Calvin Synod Herald, 1981 (81. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1981-12-01 / 5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 4 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA William E. Nyerges is kneeling as he is being ordained by the laying on of hands. Seven ministers were present. The benediction by the newly ordained minister done both in English and in Hungarian. vide him, with an understanding heart, so that he may minister faithfully to the needy, as well as to those who enjoy both the physical and the spiritual blessings of life. Make him a disciple of your truth. Let him bring peace and goodwill into the hearts of mankind. Open the hearts of his listeners, so that he may become an instrument in your service to bring love, forgiveness, faith, hope and joy to all who hear him. Eternal God, ordain William Nyerges into the Christian ministry with your benediction, so that he may serve you, and your people in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen. Paul Kantor-----------200 years The Edict of Tolerance was issued on October 25, 1771 by Emperor Joseph II (1741-1791). This “edictum tolerantae” has given the Protestants those basic rights that were enjoyed only by the Roman Catholics before 1771. The death of Maria Theresa on November 27, 1770 left her son Joseph II free to carry out his religious toleration. He sought ways to releave the peasantry of feudal burdens, and he also removed the restrictions on trade and on knowledge. He made an attempt to create a sys-Hungarians open home for elderly A retirement home for Montreal’s 25,000-member Hungarian community was opened October 17th. Called Le Foyer Hongrois, the $3 million building on St. James St., just west of Atwater Ave., will house 180 people. It is financed by a fourpercent loan from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. Dr. Aladar Komjáthy, a member of the home’s organizing committee, said residents will pay rent equivalent to 25 per cent of their income. “We started planning Le Foyer only two years ago, ” Komjáthy said. “It’s unbelievable that we have it already. ” Komjáthy said the committee is planning to launch another fundraising campaign to add a new wing of 100 units and house another 180 to 200 elderly. old Edict-----------tern that was good for all, and he was hoping to bring Hungary into the bloodstream of European political, economical and religious life. Two hundred years passed by since, and in most countries there is religious freedom now, but there are still some churches on this earth that are being oppressed by political regimes. As we look back to the time of Maria Theresa’s reign, we see that she was convinced that it was her responsibility to provide spiritual salvation to her subjects, and according to her beliefs the only possible way to redemption was through the Roman Catholic Church. For this reason she considered it a merit to persecute the Protestants. Never in the history of the Hungarian Protestant Church was there such an oppression as in the time of Maria Theresa. Here are some of the offenses: Protestant books were censured and prevented from being published. Those printed outside of Hungary were confiscated upon arrival to the country. Mixed marriages were valid only if the marriage took place with a priest present, and a possible annulment had to be made in a Roman Catholic court. All children from these marriages were compelled to become Roman Catholic. Without the king’s or queen’s approval the churches were not allowed to elect their own superintendents, and even then the elected leaders had to be approved by the Roman Catholic bishops. Protestants were seldom allowed to hold public offices, and even when called they had to take and oath in the Roman Catholic Church and swearing to the saints and Virgin Mary. Since many refused to take an oath against their beliefs and conscience there was a danger that there would be no Protestants left to hold public offices. Against this unjust ordinance even the Protestant countries of western Europe interceded, especially when Marton Biró, the bishop of Veszprém published his work “Enchiridion”, in wich he urged the burning of Protestants at the stake for their heresy. Young people were not allowed to study in Protestant countries, and to waste away the churches and their schools all aids were forbidden for them, and no collection was allowed for the upkeep of Protestant institutions. During these troubled times England, Holland and Switzerland offered help to Debrecen, Sárospatak and Nagyenyed. During the reign of Maria Theresa several Protestant churches were confiscated, and the people were prevented from worship in certain communites. In many instances Protestants had to walk miles, and for many-many decades before they were allowed to build their own churches. The Edict of Tolerance has abolished most of the unjust restrictions the Protestants experienced for about a century, and in one year the Protestant churches grew from 272 to 758. The Edict of Tolerance allowed the people to progress accoding to their abilities and moral characters.
