Fraternity-Testvériség, 2009 (87. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2009-07-01 / 3. szám
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT A Look at Our History with Gratitude for Our Ministers Since its founding, HRFA has profited from a long traditional linkage with the Reformed Church leaders of America. This has made HRFA into a unique entity because it is a faith-based organization. Let me honor a few of them who have served the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America in leadership positions: Rev. Elek Csutoros was President of HRFA from 1899 to 1905. He was elected again in 1910 but resigned a year later when he decided to return to Hungary. He first came to America in 1898 and settled in Cleveland. In 1912, he went back to Hungary with his wife and five children and was a pastor in Siter, Bihar County. After spending one year there, he returned again to the U.S. He was a pastor at the Cleveland West Side Church and later was a pastor in Columbus, Ohio in order to carry on the missionary work among Hungarian miners. Rev. Sándor Harsányt was one of the founders of HRFA and served as its Vice- President from 1897 until 1903. He was bom in Turkeve in the County of Jasz-Nagy Kun Szolnok. He emigrated to America in 1894. He was a pastor in Cleveland and then Chicago and later in Homestead, PA. He was a prolific writer and editor of the Reformátusok Lapja between 1917 and 1924. He died at the Bethlen Home in Ligonier, PA in 1951. Rev. Dr. Sándor Toth was Treasurer of HRFA from 1919 to 1935. Dr. Toth was born in Korosladany and was educated at the Debrecen Kollegium. He came to America in 1909 and served as minister of congregations in Buffalo, Tonawanda, NY and Cleveland. Between 1938 and 1960, he was editor of the Reformátusok Lapja. He passed away in 1963. Rev. Sándor Kalassay was the first Secretary of HRFA from 1896 to 1899. From 1903 through 1912, he held the following positions: Auditor, President and Treasurer. He was bom in Ernőd, Borsod County in 1869. He graduated from the Reformed College of Sárospatak. He came to America in 1895 and was one of the organizers of HRFA in Trenton, NJ the following year. In 1921, he became the Superintendent of the Orphans Home in Ligonier, PA, and in 1935, he became an administrator of the Bethlen Home. He served in this capacity until the age of 73. He died in Chicago in 1950 and was buried in Ligonier, PA. Rev. Dr. Ference Újlaki was President of HRFA between 1931 and 1956. He was bom in Ungvar and educated at Sárospatak Kollegium. He came to Cleveland in 1913, and he served as pastor in Fairport Harbor, Lorain and the Toledo Reformed Churches until 1944. Then, he became full-time President of HRFA for twelve years. His great humanitarian accomplishment was to take a planeload of badly needed penicillin, a gift of HRFA and the American Hungarian churches, to Hungary after World War II. He passed away in 1984. Rev. George E. Borshy-Kerekes was elected Secretary of HRFA in 1944 and President in 1956. He retired from the Federation in 1964. He was bom in 1882 in Diósgyőr, Borsod County and was educated in Sárospatak. He came to America in 1924 and organized the church in McKeesport, PA. He was a prolific writer and became one of the greatest Hungarian newspapermen in America. Rev. József Kecskemethy was elected secretary in 1956 and held this position until 1969. Although he was bom in Pennsylvania, he went to Hungary for his education and graduated from the Reformed Seminary in Debrecen. He was ordained in 1932. He was also Superintendent of the Bethlen Home and later served as pastor in Passaic, NJ. Rev. Kecskemethy returned to Ligonier, PA where he died in 1995. Rt. Rev. Dr. Zoltán Beky served as President of HRFA from 1964 to 1976. He was bom in Hemadszentandras, Abauj County in 1903. He graduated from the Sárospatak Academy College and Seminary. Dr. Beky became the first elected Bishop of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America in 1958. Dr. Beky published several volumes on theology and the history of Hungarian church life in America. He died in 1978. Rt. Rev. Arpad George was elected HRFA Secretary in 1968 and President in 1976. He retired in 1980. Rt Rev. George was bom in Szalonna in 1910 and came to the U.S. in 1913. In 1920, he returned to Hungary and completed his studies in Sárospatak. He was ordained in 1935 and served Hungarian congregations during his 33 years of ministry. He died in 1988 and rests in Ligonier cemetery. Rev. Dr. Imre Bertalan was elected President of HRFA in 1980 and served in this capacity until his retirement in 1992. He was bom in 1918 in Nyírtass, Szabolcs County. His father, like his son, was a minister. He served in several congregations in New York and New Jersey. He was the minister of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Washington, DC from 1981 until 2008, when he passed away. He was a giant in the Hungarian community and you all know him very well for his great accomplishments. There are many other ministers who played a significant role in the history of the Federation, but I can’t possibly mention them all in this space. These men served as role models for preserving the religious traditions of Hungarian-Americans. Obviously without these ministers, the Federation could not have flourished, and with your continued support, our faith-based organization will continue to pass on the religious traditions of American- Hungarians and preserve our heritage. Fraternally, Leslie László Megyeri 3
