Calvin Synod Herald, 1990 (90. évfolyam, 2-6. szám)

1990-05-01 / 3. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 3 -REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA The Magnifkant Day of our American Hungarian Life Dedication of the Bust of Louis (Lajos) Kossuth in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol Washington, D. C. on March 15,1990 The Gala Program of the Celebra­tion was presented as follows: Choral Prelude — Béla Bartók Men’s Choir, Garfield, New Jersey; Presentation of Colors — Joint Armed Forces Color Guard; Singing of the U.S. and Hun­garian National Anthems — Choirs Hpd audience, conducted by Cecilia os; Invocation — Dr. James D. Ford, Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives; Welcome — Tom Lantos, Master of Ceremonies; Distin­guished Guests — Thomas Foley — Speaker of the House of Representa­tives; Robert Dole — Minority Leader of the Senate; Richard Gephardt — Majority Leader, U.S. House of Re­presentatives; William Broomfield — Ranking Minority Member, Commit­tee on Foreign Affairs; Lawrence Eagleburger — Deputy Secretary of State; Presentation of Bust — Rev. Tibor Dömötör — The American Hungarian Federation; Unveiling — Csaba Kur, Sculptor, Annette Lantos & Mrs. R. Dole; Acceptance of the Bust — Frank Annunzio, Chairman, Joint Committee on the Library; George M. White — Architect of the Capitol; Music — Musica Hungarica; Remarks — Mátyás Szűrös, acting President of the Republic of Hungary, Introduced by Dr. Péter Várkonyi, Hungarian Ambassador to the U.S.; Rev. László Tőkés, human rights lea­der, Introduced by László Hámos, Hungarian Human Rights Founda­tion; Music — Béla Bartók Men’s Choir; Benediction — Rev. Imre Ber­talan; Choral Postlude — Musica Hungarica. Immediately following the ceremony there was a reception in Statutry Hall of the U.S. Capitol. Sponsors of this reception were the Congressional Hu­man Rights Foundation, the Hunga­rian Reformed Federation of Ameri­ca, and the William Penn Association. A great impressive Banquet closed the celebration, that was held in Rayboum Bldg, of the House of Representatives. Louis (Lajos) Kossuth Louis (Lajos) Kossuth (1802—1894), the undisputed leader of the democratic Hungarian Revolution of 1848—49, was elected Governor of Hungary in April 1849. His political activity before and during the Revolution was inspired by the principles of American democracy. After Russian troops crushed the Hun­garian revolt in the summer of 1849, Kos­suth was forced into exile in Turkey. With the assistance of the American govern­ment, he came to the United States, where he remained from December 4, 1851, until July 14, 1852. Kossuth was received by the President of the United States, spoke to both Houses of Congress, and delivered more than 300 speeches to thousands of people in every state of the Union. It was estimated that more than half of the entire American population at that time heard him speak. Streets were named after him, and towns and counties along the expanding Western frontier were given his name. Journalist Horace Greeley expressed the feelings of Americans at that time, when he said. “Among the orators, patriots, statesmen, exiles, he has, living or dead, no superior.” After this triumphal tour of the United States, Kossuth returned to Europe to continue his struggle for a free and de­mocratic Hungary. He was never able to return to his native land, because he re­fused to accept Austrian domination. In 1894 he died in exile in Italy. He is still revered as the “Father of the Hungarian nation” and the symbol of Hungarian independence and democracy. SERVING THE SERVANT James R. Newby An advertisement in a local English paper read: “This Saturday the guest speaker at Christ Church will be Edgar Jones, A B., B.D., Litt.D., LL.D., Ph.D. Topic: Humility.” I was reminded of this anecdote one day last week while seated at my desk preparing the director’s report for the Yokefellow Institute’s quarterly board meeting. My secretary was taking a well­­earned vacation, and so I was left to an­swer all telephone calls. The Yokefellow Institute is, primarily, a continuing educa­tion center for pastors, and so we receive a lot of calls from religious professionals, that is, the clergy. On this particular day we had our usual calls requesting material on certain workshops, but when I asked one of the callers, obviously a pastor (I say “obviously” because of the preachy style of conversation!), for his name and address, he said, “This is Dr. Thomas Jones”, with an emphasis on the Doctor. I found this to be a bit unnerving, but it wasn’t enough of an impetus for me to sit down and write this article. What happen­ed next was. As I was opening the mail, I found a letter from a man who wanted the institute to sponsor a workshop he wished to lead. This man opened the letter with the personable salutation “Dear Jim.” But he closed it with “God bless, Dr. Smith.” I work with pastors, and the need for recognition so many of them have con­stantly amazes me. In some ways I can understand this need. We live in a society that at best is indifferent to the work pastors are called to do, and at worst, downright denigrated it. If the media por­trays pastors at all, it makes a point of depicting them as hucksters or as inept, milquetoast persons who are either inef­fectual and unnecessary or always interfer­ing where they don’t belong. Recently I was struck again by Holly­wood’s avoidance of using a pastoral cha­racter in a serious role when I viewed the television version of the movie Terms of Endearment. This is a story about a young woman who is stricken with cancer and the struggles through which she goes in preparing her family and herself for death. It is a very moving story, and the deathbed scene is beautiful and touching. The way in which she says goodbye to her young children would bring tears to the

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