Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-04-01 / 4-5. szám
14 FRATERNITY György Borshy Kerekes, János Estu and István Köteles, to prepare a plan for the solution of this problem. The plan was ready for the 1935 convention in Ligonier, Pa., where, after its presentation by György Borshy Kerekes, it was accepted. According to this plan our Home Office was opened in the Nation’s Capital on January 1, 1936, with Ferenc Újlaki, D. D., as president (who at that time was not yet a full-time officer), and with the following officers, who were elected as full-time workers: István Molnár, secretary; Imre Király, treasurer; Ödön Vasváry, controller, and György Borshy Kerekes, field secretary. Without further explanation we may evaluate the importance of such a step, and the result of the first four years, by the following figures: Membership on January 1, 1936 ........................... 12,720 Membership on January 1, 1940 ........................... 20,865 The Home Office, which in the beginning was located in rented quarters, soon moved into its own Kossuth Building on Pennsylvania Avenue. The convention in 1939, already held in Washington, re-elected the first centralized staff of officers unanimously, we may say, in recognition of their achievements. This same staff served during the next five years. Because of travel restrictions during the second World War, the convention due in 1943 was postponed until 1944, and it was held in Ligonier. This meeting elected Ferenc Újlaki, D. D., as full-time president, and György Borshy Kerekes as secretary, replacing István Molnár who retired after serving several decades, and re-elected the other two officers, Imre Király and Ödön Vasváry. Of course, the results achieved during their term of office could not have been accomplished without the existence of an efficient field organization beside the administration. Let us mention here with pride the names of those who in this decade through their diligent efforts have earned a recognition in promoting the work of our Federation, in cooperation with our local representatives: Rev. Emil Nagy (deceased), Rev. Gyula Melegh (deceased), Miklós Kovács (deceased), Gusztáv Kovács (deceased), Mihály B. Tusai (deceased) and among our still working district managers, Pál Szentmiklóssy; also Rev. István E. Balogh, a former district manager and later the director of our Veterans’ Bureau in Chicago. THE SIXTH DECADE World War II, naturally, caused considerable losses to us, since hundreds of our young members served in the armed forces and a large number of them died a hero’s death. Although, according to the war clause of our certificates, we were not bound to pay their life insurance, nevertheless, we voided the war clause and paid the corresponding amounts to their beneficiaries. We again gave conclusive proof of the fraternal spirit of our Federation. Our exemplary help to Hungarians outside our Federation is related by our officers in other articles of this issue of our publication. The records of the American Hungarian Relief can also furnish the data for this information, and also the many refugees whose immigration to these shores we have made, and are still making, possible.
