News Release
April 2000
Moravian
College will plant a symbolic "Peace Pole" " in a formal
ceremony on Tuesday, April 25 at 8 p.m. Peace Poles are handcrafted
monuments erected the world over as international symbols of non-violence
and goodwill. Their purpose is to spread a message of peace and to act
as a constant reminder to visualize, promote, and pray for world peace.
The Peace Pole will be planted at a candlelight ceremony
in the area between the Haupert Union Building and Reeves Library. Moravian's
Peace Pole has four plates inscribed with the message, "may peace
prevail on earth," in four languages, English, German, Japanese,
and Latin. It was purchased by Moravian's German Club, which is also
sponsoring next week's evening event. The ceremony is open to both the
campus community and the public.
Speakers will include Dr. Clarke Chapman, professor of
religion; Michael Seidl, executive assistant to the president; Fang
Zhang, president of the International Club; and Rebecca May, treasurer
of the German Club. The music will be performed by Emily Rideout, Chris
Mersch, and by several members of the Moravian College Choir.
The World Peace Prayer Society, a non-profit, non-denominational
organization founded in 1955, started the Peace Pole Project in Japan.
The project was launched with a dedication to uplift humankind toward
harmony and cooperation rather than disagreements and conflict. The
Peace Pole reminds us to keep peace ever-present in our thoughts. To
date, friends and supporters have dedicated over 100,000 peace poles
in more than 160 countries around the world.
Moravian's Peace Pole has four plates inscribed with the
message MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH in four languages, English, German,
Japanese, and Latin. It was purchased by Moravian's German Club that
is also sponsoring next week's evening event.
Moravian College is a private, coeducational, selective
liberal arts college located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its
founding to 1742, it is recognized as America's sixth-oldest college.
Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.
