Amerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja, 1913 (14. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)

1913-11-08 / 45. szám

XIV. ÉVFOLYAM, 45 SZÁM. NEW YORK, N. Y. 1913 NOVEMBER 8. VOL. XIV. No. 45.

AZ. AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUS EGYESÜLET HIVATALOS LAPJA.

Editor:

Rev. LAD. HARSANY1 2S5 East 115th St. New York, N.

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AMERICAN HUNGARIAN REFORMED FEDERATION

MEGJELENIK MINDEN SZOMBATON — PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY.

Entered as second-class mater Oct. 28, 1910 at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879.

MAGYAROKNAK A MAGYAROKRÓL.*

THOUGHTS UPON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF, THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN TOLEDO.

Rev. D. A. Souders, az amerikai magyarság igaz barátja.

During the month of October several Hungarian churches in America celebrated their tenth anniversary. It was the pleasure of the District Superintendent to enjoy 2 such celebrations with the people, first at Lorain Ohio, then at Toledo, Ohio. In each case the same train of thought was awakened. “What have the past ten years brought to these people by way of moral and religious experiences?

Ten years is a long time in the life experience of a man. It leaves impressions that last for a life time. It is one seventh of our alotted time of life. Whish way have the people of these congregations been travelling during the last ten years, toward the light or into the darkness? If in taking a journey from one land to another we go ten miles out of the i way we may retrable our steps though much time and effort is lost in doing so; in going ten years out of the way in the journey remain upon us. How important then that we travel constantly toward the light of truth and righteousness.

Ten years in the history of a Christian congregation means much for the future of the congregation as well as in the life of the individual. The question therefore forces itself upon us. What have the last ten years brought to these Hungarian congregations? In external matters the years have brought them good, commodious and beautiful church

•uildings. The people themselves have largely paid for them and vili soon own them without even ihe burden of a mortgage upon them. They will be the property of the congregations forever fcr the purposes for which they were

built. Confortable parsonages where the minister and his family are always waiting to welcome the members of the congregation for pleasure or counsel or comfort, are found in connection with the church. The congregations

have not always increased much in membership but the Sunday Schools have grown and are doing excellent work. All that appeals I to the eye of the visitor tells of progress but in church work more than in any thing alse the important consideration is not what can be seen in buildings but what can be found in the minds and harts of the people. What then have the past ten years brought to the members of the congregations?

I have now spent ten years in the office I now occupy and during all these years was intimately "ssociated with the people of the Hungarian Reformed Church in he United States. I have learned +o know that you brought with you from your homes in Europe owe excellent characteristics of moral and religious ilfe. Have you preserved them?

I am informed that at home you attended church services regularly. You have the children baptized in early infancy and so dedicated them to the Lord; You kept your promise to teach ther. the Lord’s prayer, the Apostles Creed, the Ten Commandments; and many hymns and scripture passages and you sent the chiid- renren to the minister to be instructed and confirmed. You went

* A töledoi egyház ünnepélyén elmondott, a nagy magyarbarát érzelmekről tanúskodó beszédet, fentiekben teljes egészében közöljük.