Bethlen Naptár, 1957 (Ligonier)
Officers and supreme council members of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America 1957-1961
BETHLEN NAPTÁR 211 OFFICERS AND SUPREME COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED FEDERATION OF AMERICA 1957-1961 REV. GEORGE E. K. BORSHY, a native of Diósgyőr, Borsod County, Hungary, received his education at the Reformed Gymnasiums of Miskolc and Sárospatak, and at the Universities of Budapest and Debrecen. Before he was through with his studies at Debrecen he and his entire seminary class of 40 students volunteered for service in the Austro-Hungarian Army at the outbreak of World War I. He fought in the bloody battle of Doberdo on the Austro- Italian border, where he was wounded and most of his classmates killed. He spent many months in Italy as a prisoner of war after which he returned to his homeland and completed his studies at Debrecen, becoming an ordained minister. Since his particular field of interest was journalism, the late Bishop Dezső Baltazár of Debrecen chose Rev. Borshy to be columnist in the daily newspaper of Debrecen to represent the Reformed trend in Hungary. Bishop Baltazár chose wisely. His extraordinary journalistic ability was proved later in America also while Rev. Borshy edited the “Magyar Egyház”, official organ of the Free Magyar Reformed Churches, and both Hungarian daily papers: “The Szabadság”, and the “Népszava”. Thirty-two years ago Rev. and Mrs. (Maria Biró) Borshy came to the United States, where he became affiliated with the Free Magyar Reformed Church. His first charge was in Youngstown, Ohio, where he built the lower auditorium of the church, which was used as the sanctuary for many years, till the entire building was completed recently. McKeesport was Rev. Borshy’s second American congregation. The church was built under his pastorate. However, the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America became his prime interest, through which institution he could serve all the Hungarian Reformed people. For the past twenty years the moving force within the Federation has been Rev. Borshy, who became its secretary in 1935. Within 20 years he helped build up the Federation from a membership of 15,000 to 35,000; from a one and one-half million dollar organization to an eight million dollar fraternal institution. The Federation needed his guidance and capacity for organization to grow to such proportions. During his office as secretary he was active in war bond campaigns and held prominent posts in the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., and in the American Hungarian Federation. The Convention of 1956 elevated Rev. Borshy to the office of President of the Federation, which was a recognition of his outstanding ability, untiring work, and notable accomplishments. The members of the Federation, the Bethlen Home, friends, and American Hungarians in general extend their felicitations and good wishes to him, and ask God’s bountiful blessings on his life, work, and leadership, as president. George E. K. Borshy, President
