Bethlen Naptár, 1956 (Ligonier)
Superintendent's report on the Bethlen Home
BETHLEN NAPTÁR 165 "BEAR YE ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS" SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT ON THE BETHLEN HOME YEAR 1954 AND FIRST HALF OF YEAR 1955 For twelve years I have been editing the Bethlen Almanac. Annually I have given an account of our work with the children and old people of our institution. In this our Anniversary Year, I shall follow the same pattern and bring before our benevolent friends, a resume of our life and work at the Bethlen Home during the year 1954 and the first half of 1955. The spirit of Christ prevailed in both life and work at our Children’s and Old Folks’ Homes. It was this same spirit that characterized the work of those who founded our institution and stimulated those who are now supporters of our home: “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The entire staff was inspired to work among young and old alike by these words, also found in the Gospel: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” MANY HELP BEAR BURDENS The officers and staff to whom the lives and well-being of our young and old guests were entrusted “bore their burdens” well and “did good” within the walls of our home, utilizing the spiritual and physical benefits that were at their disposal. But others shared in bearing these burdens also: the members and officers of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, our pastors, and our congregations. After God, thanks and praise go to those who cooperated with us in our charitable work and helped us reach toward our goal: that of raising the children entrusted to us in the love of our faith and race, as well as in spiritual and physical cleanliness; and that of maintaining a warm, peaceful, quiet, home for our old folks, in addition to giving them adequate spiritual and physical care. Christ committed this work to us when He said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” BUILDING INWARDLY Since our building projects were completed in 1952 and no large-scale fund-raising campaign had to be launched, we were able to concentrate on spiritual building within our walls. It was our goal to continue working toward a more perfect home relationship between children and staff, as well as to foster and maintain a good home for the aged, giving them the best possible physical care, good food, and a clean, pleasant, warm home. We feel that these conveniences help lead our aged folks toward that spiritual and mental neace which they are seeking. PROMOTING OUTSIDE INTEREST It was our aim to promote interest and goodwill toward our Bethlen Home among our benefactors. The Superintendent visited 42 congregations in a year and a half. He showed the film “Life in the Bethlen Home” in 18 of these churches. Thus, moral and financial support did not drop during this period. 108 of our 110 congregations contributed $22,897.26 to our charitable cause in 1954. VISITORS The number of our visitors, especially church groups, grows annually. These visits are blessed opportunities whereby our church and our home are
