Magyar Egyház, 1956 (35. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1956-08-01 / 8-9. szám
12 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ esty will never disturb the estates and within the borders of Hnugary, collectively and singly, both magnates and nobles, free and privileged cities belonging to the Crown: moreover the Hungarian soldiers serving in Hungarian fortresses, in their religious practice and faith, nor will he let them be disturbed or hindered by others, but the free exercise and usage of the religion of the aforesaid orders and estates shall be granted, without however the detriment of the Roman Catholic religion and with the understanding that the Roman Catholic priesthood, church buildings and congregations remain inviolate and free. Further, the churches occupied in these disturbed times by both parties, shall be mutually returned.” Remaining articles of the peace treaty refer to the remedying of political grievances. Protestant Hungarians regarded the results attained to be minor (and they were right), but the Habsburg partisans, especially the Roman priesthood, considered it too generous. Bocskay and his followers were dissatisfied with the religious provisions, for they regarded the clause of the article with suspicion, and they were especially mortified by their inability to secure the expulsion of the Jesuits from the country. Bocskay even announced that because of the suspicious clause of the religious article he refuses to accept the treaty. At this Archduke Matthias declared in writing that he would assure Bocskay and the Protestants that the religious clause had neither secret nor malevolent intent, and moreover this article was to be submitted by him to the coming Diet for further discussion. Bocskay, having been instrumental in bringing the 15 year war with the Turks to an advantageous conclusion for Hungary, called a national Diet to Kassa for December 13, 1606. The Diet announced that it was willing to accept the Peace Treaty of Vienna, but with the provision that the religious demands of the Protestants be sustained and be enacted at the coming Diet. When the Diet of Kassa came to an end and its enactments were ratified by Bocskay on December 22, he was mortally ill, and a week later, passed away in his 49th year. He was allegedly poisoned by Michael Katay, his chancellor, who was hired for this attempt by the Habsburgs. Bocskay’s unexpected death cast the people of the two Hungarian nations into deep mourning. The Prince, who was interred at Gyulafehervar, was considered the father and Moses of his people. He was actually a great man, honest, of good intention, a deeply devout Reformed Christian. The main achievement of his life was the Peace Treaty of Vienna. It was not his fault that the clause, the source of so much later trouble and misunderstanding, which he opposed from the beginning, was included. The basic defect of the Peace Treaty, which couldn’t be prevented at that time, was its lack of a specific guarantee of religious freedom for the peasantry as well. In addition to the Peace Treaty of Vienna, Bocskay’s wisdom and patriotism is attested to by a number of cities and villages, located not only in Hajdú County, in which he established permanent Hungarian settlements successfully, the only time this was done since Bela IV. Contemporary writers noted that the Hajdus were half wild, almost animal like mercenaries. It was Bocskay who detected Hungarian brothers longing for understanding and sympathy in these poor, unfortunate men, degraded by continuous warfare and misery. And as a result he settled them in the Trans-Tisza district, especially in the area of the present day County of Hajdú. Cities and towns which continue to flourish in our day testify to the Hajdus’ worthiness for Bocskay’s trust and the privileges he granted elevating them from serfdom. It is to Bockay’s credit that the Rumanian expansion stopped at Ermihalyfalva and couldn’t extend as far as Karczag. The approximately 200,000 Hungarians claiming Hajdú descent and almost all adherents of the Reformed Christian faith, are also to his credit. The eulogy delivered over the Prince wisely stated: “We lost, Stephen, noble Prince of Transylvania, or more correctly, sent him as an advance guard, to the eternal home of the blessed. He was the unparalleled hero of all times and all memories, the glory of whose virtue will never be covered by oblivion, and even the wickedest envy would never be justified in tarnishing his glory and his memory will never be extirpated from human hearts by time, even though it destroys all things.” It is not by accident that among the six heroic figures of the Geneva Reformation monument representing the six nations that accepted the Reformed religion, it is the statue of Stephen Bocskay which represents the Hungarian nation. He was a man of fervent Reformed conviction, a great humanitarian and thus a true Magyar. We may also learn much from him today. ALEXANDER DAROCZY----------------------------------DO YOU KNOW? Do You Know that while Europe’s first written constitution was the English Magna Charta, only seven years later, in 1222, came the Hungarian “Golden Bull”, signed by King Endre? This “Golden Bull”, was at the same time Europe’s first democratic constitution, because, in the despotic medieval world, it guaranteed freedom and equality and conceded that the nation could deprive the king of his throne if he ruled contrary to the common interest of the people.--------------•-------------Zondervan's 5th International Christian Fiction Contest Arouses Interest Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan’s $5,000.00 5th International Christian Fiction Contest which closes December 31, 1956, is exciting comment and arousing interest across the country and even outside the United States. Contest entries are already being received in the editorial offices of the Zondervan Publishing House and inquiries concerning the contest come in every day. The prizes being offered for winners in this contest are as follows: 1st Prize ........................... $4,000.00 2nd Prize ......................... $ 750.00 3rd Prize .......................... $ 250.00 In addition, manuscripts judged publishable although not prizeworthy, will be considered for publication on a straight royalty basis. The publishers have sponsored this contest in the hope of improving the available fiction material for the Christian reading public. It is their hope that as a result of this contest new writing talent will be developed to honor and glorify the Lord — and that already established writers be encouraged and challenged put forth their best efforts to the task and ministry of Christian fiction. All manuscripts or inquiries concerning the contest should be addressed: Zondervan Publishing House Attention — Contest Editors Grand Rapids 6, Michigan
