Fraternity-Testvériség, 1961 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1961-09-01 / 9. szám

FRATERNITY

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF HUNGARIAN REFORMED FEDERATION OF AMERICA Edited by the Officers of the Federation

Published monthly. — Subscription for non-members in the U. S. A. and Canada $2.00, elsewhere $3.00 a year.

Office of Publication: Expert Printing Co., 4627 Irvine St., Pittsburgh 7, Pa.

Editorial Office:

Suite 1201, Dupont Circle Bldg., 1346 Connecticut Ave., Washington 6, D. C. Volume XXXIX SEPTEMBER 1981 Number 9

“THE HUNGARIAN TRUTH”

(Text: II Kings 2:8-15)

Sermon delivered at Washington Cathedral on August 20, 1961, in observance of St. Stephen's Day, by the Rev. Emil Nagy, Pastor of the First Hungarian United Church of Christ

of Bridgeport, Connecticut

Hungary, in spite of her small size of 36,000 square miles, has left an indelible and shining mark on history. At one time a famous French geographer said that Hungary, as it was before the First World War, was the most perfect as well as unique geographic and economic unit in Europe.

In this perfect geographic unit St. Stephen, the first and

most famous King of Hungary, received his regal crown from Pope Sylvester in the year of 1000 or 1001. Here a firm and strong foundation was laid for a nation, which has excelled in

courage against unbelievable odds and for those who would recognize this fact, for centuries in a loyal manner has been dedicated to Western Civilization. St. Stephen was a forceful personality, a great organizer, who, because of the popularity he enjoyed, unified and consolidated his nation and made it possible for his people to start on a course in history which was both

unusual and commendable. Organizing the nation into counties, 46 at first and later 72 as the country expanded, he magnanimously gave rights to his people which kings in his day were not wont to do. There were many tongues in his land, but St. Stephen decreed that no attempt should be made to “magyarize” these people and even went further by permitting them to be governed in minor matters by their own laws. What nation in

history can point to the fact that 1000 years later, after the

First World War, when 192,000 square kilometers were taken