Fraternity-Testvériség, 1981 (59. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1981-04-01 / 2-3. szám

In 1923, the secretary was faced with a crucial decision. He was holding down two full-time positions. The work at the Federation had increased to such an extent that he found it physically impossible to properly carry out and do justice to his duties. Should he continue in his position with the Toledo Police Department, with it’s security under the Civil Service System, and its promise of early promotion (he was at that time a Lieutenant), a comfortable pension upon retirement, or should he stay with the Federation1, to which he had devoted such a long period of time, and where he could contiue to be of service to his fellow-men? It didn’t take him long to decide. Mr. Molnár voluntarily gave up his secure position, accepted a 25% reduction in his pension, and retired from the police force.

The Board of Directors offered, in a written agreement, (which they never honored), to make up the difference in his Civil Service Pension, but never took action to complement that agreement. Upon his retirement, in 1943, Mr. Molntar was given a $6,000.00 severance payment, in lieu of any former agreements or promisee. Out of that amount, he paid his own travel and moving expenses back to his home in Toledo, where because of mismanagement by various tenants, he was forced to pay over $3,000.00 in the rehabilitation of his home. He died an honored but poor man, leaving his wife very little in the way of money. In fact, she paid no death taxes, as he had no estate.

A few years before Mrs. Molnar’s death in 1963, the Reverend Joseph Zsiros, of Toledo, agitated for and managed to get her a pension of $50 per month from the Federation. Not a very munificent reward for all her work and encouragement to her husband in Federation matters!

At the time of consolidation and re-location of the offices of the Federation, the question arose as to the final seat of the Home Offices. Really, the central most accessible location would have been Pittsburgh, Pa., or Ligonier, Pa. (where the Federation already owned plenty of land for building and expansion, on the grounds of the Orphan’s and Old Peoples’ Home), Cleveland, or Toledo, Ohio. It would have been immaterial from the standpoint of governmental supervision, as to where the Home Offices were located since all of the States required charters or licenses to operate in their jurisdiction'.

However, because of the strong feeling for the Charter granted by Congress (and also, to prevent petty friction' among the various cities desirous of the offices), it was decided to settle on Washington, D. C. The first offices were in the Chandler

First Kossuth House on Pennsylvania Avenue

Building, on Pennsylvania Avenue, just a stones- throw (a block and a half) from the White House. From there the Federation moved, in succesion. to two Kossuth Houses, remaining in the second until just recently, when the building was sold — at a good profit — and temporary quarters were obtained until such time as a new home may be attained.

Thus — ends the saga of our beloved Hungarian Reformed Federation in America -— the years prior to 1943.

TO ALL PERSONS OF HUNGARIAN ANCESTRY Learn about your Hungarian Heritage: Read the EIGHTH TRIBE magazine. Especially printed for those who do not understand the Hungarian language. Published monthly: $10.00 per year. P. O. Box 637, Ligonier, Pennsylvania 15658.

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