The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1985 (12. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1985-02-01 / 2. szám
THE EIGHTH HUNGARIAN TRIBE (ISSN 0272-1341) - (USPS 046-310) EDITOR S CORNER: SÁNDOR E. CHOMOS Published monthly by the Bethlen Press, Inc. - P.O. Box 637, Ligonier, PA 15658, U.S.A. Editor-in-Chief..........Sándor E. Chomos Assistants: Sándor Emery Chomos, Raymond W. Boeche, Nancy J. Chomos Boeche. Rhonda L. Chomos Phone: 412-834-0169 Managing Editor...............Paul Pulitzer Associate Editors: Bob Chomos, Ferenc F. Sajgó, Harry G. Ladanye, Roger B. Goodman, Joseph E. Horvath, Featured Correspondents: László Könnyű Andrew Haraszti, Dr. Victor W. Molnár, Regional Correspondents: Bela Biro, Joseph Szurcsik Production: Elias C. Chomos Advertising/ subscription Representatives: Pulitzer-Goodman Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 2204, Union, N.J. 07083 Tel.: 201-964-8464 Joseph E. Horvath, Advertising Circulation Mgr. Gayle Horvath, Advertising Production Director. Second Class Postage paid at Ligonier, PA 15658, U.S.A. Printed by Bethlen Printing Yearly Subscription: U.S. & Canada $15.00 Other Foreign Countries $20.00 Foreign Air Mail $30.00 Opinions expressed in any signed column appearing in this publication, including those of staff members, reflect the view of the writer only. They may or may not be in agreement with the editorial policy of this magazine. — Editor The Eighth Hungarian Tribe is published by the Bethlen Press, Inc. since 1974, for the advancement of Hungarian Heritage to bridge the distance between old and new generations The Eighth Hungarian Tribe is the official organ of the Hungarian Eighth Tribe Foundation. Support “The Eighth Hungarian, Tribe” Magazine. Order A Gift Subscriptio For Your American-Born Children To Help Them Become “American-Hungarians”! Our subscription rate is only $15.00 a year. Make your check or money order payable to, and mail to: Bethlen Press, Inc. P.O. Box 637, Ligonier, PA 15658 A few issues have passed since I have written in this magazine and during that time I have been listening, reading letters, and in my travels, talking with some of our readers. In the last six months a lot was said and written in the Hungarian language publications about this magazine, this editor, the managing editor and the HETF. First, let me say that my allegiance is to the United States, the country of my birth, in whose army I served in the Second World War; to God, through Him: the Hungarian Reformed Christian Faith; my Family, through it to my Hungarian Heritage. Many aksed that we reply in the Hungarian papers, but our decision has been to ignore them. But things have to be explained to our faithful readers who are with us for the last ten years. The aim, the position, of this magazine has not changed, it is the same as it has been from the first issue: “To publish a journal for the purpose of disseminating Historical, Cultural, Literary and Educational information of our Hungarian Heritage. — To reach those who were bom in the United States and Canada, claiming Hungarian birth-right, numbering over two million, should be part of the now almost one hundred years of organized Hungarian community life in this new world.” Our parents, grandparents, the “real Emigráció”, whose first glance of the Statue of Liberty meant freedom entered into this country through Ellis Island to help form a new nation of nations. Instead of asking for hand-outs they worked hard in the steel mills, coal mines and other factories, so they could raise their children, giving them a better education than what they had received in Hungary. They prepared them for a better life, not forgetting to teach their Hungarian Christian Faith and their Hungarian Heritage. Now, the second, third and fourth genertions can be found amongst the higher positions of education, art and sciences, and entering into the political life of our country. Other nationalities, like English, German, Irish, French, Italian, Polish, etc., have kept up active community lives in the United Sttes even after two hundred years. We’ve found that some Irish and German churches are saying the Lord’s Prayer in the tongue of their fore-fathers. Why can’t we, sons and daughters of Hungarian emigrants be just as proud of our Heritage as they are? One does not have to speak the Hungarian language to be a Hungarian American! The policy of this magazine has not changed. We are a factual and informative literature rather than news gathering journalist product. It is a fact that politics invade every facades of our lives, but we try not to engage in it. We believe in freedom of the press and our columnists have no restrictions on their writing and present a wide variety of issues and opinions. Our Letter to the Editor page is an open forum for anyone to sound off, unless that person advocates the overthrow of the government of the U.S. Our columnist put in their time and effort without compensation to further a cause they believe in. You are invited to join this small, unselfish group. We tried many ways to increase the circulation. We tried to reach out to our churches and societies, but we found mostly closed doors. Regretfully, the clergy did not grasp the real meaning of the magazine for their membership and betterment of the congregation, and choose not to support it, even after they saw their membership diminishing by the loss of new generations. It is sad to hear that the once greatest Hungarian Reformed Church in America, the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Cleveland, Ohio, (once compared to the Great Church of Debrecen, Hungary, the seat of the Hungarian Reformation, and where Louis Kossuth and the first free Hungarian Parliement declared Hungary’s independence from Austria in 1848) is considering closing her doors. The Cleveland congregation formed on May 3,1891,94 years ago, once had a membership of several thousand parishioners. The new Sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1949. Almost every Hungarian congregation—Protestant, Catholic, even Jewish donated, plus thousands of individuals. The dedication of the church on Labor Day, September 4, 1949 was a national celebration for the Hungarian American community. It is tragic to hear that this once great sanctuary now is attended by only 132 persons at the English, and only 21 at the Hungarian worship services. Isn’t it time, that we ask — “Why is this happening to our churches?” Once we had over 300 Christian February, 1985 Page 3
