Fraternity-Testvériség, 1976 (54. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1976-04-01 / 2. szám
DK. ZOLTÁN BEKY, President: GREETING TO THE CONVENTION It is a great privilege for me to extend our heartiest greetings in behalf of the National Officers, the members of the Board of Directors and of the entire membership of our Federation to the Delegates of our XXXth Convention. This Convention has been called together in the week of June 28th at Ligonier, Pa., where so many important events have already taken place in the history of our Hungarian community. This meeting will also be a Convention of historic significance. This year we are commemorating two historical anniversaries, namely: the Bicentennial of our country and the 80th anniversary of the founding of our Federation. Both historical events are very close to our hearts. The United States is our beloved country. A Nation built by our Pilgrim-fathers on the teachings of the Bible and on the principle so eloquently expressed in the Declaration of Independence: “The guarantee of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. It is a Nation under God as we profess in our Pledge of Allegiance. Eighty years ago our Federation was organized by our fore-fathers in order to give effect to the same principles. The faith in God and liberty has helped to transform the United States into the most powerful Nation of the World, and our Federation into the largest Hungarian Reformed Fraternal organization. This country is very dear and precious to us because thousands of Hungarian heroes died for it, starting with Col. Michael Kovács 200 years ago at Charleston, then General Asbotli, General Szamwald, Colonel Zagonyi and Perczel and tens of thousands of our sons during World Wars I and II. We have also contributed to the development of America witli our creative talents. Our Federation helped to build more than 150 churches, schools, cultural centers, the Bethlen Home, home for the Orphans and for the old age people, and the Kossuth House, in Washington, D. C. We are thankful to God for His guidance, providence, and blessings during those trying years. We believe that the Delegates of this Convention will follow the footsteps of their fathers and will do everything in their power to preserve the great heritage and pledge themselves to continue the work in the spirit of those principles they bequeath us. In this hope I greet you again wholeheartedly. May the Almighty God bestow His gracious blessings upon this Convention and its Constituent members and Delegates. “If God be with us, who can be against us”. ☆ ☆ Highlights of the President’s Report for the Year of 1975 THANKSGIVING Our first words are words of thanksgiving to the Almighty God as in every year so it is now. Despite the many difficulties encountered He helped us, sustained us in His mercy. He graciously led us to this new and historical year. Our Lord gives us sufficient strength to face the future, He will help us to new triumphs and victories as He has done always in the past. He will help us to preserve our precious heritage and He will give us growth in our faith and ministry. It is in his name that we rededicate ourselves to our service in the best interest of our beloved people and membership. To Him be the glory! We profess with firm Calvinist faith that our God who protected us during the many trials of the past 80 years and led us to this important milestone of our history, will not leave us helpless in the future, if we trust in Him, and in Him alone as our fathers did in our past. OUR ACHIEVEMENTS I am happy to report that despite the many difficulties of the past year our Federation has made gains in the past year especially in the areas of assets and in insurance in force. In assets we have passed 18'^ million, and the insurance in force lias almost reached the 51 million mark. To substantiate the above claims, permit me to indicate a few important data of the past year in accordance with my duties as the president: Assets of our Federation December 31, 1974 $17,855,519.02 December 31, 1975 18,250,144.99 Increase $ 394,652.97 3
