Hungarian Church Press, 1949 (1. évfolyam, 4-13. szám)
1949-05-08 / 4. szám
No 4. FOREIGN PROTESTANT PERbQNALITIES IN HUNGARY At the invitation of the Hungarian Reformed Church Prof.E, Thurneysen and pastor Walter lüthi will arrive in. Hungary within the next few weeks. Both are internationally prominent personalities of Swiss church-life. They will spend several weeks in Hungary, will visit all theological colleges and will take part in several evangelisation and church-conferences,- In the next weeks the arrival Paul N, G-arber Methodist bishop of Geneva is also expected, he will take part in the national conference of the Hungarian. Methodist Church. KENNETH LESLIE'S INTERVIEW IN THE HUNGARIAN RADIO Kenneth Leslie,the chief-editor of the American periodical "The Protestant" arrived to Budapest for a few days.He had the following interview with the editor of the Hungarian radio: Question: Well,Mr.Leslie,what do you think • - — ..of our country? Answer: It is hard to find words to disoribe it.To come into Hungary ha3 been more than just an experience in travelling, as one goes to see some different country. I don't wish to exaggerate but this has been for me a very deep and a very challenging, experience, I have never been in the Soviet Union nor in any other of thepeople's democracies and therefore to come here is really something like awakening from a dream or seeing suddenly an old dream realized. Quest;,dm: Just what do you mean Mr» Leslie --------- by speaking of awakening from a . • dream 2 Answer: In America I am what is known as an old Debs Socialist since 1912 and thats a long time ago besides being deeply interested in religion., Through all the years we have talked and dreamed of the coming of Socialism and then we saw it happen in Russia in 1917. Since that time it has begun to spread and your country is of course the latest to begin to build Socialism. You can imagine what it is to a man #f my age to come here,to see the people,to meet them in the city and in the country and to witness- the enthusiasm which possesses them as they go about their tasks. Question: Mr. Leslie,we know of you as a man - of the Church,and you tell us that you are a Socialist.Is it possible then to be a Christian and a Socialist at one and the same time? Answer: If one can be a capitalist and a Christian,then I think to be a Socialist and a Christian will be much easier. Of course you know that the first Christians were communists,! think that Christ would have been more at home in the midst of the crowds in the Budapest streets at the May first celebration that he would be in a fashionable New York Christian Church.As a matter of fact it is extremely doubtful that he would ever be allowed into some Churches I have seen! I visited the People's-8- May 3, 1949
