Fraternity-Testvériség, 1955 (33. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1955-10-01 / 10. szám
LABOR DAY’S week again became a memorable period in our community life on account of several important meetings, all held at our Bethlen Home in Ligonier, Pa. The week started with the meeting of the Church Elders’ Association, followed by the Ministerial Association’s annual meeting. These lasted four days. The Directors of the Bethlen Home followed and the meeting of the Supreme Council of our Federation closed the series. There was a number of smaller meetings in between, most important among which was the conference of our District Managers. Several hundred people attended these gatherings, thus getting a chance to become more thoroughly acqainted with the unique charitable institution named Bethlen Home. During the last 34 years this institution has become a valuable rallying place for the leaders of our church and community life. In the early years the date was the 4th of July, this being the anniversary date of the opening of the Home, but during the latter years Labor Day’s week has proved to be more advantageous for the purpose. For many of our co-woTkers this week offers the only opportunity to meet old friends and to discuss our own problems with each other. Labor Day’s week is now a firmly established institution in our life and, God willing, it will remain so for many years to come. ★ ★ ★ AT THE SUPREME Council’s meeting a general review of our affairs was presented by the Federation’s officers to the Directors. The year’s picture is favorable so far. The amount of new insurance written up to the end of August exceeds that of last year’s and it appears that during September the entire year’s quota will be filled through the diligent work of our District Managers and local representatives. The net increase of the number of certificates at the end of August is well over the same figure of 1954. Another important milestone was passed in the life of the Federation in July, when the total admitted assets passed the seven-million mark, the first time in the Federation’s history. Twenty years ago the same item was well under one million dollars. Still another record was reached this past summer. Based on the present membership, the Federation’s gross yearly income from dues alone will be over one million dollars. Twenty years ago the entire year’s income from the branches did not reach $200,000.00, loan and interest payments and other incomes from the branches included. The above mentioned one- million-dollar yearly gross branch income is from dues alone; no other branch income is included in this amount. The present year was evidently a good one from the economic viewpoint. This soundness is reflected in other figures also—the number of surrendered certificates is lower than it was in 1954; so is the number of sick benefit claims and certificate loans. The number of adult deaths is a little larger than in 1954, but this is due to those mergers through which the Federation accepted a number of elderly people for small amounts of insurance. Although the number of individual deaths is somewhat larger, the total of insurance amount is smaller on this account. ★ ★ ★ THE YEAR OF 1956 will be called in our Federation “The Year of the Washington Statue in Budapest.” September of next year will be the fiftieth anniversary of the unveiling of this noble monument, the gift of the American- Hungarians to the people of Hungary. This gift could never have been realized without the hearty cooperation of the Protestant Hungarians living then in the United States. Many leaders of our church and civic life and in the life of the Federation participated at the unveiling in Budapest. The statue is still standing on its original site in the beautiful City Park, called “Városliget”. Thus next year will be dedicated to the memory and spirit of the father of our country, George Washington. Edmund Vasvary. A few days after his father died, little Joe met a sweet old neighbor in the street. She stopped him and asked, “And what, you poor dear, were your father’s last words?” “He didn’t have any,” Joe replied. “Mother was with him right to the end.” Minding Our Own Business
