Bethlen Naptár, 1957 (Ligonier)
Officers and supreme council members of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America 1957-1961
212 BETHLEN NAPTÁR REV. JOSEPH KECSKEMETHY needs no special instroduction to the readers of the Bethlen Almanac, because he has been the able editor of this annual publication for the past 12 years, and has made thousands of friends for the Bethlen Home, visiting the supporting congregations and preaching in all of our churches. However, since the Convention of 1956 elected him secretary of the Hungarian Reformed Federation, a short biography will serve to introduce him to the still larger family: our Federation membership, Which encompasses Hungarians throughout the United States. The new secretary was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., but at the age of three months his parents took him to Miskolc, Hungary, where he remained till 1924. He received his education at the Reformed Gymnasium of Miskolc, the Theological Seminary at Debrecen, and the Holland Reformed Seminary at New Brunswick, N.J. He was ordained in the Bridgeport and Vicinity Hungarian Reformed Church where he served as assistant pastor for three months. He accepted the call to the Passaic, N.J. Hungarian Reformed Church in 1930 and the East Chicago Indiana, Reformed Church in 1937, serving for 7^ years in each congregation. During these pastorates he rebuilt both churches, remodeled one and completed the other parsonage. In both churches he placed special emphasis on youth work, and proved his administrative and organizing ability in the following capacities in his denominaton: as secretary of the Eastern Hungaran Classis, as secretary of the Magyar Synod for two terms, and as president of the Western Classis. In 1944 Rev. Kecskemethy was elected superintendent of the Bethlen Home in Ligonier. In this capacity both he and his wife Elizabeth, a teacher by profession, and and daughter of the late Rev. Géza Korocz, have worked untiringly for over a decade, giving the best of their professional training and knowledge in the physical and spiritual nurture of the orphans and old people under their care. Under his administration old buildings were remodeled and three new buildings erected: a new wing to the old folks’ home housing the infirmary, a home for the superintendent, and the “Friendship House” in town. He brought the Bethlen Home into closer relationship with the community by taking an active part in community life also: in the ministerium, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club, where he was a director and vice president. He was given the honor of being the official delegate of the club at the Rotary International Convention held in Chicago in 1955. The Kecskemethys have two sons: Joseph, age 22, who was graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1956, and now in the U.S. Government service; and Stephen, age 12. Since the Federation has come to the time when new generations must be reached, we are confident that Rev. Kecskemethy, with his American-Hungarian background and his familiarity with the vast territory from which the Federation draws its membership, is the right man for the position and will fill his office adequately. May God bless his work richly in his new field. Joseph Kecskemethy, Secretary
