Bethlen Évkönyv, 1993-1996 (Ligonier)

Zoltán D. Szücs: Our churches and our federation

I, No. 13, February 1, 1898), this idea of a dual mandate is eminent. All of these articles deliberately urge every Hungarian, and even more emphatically every Reformed Hungarians in America, to work together in unity, for our future here and to do this within the frameworks of our churches and of our Federation, for this is our command of brotherly love toward one another, who are children of the same land, of the same cultural heritage. As one of these articles, “Our Federation”, written by an unnamed member of the Federation, expressed this so succinctly: “The leaders (of the Federation) are men of clean hands and impeccable character, who were not driven to America by some unfinished incidents, but the trust of the people placed them to the noblest office, to spiritualteaching.” (“Orallo”, Year I, No. 4, September 15, 1897.) This statement, written by an anonymous member of the Federation, clearly reflects the trustworthiness, the high calling, the honesty and unselfish commitment of the pastoral leadership of the Reformed Federation, as it was perceived by the members and as it was implemented by the pastors.

Not only our Reformed clergy but also our Hungarian Reformed laity worked diligently to bring about this Hungarian unity. They were also convinced that the practical aspect of our Reformed faith is the Federation. The Secretary of the Federation, Bela Mokcsay, in his report to the Cleveland convention summed it up this way: We American-Hungarians have three obligations: 1. Communication with God, 2. Hard Work and 3. Working for the Federation. (American-Hungarian Reformed Journal, Year I, No. 2, Page 6.)

Befittingly expressing the unity of our churches and the Federation in the minds of the faithful, the convention at Cleveland, July 3-4, 1901 was held at the parsonage. As the records of this convention show, the Federation pledged support to the Pittsburgh Hungarian Reformed Church and committed itself to take care of the grave-site and donate a plaque to honor the memory of The Reverend Ferenc Ferenczy. (American-Hungarian Reformed Journal, Year 2, No. 27, Pp. 2-3.) Those, who were the most staunch supporters of the Federation, were also the strongest supporters of our Reformed churches. When at the Cleveland convention.

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