Bethlen Naptár, 1956 (Ligonier)
Our Federation from 1936 to 1956
BETHLEN NAPTÁR 157 OUR FEDERATION FROM 1936 TO 1956 The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America was 40 years old, when in 1936 it made the most important and most ambitious step of its entire history. This was the creation of a centralized Home Office, and the decision that it will be set up in Washington, D. C., since the charter of the Federation was granted by the Congress of the United States. This happened 20 years ago, which is a period long enough to judge: whether this step was necessary and whether developments of these two decades justified the foresight and audacity of the 1935 convention. Now, as we are approaching the 60th anniversary of the Federation, we try to answer these questions. It would be enough to recite a number of dry facts, from which everybody would be able to draw conclusions. However, there are so many other details behind the facts, that the knowledge of at least a few of them is necessary for an impartial and correct judgment. Indubitably, the first 40 years constituted a period of trying, struggling and learning. Only after dozens of years did the Federation learn its own business. It soon became evident that the simple good will and brotherly helpfulness developed into a difficult, very complicated and very responsible science. Nobody blames the pioneer attempts for having been inadequate. Not only the fraternal societies, but the States themselves were very slow to learn everything that was necessary to know in this business. But when they graduated to that point, they became very strict in demanding complete conformity and obedience to the newly adopted laws and regulations. This historical development is mirrored in the past of every similar association. The membership, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, understood and appreciated the fact that every new regulation which seemingly placed new burdens on the individuals, in fact was a beneficial step in safeguarding their interests, creating additional security for the promised benefits, which otherwise would be in danger owing to inexperience, unhealthy competition and lack of official supervision. Our Federation was in a comparatively fortunate situation, since it had leaders with foresight. They soon realized the drawbacks of primitive methods. Thus the harmful custom that everybody paid the same amount of dues was abandoned and the payments according to age were introduced. The modem experience tables were adopted and instead of the sole death benefit value, cash, loan, paid up and extension values were given to the certificates. More than 30 years were necessary until the Federation reached this point in its development. To crown all this, modern methods were introduced in the promotion work and the establishment of a unified Home Office was decided upon. Those who are at the helm of the Federation today, can talk only about those 20 years during which they gave full time service to the Federation’s cause. The Federation, when put on the modern business basis, needed most the rejuvenation of its promotion methods. During the 12 years immediately preceding the creation of a new Home Office, the entire “net” increase of the membership was 267 members, all told. In six years out of these twelve, the membership dercreased.
