Amerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja, 1933 (34. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)

1933-08-05 / 31. szám

AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

7

alive, with which we come into daily contact; and they deem a little of our time if we are at all interested in the problems of Christian Youth.

Concerning the registration fee, that will remain the same as last year, that is, two dollars. This is, in reality, a reduction over that of last year since the Conference will last four days instead of three. In conjunction with registration, it is urged by the Program Committee that societies register early so that accomodations might be arranged for delegates.

Questions about the Conference or other needed information may be obtained from the corresponding secretary of the Union, Miss Elizabeth Komaromy, 2013 Valentine St., Toledo, Ohio.

alfa.

OgH=l[=lBI=ir—1l5a>

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FELLOWSHIP AND

FRIENDSHIP AT A C. E. CONFERENCE.

Many fine qualities about Young People’s conferences have been brought to light during the past, but one of the vital, one of the most important, one which can make a conference either a huge success or a complete failure has not been mentioned — that of fellowship and the friendship which are created at our conferences. One of the most important reasons why young people assemble from all parts of the country is the joy of meeting old friends, making new ones, and creating such fellowship as will be to them a pleasant retrospect after such a conference is over, and a genuine desire to look forward to the next one. Young people want to talk, (more so today than ever before) exchange ideas, obtain new facts from one another. They want to find out what has happened since the last meeting. They wish to discuss church activities, recreational pasts, social discrepancies, successes and failures in their realm with one another. They have an urge to go and meet the acquaintances of last year and to make the bonds of friendship stronger. They are eager to be among the friends at the dinner table where fun and fellowship exist, where songs, jokes and yells are heard from the different representatives. Only abnormal people like to be alone, but that’s not the case at a conference. Lord Francis Bacon said: “He who loves solitude ie either a wild beast or a god.” The normal man is gregarious. He wants companionship. The very cattle go in herds; the fishes go in shoals; the bees go in swarms; and men come together in families and cities, in work and in recreation to enjoy the progress of their civilization and culture. As men go up towards greatness, their need of friendship increases. As a result, we have friendship and fellowship carrying a certain fertilizing

force. All biographers tell us that each epoch in a hero’s life was ushered in by a new friend. When Schiller met Goethe, every latent talent awakened. The poets’ friendship caused the youth to grow by leaps and bounds. Once returning home after a brief visit to Goethe's house, one exclaimed: ‘T am amazed by the progress Schiller can make within a single fornight.” True fellowship and friendship must be tried. Hence the words of Ovid, the Latin poet when he says:

“Scilicet ut fulvum spectatur in ignibus aurum,

Tempore in duro est inspicienda fides.”

It is the genuine fellowship of a conference which makes the conference a success. The program is secondary.

There seems to be a bond which unites young people while the program of the conference is disccussed. While there may be the conventional difference in opinion upon a point of the program, the atmosphere of true fellowship prevails. The exchange of ideas is desirous and highly beneficial, and just by this exchange of methodical thinking do we obtain the germ of fellowship and a cue to our difficulties. While a young person speaks, his whole character, his habits, and his ways of reason and logic are exposed. If you like a method of his presentation, immediately, the bonds of fellowship spring up and a closer contact, a more intimate relation exists. This happens at all conferences, whether we are conscious of the fact or not. Very often friendship gained through the personality of the speaker is a priceless treasure. Personality is a social creation, shaped in the quick associations of daily life. In the day-by-day contact with others, energy, understanding, wit, appreciation, sympathy, and moods are exhibited in an entity of behavior which becomes for others the identity of the individual. The varying qualities of these several attributes of behavior are reflected in a judgment rendered by people with whom you associate. In fact, the worth of personality is established by this judgment. For others, personality is a stimulating experience — pleasing, disagreeable, or indifferent; to the individual, it is life’s efforts and rewards. Personality is of vital importance to any type of gathering; and, unless I am sadly mistaken, you will gain good, wholesome fellowship through this channel at the Chicago conference; for there you will meet several types of genuine personality.

The friendship and fellowship which grow out of recreational activities are, perhaps, the ones which are remembered the longest. Can anyone but help make a stab at friendship while swimming in the blue waters of Lake Michigan, or