The Eighth Tribe, 1977 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1977-08-01 / 8. szám
Page 2 THE EIGHTH TRIBE August, 1977 DEDICATION The Hungarian Nation, entering the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century, was composed of seven Magyar tribes. This magazine is dedicated to the Eighth Tribe, descendants of those who many hundred years later left Hungary for America. Whatever their faith, their familiarity with their ancestral language, or their degree of Hungarian ancestry, we address ourselves to each of them. The first issue of The Eighth Tribe was published April, 1974. * * * CHANGE OF ADDRESS:— We ask our readers to send in their new addresses as soon as possible: we have to pay 25 cents on each address correction, whether the magazine is delivered or not. « • • We ask our Canadian and other Foreign Subscribers to use International Money Orders payable in U.S. Funds, when sending in their subscriptions. THE END OF AN ERA The Bethlen Home Orphanage here in Ligonier is no more. The closing was inevitable. For the past few years, only a few children have been housed in the imposing mansion which has served as the Orphanage for most of its existence. Continued operation simply was not justified from either use or economic standpoints. The Orphanage began on July 4, 1921 with the dedication of the original building on a hill north of Ligonier. The current Home for the Aged occupies the site now. In 1941, it was moved to its present location near the center of town. Rev. Dr. Sándor Kallassay was appointed the first Superintendent, a THE EIGHTH TRIBE Editor ............................................................ Sándor E. Chomos Contributing Editors: .......... Albert Wass, Joseph Széplaki, István S. Tuba, Elizabeth Tuba, Steven B. Vardy, M. Takács Barboe, Endre Nánay, László Könnyű. Published and printed monthly by the Bethlen Press, Inc. P. O. Box 637, Ligonier, Pa. 15658, U.SA.. Second Class Postage paid at Ligonier, Pa. 15658, U.S.A. Subscription: $8.00 yearly. The First Orphanage position he held until 1931 when he was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Lajos Nánássy who served until November 15, 1944. Rev. József Kecskeméthy took over as Superintendent in 1944. He served until March of 1957 when the Rt. Rev. Sándor Daróczy assumed the position. The final Superintendent was the Rt. Rev. Lajos Nagy who took over on January 1, 1970. In the more than half a century since its doors first opened, more than 1700 children have been housed and cared for. In July, 1954, Rev. Kecskeméthy started the Hungarian Summer School. This novel program has been held every July since and has been attended by over 1000 children from the U.S. and Canada (both the Catholic and Protestant faiths), serving as an introduction to both Hungarian language and culture. With the departure of the children and, a few days later, the employees, the great brick mansion is silent. If it could speak, the experiences within its walls since the beginning would serve, no doubt, as a voluminuos source of stories, both humorous and touching. It is our hope that someday someone will write the unforgetable history of the Bethlen Home Orphanage for the benefit of the younger generation who did not know it as a flourishing institution. As to the building itself. For many years, it has not been utilized to its fullest extent. From time to time, there have been discussions regarding additional uses to which the building could be put. Over the years, at the annual meetings of the Presbyter’s Association and the Hungarian Reformed Ministers Association, several resolutions were passed to attempt to start a private secondary school and seminary to train the ministers urgently needed by our churches. This dream was almost achieved in 1956-57 when
