Bethlen Naptár, 1958 (Ligonier)
Highlights in Hungarian Life…
248 BETHLEN NAPTÁR DESCRIPTION OF PLAQUE The Plaque entitled “the Divine Refugee” was presented by the Hungarian Congregation of The Presbyterian Church of Western Australia their friends to the Australian Council for the World Council of Churches to mark their appreciation of the services of the World Council of Churches to Hungarian refugees in 1956. The subject of the plaque is a reminder to us that Jesus Himself was a refugee fleeing from tyranny and the threat of death. The plaque depicts the Holy Family at the end of a long day’s journey. The donkey is nibbling at a shrub by the roadside. Mary is tending to the needs of the baby Jesus as she is seated on the donkey, her limbs linging wearily. Her arms are crossed over her breast as she holds the Child to her breast, symbolical of the Cross upon Which He would give his life for the salvation of mankind. Joseph is attending to that which is the greatest concern for all refugees and destitute, namely their daily bread. He is endeavoring to get the camp fire going for the evening and to cook a simple meal upon it. The caption below “Ye did it unto Me” is a reminder that all our service to our fellow-man is, as Jesus Himself said, a service to the Saviour. So the churches in serving the refugees of the world irrespective of class, creed, or any other distinction, have been serving Christ and have been seeing Christ in their fellow-man. The plaque was executed by Mr. Andor Mészáros, an Hungarian refugee who has lived in Australia since the Nazi occupation in Hungary Mr. Mészáros is world famous as a master of medallion and plaque work. Amongst other plaques that he has executed since being in Australia are a series similar to this one depicting Stations of the Cross which are in St. Paul’s Church of England Cathedral in Melbourne. His work has latterly become more widely known through his execution of the Olympic Medallion which was given to all prizewinners in gold, silver, and bronze at the recent Olympic Games held in Melbourne Australia. The plaque was presented to the World Council of Churches by Mr. A. Domahidy, representing the Hungarian Community in Western Australia at an evening called “A Night for Hungary” held in the oper-air at the Royal King’s Park Tennis Courts, Perth, on Friday, March 29th, 1957.
