Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1945 / Verhovay Journal
Page 4 Verhovay Journal Journal of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Ass’n OFFICE OF PUBLICATION 8502 West Jefferson Ave. Detroit 17, Mich. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY THE Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association Managing Editor: JOHN BENCZE Editor: COLOMAN REVESZ Editor’s Office: 345 FOURTH AVENUE ROOM 805 PITTSBURGH 22, PA. All articles and changes of address should be sent to the VERHOVAY FRATERNAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION 345 FOURTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH 22, PA. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: United States and Canada_________-___________$1.00 a year Foreign Countries _____________________________$1.50 a year ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: P. O. BOX 7, WOOLSEY STATION — LONG ISLAND CITY 5, N. Y. Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at Detroit, Michigan under the Act of March 3, 1879. HUNGÁRIÁN RELIEF MOVEMENT NEWS Verhovay Journal BOARD MEETS The Board of Directors of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., held a meeting on June 13th. 23 directors attended, five others were represented and two were excused. The Board examined the activities of the Executive Committee and the two secretaries, attended to various pending matters and worked out plans concerning future activities. The Board approved all steps taken by the Executive Committee and the secretaries. It was noted with satisfaction that the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., already had 72 chapters (local committees) in operation. The employment of two secretaries had been reported to and was approved by the President’s War Relief Control Board. The members of the Board were deeply gratified by a letter from Mr. John F. Montgomrey notifying the Board of his acceptance of the national chairmanship of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc. This great American, a former representative of the United State to Hungary, is a great asset to the movement who already has contacted several) well-known Americans requesting and gaining their cooperation in behalf of the starving people of Hungary. The By-Laws of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., stipulate that three trustees be elected and, accordingly, the Board elected Andrew J. Duch, Mayor of Trenton, N. J., and Louis Petrash, judge of Cleveland, O., while the third shall be nominated by the executive committee. Msgr. Elmer Eordogh, chairman of the Board, resigned due to his illness, and following his suggestion, the Board elected the Rev. Stephen/ Chernitzky, Bridgeport, Conn., in his place. Thanks were voted by the Board to Marcel Vertes and Aurel M. Rasko, American Hungarian artists for the preparation of pictures and posters. OFFICIAL RELEASE The Board published the following release for the information of the general public: “1.) The Board finds from all data available that the present condition of the people in Hungary is desperate and necessitates immediate assistance. 2.) The Board approves the action of the Executive Committee by which ten thousand dollars were sent to the International Red Cross through the American Red Cross for the purchasing and immediate distribution of medical supplies. Further payments will be issued as soon as notice will be received from the Red Cross to the effect that the supplies had arrived and were distributed. 3. ) The American Hungarian Relief, Inc., gives every humanly possible guarantee that assistance will be rendered to the needy regardless of their religious or political affiliations in accordance with humanitarian principles, under the control of individuals and institutions appointed by us. 4. ) Let us not forget the need for immediate action! The public is requested to give full confidence to the American Hungarian War Relief, Inc., and to give, immediately, generously and mercifully to the very limits of its ability. Let us save Hungarian lives and our beloved ones!” The declaration was signed by the members of the Board. PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN Every day we read in the Hungarian language press of America of increasing activities in behalf of the .Hungarian' people. New local committees are formed everywhere and by the time this report sees print there will _ be many more chapters in operation than the 72 reported to the Board at its meeting. BUFFALO, N. Y. Great work is done in Buffalo, where the 34th chapter of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., had a highly successful meeting on June 3rd, in the Hall of the West Side Reformed Church. After the singing of the National Anthem the Rev. Andrew Babinsky, reformed pastor, opened the meeting. The Rev. Bela Furjesz, reformed pastor of Lackawanna offered prayer, Mrs. Kreitz entertained the huge audience with songs, followed by a stirring address by Mr. Martin Kiss. Lola Grille—secretary of chapter 34— gave a recital and then Charles Jánosi, Jr., lectured on Hungary. His lecture was highlighted by moving pictures taken in Hungary in 1940. Joseph Taylor, treasurer of chapter 34, reported that American Hungarians of Buffalo and vicinity contributed more than three thousand dollars up to that date. At the meeting of June 3rd, $1,215.71 were contributed. ST. LOUIS, MO Five hundred dollars were sent by the St. Louis chapter to the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., to be followed by much more, for our brethren in St. Louis want to go the whole way in supporting the people of Hungary. We are glad to report that $200 of the $500 mentioned above, were contributed by Branch 209 of the Verhovay. AKRON, OHIO The local chapter of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., have been formed recently and more than two thousand dollars were contributed at the first meeting of the local committee. DAYTON, OHIO The Dayton Chapter of the A. H .Relief, Inc., has been active for more than a month now and a report was made recently of the results of the first month’s work. Members of this committee visit the homes of Dayton soliciting donations for the people of Hungary. Director John P. Kelemen is one of the solicitors. American Hungarians in Dayton have contributed $2329.50 during the first month of this chapter’s activities. COLUMBUS, OHIO $545.00 were contributed at the end of the first meeting of this ommittee which decided to collect at least $2,500 for the A. H. Relief, Inc. PITTSBURGH, PA. A Bread-and-Water Banquet was held on June 17th, Sunday evening at 7 PM at the Verhovay Home in Hazelwood. Tickets sold for a dollar which was an outright gift to the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., since there were no expenses at all in connection with the banquet. Kindhearted ladies donated homemade bread, the management of the Home put the huge hall at the disposal of Chapter 2 of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., which arranged the symbolic banquet. The hall was filled with people who proved a most attentive and responsive audience. Mr. Ignatius Lengyel, chairman of Chapter 2 delivered the opening address after the National Anthem was sung by Frank Demes, Jr., who was accompanied by Goldie Demes. Alexander Feigler rendered a violin solo accompanied by Mrs. Joesph Bercsi. Then Frank Demes sang Hungarian and American songs which earned tremendous applause. The main speaker, Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz spoke of the terrible needs of the Hungarian people, stating that Hungary’s tragedy moves all people who know the facts, he mentioned how a Verhovay soldier, stationed in Linz, Austria, wrote of having met Hungarian slavelaborers and upon hearing from them the authentic story of their sufferings sent $5.00 to the Home Office to be forwarded to the American Hungarian Relief, Inc- He wrote: “I regret that I can’t do more, for I know the need is great and I could not contribute to a better cause.” Then Mr. Revesz mentioned a 14 year old boy who spent four months collecting 1200 pounds of waste-paper and receiving ten dollars for the lot he went to his pastor, the Rev. Andrew M. Leffler of the East Side Lutheran Church, Cleveland, Q., and gave him the ten dollars saying: 'T heard how you described the poverty of the Hungarian children, how they starve and lack all the necessities of life... I have everything and I feel that I should send this money to those poor children.” The speaker continued outlining the work «f the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., taking issue with the various counterarguments brought up by various individuals and groups who refused to cooperate with the movement. He insisted that absolute tight control over the activities of the AHRI is excercised. He stated further: “Medical supplies for ten thousand dollars have been shipped to Hungary, already. Further aid will be sent only after we receive guarantee that the supplies have been distributed among those for whom they were intended.” He ended his address with reading the list of donations received on that evening. His address was a thorough discussion of all the phases of this movement. It stilled all doubts and answered all questions and convinced the audience as to the necessity and dependability of the relief organization. Following Mr. Revesz’ address, Miss Dolores Chonko, charming young vocalist, who regularly appears on KDKA station’s Saturday morning program, rendered three American songs. Her cultured voice, exquisite delivery, emotional sincerity, and warm intonation enthralled the audience which expressed its appreciation with great applause to this young vocalist who will go a long way. Miss Chonko was accompanied on the piano by the Rev. F. W. Rettmann. A. J. Rick gave a piano-solo rendering his own composition and two Hungarian folk-songs which were warmly received. Then Mr. Peter Hazi from Monessen, Pa., rendered two Hungarian songs which earned great applause from the gratified audience. The Rev. F. W. Rettmann acted as announcer during the program which was followed by the symbolic banquet. However, before the bread was eaten, several loaves) of home-made bread were auctioned off, each loaf selling for five to ten dollars. Including the admission fees, donations and the auctioning, the Bread-and-Water banquet netted more than a thousand dollars for the Hungarian Relief, Inc. HOMESTEAD, PA. The Homestead Chapter of the American Hungarian Relief held a meeting on June 17th, Sunday afternoon, in the auditorium of the Carnegie Library. After the singing of the American and Hungarian National anthems, Mr. John Elek, chairman of the local chapter opened the meeting. District Manager Louis Cincel introduced the guests and acted as Master of Ceremonies. Little Vilma Kovács from Duquesne, Pa., charmingly recited a poem and then the Rev. F. W. Rettmann addressed the audience. He emphasized that opposition to the relief movement does not come from the people but from some of their leaders. The great masses of American Hungarians are ready to support the cause notwithstanding the fact that conditions in Hungary may not meet their approval in every instance. Regardless of the political or religious affiliations of our brethren in Hungary, the fact June 27, 1945 that they are starving makes it our unavoidable obligation to assist them. And even though some of the leaders may withhold their support from the movement, nothing will prevent the masses of the people to contribute to the very limit of their abilities. Then Supreme President John Bencze spoke and thoroughly discussed the various aspects of the Hungarian relief program. Answering all questions that may have been in the minds of those attending the meeting, he certainly contributed a great deal towards the strengthening of the movement in Homestead. Emma Borovich of Hazelwood rendered an organ-solo and then Mr. Charles Kun, chairman of the Self Culture Club, delivered a stirring address in behalf of the relief movement. It was decided at this meeting that an outing be held at thé Elek’a farm on July 29, for the benefit of the relief movement. * # * Undoubtedly, the Hungarian War relief movement is well under way towards success. Nearly 35,000 dollars have been sent in to the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., which, naturally, does not represent the total amount contributed for this cause as donations continue to flow in at the treasury of each and every chapter. Again we turn to the second and third generation of the Verhovay, regardless of nationality background. Americans, whose ancestors came to this blessed land many generations ago, contribute generously toward the relief movement. Those of our fellow-members who are not of Hungarian descent, will not find it difficult to see the humanitarian appeal of Hungary’s desperate condition. And those ten thousands of fellow-members who are of Hungarian descent perhaps will be moved by the example set by the 14 year old boy in Cleveland who gave the results of four months of hard work to the starving children of Hungary. To assist our fellow-men is the aim of every fraternal organization. The need Of Hungary’s people challenges us. Whether or not we are really fraternalists, will be shown by the way we meet this challenge!------------v-----------No nation in the modern world can possibly defend itself effectively against the form of violence most likely to threaten it unless it is prepared to take its part in the defense of others. By refusing to concern ourselves with the defense of others we make our own impossible. The basis of all civilization is the defense of each by all; the defense, by the community, of the right of the individual, beginning, of course, with the most elementary right of all, the right to life, to existence, the right not to be tortured, killed, destroyed. And it has been obvious, at the very least since the last war, that this principle is as true of the relationship of nations as of men. —Norman Angell ----------------v------------------A member of the House of Representatives, who was very much impressed by the dignity of his position, was awakened by his wife one night with “John there are burglars in the house!” “You must be mistaken my dear,” replied the solon sleepily. “There may be a few in the Senate, but in the House—the idea is preposterous.”
