Itt-Ott, 1994 (27. évfolyam, 1. (123.) szám)

1994 / 1. (123.) szám

of the congregation. These people included the younger generation, the older generation, longtime residents of this country, recent arrivals, and a few people who belong to other faiths who prefer to visit these churches rather than their own place of worship. These statements were valid in 1977 and 1991.

All informants stressed that the pastor’s dedication and leadership of both churches are the most pulsating factors which keep the congregations together spiritually and socially.

Although the members of both New York City churches are enthusiastic and dedicated people, due to social mobility and other personal reasons, the number of people attending the church services and participants in the social and cultural events dropped 5-10% in the past five years. However, according to the pastors, a favorable change is occurring at present, and they feel this trend is going to continue to a reasonable degree.

The pastors are aware of the struggle their churches face in the future, but their enthusiasm and dedication, and the members’ loyalty, gives them hope for success. The Rev. Csordás contended: “Man, even the least believer, seeks the church in times of need, such as funerals, weddings, and christenings. To meet these needs always has been fundamental to the church’s function. Perhaps in this time of crisis and confusion people will again turn to the church for solace and comfort and the wisdom it can bring facing life’s problems.”

The research findings show that the importance of the Calvinist religion and the role and function of the two New York City churches have remained spiritually and socially as effective as they were in 1977. Most changes which have occurred between 1977 and 1991, such as size of congregation, religious and social events, and the financial situation, are positive and on the rise.

It was observed in 1977 as well as in 1991 that the interest of those people who attend the religious services or the social functions, or both, ranges from deep religious conviction to the need of social fellowship.

In summary, Calvinism, as in its earlier days, constituted a great influence on the lives of the people of Hungary. It has remained the same today in the life of the immigrants. Even though the two New York City Calvinist churches are small, their existence is vitally important to their members. Thus, these are instrumental in fostering the

survival of ethnic consciousness, the Hungarian language, and culture of the Old Country.

I feel that this study underlines the theories of culture, religion, church and ethnicity, and mirrors the spiritual need of the Hungarian Calvinists as well as people in general. Further research could be undertaken examining Hungarian Calvinists and other religious institutions in the United States and elsewhere. □

Seven Poets and Three Million Emigrants

Nicholas Kolumban (Somerville, NJ)

There are about 16 million Hungarians in the world. Ten and a half million live in their native land; the rest are scattered mainly in Europe and the U.S. Their relocation had a lot to do with the Treaty of Trianon in 1920 when Hungary, as a country on the losing side during World War I, lost two-thirds of its territory and one-third of its population to its neighbors.

Needless to say that World War II also devastated Hungary and its shrunken population. Hungary was a sovereign, albeit conservative, state until March 1944. Then the German military marched into the country, seized control and ruled through a fascist puppet government. The fascist collapse came in April 1945. This only meant that a demoralized population had to suffer the cruelty of Soviet-dictated communism. Those who stayed have experienced in the past 45 years forced confessions, imprisonment and a violent revolution.

Those who escaped to the West had to endure a different kind of hardship: they had to settle and survive in friendly but culturally slightly alien societies. Quite a few had to bear alienation, loneliness and the anguish of temporarily losing their identities. Most have adjusted in various ways to various degrees. It is also true that many could not assimilate completely. The poets who fled their native land in 1956 sang about all those

Presented at the Conference of the American-Hungarian Educators’ Associaton, April, 1994, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

ITT-OTT 27. évf. (1994), 1. (123.) szám 39