Calvin Synod Herald, 1974 (74. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1974-06-01 / 6-7. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 5 Without Reservation A tribute to Reverend Joseph Kecskemethy on the occasion of his retirement by Bishop Arpad Beretz on March 31, 1974, in Passaic, Neic Jersey Beloved Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ: This is indeed a memorable day for this congregation, our Calvin Synod and for our Hungarian American community. On this day a loyal and faithful soldier of our Lord Jesus Christ sheds his armor and retires from the field of battle. Joseph Kecskemethy does not retire because he was defeated or tired or unwilling to do battle. He retires according to Scripture: “The spirit is walling, but the flesh is weak.” After 45 years of service in the Army of the Lord, he lays down his shield and sword, his breastplate and helmet. Although, he still has the zest to do battle, he quits the firing line and withdraws. But he does not resign his commission. He continues to support those who continue on in the fray and gives aid, guidance and inspiration to the new recruits that hear the call of their Lord. As he lays aside his combat garments, for a long moment, there is a great pause, a deep silence, given in tribute only to those who have fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. You, in Passaic, in this congregation, were given the unique distinction and special blessing of having Joseph Kecskemethy as your pastor as a budding, vigorous, enthusiastic servant of our Lord and also as an able, wise, distinquished patriarch and father of the flock of God. What a wonderful tribute to you and what a great joy to him to begin and end a life of service with the same congregation! What a glorious privilege for pastor and people to build together upon the foundation which was laid by Jesus Christ our Lord! He, of course, and you also, together with the larger family of Synod, Federation and Bethlen Home, was most fortunate in that God gave him a help-mate equally talented, dedicated, enthusiastic, distinquished in her own right, as he was. She had not the nature of a warrior, yet like the legendary women of Eger, she stood her ground in battle and never wavered from the side of her husband. When we speak of one, we must of necessity speak of the other also. They are a team; co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord; — leaders in the battle for truth. Both Joseph and Böske have an abiding love for our people, our culture, our language, our history and our music. They are hopelessly in love with our Magyar heritage and tradition. But at one and the same time, they are Americans of high patriotic zeal and loyalty. While serving in the Bethlen Home, they gave the small Pennsylvania town of Ligonier the kind of cultural and civic leadership that made their names a sweet memory there. To them it was as natural as breathing to sing “Isten áldd meg a magyart” as it was to sing God Bless America; to teach Hungarian folk songs to our young people in camp and at the same time underscore it with an English text and explanation. How is this posssible? I believe it is possible because neither of them has any sense of superiority or inferiority. They know and understand that in teaching our children to respect and love their cultural heritage they also enrich the culture of our beloved land. This is the spirit that has distinquished their work both on a national level, especially in the Bethlen Home and the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America and the local scene. Joseph Kecskemethy has left an indelible mark on our Synodical life; giving outstanding leadership to it from its very beginning. His ecumenical work and service in almost every congregation in America and Canada is one that will be difficult to surpass. Last, but not least, I am proud to be his successor in the pulpit of East Chicago-Hammond Congregation where he served with distinction and where his influence, his spirit is still felt and appreciated as I am sure it will be here also. And now you, his people, must say farewell to a faithful pastor; to one who gave of himself wholly, completely, without reservation in the service of our Lord. People of Passaic, I would that you remember and not forget, he gave himself to you and to God. Without reservation. Say with me and with him: The glory belongs to God alone. A soldier, nay, a great leader lays down his armor. You will now seek a pastor, a teacher, a guide. Remember always that His kingdom is with us forever and if He calls us to serve in His army, let us, like Joseph Kecskemethy and his wife Böske, accept the call and serve as they did, faithfully and with utmost humility. God bless them and God bless you. «VVVVVVMVVVVMVVVVMVVVVVVVVVVVVUVVVVVVVVVI Beginnings of the Hungarian Bible Translation Kniezsa states that the orthography of the five copyists of the Vienna and Munich codices is almost identical except some commas which means unpunctuality. The reason for this is that the five copyists used the same text.16 The question arose as to what sources were used by Tamás and Bálint for their translation. To answer this question Tibor Kardos tells us that church related books were rare since copying books took much time and needed special care and knowledge. These factors attributed to the high costs of these books. The books were even more expensive if written in vernacular language. The knowledge and education of the priests even in the second half of the Middle Ages was not very thorough therefore not too many of them dared to engage in a new translation. If the theological divergence in translations was not excessive, as for instance in Italy, the Cathar-Waldensian translation
