Bethlen Naptár, 1956 (Ligonier)
The work of six decades
140 BETHLEN NAPTÁR THE WORK OF SIX DECADES THE DATE: JULY 4-5, 1896, THE PLACE: TRENTON, NEW JERSEY. Present were: Gábor Dókus, Ferenc Ferenczy, Sándor Harsányi, Sándor Kalassay, József Martha, Emil Nyitray, Pál Szabó, György Szaniszló, Mihály Ternyei, Lajos S. Uhr and a few others from Cleveland. Such is the date and place, and these were the persons who enriched the Hungarian American social life with a new institution. The name of the still existing and flourishing institution is: The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. Our Federation, of which we are proud. In reaching the 60th year, it would have been worth while to write the detailed history of this institution, which is unique in its character and functioning. To do this, however, more tme and space would be needed, which we do not have. What we offer therefore on the succeeding pages, will be only a general outline for those who as old members, do like to remember the past, and for those new, or prospective members, who would like to get a clear picture of our Federation. Beside the officail records, minutes of meetings and newspaper articles, the source of our data concerning the past, are found in the works of Dr. Sándor Kalassay, Sr., one of our most worthy founders.. His volume entitled: “The 25 year history of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America”, published in 1921, and his manuscript in our possession: “Faith is dead without good deds”, furnished most of the information. Dr. Kalassay’s writings cover the period up to the convention of 1923. From that time on the material used was taken from our minutes and the articles which appeared in our official organ. The Founding.. After these introductory remarks, let us read the following lines from records of the first Trenton meeting, inspired without any doubt by Dr. Sándor Kalassay: “The aim of the Federation, besides giving material and moral support to the Hungarian Calvinist mission in America, is to pay a death beneft and funeral expenses to the heirs of the members. The Federation will begin to function, when it reaches a membership of 500. Any Hungarian who will pay the $1.00 initiation fee, and an annual fee of $1.00 may become a member. Having reached a membershiy of 500 the Federation will pay $250.00 death benefit and $50.00 for funeral expenses. The amounts will be collected from the members through proportional assessments.” The first officers of the Federation were: President: Emil Nyitray; Vice-President: Sándor Harsányi; Secreetary: Sándor Kalassay; Treasurer: Pál Szabó; Controller: Gábor Dókus. Condition for the final founding and of the actual functioning was to obtain a membership of 500. Although the first 500 have not been recruited as quickly as it was hoped, the provisional officers still obtained the con sent for the final formation of the Federation at the Cleveland meeting, held on February 5th, 1897, with 320 members and a capital of $272.15. This meeting elected Bertalan Demeter treasurer and György Bandré controller in lieu of the provisional officers who previously held similar positions. Looking back at this event and considering it in the light of present conditions, it was a daring undertaking to start a national organization with so few members, and insignificant “capital” and with a rather primitive insurance and collection system. But at that time fraternal insurance was at
