The Bethlen Home Messenger, The Messenger, 2003 (1-5. szám)
2003-09-01 / 4. szám
$3ctüntp ütgßltgfrtö LOOK BACK WITH LOVE “Look Back with Love” is the continuing essay written by Ligonier Gardens resident, Julianna DeTilla, The following is the fifth installment of Julianna’s essay: His wife refused to expose her children to the rigors of an ocean voyage and the uncertain future in a strange land. Thus, he went alone. Several months later, she received a letter from New York. He wrote that he could find no musical opportunity there and had decided to go West. He was never heard from again, and she never forgave him. Many years later, two of his adult children came to America. One settled in New Jersey, the other in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All their lives, they never ceased to try to find some news of their erring father. The little wooden Church on Bates Street was dedicated on October 1, 1892. By that time there were thousands of Hungarian immigrants in Pennsylvania, because of the coal mines, the steel mills, railroads and river traffic. There were far flung Hungarian and other ethnic communities all over this industrial center of the United States. There was a network of trolley lines all over Western Pennsylvania, and if a man worked for the railroad, he and his family could ride on his Employee’s Pass. Our Apa (Father) told us about this, once, as he was looking back with love and reminded us to look back with love, too. It was May, the weather was mild, Pűnkó'zsd was coming, and there was a Church on Bates Street in Pittsburgh where they could sing their hearts out to God with the old majestic psalms, hear the words in their own language and shake hands with a földi. They came from all over in a long line from the Church door down to Second Avenue, where they got off the trolleys. Református, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Byzantine, everybody got the Sacraments of Bread and Wine, no questions asked. They served tea and pastries prepared by the women of the Church before they started the long journey back to their homes. It was a great, great day! According to historians and our historian, the Rev. Dr. Posta there were tribes wandering all over Europe looking for better land to sustain them, to enlarge their own land, steal, just to conquer. Various hordes lingered in places for years and imposed their customs and habits on populations. We know that the Turks invaded Hungary for 150 years. Every once in a while you will meet a Hungarian gentleman with a strong square face and handlebar mustache. He is a throwback. If a gentleman has a yellowish cast to his skin, that coloring is due to the invasion into Eorupoe of the Aisatic hordes. No one can really claim to be pure anything. We are all mixed breed. It is said that the Turks brought paprika into the cuisine of Hungary. Bless them for that! The following poem was written and submitted by The Bethlen Home’s former resident Jean McDonald. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us during your stay at The Bethlen Home. % THANK YOU Blessed Jesus be my guide Keep me safe and warm inside. Take my hand and walk with me Keep me close by the side of Thee. What a journey you have planned for me 1 To walk on this earth and sail life’s sea. ^ •' And only with you by my side Could I have done it or even tried. f 1 ®eepeőt â>pmpat()p Our staff extends their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the following former residents of Ligonier Gardens and The Bethlen Home. “Sharing in your sorrow and wishing you strength ahead.” We will all miss those that have passed: Liaonier Gardens •Of fc-Paul Cramer .)> Ann Vallana Russell Douglass The Bethlen Home Viola Lenhart Francis Smith John Hull Nanna Martin Lillie Mae Horner
