Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1944 / Verhovay Journal

Ifsii__________________________Verhovay Journal_____________________September 2«. im«

Verhovay Journal

Journal of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Ass’n OFFICE OF PUBLICATION

8502 West Jefferson Ave Detroit, Michigan

PUBLISHED SEMY MONTHLY BY THE Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association

Managing Editor: JOHN BENCZE Editor: COLOMAN REVESZ

Editor’s Offic*

345 FOURTH AVENUE ROOM 805 PITTSBURGH, PA.

All articles and changes of address should be sent to the VERHOVAY FRATERNAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION

SUBSCRIPTION RATES:

345 FOURTH AVENUE . PITTSBURGH, PA.

United States and Canada $1.00 a year

Foreign Countries $1.50 a yeai

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: P. O. BOX 7. WOOLSEY STATION — LONG ISLAND CITY. N. Y.

Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at Detroit, Michigan, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

DIRECTORS HONOR SUPREME PRESIDENT

A banquet was held on Wednesday, Sept. 20th, at 7 PM, in the Assembly Hall of Hotel Fort Pitt in Pittsburgh, Pa., in honor of John Bencze, Supreme President, in observance of his 15 years’ service as supreme officer, by the Board of Directors and the Auditing Committee. In true fraternal fashion the Board of Directors invited the entire Home Office force to attend, and also the families of the Supreme Officers. Arrangements have been made secretly since the banquet was planned as a surprise to Mr. Bencze who was called to the Hotel on some pretext by an old friend.

All members of the Board of Directors and of the Auditing Committee and the entire Home Office force were present and also Mrs. and Miss Bencze, Mrs. Szalanczy, Mr. Nodel, actuary of our organization, and his charming wife, Dr. Gomory, chief medical officer, Mr. Matassy, counsel of the Verhovay, Mr. Molnár (real estate broker, in charge of the new Verhovay building) and Mrs. Molnár; Mrs. Princz, wife of director Princz, and Mr. Joseph Fodor, a friend. The press was represented too: Mr. Fay-Fisher represented the "Szabadság” and the Hungarian Miners’ Journal and Mr. Albert Fiok the local Hungarian weekly, the ‘'Magyarsag.” And, oh yes, a band of gypsies were present too and entertained the audience with the finest Hungarian music.

Mr. Benczé, a very unsuspecting man, arrived with Mr. Kunstudt. When he entered the large room, the entire group rose and greeted him with an ovation that lasted for several minutes. Completely overcome he stood and waited for the ovation to end while the representatives of

52,000 Verhovayans cheered. It was a beautiful, deeply moving demonstration.

Then Mr. Bencze proceeded to take his seat at the side of Mrs. Bencze, shaking hands on his way. Arriving at his seat he bowed and kissed his wife in a gentle demonstration of the appreciation of all the understanding with which she shared his worries and troubles throughout those years that have led up to this solemn moment.

Mr. Szalay, vice-president, then greeted the guests and asked Rev. F. W. Rettmann (ye editor), tc offer grace. Drinks and food

were served and the gypsies played their heart-r endingly sweet melodies until Mr. Szalay rose again and asked Director John P. Kelemen to take over as Master of Ceremonies. He also presented Mr. Bencze in behalf of the members of the Board of Directors and the Auditing Committee, with a beautiful silver cigarette case that made the rounds around the table and was properly admired by all. Some lassy got the sweet idea to put one of her cigarettes into the case and thereafter every admirer added one of his or her cigarettes and thus Mr. Bencze got his case back filled with all kinds of cigarettes ... something to be appreciated in times of a cigarette shortage like we have in Pittsburgh at present.

Speeches followed the presentation. Mr. Kelemen greeted the president and the audience. He said: “There are many thorns in the life of American Hungarians but now I see that there are roses too. The love that unites us is the richest fruit of our life.” He reminded the audience that honoring Mr. Bencze’s 15 years of service as supreme officer, we should remember that those 15 years were preceded by another 15 years of service as member and branch-secretary of the organization. He greeted Mrs. Bencze and thanked her for the understanding by which she has assisted her husband in his difficult task ,.. and as a true ladies’ man he also bowed to Miss Yolanda Bencze, the charming daughter who so often gave cheer and encouragement to her father and mother. He then asked the audience to rise in honor of the 80 heroic dead Verhovayans and announced the plan, adopted by the Board of Directors on the previous day, for the perpetuation of their memory.

Director Frank Brogley spoke in behalf of the second generation. He mentioned the marvellous results of the John Bencze anniversary contest which, he said, meant, that 750 new Verhovayans came to honor our Supreme President and to express their confidence in this organization. He too paid special tribute to Mrs. and Miss Bencze, “who have been an inspiration to him in his work.”

Mr. Bumbulucz, chairman of the auditing committee congratulated the President and expressed his hope that they shall work together for another 25 years just as they have been working together in the last 15 years.

Mr. Révész, Supreme Secretary gave a speech rich in emotions and poetic beauty, wishing Mr. Bencze health and strength for the great work that lies ahead of him and his associates.

Miss Gizella Stefurovsky, a Home Office Employee since January 1, 1928, spoke in behalf of the Home Office force and though she promised to faint if she had to deliver another speech, she did not. She expressed beautifully the sentiments of the entire office force.

Mr. Simo, District Manager promised in behalf of the District Managers all assistance to the Supreme President, for the further development of our organization.

Mr. Falussy, director, delivered a stirring speech that reflected his great patriotic love towards his native country, the United States, but also his adherence to the traditions of his immigrant forefathers. He expressed his deep concern over the future fate of Hungary and he called upon the Supreme President to help save that unhappy country.

Mr. Kunstadt, Chicago membei of the Auditing Committee gave a humorous speech that was well received by the audience.

Mr. Fay Fisher spoke about the love and trust of the American Hungarian miners towards Mr. Bencze: He said: “If they knew that we are here honoring you today, all the flowers of the mining places would have been sent to you by these American Hungarian miners who have the utmost confidence in you.” •

Mr. Fiók spoke as editor of the Magyarsag, and as Vice-President of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. He declared that Mr. Bencze introduced a New Deal in the Verhovay organization and that New Deal will assure further developments for the organization. “We should appreciate our valuable men — said Mr. Fiók — and Mr. Bencze, who has worked himself up from the bottom to the presidency of this organization, has made himself a great man.”

Rev. Rettmann spoke of the spiritual values of Verhovay fraternalism and his intention to develop them through the means of the Hungarian and English Journal. He emphasized that in this program he received full support from the Supreme Officers and the Supreme President in whom he found the man who not only believes but also exhibits fraternalism at its best through his personality and his actions.

Mr. Kelemen introduced the other guests and then Mr. Bencze replied in his quiet, yet so deeply moving manner to the speeches. Looking back upon his 15 years of service, he stated that he had suffered a great deal, because '‘whenever someone attacked the Verhovay, it hurt me.” However, the confidence that has been demonstrated on so many occasions, has made him forget the many dark hours of the past. Replying to Mr. Falussy’s address, he recalled memories of his last trip to Hungary, the misery and sorrow he found there, and his determination to convince the world as to the innocence of Hungary in the present conflict. He concluded dramatically: “As long as I can lift my hand and open, my lips, I shall work for the development of the Verhovay.”

Thus the program ended and

the gypsies took over. No one can remain sad when there are wine, ladies and song ... and no one did remain sad on that memorable evening.

I have saved the reporting of one of the most moving moments of the occasion for the conclusion. That was when Mr. Revesz informed the audience that Mr. Bencze had received throughout the 15 years of his service as Supreme Officer, faithful assistance from three girls at the Home Office who have been 15 or more years with the Verhovay. He called upon Miss Gizella Stefurovsky, Miss Anikó Ballay and Miss Mary Köteles to step forward and presented each one of them with the gift of the Board of Directors, an envelope, containing a hundred dollars each. The audience rose and cheered the three happy girls who found out that the Verhovay does appreciate not only the leaders but the humble workers too and that it is always ready to express its appreciation and reward those who work faithfully. Congratulations to the girls and here is hoping that they will celebrate with us the 25th anniversary of Supreme President Mr. Bencze .., and may God give him and his loved ones health, happiness and strength!---------------V--------------Verhovay s Sacrifices

The August, 1944, issue of “THE FRATERNAL AGE” carries an article captioned ‘'VERHOVA Y’S SACRIFICE S.” It enumerates the sacrifices our organization was called upon to make in the present war and quotes from an article that appeared in the Verhovay Journal at the time when we reported 51 Verhovay soldiers who have lost their lives in the service of pur country. Now we have already 70 gold-stars on the Verhovay Honor Roll...

Since the article reflects the impressions our activities make upon the American public, we believe it will interest our readers and, therefore, we reprint it. * * *

With over 5,000 members in military service, the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association,

Pittsburgh, in July observed with sadness that 51 had made the supreme sacrifice. The Associa* tion had just completed its subscription in the Fifth War Loan to buy a ten-car hospital train. Commenting on the sacrifice of the members who had died, the Verhovay officers said:

“These 51 heroic dead of our organization have done considerably more than their soldierly, duty. While in the line of duty, they have paved the way to victory for their comrades and sacrificed their lives that others may live ... we first, second and third generation Hungarian- Americans have an added reason for appreciating their sacrifice. For it is these men who prove to the United States that it has done well by admitting the Hungarian immigrants to this country and granting them citizenship. In gratitude, these immigrants have reared sons and daughters, who hurried to serve their country and are willing to give to it the full measure of loyalty. There are tens of thousands of Hungarian-Americans serving in the armed forces of our country. The Verhovay alone has raised a small army of 5,000 men and women, whose willingness to serve loyally has been exemplified by the fifty-one men who already have given their lives for victory. Thus the people of the United States cannot but recognize the value of the Hungarian immigrants who have brought from the old country nothing but a love for liberty and willingness to fight and to die for it.”

■--------------V--------------CLEVELAND, OHIO

The next monthly meeting of the Ladies Branch 361, will be held on October 1st, 1944, Sunday, at 2:30 PM. Until further notice all meetings will be held on the first Sunday of each month.

The Ladies Branch will sponsor a dance on Sept. 30, 1944, at 7:30 PM., at the Verhovay Hall, 8637 Buckeye Rd. The Rakoczy band will furnish the music. All are welcome.

MRS. MARGARET VASSY.

1

RED CROSS GIRL SERVES WOUNDED IN FRANCE—As Red Cross facilities are set up directly behind American lines in northern France, Maybelle Kahle gives matches, gum and candy to wounded I men. A former resident of Milwaukee, Miss Kahle served with th* Red Cross in Sicily as a hospital recreation worker before her assignment to the E. T. 0.