Calvin Synod Herald, 1973 (73. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-08-01 / 8-9. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 5 Introduction to the Sacred Program of Béres at Perth Amboy October 8, 1972 Our age in the histoiy of the United States is characterized by a conscious drive on the part of our various nationality groups to discover and reassert the values of their ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The developments of the past 20 years woke us from the conceited dreams of an imagined melting pot and brought us to the realization of the fact that if we want to preserve the cohesion of our society we should start thinking along the lines of the so-called mosaic theory, which means that in order to be good Americans we do not have to become Anglo-Saxon, and in order to be good Christians we do not have to become Anglicans, Scottish Presbyterians, let alone American Baptists. We represent a special color and a special texture in the huge mural of this society and our best contribution to the beauty and wellbeing of the same is the dignified preservation of the color and texture of our culture. The program of our special worship service today is meant to reaffirm our commitment to this worthy aim. This does not necessarily mean that we desire to participate in the power-game that became so popular lately. Black-power, Chicano-power, Indianpower, Irish-power, Polish-power, not to speak about Italian-power. . . . No, we do not wish to join the ranks of these questionable brokers of ethnic power, a cheap exercise, especially in a presidential election year. But . . . we most certainly wish to emphasize the fact that we did not come to these shores emptyhanded. We brought a pair of working hands, a set of values, among which one of the most important was the Hungarian work-ethics, work-ethics about which we hear so much from our leaders lately. And we came with a set of religious values, with the strong Protestant faith of our forefathers, a live tradition which — as a matter of fact — is older than the Protestant tradition of either our English or our Scottish brethren. Today we wish to celebrate our religious heritage in an artistic form. Hungarian poetry was always strong on spiritual subjects. Our greatest poets and greatest composers always gave articulate expression to the faith of our people, a faith that often remained the only mainstay of a nation amid the cruel storms of history. Even today, even in communist-governed Hungary I counted 15 poets, many of them young, who write beautiful spiritual poems. Endre Ady, the literary giant of the beginning of this century is the greatest religious poet in any language. This is not chauvinism on my part, those of you who know his works will fully agree with me. A deep faith in God is part of the Hungarian character. Our guest today is a man who is one of the ablest interpreters of the jewels and gems of 500 vears of modern Hungarian culture. At home and on four continents, at several thousand concerts the noble melodies of the istenes énekek — the godly songs — became alive through his warm, rich, manly voice, and gave inspiration to Hungarian and non- Hungarian alike. He is a friend of mine, but more importantly, a friend and school-mate of your Pastor. He is a product of that hot-bed of Hungarian Calvinist excellence, Sárospatak, which takes second place to none when it comes to Hungarian faith, culture and magyar humanism. Sárospatak always gave more than a mere first class education. In addition to knowledge Patak always inculcated a deep sense of commitment into her alumni ... a commitment to serve ... a commitment to be a missionary of the "more excellent way.” Today our guest, Ferenc Béres, a soloist of the Budapest Philharmonia one of the foremost experts on Hungarian folk-song, both sacred and secular, will lead us to the living fountains of sacred Hungarian melodies, stretching through five centuries. Brethren, it is a privilege for me to present to you our guest soloist, Mr. Ferenc Béres. His first selection is from the early 16th century. A hymn written by Michael Sztáray, the greatest hymn-writer among the early Hungarian reformators. The text of the Hymn of Praise goes like this: How extremely good it is to praise the Lord God, To sing praises to Thy Majesty, To praise and magnify Thy sacred Name, And to proclaim it everywhere, throughtout the whole world. The second selection is from the 17th century. The center of the country is under Turkish occupation. The western part is under the oppression of the Habsburgs whose goal it is to make the nation into Germans and Roman catholics. The little Transylvania is the last bulwark of independence and religious freedom. In the following hymn the preacher tries to give strength and consolation to his tortured, persecuted congregation: Sacred host of Christ, put an end to your mourning, No-one’s hatred can prevail against you, Although the wrath of the world is upon you, Christ, His Majesty, will not let you be ashamed. Although you are small, you are of royal seed, You are dear in the eyes of God, the Father, You are His child through His Holy Son, And you partake in all His glory, this you better believe. The third selection is a poem of Endre Ady set to music by János Bathó the famous music professor of the Sárospatak College. The text goes like this in the translation of Anton Nyerges: THE LORD’S ARRIVAL When they forsook me here and with my soul I stumbling trod, unlooked for and unspeakingly I was embraced by God.
