Bethlen Naptár, 1952 (Ligonier)

To our second generation. Superindent's annual report of the activities and life in the Bethlen Home

BETHLEN NAPTÁR

187

TO OUR SECOND GENERATION

SUPERINDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES AND LIFE IN THE BETHLEN HOME

“BEAR YE ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS”

The words of the Gospel: “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ” became a blessed reality in both life and work at the Bethlen Home during the year 1951.

Yes, we bore the burdens of orphans, half orphans, the homeless, the refugees both young and old alike, by extending to them a helping hand, physical and spiritual care, and a home emanating love and peace.

“Give ye them to eat!” Yes, we fed those who were hungry, with the help of our Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, members of our supporting churches and our generous, benevolent friends.

“Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth!” Yes, thousands of hands were extended in charity during the past year also, toward Christ’s forsaken children. Among our friends we found counterparts of the Biblical Poor Widow, the Good Samaritan, the Soul, which in fact fulfilled the law of Christ.

Our Federation shared in bearing the burdens of our big family by contributing $21,762.20 to our Bethlen Home. This amount represented 27% of our annual income.

The gifts of thousands of hands and hearts extended toward the Bethlen Home from our church groups, amounted to $12,433.17, representing 141/2% of our total income. The gifts of our various church groups were the following: From the churches of the Magyar Synod: $6,886.47; from the Magyar churches in various American synods of the Evangelical and Reformed Church: $1,730.14, making a total of $8,416.61 from our Evangelical and Reformed group; from the Free Magyar Reformed Churches: $1,778.68; churches of the Presbyterian Church of the United States: $1,196.17; $335.00 from the Magyar churches of the Reformed Church in America; $505.00 from the Magyar Reformed Church in Detroit, Mich; $201.71 from the Magyar Reformed Churches in Youngstown, Ohio, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Massena, New York.

The sources of our further income were the benevolent societies and lodges, gifts in memóriám, and individual donations reminding us of the Biblical Widow and the Good Samaritan. These gifts amounted to $3,989.86, or 5% of our income. Total