Amerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja, 1918 (19. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1918-12-21 / 51. szám

6

AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

people through the columns of the Hungarian Reformed Church paper.

I would therefore first of all send my greetings to the ministers, officers and noble people of these missions and express my appreciation of the unfailing1 courtesy, good will and cooperation of all in performing the duties of my important office. The past 15 years were the most important years in the Hungarian work. Many congregations had their trials and troubles, and serious problems to solve but they have also had their encouragements, their successes, and their satisfactions.

It is a satisfaction to note that during these years I took part in the organization of congregations in East Chicago, South Bend and Gary Indiana, Toledo, Cleveland (West side) Dayton, Dillonvale and Akron Ohio; Homestead. Ellenora, Johnstown and Uniontown Pa.; Torrington and New Haven, Conn. I was present and helped dedicate churches at E. Chicago, South Bend, Lorain, Toledo. Dayton. Dillonvale, Akron, Pittsburgh; Homestead, and Johnstown. It has been my pleasure to take part in all kinds of religious services and church work in behalf of the Hungarian people, the ordination and installation of ministers, the installation of officers, serving the Lord’s Supper, the baptism of children, the confirmation of young people, the marriage of young couples and I have fortunately been spared the duty of burying any member of the Hungarian churches. I have enjoyed many anniversaries, flag dedications, Vacation school entertainments and just recently had the pleasure of dedicating a Service Flag in one of the missions which bore 15 stars that testified to the loyalty of the Hungarian young men to our country in its time of tria; and not to be forgotten is the hospitable entertainment given me during all these years in the homes of the members, and officers and ministers of the missions.

Welcome therefore the opportunity to tell what I have learned of the good traits of Hungarian Reform- ed character and church life and work. The people have always shown themselves loyal to the church and liberal in her support. They have wanted good churches and have paid liberally for the support of those churches they provided good homes for the minister and have contributer to his salery; they have paid back to the Board of Home Missions the money loaned them with regularity and always paid the law interest when due; they have always heeded the instruction of the Superintendant in all financial matters.

The services of the church have always impressed the Superintendent by the devoutness of the people, by their sining, their attention, and the liberality of their offerings. They care well for the religious welfare of their children for they are early brought to baptism, they are faithfully taught by the parents what was promised at baptism and they occupy their seats in the church. It has always been a blessed pri- vi'ege of the Superintendent to join with the Hungarian people in the Lord’s Supper because they are all so devout and because the occasion teaches him that we are all one in Christ Jesus. In all these things the Hungarian Reformed People are an excellent example to the American Reformed people and we wish the American people would more frequently visit the Hungarian churches.

Another interesting fact came to observation in the many ecclesiastical meetings attended during the past 15 years, — meetings of our own missionaries in Classis and conferences, meetings of the ministers of the several denominations working among the Hungarians in America and especially in the meetings of the consistories of the congregations. All these showed that the Hungarian people are remarkably alert in mind and wonderfully ready in speach. The discussions never lack interest and. earnest discussion, sometimes very earnest discussion. It requires sometime to reach de- cissions but after they are made everybody seems satisfied. How it would rejoice the heart of the American pastor if the members of his consitory were as ready to propose things for the welfare of the church and so deeply interester and ready to speak for them in the meetings.

Sometimes Hungarian ministers complain that there is “too much talk” at the meetings and that better results and more permanent results would be secured by less talk and more quiet thinking and deed. Be that as it may the Superintendent is always pleased to see the interest of the meeting.

Now lest this anniversary article should weary the readers let us turn from the past to the present and the future. Anniversaries are of value only as the experiences of the past teach useful lessons for the future. With all the excellencies referred to let us in turn our attention to some excellencies of the American Reformed churches which should be earnestly considered by the Hungarian brethren and adopted so far as possible for the true American spirit is to leam what is good and helpful from any source and weave it into the American product for the future.

Speaking about ecclesiastical meetings in general and of consitories in particular, those of our American churches are guided by specific rules set forth in Rules of Order by the General Synod and also by parliamentary rules used in any deliberative assembly.

These rules require that only one particular question can be discussed at a time. Only one person can speak at a time and must first secure the permission of the presiding officer to speak. Every member present can speak twice on the same question or oftener if no one objects. In this way there is less talk and much more is done in a short time.

Turning to the religious welfare of children the Hungarian consitories should all the Protestant Church es in America know that because people must live in crowded houses and many in crowded sections of the city; and because fathers and mothers are too busy to do all they wish for their children, that therefore we must do more for the children in the church and Sunday school. They fell also that in every congregation the minister is too busy to do all the teaching himself and that other teachers must be trained and must teach free of charge in the school. We consider the Sunday school the most important teaching force for children in the work of. the church, and to make it more effective most American churches have Teacher Training Classes. The Hungarian missions would profit much if they were to adopt this same method of helping parents give necessary religious instruction. Wherever they have done so the result is good.

American congregations also pay much more at-