Calvin Synod Herald, 1977 (77. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1977-09-01 / 9-10. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Religious Education in the Hungarian Reformed Churches in the U.S.A. (Continued from July-August Issue.) E. Confirmation Classes The Confirmation classes in Hungary were provided witn regular graded religious education books and classes were in session from january to Ascension Day. The early churches here in America also followed this same pattern. The Confirmation classes were always under the direction of the pastor of the congregation. The Catechism included questions and answers, and prayers preparing the youngsters for Hoiy Communion. Confirmation took place on the Sunday before Pentecost with the public examination in the church. The questions, had to be learned, the answers and prayers memorized. During the first and second period of our history in this country, Hungarian Catechisms were used, especially the “Sárospataki katekizmus,” but others were available and in use, depending on which one the local minister was familiar with. During World War I, it was impossible to receive the necessary books from Hungary, so the ministers living here started to put together their own catechisms. These catechisms included more material than those from Hungary because those from Hungary were only in preparation for Holy Communion, while the booklets put out here contained some of the material which in Hungary was taught in the parochial schools. The first catechism published here were bi-lingual but later they were published only in English. Confirmation classes are also different now. Congregations in the Presbyterian Church follow the system of their denomination; congregations in the Hungarian Reformed Church in America use their own booklet and so run their classes according to their own desires; congregations in the United Church of Christ follow the system of the denomination and the confirmation classes come for instructions for two years. In the second year, usually the Heidelberg Catechism is studied and the more important questions and answers are memorized along with the prayers for Holy Communion. Attempts have been made to adopt a Catechism for the use of all our Hungarian Reformed congregation, but this idea is still not realized. F. Release Time Religious Education About twenty years ago, an attempt was made to release students from school early once a week for religious education. The local churches furnished the place, material and teachers. During this release time for Christian Education, not only the children belonging to the congregation attended but any student was welcome to attend. The system was not very effective and eventually faded out. This plan was not effective for our Hungarian children since many of them did not attend a church in the commuity where they attended school and no problems were solved as far as religious training was concerned. G. Choir an Auxiliary Form of Religious Education In our early religious education classes, hymns had to be memorized. Hymnbooks were published for the use of young people attending Summer School or Saturday School. In one hymnal, a section was added for Sunday School use, and later was published under separate cover. The aim of memorizing hymns was that even without a hymnal at hand, children and congregations were able to join in song. Many of our older congregations still may sing without a hymnal. According to the custom of the American Protestant churches, several choirs were organized to take part in the Worship Services. The choirs sang both in Hungarian and English, but now already, only a few adult choirs sing in Hungarian, all others in English, with perhaps a selection learned for a special occasion in Hungarian. H. Drama in Religious Education During the period when young people attended Summer School, dramas were learned and presented for the closing exercises. At Christmas, Hungarian dramas were presented either from old folk pageants or dramas written by the pastor. The “Bethlehemes-játék” (Bethlehem pageant) was traditionally presented at Christmas just as it still is today in Hungary. In memorizing the text of the pageant, the young people were actually learning the religious story, and this was certainly a plus for religious education. I. Youth Work as Addition to Religious Education According to Hungary law, all young people had to attend school until the age of twelve, and later to the age of fourteen. In school, along with their general courses, religious education was mandatory. Those youngsters attending secondary educational schools had to take religion until they graduated from school. Here in the United States, following Confirmation, the young people were urged to attend Youth Groups under the leadership of the minister, a teacher or in some cases, a seminary student. The neighboring Youth Groups met for conferences, also for drama presentations, singing and dancing. The Youth Groups, following the example of the American Protestant churches, organized a Hungarian Reformed Christian Endeavor Society. Stephen Bessemer edited its monthly paper, “Szebb Jövő” (Brighter Future) which was renamed “Reformáció” (Reformation).
