Reformátusok Lapja, 1959 (59. évfolyam, 1-22. szám)
1959-07-01 / 13. szám
22 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA ministrorum filiis et filiabus.” In practice, this document was used only by the Reformed ministers, because at that time in Transylvania the Roumanian Orthodox priests did not have the necessary qualifications. In Hungary only the Roman and Greek Catholic priests already belonged to the privileged class of nobility, thus this new decree concerned only the ministers of the Reformed faith and their descendants for all times, thus encouraging them to further studies. It is no wonder then that many statesmen, scientists, writers and ecclesiastical keymen came from the families of Reformed ministers. In our times, in many countries the holders of these old documents and coats-of-arms are not accorded privileges as they were in the past, but for the servants and ministers of the Word of God, the document given by Gábor Bethlen still is an honor and a mark of high esteem and spiritual nobility. The inscription on the coat-of-arms: “Arte et Marte Dimican- dum” — means, fight with arms and knowledge, but always by the light of the Scriptures, inspired by the Holy Spirit, for justice with justice — “sub specie aeternitatis” — otherwise the recipient disqualifies himself. The Hungarian Reformed ministers remember with gratitude Gábor Bethlen and his document, given on July 13, 1629, and as in the past, hereafter also, wish to live and to serve their Master in spiritual nobility. Francis Vitéz our pastor in Perth Amboy, N. J.
