Reformátusok Lapja, 1968 (68. évfolyam, 8-12. szám)
1968-08-01 / 8-9. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 13 American Hungarian Presbyters’ Conference The American Hungarian Presbyters’ Conference held its annual meeting in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, in the Bethlen Home, on September 1st and 2nd. Many of those attending the Conference were early arrivals, and attended Church Services together on Sunday morning. The first meeting began on Sunday afternoon at 2 P.M., at which sixteen churches were represented. The President, John Nemesnyik, opened the meeting. A short devotional followed, and the vice-presidents presented their reports. President Nemesnyik’s report was inspiring and encouraging. He stressed the fact that the work of the Presbyters’ Association is most vital. The members faithfully performed their many tasks, and the spiritual and material advance was meaningful. The Rev. Alexander Daroczy, Director of the Bethlen Home, expressed that in the household of the Lord, quality is more important than quantity. He further stated that during the many years that he has attended these meetings and conferences, that although the number of congregations diminishes, the level of the conferences rise. These remaining congregations are the hope of our mother-church, and our dispersed reformed people. Dr. George Csia, in his lecture, spoke about the faith of our forefathers; ever faithful to their Lord, their church, and their theological principles. Our forefathers, the lay leaders of the church, underwent many hardships, were persecuted, and were even made galley- slaves for their faith. The seal on our religious freedom is the blood of our martyrs. On the second day of the Conference, the opening meditation at the Communion Service, was given by the Rev. Andrew Harto. The Holy Communion was administered by the Rev. Stephen Csutoros and Rev. Harto. The main lecture, given by the Rev. Aaron Elek, was entitled: “The Crisis of our Reformed Piety”. He spoke of the struggle of our Hungarian Reformed ministers in holding together their members. The reasons for our spiritual decline are: neglecting our study and reading of the Bible, and not coming to the Lord with our problems. Here then originates our neglect of the Church, and all other Church obligations. Then it naturally follows, that we stray from all Hungarian social activities also. Unless we return to the Lord and His service, there can be no spiritual renewal. Since this lecture was so well received, it was the desire of the Conference to have it published, both in Hungarian and English, so that all may benefit from it. The following recommendations were made by the Conference: 1. It is the desire of the Presbyters’ Conference that the work of the Bethlen Home in the children’s department continue. 2. The Conference recommends support of the Bethlen Freedom Press, Inc. 3. At future conferences, lectures will be given on Sunday afternoon. 4. The Conference donates $100.00 in support of the Bethlen Home. 5. The newly elected officers are: President—Alexander Csik, So. Norwalk, Connecticut. Vice-Presidents — John Marinchak, Perth Amboy, N. J., Andrew Szucs, Cleveland, Ohio, Alexander Dombrady, Detroit, Michigan, John Orosz, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Secretary — Stephen Lipoczky, So. Norwalk, Connecticut. Treasurer — Charles Kiss, Detroit, Michigan. Auditor — Charles Bone, Detroit, Michigan. Press Secretary — Rev. Zoltán Kovács, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Rev. Kalman Csia ☆ NEWS ITEMS The Bethlen Home children’s department was scheduled to be closed; however, after many requests and recommendations for its continuation from the City of Ligonier, the Presbyters’ Association, the Ministerial Association, and the Directors of the Bethlen Home, were received, the Board of Directors of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America ordered the work to continue. ★ The Rev. Andrew Hamza, pastor of the Hungarian Presbyterian Church of New York, attended the meetings of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches holding the Presbyterian System in Kolozsvár, Transylvania and the Fourth Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala. ★ Rev. Hamza publishes a Hungarian Church paper named “American Hungarian Witness”. ★ Dr. László Vatai, pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Detroit, published a new Hungarian book, entitled “In the Second Half of the Twentieth Century”. ★ Bethlen Almanac: the Synod’s material will be prepared by the Rev. Victor Orth, 607 Plum St., Fairport Harbor, Ohio. Pastors are urged to submit their reports immediately as they are already late. . . The deadline was set for Sept. 1. Pictures are to be sent to the Bethlen Home directly as it was annnounced by the Home. BOOK REPORT M. Eugene Osterhaven— TRANSYLVANIA The Reformed Review of the Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan. 40 pp. Events of the last decades in Eastern Europe indicate the need for careful study of the history of certain areas hitherto little known to the American reader. A great void has been bridged by the brilliant work of Dr. Osterhaven, professor of Theology, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Mich., and expert in Eastern European affairs, who gives a brief and accurate account of the history of Transylvania, the least known part of East Central Europe. A descriptive chapter reviews the history of a territory about two and one- half times as large as Switzerland. Apart from a period of independence in the 16th and 17th centuries, it has always been part of an autonomous state—Rumania, since the end of World War I, and Hungary, for one thousand years before that. In that period, three nationalities had lived together in tolerance and mutual respect; Hungarians, Rumanians and Saxons. Its role in the struggle of mankind for religious and poltical freedom has been significant. The declaration of religious freedom in 1557, was the first in Europe, and, Indeed, the entire world. The key chapter to the understanding of its history, is the one devoted to Kolozsvár (Cluj), which for centuries has been not only the capital city, but also the cultural and spiritual center of Transylvania. The boldest chapter is entitled: “The Present Situation of Hungarians in Transylvania” in which the present oppression of the political and religious freedom of the very champions of those ideals is documented. Students of history and policy-makers can gain from the conclusion of Dr. Osterhaven: There can be no permanent peace in the present solution of the Transylvania Problem which is so completely divorced from the history of the land, the cultural development and spiritual achievement of its people. The study of Dr. Osterhaven’s book on Transylvania is warmly recommended to our readers. Rev. Imre Bertalan
