Magyar Egyház, 1959 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1959-11-01 / 11. szám
X MAGYAR EGYHÁZ MAGYAR CHURCH FIRST NATIONAL THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and whereas both houses of Congress have, by their joint Committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the Beneficent Author of all good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in tendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country, previous to their becoming a nation; for the single and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His providence, in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish Constitutions of Government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors, which He has been pleased to confer upon us. And, also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all people, by constantly being a govenment of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace and record; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increasing of science, among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Given under my hand at the City of New York, the third day of October, 1789. George Washington TERROR ON TEEN-AGERS Editorial Several American papers and the TV have noted recently the Kádár régime’s terror on teen-agers in Hungary. Freedom fighters who were arrested and imprisoned during the last 3 years when they were still minors, have been kept in prison and would not be tried until they are of age and could be put to death ‘legally’. According to various sources 200 death sentences were passed already this year, and the number of subsequent ones, including teenagers, is estimated around 150. The Communist régime’s brutal terror against teen-agers proves two things. First, that they are afraid even of children and do not believe in any of their other methods of education to change the minds of these young people. Second, that brutal terror is the only reliable supporter of the Communist system. We should learn the lesson: there can be exchanges of visits and smiles between Western and Communist officials, these intermittent episodes won’t change the character of Communism, terror won’t stop. The blood of the martyrs will cease flowing only when Communism will cease existing. AN ADVENT PRAYER O God, our Father, who dost exhort us to pray, and who dost grant what we ask, if only, when we ask, we live a better life. Hear me who am trembling in this darkness, and stretch forth Thy hand unto me. Hold forth Thy light before me. Recall me from my wanderings. And, Thou being my guide, may I be restored to myself and to Thee. Through Jesus Christ. Amen. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (354-430) NOTABLE QUOTATION Dr. Eugene Carson Blake, Stated Clerk of the United Presbyterian Church, in an address defending contacts with Christians behind the iron curtain: “I am always worried about those people who think that when a Christian talks to a Communist it is the Christian who is going to be converted to Communism, and not the Communist to Christianity.” (EPS)
