Fraternity-Testvériség, 1966 (44. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1966-05-01 / 5. szám
2 FRATERNITY The “H” stands for “Hungary”, the land from whence we came. Hungary is the land of Christian civilization for over 1,000 years. This little nation that has suffered so much in the past, and is suffering so much in the present, indelibly inscribed her name in history, because, in spite of her relatively small size, she has always been in the forefront in the defense of not only Christian civilization, but in the defense of freedom as well. This tiny nation is the only nation that dared, in this modern era, to raise its voice and its arms against the might of Communistic power. Peoples of other nations think of Hungary today with a great deal of respect. Why shouldn't you and I, of Hungarian ancestry, think of the land of our origin with greater pride and greater respect. In the chancel window of the church I serve, the First United Church of Christ of Bridgeport, we have a very interesting symbolism. In the center portion of the window, we have the hand of God reaching dorm, and on the left side of that chancel window we have shackled hands, clasped in prayer. On the other side we have unshackled hands, also clasped in prayer. The symbolism of this window proclaims the eternal and everlasting dream of all Hungarians . . . that the hand of God reaches down today to the land of our origin, where there is no freedom of worship, where hands are shackled, but where hands remain hopeful. It further symbolizes the hand of God reaching down to our clasped hands this afternoon, as they are clasped in prayer, that someday the shackles might fall from those praying hands of our brethren across the sea. “H” also stands for “Heritage”. The writer of the book of Psalms in Psalm 16, verse 6, says this, and he says it, I think, with gratitude and joy: “Yea, I have a goodly heritage.” This strikes a responsive chord in our hearts this afternoon, on this day of commemoration, when I re-echo, I am certain, the sentiments which are in your hearts. We thank God for the goodly heritage of our ancestry. In spite of small numbers, the people of Hungarian origin have made unforgettable contributions to the tapestry of the life and culture of this, the most powerful and greatest nation in the world. In the realm of science, art, literature, music and many other fields, there are many, many Hungarian names. Spread all over this vast country of ours, churches of all faiths, with a Hungarian background, have won, and rightfully so, the respect of the entire community they serve. Anyone who deprecates, anyone who is ashamed of his
