Fraternity-Testvériség, 1996 (74. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1996-07-01 / 3-4. szám
FRATERNITY Page 5 PRESIDENT’S CORNER The President’s Address at the Worship Service in Trenton New Jersey, on the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America Sunday, September 15, 1996 THE AIMS, GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FEDERATION AND THOSE OF AMERICAN HUNGARIAN COMMUNITIES MUTUALLY REFLECT THE CHANGES OF A CENTURY The history of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America cannot be separated from the history of the immigration of the Hungarian people and the development of the early American Hungarian communities. The aims, goals and achievements of the Federation and those of American Hungarian communities mutually reflect the changes of a century. The first identifiable group of immigrants that arrived to America in the 1850s were the so-called “1848” political immigrants, who to some extent, came with Kossuth when he visited America in 1851-1852. The City of Trenton played a significant role in the history of the American Hungarians. It was the first city to invite Kossuth upon his arrival to America, and according to the chronicles, Kossuth was the first Hungarian to have set foot in the City of Trenton. Nearly a quarter of a century later, the first Hungarians to have settled in Trenton were Janos Shemetkey and his family, followed by the families of Janos Droter and Janos Laky. Droter became an active member of the small Hungarian colony, and he was instrumental in organizing the First Hungarian Cultural and Sick Benefit Society on January 18, 1889. Janos Laky, who came from Gone, worked at the Roebling manufacturing plant as did many of his fellowmen. In 1894, under the leadership of Mr. Laky, the first “Templom” and Sick Benefit Society were formed. The first meeting of the new leadership was held in the Greek Catholic Hall on September 23, 1894. Mr. Laky opened the meeting with the following remarks: “The Hungarian Reformed people who live in Trenton need a society that will help them build their own church and also give financial aid to its members in case of sickness or death.” On July 4, 1895, Rev. Gusztáv Jurányi sent a letter to the society informing its members that he was on his way from Cleveland to Trenton to organize the First Hungarian Reformed Church. Upon his arrival in Trenton on July 7, the society held a meeting and elected him honorary president. At this meeting, Rev. Jurányi officially accepted the assignment to organize the First Hungarian Reformed Church. At the same time, the Sick Benefit Society donated half of its small income Chief Elder of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Trenton, Gabriel Csapó, greeting the delegates and guests at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the HRFA. Also on the photo the children’s choir of the Sunday School.
