Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1956-04-01 / 4-5. szám

FRATERNITY

5

The Welfare Department of the State of Pennsylvania called this Home one of the most beautiful and best furnished institutions in the State. Bishop László Ravasz referred to it as the “Heart of the American Hungarians.” Since the Bethlen Home has been established as the convention place of the Federation as well as of many national Reformed organizations, it has added reason to be called the HEART of the American Hungarian Reformed people. It is a place, indeed, where dreams are dreamt and visions are seen.

It took the arduous work of 35 long years and the combined effort and sacrifice of the Reformed Federation, the Church and the American Hungarians in general to make the Bethlen Home what it is. The estate on which the older dormitory is situated was purchased in the early part of 1921; it was opened as a home for orphans on July 4 of the same year. In 1939 the Reformed Federation bought a large house in the Borough itself, had an addition built onto it and opened its doors as the permanent home for the children. The house on the hill was turned over completely to the old folks. In 1951 a new building project was undertaken in connection with both homes. As a result of this extensive project we are able to accommodate 65 guests in each of the homes.

“What do ye more than others?” In giving a satisfactory answer to this question we like to point to the practical application of Christian principles as demonstrated, in daily living, in our Bethlen Home. Of course, we do more than care for the orphans and the aged. Through the Bethlen Home God’s love is sensed and becomes manifest. For whoever observes the Home and its work must feel that God even today “watches over his own and keeps him as the apple of his eye; as an eagle stirring up her nest, fluttering over her young, spreading abroad her wings, takes them and bears them on her wings.”

The Bethlen Home, to us, is a concrete example of what can result from the proper combination of God’s love, of human sacrifical effort, and of bearing one another’s burdens.

II. BUILDING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The motto of the Reformed Federation is, “If God be with us, who can be against us?” We affirm that the three greatest values in life are faith, hope and love. Hence the planned program of the Reformed Federation specifically stresses the building of God’s Kingdom of faith and love, and in so doing it seeks to undergird the pillars of hope in men’s hearts.

In the realization of this goal it works in harmony with the Church. As a matter of fact, the Federation from its beginning has fully cooperated with the Church in trying to realize our daily prayer: “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth . . .” In an effort to achieve this goal the Federation offers the following services:

1. COOPERATION WITH THE CHURCH. The Federation welcomes the opportunity to participate in conferences and special celebrations conducted by the Church; through its representatives who quite often take leading roles in these church functions, the Federation endeavors to strengthen the spiritual life of our people.