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

1977-10-01 / 4. szám

The Children s Home

Ten years ago we had great plans to expand the services of the Bethlen Home. Only the Bethlen Freedom Press, Inc., was chartered, subsidized and finally sold in 1974.

I studied the feasibility of using the present building as a Retirement Center. It was the experts opinion that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes the installation of an elevator mandatory. Its estimated cost would be $45,000. A conservative figure of $100,000 was given for elctrical rewireing, paneling new rooms, plumbing and general remodeling. The expected amount of income from such Retirement Center would not justify the high cost of alteration and modernization requested by law.

A study was made to use the building for a museum, archive, library and meeting room. It was the opinion of the experts that it could he used for such purposes. However, it was pointed out that the repairs and operation of such large buildings would be too expensive unless the available extra space would be advantageously used for a religious administration and, or a training center. The archive material is very valuable but also very perishable. We have a limited short period of time to act and to microfilm and catalog the material.

Rev. Louis Illés contacted the ministers and laymen of the Hungarian Reformed Church of America and made a very interesting presentation of his findings concerning the future use of the vacant building.

Bishop John Butosi gave a written outline at the Ministerial Association meeting concerning the possible options the Bethlen Home has for action:

1. Sell the Children’s Building. It would stop the deficit operation but would damage the concept - image of Ligonier. We were used to doing our charitable services together in a brotherly fraternal spirit.

2. Make the building an archive and museum. It would be a satisfactory answer to the request of such service. However, is this our present most urgently needed service? Do we have funds for its upkeep? Is it not a

duplication of the effort of the American Hungarian Foundation?

3. Use it as a Church Center for training and retreats; scholarly research. It would serve as a conference center in the UCC conferences. However, can the financial, operational and leadership problems be solved?

4. Use the building for a Hungarian Reformed School. Private school or academy. Surely, parents are disgusted and dissatisfied with our present public school system. However, we had Hungarian language courses in Bloomfield, Elmhurst, Lancaster and New York and all are a matter of history.

5. Create a Hungarian Colony. Use the building as a retirement center for ministers. Remodel it as condominium. Use it as the Home Of- ofice of the HRFA. However, could we get the zoning approval for such a project?

The use of the Children’s building was also discussed at the regional ministerial meetings. On November 7th in the Chicago and on November 15th in the Pittsburgh areas. In accordance with the resolutions made at the National Presbyters Conference and the National Ministerial Association meeting the representatives of the denominations met on October 10th in New York and on November 28th in Cleveland. The Feasibility Study prepared by Mr. László L. Eszenyi was studied at every meeting. The denominations were given a most favorable rental proposal with an option to buy within three years. The HRFA pledged its financial support for a trial renting period. It was also pointed out that the HRFA cannot use the building for its Home Office. The past and present zoning classificaton does not allow such use. At the Cleveland meeting the denominational representatives unanimously voted to recommend the sale of the building. They requested that a plan be presented on a partnership basis at their 1978 Annual Synod meetings specifying their financial obligations, organizational participation, intellectual and spiritual contributions of the new Ligonier Center project of museum - archive - library; meeting room; church and retirement center.

The ministers and the denominational representatives after four days of deliberation decided that they are not interested in buying or renting the present building. They are interested in building the new Ligonier with a new vision. They endeavor to have the foresight of designing a modern plan which will serve with utmost efficiency the future welfare of our members and churches.

7