Reformátusok Lapja, 1963 (64. évfolyam, 1-9. szám)
1963-11-01 / 9. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 13 ENGLISH SECTION THE HOUSE OF MANY LAMPS When the last rays of the setting sun have faded, and the mountains have flung down their shadows into the valleys, the lamps are lighted in the quaint little white houses of a village in Southeastern Europe, in Transylvania. There is darkness only in the gray stone church that stands on the summit of a hill overlooking the little hamlet. A legend is told about “The House of Many Lamps”, as the church is called. It was built long ago in the sixteenth century by an old duke who had ten beautiful daughters whom he loved devotedly. When they were children he took great pleasure in watching them play, and even when they were grown up he would sit in the garden for hours listening to them singing over their needlework or watching as they picked flowers from the garden. Unlike most royal fathers, he was not anxious for them to marry, and it was with great reluctance that he let them go one by one. People used to smile at the fuss he made over each one leaving home, but he would shake his head sadly and say that each one had her place, and that the house was lonely in some spot without her. As he grew old, the duke began to wonder what he would leave behind him to perpetuate his memory. Finally, he decided to build a church so beautiful that men would worship as soon as they entered, because it would draw them to God. He drew up the plans and watched the building with great delight. At last came the great day when all was finished, and the duke took one of his daughters to see it. The simple lines, the graceful beams, the carving and stained glass windows were exclaimed over and admired. “But, father”, said the daughter, “where are the lamps to hang?” “That, my dear”, said the duke, a whimsical smile on his tired face, “is a pet scheme of your old father’s. There will be no hanging lamps. Each one will carry his own. I have provided small bronze lamps, one for every person in the village up to the number the church will hold.” Then he added slowly: “Some corner of God’s house will be dark and lonely if all His sons and daughters do not come to worship Him at the appointed time.” And these words were carved in the stone over the doorway. Four hundred years have elapsed since that time. The bronz lamps have been handed down from father to son and carefully treasured. When the sweet-toned bells of the old church ring, the village people wend their way up the hill, each carrying his own lamp. The church is nearly always filled, for no family wishes its corner to be dark and gloomy. In the Sanctuary of all of our churches there is a corner for your family and yourself. Is that corner dark and gloomy? Don’t let it be! Bring your lamp, that is, your heart, to this beautiful House of God on each day of worship.
