Fraternity-Testvériség, 1977 (55. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1977-10-01 / 4. szám

panies. Her latest nationwide TV commercial will be for “Swanson Fried Chicken”. Victor also appeared in toy commercials, including the advertisement of the “Six Million Dollar Man” toy. Mr. and Mrs. Nemeth and their children are members of branch No. 302 in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Rev. Louis Illés presents to President George five cases of wine as the Christinas gift of the Women’s Club of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Duquesne, Pennsylvania to the guests and administrators of the Bethlen Home. This is an old Hungarian custom bringing Christmas Joy to the aged. The gifts will be accepted by the elderly persons with grateful thanks.

My Mother s Hungarian Cook Book published in English by Mrs. Zoltán Béky, wife of Bishop Béky. Priceless gift for second & third generation wifes or English speaking friends.

Net profit (proceeds) go for “Student Aid”.

Send your order with $2.75 plus 25 cents postage to:

Mrs. Margaret Beky, 5221 Massachusett Ave., N. W.

Washington, D. C. 20016

THE PAST- PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE BETHLEN HOME

The 1968 Convention of the HRFA unanimously voted to close the Children’s Department of the Bethlen Home. The resolution also stated that the HRFA in the future will take care of its members orphaned children. The Convention declared that the buildings of the Children’s Department are not for sale. It suggested that the buildings be used for:

a) Archive and museum

b) Retreats

c) Hungarian summer school

d) Youth center

On September 8th the Supreme Council of the HRFA after studying the appeals of the National Presbyters Conference, The Hungarian Reformed Ministerial Association and the civic leaders of Ligo- nier declined to execute the resolution of the Convention.

The Bethlen Home was founded as the charitable institution of the Hungarian reformed people residing in the United States. Its first charitable service was toward the care of the orphans and half orphans. For this reason the people called it the “Orphanage Home.” It was a charitable institution based on the principle of faith and not business. The amount of donations received during the first 10 years from the HRFA, the congregations and the Hungarian people was $403,633.01; the amount of disbursement for the same period was $402,052.08. The amount of the present annual budget is almost one million dollars.

During the Kalassay, Nanassy and Kecskemethy administrations the Bethlen Home did not operate with a deficit. The almanacs edited by Rev. Joseph Kecskemethy contain many pictures of the dairy and general farming. All the dairy, poultry and pork products served to the guests of the home came from the farm. Farming was done on 500 acres of land. In 1975 the cost of food was $86,051.36 and in 1976 $116,147.20. The amount is increasing annually.

At the turn of the century there was a definite need for an orphanage home. The mine explosions and the fatal accidents in the steel mills made many children orphans and half orphans. The services in the Children’s Department started in 1921. During the first year 50 children were registered for care. In 1922 the number increased to 100. During the following fifteen years the number of children cared for by the Home exceeded 100. There was no welfare,

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