Ref: The Hearthstone Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Thursday - July 17, 2003 VALLEY PAST By Larry Roeder DEMISE OF THE BUCHMAN HOUSE I was somewhat saddened when I picked up the Morning Call newspaper a few days ago and read about the sale of the Frank BUCHMAN House in Allentown. The Lehigh County Historical Society maintained the building as a museum. The property is one of several owned by the group, and the rising cost to maintain them just became too much. The newspaper account reported the three story Victorian house "sold for about $45,000 and needs repairs estimated to cost twice that amount." Frank Nathan Daniel BUCHMAN was born in a bedroom over his father's general store on Main Street in Pennsburg on June 4, 1878. A bronze plaque honoring BUCHMAN's birthplace was mounted on the front of the building in 1978. In 1991 a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Historical Marker was placed at that location, the only one in the borough of Pennsburg. A few years after Frank was born, the BUCHMAN family purchased the hotel at Fourth and Railroad streets in Pennsburg. From the BUCHMAN House Hotel it was short walk to the Perkiomen Seminary School, where Frank graduated in 1894. When Frank BUCHMAN was 16, he moved along with his family to 117 North Eleventh Street in Allentown. He graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1899, and went on to become an ordained Lutheran minister and worldwide luminary. Among his greatest achievements was forming the Moral Re-Armament movement, known today as Initiatives of Change. It is a worldwide idealism, that has no religious, race or nationality boundaries that is based on four basic principles: 1) Absolute honesty; 2) Absolute purity; 3) Absolute unselfishness; 4) Absolute love among men and nations. BUCHMAN never wrote any books, but there were many books written about him. One thing BUCHMAN did write were moving speeches. It was reported that the powerful charisma of this preacher from Pennsylvania frightened some, but was welcomed by others. His messages were delivered all over the world in times of war and periods of reconciliation - during peace and conflict. For his effect on their relations with other countries, seven countries decorated him. Among them were France, Germany, China, Japan and the Philippines. Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. BUCHMAN was heralded for his love of all people, all over the world. The image of Dr. Frank N.D. BUCHMAN appeared on the cover of Time Magazine on April 20, 1936. A few years back, I had the opportunity to tour the items on display at the BUCHMAN House. The home was beautifully adorned with furniture that belonged to the BUCHMAN family. On the walls were photographs recalling some of BUCHMAN's worldwide travels. Among the items on display were the medals awarded to him from a variety of nations. Also on display was the sword of surrender of the World War II Japanese land armies in China. Chinese General and former Prime Minister Ho Ying-China, gave it to BUCHMAN. Mine workers in Germany gave BUCHMAN a miner's lamp as a symbol of appreciation - it too was on display at the BUCHMAN House. Perhaps one of the most humbling items on exhibit was a cross that was made of wood taken from a 400-year-old Camphor tree. It was a symbol of Hiroshima, Japan - destroyed by the 1945 atomic blast. The Mayor of Hiroshima presented the cross to BUCHMAN for his work in bringing nations together. Another item that caught my eye was a magnificent buckskin outfit, complete with feathered bonnet, moccasins and full regalia that were encased in glass. Chief Walking Buffalo of the Stoney Indians of Alberta, Canada gave it to BUCHMAN. The chief had made BUCHMAN a Blood Brother of the Stoney tribe in 1934, giving him the name "Great Light in Darkness." Up until that time, the only white people to be accorded such an honor had been members of the British Royal Family! The good news is that these items won't be forever lost. A Frank BUCHMAN display will be included in the Lehigh County Historical Society's plans for a museum. So the loss of an exhibit venue looks like it's only temporary. Allentown City councilman David BAUSCH was reported as saying the "loss is unfortunate and necessary." I don't doubt the councilman's statement or his devotion to the history of Frank BUCHMAN. I had the opportunity in 1989 to travel with BAUSCH to Caux, Switzerland, the World Headquarters of the Moral Re-Armament movement. He was well known to many of the visitors who were there from all over the world. Dr. Frank BUCHMAN loved all people, and believed that if someone needed help, you should offer them a "hand up, not a hand out." There is some comfort in knowing that the BUCHMAN House was purchased by the Alliance for Building Communities, who will turn it into a home that will be marketed to first-time home buyers with a low to moderate income. I'm sure BUCHMAN would approve.