Fraternity-Testvériség, 1974 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1974-01-01 / 1-3. szám

PAUL ST. MIKLOSSY:

70th ANNIVERSARY — HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH Perth Amboy, N. J.

Time is passing by so fast that one can hardly realize that it is already 70 years since the Pertli Amboy Hungarian Reformed Church was organized.

This church is close to the heart of the St. Miklossys, as our parents were among the first in membership. This is where we started our church life, where we were baptized, confirmed, some of us were married.

When the invitation to the 70th Anniversary was received by The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, the President, Dr. Zoltán Beky, asked me to represent our Federation, I felt honored and pleased as I always feel at home whenever I return to Perth Amboy. This is where I spent my youth and it is always a pleasure to meet those with whom I attended the Hungarian School during six weeks each year after the closing of the Public Schools, and on Saturdays during the rest of the year, which was a must on strict orders by our parents, as they wanted us to have knowledge of Hungarian. It was also a pleasure to be a member of the choir for many years. I also had the honor to pump the old organ during services, which at that time, made us feel important.

In 1928 we organized a confirmation club, which had a membership of 193, including the pastor and his wife, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Vincze. At the same time, Carteret, Woodhridge, Trenton and Roebling also had well organized and well attended church youth clubs. We would on occasion attend each other’s meetings and would hold joint outings at least once a year. Many marriages came out of these close and friendly get-togethers, not only within our home church, but within those attending our annual outings. Today, those members of our confirmation clubs are the leaders of the church, taking the places of our parents.

I am certain that if our parents could he around today and see that the foundation laid down 70 years ago by them, their children are in their footsteps carrying on that which they at much financial sacrifice have started, they would feel proud, and that now we are ready to pass it on to our children, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The congregation, as often told by my parents, gained tremendous growth during the pastorate of Dr. Louis Nanassy from 1908 to 1928. It was under his

pastorate that children attended Sunday School, Hungarian summer school and served in the choir and the youth fellowship organization. Many of us were confirmed by him.

After the confirmation we had to recite the following short pledge in Hungarian, which I can still remember.

“Egyházamért élek, halok,

Szent Nevéhez hű maradok,

Hűségemért Krisztus adja pályabérem

Fogadom ezt, Isten engem úgy segéljen.”

With this solemn pledge we became full members of the congregation.

In 1928 Dr. Louis Nanassy was elected Superintendent of the Bethlen Home and Dr. Charles Vincze became the new pastor. I continued being an active member, as an elder of the church until 1936, when I joined the field force of The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America.

Since then I return to Perth Amboy only as a guest or a visitor, but it is always a pleasure to come home and meet all my friends and relatives with whom I grew up and with whom I have many pleasant memories.

As we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of our church today, it is a pleasure to see members of the first generation, who are over 80-90 years of age, witnessing, that the sacrifice of their labors brought forth in their children and grandchildren was worthwhile.

In 1954 Bishop Dezső Abraham took over the pastorate of the congregation. During this time many changes and improvements have been accomplished. The cemetery road was improved, which leads to where my parents, brother and aunt are resting in their final resting place; a beautiful 500 seat auditorium, where we are celebrating the 70th anniversary, was built; the old organ was replaced by a new one, and the present church building was improved in many other ways.

Yes, these all came about during Bishop Abraham’s pastorate, but could he have done it alone? “No”; without good, faithful elders and church members the minister is only one, for it is not the individual nor the congregation as a whole, but the conscientious effort of every living soul, made it possible to bring about the many great improvements, not only in the church property, but also in the faith in God of the church members.

It is a great pleasure to have had the opportunity to celebrate the 70th Anniversary with you and to bring greetings from The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America to one of our churches having a large membership in our Fraternal Society.

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