Hungarian Church Press, 1958 (10. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)
1958-01-15 / 1-2. szám
HCHP 1.15,-11.1,1958, Vol.X/1-2 21 — 21 ious about them as for me I received invitations from the country suggesting to hide myself here and there but I made no use of it, X did not fear myself. Now I reveal why was 1 so anxious about my fellow-workers. I knew that voices against me would be stronger in the counter-revolutionary committees, pressian even more increasing around the leadership of the church district. I feared they might intimate anyone among the fellow-workers shaking him and turn him against me and not only against me but against the entire common service. I knew very well might it ensue that would be an irreparable harm for the future. Therefore I had given them my letter to make them safe to be able to avert ary attempts of this kind. In writing my letter the Budapest request played no part at all. I was called twice from Budapest, Once I was called through the wireless for resigning up. In both cases my reply was: my bishop’s office does not concern, anybody in Budapest, I am going to settle it with the Tiscian church district. I did not even mention to have already written a letter. As I have said the call did not play any part in when and why I had written it. On the contrary the brethren present may tell whether they had felt to be forced to accept it. On the 31st in the morning they still asked me not to resign for nothing made it necessary, something else was to be done. Their uncertainty disappeared On the 2nd in the morning, they know what was behind that process of mind. I had but written that letter on account of the above mentioned things and deliberately in a very elastic draft to make the church take the opportunity as she would think it best. There was no worry or anxiety behind the letter as if I had any fear that the counter-revolution might win. Professor Zsigraond Varga may bear witness that I had rung up him in the College to lock after,without creating panic,whether cellars were apt for shelters, because it was then obvious before me that the counter-revolution would be wound up by force of arms. Somebody reading nry letter attentively would realize of the text^by painful events the oourse of the counter-revolution would be stepped. j*tnat I wanted to give an idea of it What is my answer to yesterday’s resolution and letter I have been receiving lately more and more abundantly It is an interesting personal experience that the general assembly takes place just in the presence of the Chinese brethren visiting us. Everybody is aware of my great personal expo^rjejice to have been in China, and Bishop Ting knows well enough how my life hainterwoven with that of his. Yesterday evening Bishop Ting told me that in point of faot they had timed their visit by now to convince me of the importance of my resuming the bishop’s office regarding not only Hungarian points of view but the standpoint of the othgy Protestant churches, too a I replied to Bishop Ting that it was I alone who had/bear the responsibility for this decision. I.listened to every brotherly word, especially his, whose utteranoe were of grcatimprtonce and I promised to ponder again in the night what he had said to me, I also said to have been completely free in my decision. The representatives, leaders of the state organs never had tried to influence me in any respeot; they respeot my determination to be done and examined in my conscience. I am trying to give motives for the resolution, but I confess to be at a loss for words in summarizing all what is so unutterably difficult. As convinced I was in 1949 to be my place here as sure I am now that my place is not here. I am well aware of my decision what a responsibility it involves for the church’s history-and that of our people in the presence of God.
