Calvin Synod Herald, 1978 (78. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-11-01 / 11-12. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 7 Last week the Hungarian writers were informed about an exchange of letters between the Hungarian and Romanian Writers Unions. The Hungarians defended Mr. Illyés. The Romanian answer complained about inadmissible attempts at interference in Romanian internal affairs. The president of the Romanian Writers Union and former Foreign Minister, Mr. Gheorghe Macovescu, offered to go to Budapest to discuss the issues. At the writers’ meeting in Budapest, several noted Hungarian intellectuals stressed that it was not just the attack on Mr. Illyés but the position of the Hungarian minority which was at issue. It is understood that the Hungarian and Romanian parties have also recently exchanged letters about the delicate problem of the Hungarian minority, which was discussed at a Hungarian-Romanian summit meeting by President Ceausescu and Hungarian party leader, Mr. Janos Kadar, in the summer of 1977. The Hungarian leadership feels that only quiet diplomacy can help the Hungarians in Romania, who account for some 8 per cent of the total population. The Hungarians maintain that their number is in fact well over 2m, while the Romanians emphatically reject charges of manipulation concerning the 1977 census results. But 76-year-old Mr. Gyula Illyés and a strong group of writers and intellectuals in Budapest evidently feel that the tactics of silence have failed to stop what Mr. Király called a tendency to forcefully assimilate the nationalities living in Romania. The fate of Mr. Király himself, who was ousted from all his political positions and according to unconfirmed reports also expelled from the party, may be a significant pointer to the line President Ceausescu will choose in coping with the alleged grievances of the minority. It will also be a pointer to the path of future relations between the two countries. Financial Times, October 10, 1978 * WRAP IT UP FOR CHRISTMAS Have you been getting your present ready for Christmas? One of the last things to get done — after all the presents have been bought — it to get them wrapped. In a real way, this can be a signal for churches, too. Now is a good time to give final consideration to your congregation’s “present” for the larger ministries we do together through the conference and the national agencies of our denomination Consider whether your congregation has fulfilled eailier expectations of giving in behalf of Our Christian World Mission. If, for some reason, your congregation has been unable to make regular monthly remittances to the wider work of the United Church of Christ, now is a good time to catch-up, a time to “wrap it up” for 1978 and to look ahead to 1979. Important conference and national programs must often be postponed because funds that were expected to come in fail to materialize or are delayed until after the first of the year. Make sure that your congregation is doing its share to support the wider work that your congregation’s delegates to conference approved last year and work that your conference delegates approved at General Synod. It’s time to “wrap it up” for Christmas! (Continued from Page 2) in a real, practical, essential way. In order to understand this, you must know something of its history. The Hungarian Reformed Federation which now “owns” the property, was born in 1896 out of a religious conviction. “Our Church life is like a personwith-one-arm without the Federation” — said a few Hungarian Reformed pastors who envisioned this organization — “The Federation is to support the churches in their initial difficulties, help the needy members, the widows, the orphans. Only with two arms: reaching out to God and reaching out to our fellow members can we build the Kingdom of God!” This was the concept that gave birth to the Federation, and therefore it was quite “natural” that at the 10th anniversary (1906) the idea of an orphanage was seriously considered, although it was only in 1919 that every member of the Federation was assessed 5 cents per month (10 cents after 1923) in order to raise the necessary funds for the purchase and operation of an orphanage in Ligonier. In 1921, the orphanage started as a joint venture of this two-armed Church-Federation entity, and for several decades it was literally our home which kept the Hungarian Reformed people together, nourished them in lively faith and active love, and took care of our orphans and our elderly (since 1931), providing the Federation with the best possible advertisement, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt. 25). While this vision was alive, the Federation prospered and the churches grew; when this vision faded away, the Federation declined and the churches suffered. The enormous “good will” capital built into the Bethlen Home concept cannot be expressed in monetary terms, but the money invested in “our” Home is also noteworthy. During the first 10 years $403,- 633.01 was donated by the Federation, our churches, and the Hungarian people in general. While the Federation remained one of the most generous donors, it must be clear that our churches and the 10 cents contributions paid back to the last penny all the loans the Federation granted to the Bethlen Home! The same resources provided sufficient revenues for the maintenance and operation of the ever-extending work of the Home. At times, this was difficult, but the faith and sacrifice of our people created miracles. E.g. the 1931 convention raised the question of dissolving the orphanage, placing the orphans elsewhere and easing the depression burden; but the idea was flatly rejected by the convention. As a matter of fact, it was then that a decision was reached to establish the home for the aged!... This is the “spirit of Ligonier”! Not selling what we have, but striving forward to meet the newer challenges in the Name of our Lord! (to be continued) Ed’s Clipsheet, Dec. 78 Dr. John Butosi
