Calvin Synod Herald, 1973 (73. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-02-01 / 2. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD $2,500 was on hand and nearly $1,000 pledged to erect the statue of Washington in Budapest. In the same year the sculptor, Gyula Bezerédy, arrived in America from Hungary and exhibited the model of the George Washington statue at a populous meeting of the Budapest Washington Monument Association. With the approval of the artist’s rendering and then having overcome many obstacles concerning the acceptance of the statue by the City of Budapest and the designation of a site in the City Park, the financial campaign got underway. In a year the total fund climbed to a record $8,629. This amount was sufficient for every forseeable expense. During the ensuing months and even during the days immediately preceding the unveiling, dark clouds of misunderstanding and ill-appreciation confronted Kohányi in Hungary as he made final arrangements. He was almost forced to persuade anew the Hungarian government that there were no political overtones nor hidden motives cloaked in the offer of the statue. He and his fellow Americans of Hungarian descent did not want to propagandize a republican form of government in the Hungarian kingdom. He sought to persuade the Hungarian government that they should have official representation at the unveiling on September 16, 1906. Yet, it was impossible to conceal the fact that the silent statue of George Washington would express a lesson; namely, that a nation is able to gain its freedom and independence as the thirteen colonies did, even if it has to pay the price of revolution, as the American War for Independence did. Those in the Royal government, who were afraid of the statue, knew full well that once the bronze figure of Washington had its feet firmly set on the soil of Hungary, the “father of the American people” would continue to bring a friendly message to the Hungarian nation. This message was represented in all that Washington lived for, fought for and achieved for his country. Fortunately, there were many important figures like the Mayor of Budapest, István Bárczy, and Jenő Rákosi, the outstanding journalist and literary figure, who in large measure were able to answer and silence the opposition and thus bring their prestige to bear in deciding the controversy. September 16th, 1906 arrived — the day of the unveiling of the George Washington statue. Filled with festivities, the day began with church services in St. Stephen’s Basilica and at the Calvin Square Reformed Church. By ten that morning a tremendous crowd assembled in the City Park around the site of the statue. A parade of 10,000 persons bearing some 500 flags made its way to the statue. Government officials and cabiet ministers were on hand. The popular U.S. Consul General Frank Dyer Chester, who already spoke Hungarian, was present. Some 200 American Hungarians were on hand also. To mention only two outstanding leaders from the New York City area: Géza D. Berkó represented his American Hungarian daily paper, Amerikai Magyar Népszava, the Önképző-Hungarian Literary Society, and the Petőfi Sick Benefit Society; and attorney Morris Cukor was there also. The main speaker was writer Jenő Rákosi. He glorified George Washington, the citizen and the man, whose statue, as he said, “stands before you with no long inscriptions, no military decorations, but in the simple dress of his day, with countenance and eyes looking into the distant future.” He exclaimed that Washington’s example does challenge the Hungarian people and nation with the ideals that he represented. Kohányi presented the statue to the Hungarian capital by pointing out that this gift was an act demonstrating “our loyalty to our new home, America,” and “it bears the brave example of those Hungarian officers and soldiers who fought for Lincoln’s cause — the nation’s cause — in the Civil War in America.” “We do not want the record of history to say of us that we were deadweight in America, but rather that we shared in the building of a great nation... We also can build a closer, warmer relationship between the two nations, America and Hungary.” Budapest’s Mayor Bárczy accepted the gift officially and said, “This statue will always be an unfailing, eternal fountain of the strength in our struggle toward real freedom, the prosperity of the entire nation and democratic independence.” On the base of the statue, the simple inscription in Hungarian and in English —with an erroneous spelling of “America” — speaks eloquently even today: “To the memory of Washington — The Hungarians of Amerika, 1906.” August J. Molnár----------o---------C^jrieviyig Between great sadness and deep sorrow, When life seems not worth living; A dying ember sparks the soul, To lift man from his grieving. When life’s path is lost, the night is dark, And there is no ray of a better dawn; A tiny voice within the heart, Whispers softly, “life must go on”. The sudden parting from someone dear, With grief and pain the body doom; Thank the Lord you can survive, To continue life above the gloom. Between great sadness and deep sorrow, When life has lost its meaning; Turn in prayer to the living God, To be healed from all your grieving. Margaret F. Csóványos
