Magyar Egyház, 1964 (43. évfolyam, 3-9. szám)

1964-11-01 / 9. szám

18

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

DR. ALADÁR KOMJÁTHY:

THE ABIDING MESSAGE

On December 9, 1924, the temporary secretary of the independent Hungarian Reformed congregations, the Reverend Charles Vincze (then from Carteret, New Jersey) opened the long-awaited Constitutional Assembly in the sanctuary of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Duquesne, Pennsylvania. Six churches were represented by five pastors and seven elders. The six churches were: Carteret and Perth Amboy from the East, McKeesport, Duquesne, Detroit and Donora from the West. Every participating church approved a draft of the Constitution and By-Laws prior to this meeting and consented to the organization of the Free Magyar Reformed Church in America. The church of Perth Amboy was the first to vote in favor of the proposed Constitution on August 24, 1924. This church declared also the following: “The Magyar Reformed Church of Perth Amboy is confident that the Hungarian Reformed Church in America can develop in the future as an entirely autonomous denomination having its own bishop.’’

There was a marked unanimity at this first Constitutional Assmebly. There was only one debate because of two different suggestions as to the official name of the denomination. The draft approved by the churches designated the name of the donomination as Free Magyar Reformed Church in America. The church of Perth Amboy however proposed that the denomination should be named Hungarian Reformed Church in America. Dr. Nanassy, pastor of the Perth Amboy Church explained to the mmebership of the Constitutional Assembly why the Perth Amboy Church made this proposal. According to Dr. Nanassy the conformist (“csatlakozott”) churches, that means Hungarian congregations affiliated with another denomination not having the same confessional standards, are not entitled anymore to the name Hungarian Reformed, because only those churches can be called Hungarian Reformed which remained faithful to the Hungarian Reformed faith expressed in the Second Helvetic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism and which are upholding the principles of Hungarian Reformed church government. For the Hungarian churches affiliated with another denomination, the name Hungarian Reformed Church in America would be a constant reminder that “we are the only Hungarian Reformed Church on this continent.”

Elders Koos from McKeesport and Farkas from Detroit spoke in favor of the adjective Free. They emphasized the need for such a distinction in their local situations where there are two Hungarian Churches: one conformist and one free. Finally, the assembly agreed that the adjective Free would remain for the time being as useful to express the church’s desire to be entirely free from all mission board support.

As all the congregations prior to the Duquesne assembly accepted a “solemn congregational covenant,” the Constitutional Assembly declared itself to be a “confessional church,” upholding the II. Helvetic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism as its standards.

A Mission Fund was established and elder Lajos Kovács of Carteret donated $50.00 right at the meeting to begin the Mission Fund. Mr. Kovács was elected to serve as the first denominational treasurer, in which capacity he had served with distinction for years.

It was also decided to publish the approved Constitution and By-Laws and distribute it to the entire constituency of the Church as a book of church membership. The Rev. Endre Sebestyen was elected to serve as the first dean. He was serving the church of Duquesne, and he was to become the first archdean of our denomination. Mr. István Bodnar from Perth Amboy was elected to become the first chief elder of the Free Magyar Reformed Church in America.

What was the importance of this first Constitutional Assembly? What was the significance of this very small beginning, a Classis of six churches only?

First, the Hungarian Reformed immigrant decided to organize his local congregation in America. It awakened in him the responsibility of church membership. We must never forget that it was in America where the Hungarian Reformed church member learned to give voluntarily to his church. Now the Duquesne Constitutional Assembly and the organization of the Free Magyar Reformed Church became the second most important phase in the life of the Hungarian Reformed people in this country. The Free Magyar Reformed Church was the embodiment of the Hungarian Reformed faith, a practical realization of a glorious vision: to build a free, autonomous, entirely independent denominational life. As it was expressed in the new Constitution of the Free Magyar Reformed Church: “temporarily the highest governing body of the Free Magyar Reformed Church is the Classis. The creation of more Classes and of the Diocese and finally of the General Synod constitute the tasks of the future.”

Mr. István Bodnar summed up his feeling after this Duquesne meeting the following way:

It is impossible to find the right words to reproduce the sentiments of those who were filled with the true internal joy while they were participating at this assembly. Only a faithful heart can understand it.. . A believer who could not abandon the faith of our fathers in this free land. We want to grow together in that faith. This faith taught us to maintain our churches by our own service and contributions. This faith educated us not to walk with crutches supplied by others but to walk on our own healthy feet. There are in America Reformed Hungarians whose number may be small but who do not wait for outside aid, who do not expect the American, the Dutch, or the German brethren to maintain a church for Hungarian Reformed people. It is our most sincere conviction that there is no reason to be worried about the future of our classis. If the evil forces of this world would crucify us, we should not be deterred. According to our faith the truth of Christ breaks forth even from the coffin and it claims life for itself, which is victorious.

It is interesting to quote a few contemporary comments on the organization of the Free Magyar Reformed Church from the year 1924. There was almost no reaction to it in the church press of the mother church, in Hungary. It was then considered a minor