William Penn Life, 1986 (21. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1986 / Különszám

How is it that we almost take for granted the freedom and opportunity which most of the people of the world can only dream of?

How can this nation, so rich in freedom and opportunity and justice help others including the descendants of our ancestors fulfill their aspirations?

And most significantly, how can we ensure that the lives of our descendants will be as rich and fulfilling as ours have been?

Those questions reflect some of the considerations that led me to devote so much of my time to politics, and eventually led me to accept a job 300 miles from home in the Department of State.

Just as this, the William Penn Association, grew and prospered because people banded together to solve their own problems, so has our nation prospered because individuals were permitted to use their imagination and initiative to solve their own problems. In my mind that is the principle reason that this nation and those who live in it have flourished in every sense.

When hard working people are given free reign to pursue their goals, unfettered by prejudice and regulation, they will be at their best, their most productive. And when these hard working people are also imaginative and courageous, the results are amazing. The results are what we have here in America: prosperity, opportunity, hope for the future, faith and pride in ourselves and our nation.

When people are permitted to work in the field of their choice and change careers or jobs whenever they want; when they are allowed to earn a fair wage and keep it; when they are allowed to live, travel where and when they want and speak their minds without fear of reprisal they will fulfill their aspirations.

It sounds so easy as I say it, eliminate prejudice and regulation and reprisal and the people will do the rest. Like so many other simple things in this world, it is easier said than done.

Although our Maker has given us the tools with which to flourish, He has also created obstacles, diversions, con artists and governments that don’t have faith in their own citizenry. Sometimes these obstacles are more than a person, or even a nation can overcome.

It is my personal belief that Hungary is now going through such a difficult period. If there ever was a nation whose people were hard working, imaginative and courageous it is the Hungarian people. If there ever was a people who would always land on their feet if given a chance, it is the Hungarian people.

The history of Hungary is that of a nation that yearns to be free. But today many freedoms have been denied the people of Hungary, their lives regulated to the point where initiative and imagination is all too often stifled.

We can but pray that this condition is a temporary one and that the God who gave the Hungarian people the tools with which to prosper, will see fit to give them a political climate that will allow them to prosper.

I am extremely proud of my Hungarian heritage. But I am not the only one who thinks so highly of Hungarians. I remind you of the scene in “My Fair Lady” when Elisa Doolittle is taken to her first ball. The entire evening she is pursued by a curious man who wants to establish her true identity. After observing her charm, grace, wit, and culture he proudly announces that he knows who she is, and loudly announces that: “She must be Hungarian.”

But here I am preaching to the converted. I am certain that each of you is as devoted to your Hungarian heritage as I am to mine. If that were not so we would not be holding this wonderful celebration tonight to honor the William Penn Association’s 100th year.

The ties between America and Hungary date back even to the name of America itself. We know that this continent was named after the first man to spot it, Amerigo Vespucci. What is less known, however, is that Amerigo, the Italianized form of Emericus, was named after the Hungarian prince, St. Emeric, son of King St. Stephen.

In the early days of U.S. history not only did

William Penn Life, Special Centennial Issue, Page 11

Hungarians come to America, sometimes it was the other way around. One of the most famous of the earliest Americans not only visited Hungary but claims to have received a grant of arms from the Prince of Transylvania; that famous American was John Smith, husband of Pocahontas, president of Virginia, and admiral of New England.

The vast majority of the immigrations, however, were in the other direction, that is, Hungarians coming to America. It is well known for instance that in 1695 a Tobias Schumberg and Ferdinand Sarosy came to Germantown, Pennsylvania, a community built under the inspiration of William Penn.

In the previous year a native of Szasz-Dallya conducted a group of colonists to William Penn’s own colony, and even earlier than that Hungarian Jesuits were trying to convert the natives in California and New Mexico.

Of course Hungarian immigration on a large scale began only about a decade after the Civil War, but Hungarian pioneers, scientists and missionaries took part not only in conquering the wilderness for civilization, but in the two most critical periods of American history, the Revolution and the Civil War. In those critical times in the history of our nation, Hungarians by virtue of their military prowess and devotion to the cause of liberty, played a far more important part than their numbers would imply.

Hungarian admiration for the freedoms afforded by the new world has an equally proud history. In 1778 Professor John Zinner from Buda wrote to Ben Franklin, then in Paris, and said that he looked upon Franklin “and all the chiefs of your new republic as angels sent by Heaven to guide and comfort the human race.”

In the 19th century the works of Tocqueville, Farkas De Bolon and Haraszthy describing the democratic experiment in the United States, had an incalculable effect on the spread of

democratic ideas in Hungary.

Poems and novels were written on American subjects, and perhaps the most poetic expression of admiration for America was written by Michael Tompa in his poem “Egy Amerikai Leánykához” (To a Little American Girl) “Amazedly I gaze upon thy form,

Though Fairy Swallow Of the distant seas

Why did you leave they radiant country? Here Thought even,

That fleetest bird of passage

Flies to her in searching for a haven.”

At the same time a little band of Hungarians in New York had become strong and confident enough to ask the U.S. government to assist Hungary in her struggle for independence and liberty. Let it not be said that Hungarians are newcomers to ethnic politics.

More than one hundred years have passed since the events I just described took place, but little has changed. America remains the home of the free, a haven that our brothers living in Hungary can only dream about.

Even though there is much to regret about our native land there is also much to celebrate. No matter what the political and economic principles of government may currently be it is still a land rich in its culture and heritage, a culture that we must nurture and help to preserve.

To this end the government of the United States, with the help of U.S. Ambassador Salgo, expended significant effort in negotiating a very worthwhile East-West exchange with Hungary.

On May 19 a major Hungarian exhibition of gold and silver objects opened at the Cooper- Hewitt Museum in New York. The objects were selected from the Hungarian National Museum collection. In return USIA mounted an exhibit of American filmmaking which was shown to enthusiastic audiences in five Hungarian cities.----------------------------------------------------Continued on next page

Greetings From The Commissioners

The Home Office has received many letters congratulating our Association on marking its first 100 years of service.

Some of the warmest and most appreciated comments have come from the government officials we deal with regularly as part of our business operations, that is, the state insurance commissioners.

Here is what they had to say about our Association:

Our state has more domiciled fraternal benefit societies than any other state in the nation, and I congratulate your society on being one of the oldest such groups in Pennsylvania. The growth and strength you have shown throughout these past 100 years is a tribute to the fraternal benefit system and especially to your officers, directors, and most importantly, to your members.

George F. Grade insurance Commissioner Pennsylvania

From your original 13 members to the hundreds of chapters now formed, the William Penn Association has distinguished itself as the leading Hungarian-American fraternal society. I am pleased that the spirit of fraternalism created by your founders in 1886 is alive and well today.

George Fabe Director of insurance Ohio

It is inspiring, in a world of big business that has become ever more impersonal, to see the spirit of fraternity and all that it implies alive and flourishing as evidenced by organizations like the William Penn Association.

Illinois is better for the presence of publicspirited organizations like the William Penn Association.

John E. Washburn Director of insurance Illinois

Insurance is meant to bring stability and security to its policyholders, but there are few institutions like William Penn who give true meaning to that promise by serving so well for so long.

James P. Corcoran Superintendent of insurance New York

The motives that inspired your Society’s founders and those following who have led it to today’s proud anniversary are, I believe, among the most fundamental and honorable known to mankind — the desire to be of service to others and to encourage people, by working together, to meet and provide for their own needs.

Harry E. Eakin Commissioner of Insurance Indiana

The organization to its credit has continued the tradition of providing to members, as well as beneficiaries and family members, sick and death benefits, housing for the elderly and college scholarships. Hungarian culture and ideals live within the hearts and minds of Hungarian Americans because of the work of the Association.

Bill Gunter State Treasurer Florida

We are particularly pleased that your society has served its members for 100 years. Longevity of major institutions is very important, particulary at a time when we are constantly being bombarded by change in every facet of our daily lives.

James M. Thomson Commissioner of Insurance Virginia