Magyar Egyház, 1963 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1963-01-01 / 1. szám
8 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ László Hunyady's Novel Wins Award The Permanent Secretary of the Hungarian Congress, Dr. John B. Nádas, 1450 Grace Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, just announced that 73 authors sent entries to the 1962 Annual Literary Contest, and that the Second Hungarian Congress held in Cleveland, Ohio during the Thanksgiving weekend, awarded the first prize, the “Árpád Gold medal” for fiction to R. L. Hunyady’s novel “There Are Secrets” published by Vantage Press. We are happy to record this event and extend our hearty congratulations to the Rev. László Hunyady, pastor of the Free Magyar Reformed Church, Linden, N. J. upon his eminent literary success and well deserved award. We urge our readers to join us and express their appreciation by borrowing this book from the local libraries and reading this warm, human-interest novel. “There Are Secrets” is the ever-new story of a young man’s search for identity and fulfillment in life. This stirring book is an excellent and appropriate gift to our young people and to American friends, as well. D. A. * “There Are Secrets” by L. R. Hunyady, Vantage Press, Inc., 120 W. 31st St., New York 1, N. Y. 328 p. $4.50. CHRISTIANITY: LOST? Is Christianity merely a passing contingency, or is it an unmitigated factor in the existence of mankind? The very continuance of Christianity appears to be threatened, since the danger to Christendom has rarely, if ever, been so serious as in the twentieth century. If one were to evaluate all of the adverse forces—the chief among which is man’s own intolerance of his fellow man as well as the effect of the present form of Communism—he might come to the realization that Christianity, like numerous other religions, has reached the summit of its power and is rapidly decreasing as an essential force in the lifetime of humanity. The church has worked hard for survival by always being on the offensive. For many generations the followers of Christianity have been continuously asked to aid in the building of a Christian home as well as a Christian world—not by force or violence, but by faith and love. The Christian ideal, recognized even by innumerable non-Christians, is often admired as the ultimate conception of moral responsibility. During the countless revolutions and battles occurring in this age, the church has indubitably suffered. In many ruined lands, old cultures have been broken down and have given way to atheism. Nevertheless, Christianity exerts a strong power which meets the needs of men of all eras and societies, mainly because it condemns men’s sins and shows the way to mastery over sm. The Christian Ideal The Christian ideal is threefold—faith, love, and hope. This ideal was exemplified by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and summarized in His Sermon on the Mount. Men of all races are ready to acknowledge it as one of the best sets of ethical teachings in the world. Many people will have nothing to do with the church on its institutional side, but they are ever ready to give their praises to this ideal. The heart of the Sermon on the Mount and of the Christian ideal includes the following passage: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. . .” Originally, the word love meant to entertain and to welcome. Similarly, one meaning of “true” love is “the will to benefit.” Well, one may ask, if this ideal is so overpowering, why do people criticize it? The answer is that most objections have dealt with its impracticability. According to them, its own idealism is its damaging factor. They complain that this ideal, being unattainable, is rarely taken seriously by many people, even Christians. Unfortunately however, they fail to realize that an ideal which can be fulfilled quickly and completely is not really an ideal at all. A true ideal must be seemingly unattainable. To say that an ideal is beyond one’s grasp is certainly not a valid criticism against it. One can accomplish a great deal by striving to come nearer and nearer to it. Even though there is great opposition, Christianity is going on. It may lose ground in large areas, but it will never cease as long as the Christian ideal is important and necessary to members of the human race. Christianity has helped build society after society and will do so in the future . . . and the Christian ideal will reign with it. Leslie A. J. Harsanyi Executive Meeting of the Eastern Area United Church Women. Left to right: Dr. A. Komjáthy, Rev. K. Adorján, Mrs. Zoltán Beky, Mrs. Margaret Kraemer, president, Bshop Béky, Mrs. Helen Bordash, Mrs. Rose Nagy, Mrs. Marge Jensen, Mrs. Helen Cutler. THE NEW CURRICULUM Six short months ago a Preliminary Study of the Christian Education Program within the Hungarian Reformed Church in America led to the initial specific steps for the improvement of the Christian Education Program within the denomination. The study resulted from a summer long survey of educational work within many of our congregations who cooperated by completion of a lengthy survey. The initial two steps in advancement and coordination of a uniform effort within the denomination have already been taken by Duquesne, McKeesport, Roebling and Trenton as this issue of the Magyar Egyház goes to press. Each of these churches has had a committee meeting or meetings for purpose of introduction of the denominational program in general and the recommended curriculum in particular. Each is studying the curriculum to determine its suitability for its educational work and each is considering topics for future clinics. Recommendations of participants in the study consistently emphasized the need to establish a uniform curriculum for the denomination. Ten separate curri-
