Bethlen Naptár, 1960 (Ligonier)
Bethlen Almanac
BETHLEN ALMANAC 51 the orphans and a home for the aged in 1921, at Ligonier, Pa. The greatest benefactor and helper in this charitable institution is the Hungarian Reformed Federation in America, a fraternal, sick- and death benefit insurance organization, comprising all Hungarian Reformed Churches in the USA. Out of the first modest beginning, when the Rev. Alex Kalassay was the superintendent, a beautiful and modern institution with a yearly budget of $150,000-developed. The gradual growth of the Bethlen Home during the time and service of the Rev. Dr. Louis Nánássy and Joseph Kecskeméthy was remarkable. The present Director is the Rev. Alexander Daróczy, under whose supervision great expansions and new fields of services were inaugurated. SUMMARY In the Magyar Synod of the United Church of Christ there are 50 regular congregations and 11 sister churches and smaller mission stations with 48 full time pastors and 21 others, (retired and on the roll). The official organ of the churches is the “Reformátusok Lapja”: its editor was for many years the Rev. Alexander Tóth. The present editor is the Rev. Dr. László Harangi. The total number of the Hungarian Presbyterian Churches affiliated with the United Presbyterian Church in the USA is 23 and 4 smaller mission stations and sister churches. There are 20 full time pastors and 4 ministers on the roll. (Retired.) The Hungarian Presbyterians have no official newspaper to serve their congregations. In the Hungarian Reformed Church in America (Free Magyar) there are 20 regular churches and 8 sister churches and smaller mission stations with 20 full time pastors and 11 others on the roll. The official newspaper of the denomination is the “Magyar Church”: its editor is the Rev. Dr. Andrew Harsányi. There are three Hungarian churches affiliated with the (Dutch) Reformed Church in America with 3 clergymen, and two churches and ministers in the Southern Presbyterian Church. The total number of Hungarian Churches (Reformed) in the USA is 120 with 129 ministers. 97 regular churches are served by 93 full time pastors. What the future for the Hungarian Reformed Churches holds no one knows but God. The spirit of better understanding must spread far and wide. The desire for closer union among the leaders of the churches must be more evident. The adjustment of the congregations to American Protestant Christianity must be worked out New fields can be opened for further development, others must be closed. May the name of God be praised for all that He has done through his people within the Hungarian Reformed Churches in the United States. Dezso Abraham Soli Deo Gloria!
