Bethlen Évkönyv, 1993-1996 (Ligonier)
Zoltán D. Szücs: Our churches and our federation
which always grew “loyal, faithful church members”. (Sándor Kalassay, op.cit. Page 14.) To a great degree, due to the inspiration, vision and prompting of The Reverend Kalassay, it was also recommended to the convention at Bridgeport that the Federation should have their own publication to enhance the recruitment of new members. This advertising publications should be the “Órálló". They should have their own paper, because the other Hungarian papers in the United States had various previous commitments, thus are obligated to other Hungarian organizations and they could not serve the interest of the Federation single-mindedly, as would their own paper. The recommendation also mandated, that every member of the Federation should subscribe to the “Őrálló ”, except members of the same family and members living in Hungary. Nothing proves better the cooperation and selfsacrifice of our Hungarian-Reformed ancestry, that is equally true in connection to both laity and to the clergy, than the following donations, given to fund the “Őrálló": Emil Nyitrai $100, Reverends Ferenczy, Harsanyi, Demeter and Kalassay $50-$50 and Reverend Dokus $25. The convention accepted the recommendation and the “Őrálló" became the official paper of the Federation until October 4, 1899. (“The First Convention and the First Official Organ of our Federation", Dr. Sándor Kalassay, Bethlen Naptar 1948. Pg. 123-126.) It was the forerunner of our “Fraternity ”, which was mandated by the 1927 Ligonier convention. The gap was filled by various Reformed Church papers, but mostly by the American-Hungarian Reformed Journal. The “Őrálló ” always stressed the idea of the two arms of the American-Hungarian Reformed life, that is the dire need for common work, both in our Federation and in our churches. As Dr. Kalassay so eloquently expressed “...the great majority of our people is convinced even today, that the Federation is better faith put into practice.” (“Sándor Kalassay, 1921, op.cit. Page 3.) In articles like “Our Federation” by a member (Year I, No. 4, September 15, 1897); “Plains-Dreams” by y-r (Year I, No. 8, November 15, 1897); “1898" (Year I, No. 11, January 1, 1898); “Manifesto to Our Brethren!” by y-r (Year I, No. 12, January 15, 1898); or “God Brought You!" (Year 87
