Fraternity-Testvériség, 1993 (71. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1993-01-01 / 1. szám

Page 6

TESTVÉRISÉG

years. During WWI, the Federation purchased more than 100,000 korona worth of war bonds. At the end of the war in 1919, the Federation donated one fifth of its assets to the needy in war-tom Hungary. The Convention in 1919 in Buffalo, NY, dealt with topics like reinsurance and joined the National Fraternal Congress of America. This Convention tried to persuade the two major Hungarian Protestant denominations to join forces in order and establish a joint newspaper. The efforts were unsuccessful.

The 25th Anniversary of the Federation coincided with the dedication of the Orphans’ Home in Ligonier, PA. It took 15 years of hard work to raise the necessary funds to purchase the home for the children. Finally, on July 4, 1921, it was opened under the leadership of Reverend Sándor Kalassay. The Federation demonstrated its dedication to the cause when in 1923 it raised the assessment fee of five cents to ten cents from each member in order to secure the operation of the Orphans’ Home.

Just like many other financial institutions in 1931, the HRFA had to deal with its financial difficulties. During the Depression, the Federation lost some of its assets that were deposited in some defunct banks. The Federation overall lost about 15% of its total assets during this period. Despite all of its losses, the Federation began a vigorous campaign to revitalize itself. It re-established its full-time district manager program in five areas: Chicago, California, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania-West Virginia, and New Jersey-New York-Connecticut. Just like in 1919, the Convention in 1931 demonstrated its dedication to the needy by establishing an “Old Age Home” for our elderly, next to the Orphans’ Home in Ligonier, PA. During the summer of 1931, a youth camp was also opened to the juvenile members of the Federation.

The Convention of 1935 was also another milestone in the history of the Federation. At this Convention, two major decisions were made. The transfer of the Home Office from Toledo, OH, to Washington, D.C. This move was mandated by a Federal Law in 1932, which forced all financial institutions, including fraternal benefit societies, to establish their home office in the state in which their charter was issued. Therefore, since our charter was issued by the U.S. Congress, we had no choice but to relocate to the District of Columbia.

The second major decision was to centralize the administrative operation of the Federation with a fulltime secretary, treasurer, comptroller and field secretary. The president’s position still remained a part-time position, until 1944. In 1938, the Federation purchased its first home office building named after Louis Kossuth, on Pennsylvania Avenue, next to the White House. Prior to 1938, the Federation operated from a rented office space in the District of Columbia.

In 1943 the Convention was postponed for another year due to WWII. In 1944 it called for the reduction of the number of officers from five to four and elected its first full-time president. At this Convention an amount of $15,000 was donated towards a relief program for the war-tom motherland, Hungary. The delegates remembered the late Steve Molnár, one of the founders of the Federation, who held the positions of secretary, president and treasurer between 1902 and 1943. They also held a service in memory of 80 Federation members who lost their lives fighting in WWII.

The Convention of 1948 was held in Cleveland, OH, where it voted for the extension of the Orphans’ Home in Ligonier, PA. Its delegates also voted for an additional $6,000 towards a relief program for Hungary.

At a memorial service, the delegates of the 1952 Convention in Ligonier, PA paid tribute to one of the forefathers of the Federation, the Reverend Sándor Kalassay, who played a significant role in the founding and building of our society.

In 1953, the Federation purchased its second Kossuth House, just off Dupont Circle, on P Street.

Although it was planned to hold the 1956 Convention in Washington, D.C., the Board of Directors decided to have it moved to Ligonier, PA enabling the delegates to participate in the dedication ceremony of the new addition to the Orphans’ Home. At this occasion, the Federation also celebrated its 60th anniversary. This Convention voted on the extension of the “home for the elderly” in Ligonier, PA. By this time, the membership grew to 34,200, and the number of branches in 21 states increased to 208.

The Convention in 1960 reorganized the Districts into two areas. The Eastern Area composed of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Eastern Pennsylvania. The Western Area composed of Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Chicago and California and put the Districts under the supervision of two area managers. The present two vice president positions were increased to three. The Convention also dealt with the question of dividends, but no action was taken in this regard. At the time of the Convention, the membership increased to 36,000, and our assets reached 10 million dollars.

In 1964 the delegates came to Washington, D.C., not only for the Convention but also for the dedication of the third Kossuth House on New Mexico Avenue. This was the year of mergers. First, the Young Men and Women Sick Benefit Society of Cleveland, Ohio, merged with 614 members, followed by the First Hungarian Sick Benefit Insurance of Yonkers, New York, with 74 members and the Hungarian Presbyterian Funeral Benefit Society of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with 283 members.