William Penn Life, 1990 (25. évfolyam, 2-10. szám)
1990-06-01 / 6. szám
Page 2, William Penn Life, William Penn LIFE Official Publication of the William Penn Association Published Monthly Office of Publication: 709 Brighton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Phone: 412/231-2979 Third Class U.S. Postage Paid Pittsburgh, PA Permit No. 2724 E. E. Vargo Editor-in-chief John E. Lovász Managing Editor Gateway Press, Inc. Print Production NATIONAL OFFICERS E. E. Vargo National President Frances A. Furedy National Secretary-Treasurer Zoltán B. Emri National Vice President Emil Herman General Counsel Dr. Julius Kesseru Medical Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joseph P. Arvay Chairman Stephen J. Ivancso Vice Chairman Roger G. Nagy Vice Chairman Ronald S. Balia William J. Bero Elmer A. Furedy Michael J. Hrabar John S. Molnár Stephen J. Szatmári Michael F. Tomcsak Elmer W. Toth Frank J. Wukovits, Jr. Frank J. Radvany Secretary of the Board Emeritus AUDITING COMMITTEE Louis A. Fodor Chairman Michael R. Kara Vice Chairman William J. Kovach Secretary Dale A. Cole Stephen P. Danko Charles Fabian ADVISORY BOARD Elmer Charles President Emeritus Frank Bero Stephen Danko Michael Hegedűs Frank J. Wukovits, Sr. Postmaster: If undelivered, please send form 3579 to: William Penn Association 709 Brighton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Kölcsey: writer of the 'Himnusz’ s 1990 This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ferenc Kölcsey, the man who wrote the words to the "Himnusz,” the Hungarian national anthem. To mark this occasion, we present this brief biographical sketch originally delivered on April 29 at a meeting of the Alba Regia Memorial Chapel of the Hungarian Freedom Fighters Federation in Berkeley Springs, W.Va. By Rev. Stephen Sziarto Slanesville, W.Va. Ferenc Kölcsey (1790-1838) was born Aug. 8, 200 years ago in Szodemeter, Hungary, into a noble family of middleclass landowners. He was the oldest of four brothers, and was six years old when his father died. Shortly thereafter, he was sent to the Reformed Church College in Debrecen. His uncle Samuel Kölcsey acted as family guardian, but he, too, died early on, leaving his Almosdi Estate to his four nephews. Kölcsey was 11 years old when his mother and his uncle died. These early deaths increased his propensity for being a loner. And being a loner was abetted by the loss of his left eye to measles. He continued his studies, which included law, at Debrecen College until 1809. Debrecen nurtured his love for books to the extent that he started his own library. His love for Hungarian history and literature led him to study classical Greek and Latin. His knowledge of French and German whetted his appetite for Voltaire (1694- 1778) and others in the French Enlightenment. His German thirst led him to the Teutonic philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and to the German literary giant Goethe (1749-1832). Thus it came as no surprise that he was keenly interested in the French Revolution (1789-1794) and its cry for liberty and patriotism. In Debrecen, at the funeral of Mihály Vitéz of Csokona (1773-1805), Hungary’s greatest enlightenment poet, he met Ferenc Kazinczy (1759-1831). Kazinczy was the outstanding author in promoting the use of the Hungarian language, which was also highly important to Kölcsey. Kolcsey’s popularity was often hindered by his sharp criticism of his colleagues, but he kept forging ahead in his unwavering demands for language improvement and its official use in all matters. His unusual patriotic fervor, his love-of-country idealism gave birth, on Jan. 22, 1823, to his most famous poem: the Hungarian National Anthem. The "Himnusz” is probably the most biblical national anthem in the world. Its first verse, line by line, recognizes the omnipotence of God, the promise of the rainbow, the prayer for help inspired by Psalm 35, and the agony of Isaiah, the suffering servant. Upon hearing of Kolcsey’s death (Aug. 24, 1838), Baron Miklós Wesselényi cried out: "He did not belong amongst us!” Kölcsey lives as long as the "Himnusz” rises from our hearts. NFCA sponsors Ellis L room The National Fraternal Congress of America, a longtime supporter of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum project, will receive special recognition for its contributions to the project. Room E209 of the Immigration Museum will have a bronze plaque at the door reading: "This room made possible by a gift from the member-societies of the National Fraternal Congress of America.” The NFCA-sponsored room, part of the Peak Immigration Years gallery, will contain exhibits designed to illustrate some of the reasons our ancestors left their homelands and came to America. ATTENTION! New Jersey Area Members The Home Office wishes to inform Association members in the New Jersey area that Stephen M. Gulla and his agency no longer represent the William Penn Association. Those members who would like information or service on William Penn insurance policies and annuities should call the Home Office on our toll-free number: 1 -800-848-7366. Reporting of members’ Social Security numbers In recent months our premium notices have included a message asking members to furnish us with their Social Security number. Under the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, our Association must have on file the Social Security number of every member age 5 and older. If we do not have your number, you will soon be receiving a letter from our Home Office asking you to send us your Social Security number. We ask that if you receive such a letter from us, please comply as soon as possible. Your prompt response will be appreciated. Frances A. Furedy National Secretary-Treasurer National President E. E. Vargo greets Bishop Attila Mikloshazy to the Pittsburgh branches’ scholarship dinner dance. (Photo by Louis A. Fodor) Pittsburgh dinner raises $800 for scholarship fund NORTH HUNTINGDON, PA — More than 160 members and friends of the Association gathered May 6 at Arpad’s Colonial Manor Restaurant here for a dinner dance sponsored by the branches of the Greater Pittsburgh area. The annual affair raised a total of almost $800 for the benefit of the William Penn Fraternal Association Scholarship Foundation. Among the evening’s honored guests was Bishop Attila Mikloshazy, Roman Catholic bishop of emigrant Hungarians. Bishop Mikloshazy spoke briefly to the guests in both English and Hungarian and encouraged those present to continue supporting good works, such as the scholarship foundation. Guests enjoyed a delicious Hungarian dinner prepared under the direction of Arpad Palinka. The menu featured hurka, kolbász, beef and dumplings, along with potatoes, mixed vegetables, bread, salad and dessert. Following dinner, National President E. E. Vargo welcomed all to the dinner and thanked them for their support of the scholarship foundation. He then introduced the evening’s entertainment, which included a performance by members of the William Penn Association Magyar Folk Dancers of McKeesport, Pa. The young dancers, under the direction of Betty Király, performed several traditional dances to the delight of the dinner guests. The audience was also treated to a special performance by Stephen Somiak, a member of the Pittsburgh Opera. He sang a brief collection of Hungarian and other favorites, drawing an appreciative and enthusiastic response. Mr. Somiak was accompanied by the George Bátyi Continental Ensemble. After the program the ensemble continued playing for the dancing pleasure of the guests. The evening also featured a raffle to raise even more money for the foundation. The top prize was a beautiful afghan donated by Joseph P. Arvay, chairman of the Board of Directors. The lucky winner of the afghan was Ann Chobody of Branch 88 Rural Valley, Pa.
