Magyar Egyház, 2004 (83. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

2004-01-01 / 1. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

7. oldal

Hungarian Reformed Church Carteret, New Jersey 1903 - 2003

(Combined accounts

of Rt. Rev. Dr. Andrew Harsanyi and Rev. Peter Toth)

The story of the Hungarian Reformed faith in the city of Carteret has been written by the dedicated life of Pastors, Elders and their people. We remember gratefully and with pardonable pride the contribution which our founding fathers made to the life of the community. Both at the place of worship and at the place of employment they gave a shining example of faithfulness, dependability and loyalty.

Before 1903 the Rev. Gabor Dokus, Sr. from South Norwalk, Connecticut, occasionally visited Carteret to hold Hungarian Reformed worship services and to administer the sacraments. On September 10, 1903 a congregation was organized at a meeting moderated by the Rev. Zoltán Kuthy from New York.

From 1903 to 1906 Rev. Sándor Vajo was our first pastor, in which time our congregation became a part of the Reformed Church of Hungary in 1904. The same year the present church site was bought.

Pastor Vajo left for Trenton, New Jersey, and in 1906 the Rev. Sándor Fazekas became the new pastor. He organized the Men's Sick Benefit Society in 1907, the Sunday School in 1908, and the Summer School in 1909. He served until 1909 when he left Carteret in the course of an exchange of pastoral charges with the Rev. István Csepke.

July 4, 1907 was the date of the laying of the cornerstone of the church edifice, which was dedicated a year later, on July 4, 1908. The total cost of the building was $ 4,700, with the first church bell in 1910. Furnishing in the new church were bought gradually, the pulpit in 1914, pews in 1916 and balcony in 1917. In 1918 a new bell was installed. The old bell was given to the local Fire Department.

From 1909 to 1939 Rev. István Csepke served the congregation's needs. In 1922 the Women's Society was founded, and the same year the first organ of our church was dedicated by Bishop Dezső Baltazar from Debrecen. The parsonage was built in 1919. From 1923 to 1929 the Rev. Dr. Karoly Vincze succeeded Rev. Csepke. In the worship service order he reintroduced the Scripture Reading and the Apostles' Creed. He was one of our Free Hungarian Church who organized our independent denomination.

The new brick tower of the church was built in 1927. In 1929 Rev. Sándor Hegyi lead our people through the valley of the economic Great Depression's shadow, departing in 1935.

From 1935 to 1957 the Rev. Sándor Daroczy was our pastor, 1936 the site of Parish Hall was purchased.

1937 the Junior Women's Society was organized. In 1940 English language worship services were introduced once a month, then every week from 1946 on. In 1943 our church donated $405.00 towards the purchase of ambulances for the Army.

In 1952 the Bethlen Hall was built and dedicated, with $30,000.00 loaned from the Hungarian Reformed Federation. The same year the Men's Club was organized.

From 1957 to 1982 Rev. Dr. Andrew Harsanyi was the Minister of the Word among us. By 1960 we repaid the mortgage borrowed from the Reformed Federation, 7 years before its time, and in 1958-1961 parts of the church and Bethlen Hall were remodeled. In 1966 Re. Dr. Andrew Harsanyi was elected Dean, and John Nemish the Chief Elder of the Eastern Classis of our denomination. During large scale renovations of the church in 1967, worship services were in the Bethlen Hall for 10 weeks. When the church was 75 years old in 1978, a new Rogers organ was purchased. In 1982 Dean Harsanyi retired from the Carteret church, to serve the needs of the Washington D.C. church, and was elected Bishop in 1986.

From 1982 to 1989 Rev. Gabor Nitsch served as our pastor. Several renovations happened during that time. A new entrance for our church basement was constructed so the Sunday School children would have a convenient way in and out their classrooms. In the 80's several industrial plants were closed down, with serious effect on our church life, as the people moved away to follow their jobs. Our roll has been depleted due to these the circumstances. In 1988 our Sunday School's room were renovated and painted.

During 1989 - 1990, 2 years without a permanent pastor, Rev. István Török, our Dean, educated our Confirmation Class. Rt. Rev. Dezső Abraham Bishop Emeritus, preached the Word of God. Our Bishop Dr. Harsányi helped also. Our Chief Elder Leonard Sendelsky and all our Elders strove to sustain our church's life.

From 1990 - 2000 Rev. Peter Tóth served this church. During his stay were major renovation projects, with a renovated parish house, restored church building, new side walks, fences and heating system.

I started as a supply pastor in April 2000 and after six months the church members elected me as their permanent pastor. I answered God's call and theirs with my Ordination and Installation in this church on October 22, 2000.

We are at the ending of our church's firs 100 years of service to God in Carteret among the challenge of radical changes in our community, and in our members lives. For these 100 years we have been a faithful church, this fellowship of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, visibly organized as a Christian congregation. The Hungarian ethnic background of the members has given the church a special character - in language, in creed and tradition - enriching its life and style as it sowed the seeds of the Gospel among its members and the community.

Rev. Csilla Lucskay