Calvin Synod Herald, 1996 (96. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1996-11-01 / 6. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- it -AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

100th Anniversary of the Organized Hungarian Reformed Church Life in America

by Francis Vitéz, bishop

I. Introduction

During the last decade of the past century, a mass immigration commenced into the United States.

Almost everyone came here with the idea that they would work a few years and then return their savings to their respective villages to purchase a few acres of land, to build a new house and to start a happier and easier life. Some did return to the homeland. The war-time years and peace treaties made the decision for others to remain here, and then there were some who did not want to jeopardize their well-being since the future seemed unfriendly.

The Hungarian immigrants - workers - consisted mainly of young people. Among them, there were many of the Reformed Church membership. Some of them had been well-to-do back in their homeland, some came from less fortunate circumstances. Here, however, it made no difference to which class of people they belonged formerly. Here in this country, they worked side by side, often under very hard conditions, they lived together in boarding houses and they helped each other, and they accepted this kind of equalization. The differences between the well-to-do and the needy ceased. They came together because they understood one another’s needs and they had a common language and faith.

These young people worked hard and their zeal showed its fruits; that is, if they saved their earnings. When they were able to accumulate a few dollars, it gave a kind of self-respect to the holder. They had the means to purchase what they needed and wanted.

The young people knew they needed each other and they tried to help one another. They knew they had to stick together to survive. They experienced many changes in their lives and one of these changes was that they formed associations and unions. Those who had formerly been organized, now became organizers; and those who had been led before, became leaders. They had a new feeling that the future was partly in their own hands.

These new immigrants had many advantages but they felt that something was missing. They missed the closeness of their loved ones after they had undergone the hardship of travelling here. They did not know what to expect when they arrived, they endured the uncertainties of finding employment and there were many sleepless nights. No wonder they found comfort close to the church. Here they could pray, sing, read from their Bibles and seek the help of the Heavenly Father. What had been natural in the homeland, was missed here. They needed a church home, one where they could understand the language. They may not have understood the word “Reformed", but they figured out that it meant “Református". When they entered churches here, they saw that it was similar to their home church. This is probably the way in which they were swept toward the church or how the Lord Himself guided His people to Himself.

On Sunday mornings, these young people came to gather usually by the river or waterfront. One of them may started to sing a hymn and they all joined in. Someone read a passage from the Bible and the others listened. Another one, a brave soul, read a prayer from their prayer book or prayed aloud in his own words, and they joined in silent prayer. They missed their church, they missed their families. They had a home church, but it was far away. They needed one here and now. The different organizations were not good substitutes for the church. Their hundreds of years old Christian Education showed its results: they had to organize a church for themselves as soon as possible.

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II. Organizing

Our Hungarian immigrants attended the local churches, mostly churches of the Reformed or Presbyterian background. They also took Holy Communion and participated in the Worship Service.

In February, 1889, a group of around one hundred Hungarian Reformed people appeared at the First German Reformed Church in Cleveland, Ohio and asked if they could participate in the Communion Service. One of them who probably served in

the Austrian-Hungarian Army and had learned some German, explained their presence to the Rev. J.H.H. Röntgen. Rev. Röntgen first gave Communion to his congregation, and then to the Hungarian group. Rev. Röntgen recorded this event in his church paper. Similar events happened at other churches as well.

Rev. Röntgen wrote a letter to Vienna seeking a Hungarian Reformed minister. His letter was forwarded to the Rev. Andrew Moody in Budapest, who was with the Scottish Church Missions. The headquarters of the Reformed Church in Hungary sent the Rev. Gustav Jurányi to the United States. He arrived in Cleveland on September 17,

1890, and conducted the first Hungarian Reformed Worship Service on October 12, 1890 in Rev. Rontgen's church. He organized the First Hungarian Reformed Church in Cleveland on May 3, 1891.

The home church sent the Rev. John Kovács to Pittsburgh who arrived in July of

1891.

On October 1, 1893, the Rev. Ferenc Ferenczy arrived in Pittsburgh as the assistant minister. While in that area, he organized several Hungarian Reformed congregations.

III. First Classis Organized

The number of Hungarian Reformed congregations continued to grow. Receiving permission from the Reformed Church in the U.S., the idea of a Hungarian Classis developed in Pittsburgh on January 15, 1896. A meeting was held with the following ministers present: Rev. Ferenc Ferenczy, Rev. Sándor Harsanyi, Rev. Gustav Jurányi, Rev. Bertalan Demeter and Rev. Sándor Kalassay. At a meeting held in Trenton, New Jersey on June 6, 1896, they proclaimed the organization of a Hungarian Reformed Classis. Under the able leadership of Rev. Ferenczy as Dean, the Classis was officially organized on July 5,1896 and included the following congregations: Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Trenton, NJ, New York, NY and South Norwalk, CT.

The Classis was organized, but the respective congregations were still part of their former affiliations. The approval of this Classis was delayed and actually never took place. The Classis functioned with many great difficulties. The organizing Dean died suddenly on June 8, 1897.

Along with the Classis, the Hungarian Reformed Federation in America was also organized in Trenton, NJ on July 5, 1896. A newspaper was issued by the two organizations by the name of Orallo (Sentinel) on August 1, 1897. The two organizations worked hand in hand.

To Be Continued in Our Next Issue