in details the cause of the migration, but focuses on the settlement of the people in the new land. It focuses on the integration of the Moravian in their new surroundings. Both articles explain the reasons behind the naming of the city. The city can be said to have grown as a religion center.

The city was named as Bethlehem as a way of glorifying God. The aim of the city was to be the center of missionary operation in the region. It had the same goals as the gospel itself, reclaiming the wilderness. The foundation stone for the second building was laid by Bishop Nitschmann. This was key to the establishment of the town as the religious center. The growth of town immediately the people settled in the region is another factor that the article emphasizes. The building was a two-story house was vital in the establishment of the town.

It remained the house for the clergymen for many years. The church expanded tremendously, and by 1743, the congregation comprised of peoples who were in the settlement in the region (Levering 52). The congregation also received the name “fishers”, in reference to the bible where Andrew and peter were called the fishers of men. Bethlehem grew to be the center of the economy. The Moravian had successfully introduced the city in their first settlement, and the city followed their beliefs. Many of the white settlers and other and the native Americas joined the church.

The article s also explains of how the people arrived in the Jerusalem. The earliest people arrived in this place as missionaries, but the subsequent groups came at Bethlehem because of their own individual reasons.