Fraternity-Testvériség, 1960 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1960-05-01 / 5. szám

6

FRATERNITY

JOSEPH KECSKEMETHY:

ITEMS OF INTEREST

MAGYAR SYNOD MEETS IN WASHINGTON

The Magyar Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church held its 32nd annual meeting in Washington, D. C., from May 2 to 5, 1960, under the leadership of Dr. Stephen Szabó, President. The delegates met in the Concordia E. & R. Church on the corner of “G” and 22nd Sts., N. W., and were housed in the Roger Smith Hotel.

Representing 50 congregations from all parts of the United States, 67 delegates (32 pastors and 33 laymen) took part in the convocation. This was the first time in 22 years that the laymen exceeded the clergy in number. The Synod, true to Calvinistic traditions, once again expressed the fact that in church administration the layman is given a broad field. Dr. Robert C. Kienle represented the Church.

Dr. Francis Újlaki, retired pastor of the Synod, now residing in Pompano Beach, Florida, held devotions each morning. The text on which he based his spiritually profound meditations was taken from the Philip- pians 3:10 — “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings.”

On Monday evening, May 2, the Committee on Church and Ministry reported that it had examined the Rev. Alexander Farkas, a candidate for the ministry, and recommends him for licensure. The Synod accepted the Committee’s recommendations and the new minister was duly sworn into the service of the Lord and his Church.

Dr. Szabó, President, gave detailed accounts of problems directly affecting the Magyar Synod. Among them are the litigation involving the Miami congregation, and the relationship between the Magyar Synod and the Mother Church. The Rev. John Butosi, Secretary of the Synod, reported on his work of the past year, while the Rev. Arpad George, Treasurer, gave a financial picture of the Synod as follows: income, $44,433.32; disbursements, $43,008.35; leaving a balance of $1,424.97. — During the remaining sessions of the meeting the reports of the classis presidents and the chairmen of the several committees were heard and discussed.

Among those who welcomed the Synod was our President, Rt. Rev. George E. K. Borshy, who extended his official greetings on Tuesday morning, expressing his gratitude to the ministers and lay delegates for their untiring cooperation and significant work in the life of our fraternal institution. In the evening, in the main ballroom of the Roger Smith Hotel, the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America gave a dinner in honor of the delegates of the Synod, since this was the first Magyar Synodical meeting ever held in Washington. The Rev. Joseph Kecskemethy, Secretary of the Federation and master of ceremonies for the evening, welcomed the guests. The outstanding notable event on this occasion was an after-dinner speech by Senator Frank Lausche of Ohio, who revealed his knowledge of and love for the Hungarians. His message was received with rising enthusiastic applause. On Wednesday afternoon, again as guests of the Federation, the delegates were taken on a tour of Washington, which included a visit to the Kossuth House.