Magyar Egyház, 1971 (50. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1971-06-01 / 6-7. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

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knows the time and effort our members spend in working to the Glory of God, for the edification of our churches. Let us be thankful that we have no hindrance from our government, as other Christians have and let us continue the work in our organizations with love and zeal!

Problems and the future: There are many problems in our churches. The language used in most churches is English and Hungarian. Our order of worship services are different and the English hymnals used in churches are not the same in every congregation. Our mission work should be developed. The future of our church is in the hands of God. He has called the Hungarian Reformed Church to perform its work and He will guide us in the future, also.

Looking back into the past 3 years, I would like to express my gratitude to the officers of the General Assembly, to the leaders of the Classes, and to all who in any way helped me to perform my manifold duties. Especially, I owe a great deal of gratitude to the officers and members of the Church Council in Perth Amboy, who were understanding^ cooperative while I was away from my own busy pastorate, visiting other churches. For all the work done be the glory given to God, who strengthens the weak and lifts up the fallen and accomplishes His work by human hands.

Asking the members of the General Assembly to accept my report, I remain with Christian love,

Dezső Abraham, Bishop

ORGAN DEDICATION IN DUQUESNE, PA.

One of the most important parts of the Christian worship service was and still is, THE SINGING OF PRAISES TO OUR LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.

Someone may examine the ancient cults of people and observe that singing was an international language, whereby people expressed their joys and sorrows, and lifted up their spirit to their God. You can find its .traits in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament.

The Book of Psalms mentions various instruments, which were used in connection with the singing in the Bible: lyre, trumpet, cymbals, horns, and whatever musical instruments the people had in those days, were used to assist the singing in the temple.

The important aspect for us to consider is, that organ, lyre, harp, or any other musical instrument cannot replace the SINGING in the Christian church. Your beautiful new organ is only to support the> congregational singing.

The fear, that the organ, queen of all instruments might overpower everything in the church, sometimes led the people to extremities, f.e. in the Eastern Orthodox Church, they still do not have organs.

The primary emphasis is laid upon individual singing. Naturally, when the people have no musical instrument, they must sing out, and beautiful melodious hymns come forth from our Orthodox brethren.

When the first organs were invented and introduced into the Christian churches, they caused quite a stir. People who liked to cling to old traditions were afraid that the organ will be detrimental to the hymn singing. So it was a while before the organs finally were allowed to be used in Christian churches.

Then, came the reformation movement — everything, customs, ceremonies and even organs were questioned. For a while, they were banished from churches. Much time elapsed, before the organ was again accepted in Protestant churches.

The leaders of the reformation in Germany, Switzerland and other countries too, never ceased to admonish church members to sing wholeheartedly the praises of God. So it is recorded, that the singing in the churches was revived during the Reformation. “OH, SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG!”

Do not think, that the organs were at once introduced into the Hungarian churches. No! It took quite a while before the organs found their way into the larger churches, and later on into the smaller congregations, too.