Reformátusok Lapja, 1959 (59. évfolyam, 1-22. szám)
1959-07-01 / 13. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 13 the United States and through it that of the entire world. It was possible that the poor Hungarian exile, Louis Kossuth (1802-1894), addressed the Congress of the United States in 1852, an honor accorded before him to only one foreigner, Lafayette. It was possible that eleven years before the Gettysburg speech of Lincoln this same exiled Hungarian summed up the essence of democracy in these words: “The spirit of our age is democracy. All for the people and all by the people. Nothing about the people without the people: that is democracy, and that is the ruling tendency of the spirit of our age.” (Address before the Ohio State Legislature, Columbus, O., February 5, 1852.) It was possible that this same man, with true prohetic insight, visualized the oneness of freedom of all nations, a doctrine officially accepted by the United States after the second world war. It was possible for him to predict that the time will come when the United States and Great Britain will march together, their flags side by side, on the soil of Europe, to further the cause of mankind’s freedom. In the great Civil War it was possible for hundreds of Hungarians to offer their services, and, in many cases, their lives for the Union. It was possible that out of this small group not less than seven men emerged as generals and many others as high ranking officers. It was possible that two modest Hungarians received the republic’s highest decoration for heroism during the Civil War: Major General Julius Stahel-Számwald and Sergeant Leopold Karpeles. It was also possible that General Stahel- Számwald became one of Abraham Lincoln’s most trusted friends. He was one of the five generals who sat on the platform when Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg speech, possibly the only Hungarian who heard it delivered by the martyred President. It was possible that thousands of Hungarian soldiers served in the armed forces in all the wars of the United States, hundreds of them giving their lives for their country. It was possible that hundreds of Hungarian authors, scientists, inventors, artists gave their best talents to help maintain the United States as the best hope of the world. It was possible for about a million Hungarians to find in the United States a new country, a new livelihood, new homes and a better future for themselves and their descendants. It was possible for them to organize and maintain a distinct Hungarian community in this great melting pot of nations without being accused of disloyalty to the democratic ideas and laws of the land. It was possible to publish hundreds of newspapers, magazines and books in their own language. It was possible to give to the world an everlasting example of how a mighty nation should treat its minority groups. It was possible for the Hungarians to organize hundreds of congregations, according to their own faith, and use their monther-tongue in their churches, and to teach their children without interference from anyone. In an age when the whole world is struggling with seemingly insoluble problems and difficulties, the American example should be held up high: in this land of unlimited possibilities, it is possible for millions of people to live a happy, harmonious and peaceful life. Truly, the American idea is the best hope of the world. We Hungarians know that. And the possibilities for this idea are still unlimited throughout the entire world. Being partakers of all this, we should unceasingly proclaim to the world the gospel of America. Edmund Vasvary our past pastor in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Cleveland, Ohio MAGYAR CONGREGATIONS IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH In 1849 the Hungarian revolution for freedom and independence ended in a shocking tragedy. Many freedom fighters escaped the torture and retaliation of the oppressors by finding haven in the United States. Louis Kossuth, the great champion of liberty, also visited America during his exile. With his staff he brought his chaplain, the Reverend Gideon Ács, a minister of the Reformed Church in Hungary. Reverend Ács held the first Hungarian Reformed worship service in the United States. The service was held on April 13, 1852, in a New York City Presbyterian church. The members of the small colony of freedom fighters attended the service. The seoncd Reformed minister coming from Hungary was the Reverend Franics Kecske- méthy. He conducted his first service on September 15, 1881, in the Chapel of Union College, New York City. Services were held later at Cooper Institute. His work was started, supervised and subsidized by the New York Presbytery. The mass immigration of Hungarians started at the end of the nineteenth century. The
