Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1956-04-01 / 4-5. szám

FRATERNITY

9

. . OF WHICH WE ARE PROUD”

THE WORK OF SIX DECADES

By George E. K. Borshy, Secretary

The date was July 4-5, 1896; the place: Trenton, New Jersey.

Present were: Gábor Dókus, Ferenc Ferenczy, Sándor Harsányi, Sándor Kalassay, József Martha, Emil Nyitray, Pál Szabó, György Szaniszló, Mihály Ternyei, Lajos S. Uhr and a few others from Cleveland.

Such is the date and place, and these were the persons who enriched the Hungarian American social life with a new institution. The name of the still existing and flourishing institution is: The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America — our Federation, of which we are proud.

In reaching the 60th year, it would have been worth while to write the detailed history of this institution, which is unique in its character and functioning. To do this, however, more time and space would be needed, which we do not have. What we offer, therefore, on the succeeding pages will be only a general outline for those who as old members do like to remember the past, and for those new, or prospective members, who would like to get a clear picture of our Federation.

Beside the official records, minutes of meetings and newspapers articles, the source of our data concerning the past is found in the works of Dr. Sándor Kalassay, Sr., one of our most worthy founders. His volume entitled, “The 25-year History of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America”, published in 1921, and his manuscript in our possession, “Faith is dead without good deeds”, furnished most of the information. Dr. Kalassay’s writings cover the period up to the convention of 1923. From that time on the material used was taken from our minutes and the articles which appeared in our official organ.

THE FOUNDING

After these introductory remarks, let us read the following lines from records of the first Trenton meeting, inspired without any doubt by Dr. Sándor Kalassay:

“The aim of the Federation, besides giving material and moral support to the Hungarian Calvinist mission in America, is to pay a death benefit and funeral expenses to the heirs of the members. The Federation will begin to function when it reaches a membership of 500. Any Hungarian who will pay the $1.00 initiation fee and an annual fee of $1.00 may become a member. Having reached a membership of 500, the Federation will pay $250.000 death benefit and $50.00 for funeral expenses. The amounts will be collected from the members through proportional assessments.”