Bethlen Naptár, 1984 (Ligonier)
Kálvin Egyházkerület
78 BETHLEN NAPTÁR Pastor Sándor Mészáros, Bethlehem, PA. Grace Community U.C.C. Organists: Mrs. Andrew Patrylak and Mrs. James Nagy. The land on which the city of Bethlehem, Pa. is situated was purchased by the Moravians in 1741. Three factors brought the Moravians to America: the desire to Christianize the Indians, Zinzerdorf’s ideal of union among the divided churches of Pennsylvania, and the threat of suppression in Germany. Much that we find in Bethlehem was simply an importation from Germany. There was, however, a strong international flavor in Behtlehem. For instance, at the missionary service in 1755, 13 languages were used in the singing, accompanied by wind and string instruments. These were: Bohemian, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Irish, Latin, Mohawk, Mohican, Swedish. Welsh and Windish. It was said, furthermore, that a Dane, a Pole and Kristóf Baus, the Hungarian did not sing. Although most of the Hungarians arrived in large numbers at the turn of the 20th century, we know that some of our forefathers came much earlier. Our First Hungarian Evangelical and Reformed Church was formally organized in 1906 but years before they had worship services in private homes. Many of the founding members of the First Hungarian Lutheran, Slovak and Windish Churches belonged to us till they became strong enough to organize their own congregations. By 1951. the latest, the Free Hungarian Reformed Church was organized. Till 1965, our original church had been located on East 4th Street when an accidental fire destroyed the building. We brought our present church and parsonage in Fountain Hill in the same year. The congregation rebuilt
