Bethlen Évkönyv, 1993-1996 (Ligonier)

Zoltán D. Szücs: Our churches and our federation

Sándor Kalassay, 1921. Page 10.) As it was always the practice in the life of our Hungarian Reformed existence and functions, naturally, at this meeting both clergy and lay representation of our faith and heritage were present, side by side, hand in hand. As every other meeting of our heritage, this meeting also was opened by worship service and to enchance bonding and fraternalism was also highlighted by a banquet.

At this first organizing meeting in Trenton they determined the goals of the Federation in the following declaration: “The aim of the Federation, besides giving material and moral support to the Hungarian Calvinist mission in America, is to pay a death benefit and funeral expenses to the heirs of the members. The Federation will begin to function, when it reaches a membership of 500. Any Hungarian who will pay the $1.00 initiation fee, and an annual fee of $1.00 may become a member. Having reached a membership of 500 the Federation will pay $250.00 death benefit and $50.00 for funeral expenses. The amounts will be collected from the members through proportional assessments.” (“The Work of Six Decades ”, George S. K. Borshy, Secretary. Bethlen Naptar 1956. Page 140.)

On this meeting they also elected the first provisional officers, who naturally represented side-by-side both the ministerial and the lay leadership of our temporary American- Hungarian Reformed life. These officers were: Emil Nyitray, President; Reverend Sándor Harsanyi, Vice-President; Reverend Sándor Kalassay, Secretary; Pal Szabó, Treasurer; and Reverend Gabor Dokus, Controller. They also determined that the Federation will start to function as soon as they reached their goal of 500 members. They also were dreaming dreams for the future: to organize congregations and to help them to get started and help to ennoble the Hungarian cause. “The Reformed Federation must be a strong bastille of the Hungarian Reformed faith, of the Hungarian outlook, of the Hungarian and brotherly love.” (Dr. Zoltán Beky, op.cit. Page 11.) The whole spirit of the meeting clearly shows that in their minds the religious expectations and practice and the secular life of their brethren and of themselves were inseparable. In this very sense the Federation is nothing else but the practiced, everyday aspect and practice of our Hungarian Reformed faith.

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