Fraternity-Testvériség, 1961 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1961-09-01 / 9. szám
12 FRATERNITY 1848 onwards, however, the State gave the Reformed Church financial asistancc as the occasion demanded. Then in 1898 a new law was passed, in terms of which the State set aside a sum of money annually to supplement the stipends of all ministers whose annual income was less than 1600 gold crowns (equal to some £80 at that time). Later the State granted the Church financial assistance on other counts as well, but such assistance is not assured by law, the government only renewing its grant from year to year. At the same time all church members have had to pay a church tax, and if they did not pay it regularly, the State had the right to collect it. This latter tax was done away with in 1947. The Rediscovery of the Gospel But a tightening-up of the Church’s constitution could not of itself effect renewal in the life of the Church. What it needed was a new urge to evangelism. The means towards inspiring this new life in the parishes was obtained by copying the “Innere Mission” idea then being developed in Germany, but the few visionaries, about the year 1860, who realized what a mighty instrument a properly organized Home Mission might become, found little support for their plans. Then the church papers took up the two questions of a return to Reformed theology and of the importance of preaching. The Sunday School which the Scottish Missions to the Jews of Hungary ran in Budapest was now used as a model throughout the country, though many ministers refused to touch such a strange and far-reaching innovation. But the great name aasociated with the development of Home Missionary work in Hungary is that of Aladar Szabó. While still a theological student he came into contact, on November 3, 1881, with Dr. Andrew Moody, the then leader of the Scottish Mission, and found in him a kindred spirit. At the Mission he learned how to conduct “soirées” (then a new idea) and all types of evangelistic meetings. He brought along
