Fraternity-Testvériség, 1953 (31. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1953-04-01 / 4. szám
IN PLAIN AMERICAN A monthly page conducted by Edmund Vasvary THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Supreme Council of our Federation is unquestionably the biggest and most important affair each year for the force at the Home Office. It always lasts a week. It is the Council's duty to supervise and direct the work at the Home Office, in accordance with the By-Laws, to review the assets and liabilities of the Federation, the events and results of the past year and at the end of its four year term to present a comprehensive report to the Convention. Naturally this involves much thoroughgoing and conscientious work during the week, consuming more than the usual working time of each day. The directors are mostly experienced in their job which makes it possible to do the work in a businesslike manner, avoiding duplication and delay. We are happy to report that the Supreme Council was satisfied with its findings and expressed its appreciation to every worker of the Federation. The directors went home convinced again that all the affairs of our Federation are in good shape. The past year was a good one in every respect. We only hope that the current year will be able to match its achievements. Our members are in the position to make a review of their own if they read the annual reports of the officers currently published in our monthly magazine. They will be informed about the resolutions of the Supreme Council also. ★ ★ ★ IT WAS A SOLEMN AND SAD DUTY for all of us to say farewell to three members of the Council who relinquished their posts. The Rev. Dr. Charles Vincze of Perth Amboy, N. J. served 13 years, Emery Pozsgay of Chicago, 111., served 8 years and the Rev. Alexander Daroczy of Carteret, N. J. served 4 years as leaders in the Federation’s life. During these years they not only gained a deep insight into the details of the Federation’s working machinery, but were willing and able to contribute much to the progress which was maintained steadily during the years of their tenure. The members of the Federation naturally could not witness their faithful and effective activities, but we at the Home Office who were privileged to work with them, feel deeply the loss of their services. ★ ★ ★ WE WELCOMED four new directors: the Rev. Charles Papp of Toledo, O. as First Vice President, the Rev. Zoltán Beky of Trenton, N. J., Emery Perczel of Toledo, O. and Géza Veszprémi of Detroit, Mich, as directors. The Rev. Papp already served one term as Vice President some years ago. All of them are old workers at their branches, who gained much experience at the many conventions they attended. The role they played at this first meeting has shown that the Federation will receive faithful and efficient services from them. ★ ★ ★ WE HAD A UNIQUE gathering in the Assembly Hall of our Kossuth House on the first evening of the annual meeting. A large audience was present to witness the presentation of those Kossuth paintings which are loaned for a long term from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to the Federation. The 18 paintings (4 large and 14 small ones) were done by a young American artist, Walter Gould, in Kutahia, Asia Minor, during the summer of 1851. Kutahia was the place of internment for Louis Kossuth and his followers for about a year and a half. A few weeks after Gould’s visit there, the exiles were released and brought to the United States on an American warship, the “Mississippi.” There are several historical references about these portraits, but nobody knew what happened to them after the artist left Kutahia, taking the portraits with him. By a fortunate coincidence I found them last year in Philadelphia, which is the native city of the artist. They were stored in the basement of the Historical Society, in company with many other paintings for which the Society is unable to find wall space for exhibition. The directors of the Society were kind enough to loan them to our Federation, after having been convinced that they will find a suitable home in our building, where for many years to come they will be admired by our visitors. One of the reasons why we consider this find of historical significance is that this portrait of Kossuth was entirely unknown so far. We have many pictures of Kossuth, several of them highly idealized, but according to Kossuth himself, who wrote a warm testimonial letter to the artist, he and his family found this one is the most lifelike. Moreover, this is the only portrait of his during his Turkish internment for which he was actually sitting. It is in every respect a true work of art. Among the 14 small portraits there is one which deserves particular^ mention. It is the portrait of the Rev. Gideon Ács, who preached to the exiles many times and the first minister of the Hungarian Reformed Church who organized a congregation in the United States. It is believed that this is his only portrait in existence. He was at that time 32 years old. The presentation in the name of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania was made by Mr. Meredith B. Colket, Jr. of the National Archives, who is a __ prominent member of the Society. I myself had the honor to talk about the paintings and their very interesting historical background, linking them to an unfortunate revolutionary attempt which cost the lives of a number of Hungarian patriots, mostly in Transylvania. * ★ “Dad, why did you sign my report card with an X instead of your name?” “I don’t want your teacher to think that anyone with your grades could possibly have a father who can read or write.” ★ The busy executive asked his secretary where his pencil was. “It's behind your ear,” she replied. “Come, come!” snapped the busy executive, “I’m a busy man. Which ear?”
