Fraternity-Testvériség, 1982 (60. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1982-01-01 / 1. szám
FROM THE PRESIDENT: Board masting - The spring meeting of the Board of Directors will begin on Monday, April 19th in Washington. The Board is called upon to consider the greatest decision ever made in the history of the Federation. On the agenda is the question of the consolidation with the William Penn Association. As has been previously stated, the Board of Directors has completed the duty assigned by the Convention -1980: fact finding and investigating the feasibility of consolidation. In its quest the Board was directed and guided by the thought that this is an opportune time to have a new, all embracing fraternal association which would unite American Hungarians throughout the country. Greatly increased in membership and assets, an association with modern techniques and competitive approach, with renewed fraternal services, would benefit a greater number of American Hungarians. There would be greatly improved service for the insurance and fraternal needs of the present members. The Board of Directors is well aware of the fact that a plan of such design cannot be realized unless it meets with the approval of the membership. Therefore, during the course of the past weeks, the plan was shared with the field force, branch managers, and the elected representatives of the membership, the convention delegates who will have to make the final decision. There should be no misunderstanding. The consolidation is not considered because of immediate necessity; the plan of consolidation at the outset states firmly that both societies stand on secure financial grounds. The idea of consolidation is not the result of any pressure; it is guided by free will and choice. I am convinced that each member of the Board of Directors has searched his soul and will come prepared to make a decision. He has read not only the text of the Consolidation Agreement and the By-Laws, but also what is written in the heart and mind of our members. Thus in the decision making process the voice of the members will have the final say. Since the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America started in the name of the Lord and in His churcn eighty-five blessed years ago, it is important that in our churches, in our individual hearts, prayers be offered that the members of the Board of Directors in their decision be guided not only by their own wisdom but by the Holy Spirit, who alone can help us discover what is God’s plan for us in this matter. ‘Show me your ways O Lord; teach me your paths.' Psalm 25:4 Wharton, NJ church destroyed - Section Manager Steven Vajda shared with us the tragic news that the historic church of the Wharton, NJ congregation was totally destroyed by fire. The church was built in 1906 and contained not only a sanctuary, a fellowship hall, but also beautiful pictures and a valuable collection of church archives. The congregation, which now meets in the parsonage, is not broken in spirit and have resolved to rebuild the church. I visited the site with members of the congregation after our worship service on a cold Sunday in January. Everything was a total loss. Any fellow church that wishes to assist this small congregation in rebuilding their church should do so through their respective denomination. We will carry them in our prayers. Polish Hungarian Solidarity - From time to time, and more frequently than we deserve, God raises up a people who draw to themselves the admiration of all who love liberty and justice. In our present day, the eyes of the world are upon the Polish people. The solidarity of the Polish and Hungarian people should be expressed today in a very demonstrative way because of the one thousand year old historical tie between the two nations. The intermarriages between the ruling families began as early as the time of the Arpad Dynasty. Their common struggle for national independence and survival against the same oppressor runs parallel throughout the centuries. This tie reached to the highest significance in Stephen Báthory, prince of Transylvania, who was one of Poland’s greatest kings. The glorious eleven years of his reign, too brief to be permanently effective, represent the high- water mark of Poland’s international power. Uniting Poland’s forces, he defeated Ivan the Terrible, the first Russian monarch who tried to extend his authority over Poland. Today, 400 years later, Poland, together with the people of Hungary, experience the same threat to their national independence. For us to stand by the Polish people in their struggle, is a legacy of history. Therefore, we urge the members of our fraternal family to participate on church, community and national level in any and all endeavors to assist the people of Poland. Let us cooperate with our American Polish brethren to alleviate the immediate need of the hungry and suffering people. Let us participate in any action that would be an expression of American-Polish, Amer- ican-Hungarian solidarity! 4
