Új Magyar Út, 1953 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1953-11-01 / 11-12. szám

CONTENTS

HARSÁNYI ZSOLT, the world renown Hungarian writer, was one of the best known representatives of Hungarian literature between the two world wars. He gained his greatest success with novels, among which his life of Ferenc Liszt entitled “Hungarian Rhapsody”, translated in various languages, brought him tremendous success. However, he was a significant representative of stage literature as well as the newspaper. He died ten years ago and in commemoration of his passing, the New Hungarian Way publishes the text of the only recording which preserves the writer’s voice and which the Hungarian Radio broadcast through the airways the very evening of his death. The recording is a short sketch which documents in dramatical and soulsearching manner the adherence of the Hungarian people to Christ.

WASS ALBERT, one of the most significant living Hungarian writers, publishes a Christmas play in his “Star in the Sky” about the life of those either forced to flee or in hiding in Hungary from communist oppression. At the same time, the play is a declaration of peace among men, of love and of forgiveness.

PROFESSOR IDA BOBULA, presently at the Library of Congress, eulogizes the late József Nyirő, one of the most outstanding figures of modern Hungarian literature. Mr. Nyirő was born and raised in Transylvania which became part of Romania at the end of World War I. His literary works echoed the sufferings and joys of the Magyars and Székelys in that ancient country. The second World War forced him to leave the place of his ancestors and recently he died in exile. The life and work of the writer reflected the virtues and faults of his Székely race. Also it answered the question: what does it mean to be a Hungarian in the first half of the XXth Century? The answer is the everlasting Hungarian credo: the righteous man may die but he will come back to life: the righteous nation may be destroyed but it will revive from its own dust.

MIKLÓS MAKAY analyses in his article, “The Connections of Faith and Knowledge in The Modern World Order” the evolution of science through human history, and its conflict with faith. Mr. Makay, a manufacturer in Brazil, points out that while in the past scientific success was often hindered by the dogmas of established religions, in the last few centuries science came to deny faith in God, as Creator of the Universe. The dialectical materialism tried to explain and prove each revelation of life with cold formulas. The systems of Marx, Lenin, and Stalin, built on this theory have, however, miserably failed, for every advance in science proves that there exists a creating will without which there would be chaos. And this will is God.

In a materialistic society, life is everybody’s fight against everybody for the sole purpose of survival.

There is, however, a more important goal than survival. Christ gave us this goal of love — love toward God and our neighbors.

The American presidential election in 1952 and President Eisenhower’s frequently expressed faith and quest for divine guidance proves that in our modern age the United States came closest to achieving the God given goal of mankind: the brotherhood of all men. And the cooperation, instead of conflict, between faith and knowledge could help us reach that ultimate goal.

LÁSZLÓ MÉRLAKY in his present World Forum analyses the Korean PW talks and the US charges against the Communists for mistreatment of the prisoners. He expresses the fear that the only action taken in this case will be a condemnation by the United Nations and the file clerks of the UN will take care of the rest.

The Far Eastern situation is dealt with in the light of the Mossadegh trial and the Israel-Jordan dispute where the quick action of Washington prevented the outbreak of another war.

Concerning the new plans for a Bermuda conference Mr. Mérlaky expresses the view that, for the time being, there is no urgent need for this meeting since the understanding among the leading Western nations has greatly improved. There is one opinion, however, which assumes that Sir Winston Churchill wants President Eisenhower to take over the leadership of the free world from the elderly Prime Minister.

A brief, factual report is given on the celebrated White-case. There can be no conclusion drawn since the case is not closed yet.

Finally, our columnist takes notice of three Nobel Prize winners, namely Sir Winston Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, and General of the Army George Marshall.

REV. TUNYOGI CSAPÓ ANDRÁS in his study entitled “The Role of the Church in the United States” gives a detailed account of the historical development of American church life, and presents a detailed statistical report of the strength of the various church faiths. The writer, who is Dr. of theology and former university professor, who is presently a minister of a presbyterian congregation, sketches with eminent qualification the role of the church in the life of American society.

MÁRTA HARSÁNYI contributes a short essay dealing with education in England. She emphasizes the fact that the British system of public education is, perhaps, the most liberal in the world. Teachers are given a free hand — within very reasonable limits — in selecting and presenting their teaching materiel. This method enables them to experiment and use the best system they can find. Contrasting the Hungarian and British educational systems, Miss Harsányi discloses that while the Hungarian school presents more useful and interesting details than the British, the latter educates rather for independence, intellectually as well as socially.