Verhovayak Lapja, 1946 (29. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1946 / Verhovay Journal

■ag0.6--------------------------------------Verhov ay Journal_________________________________________June 12, 1941

MAGNIFICENT — SUPERB — UNFORGETTABLE!

(Continued from Page 5) representing fraternalism that is hundred per cent solid.

Your fraternalists have done the thing in the real American way. I am happy to find that in the last ten years you have doubled in assets and membership what was accomplished in the first fifty years. When I hear that the goal is sixty thousand members, then I say that this is worthy of a great fraternal Association like yours.

The spirit of fraternalism has sprung within us from the date of civilization’s origin. Banding together for each other’s protection—that was the spirit of fraternalism. We developed the insurance feature in Pennsylvania with 111 fraternal societies, with 13% of all fraternal societies and 15% of all fraternal assets in Pennsylvania, we are the first fraternal state in the United States.

We are the cross section of citizens. By buying bonds, by supporting humanitarian causes that always appealed to fraternalist, by friendly discussion, you can do a grand job in your lodge. You can take up post-war plans and you can exert a great influence in legislative assemblies. I would make it a plan to discuss these plans for us all and then express it to the legislative leaders.”

Hon. Gregg L. Neel, then, spoke of the specific legal problems now facing fraternal societies and concluded his address with congratulations and best wishes which were demonstratively appreciated by the audience.

BRAVO, MISS KISZELY!

“And now—announced Mr. Ari—let’s relax for a little while. Let’s fel the fragrance of the lilacs and see what the Magyars were like when they were happy. . . .” He introduced Miss Kiszely who made the Magyars happy, indeed, with her heartwarming rendition of Hungarian songs. Endless applause and appeals for more showed how much her singing meant to the audience.

MESSAGE FROM HUNGARY.

With deep respect Mr. Ari introduced the ambassador of on unfortunate nation, Dr. Aladar Szegedy-Maszak, Envoy of the Hungarian Republic to the United States.

This man—long dark hair thrown back over his head, large, almost black, burning eyes, slender, medium hight, highly intelligent face (and no glasses) — is a typical Hungarian. In the past, it was mostly aristocrats with more or less foreign background, many of whom talked Hungarian with a definite German accent, represented the Hungarian peopleboth in the government and in foreign embassies.

Dr. Szegedy-Maszak is a symbol

of a change that has taken placc in Hungary. He is the representative of not only the Hungarian government but also — the Hungarian people. He is — of the people and, therefore, for the people. It is not a class he serves but the nation. He is not after privileges but after achievements. He judges a man’s worth not by his family tree — a traditional illness of the Hungarian intelligentsia — but by his ability and character. He is the type of a Hungarian. He is a Hungarian.

And that is the reason why he was greeted with a demonstration that surpassed anything we

ever witnessed among American Hungarians. Six hundred Americans of Hungarian origin and descent arose and embraced their father, mother and brother in Dr. Szegedy-Maszak. It was a storm that shook the walls, brought tears into the eyes and made the hearts of all beat faster in a paroxysm of enthusiasm. ............

He stood there, his fine head bowed slightly, then and when casting a warm glance of response at the audience, waiting. Then a hush fell, after many minutes, and he began to speak. Softly spoken words fell swiftly from his lips. He talked simply, like man to man, yet each sentence was dynamite . . . With what he had to say, any other person would have delivered an oration, but he wasn’t out after sound-effects, nor did he appeal to the emotions. He knew what he wanted to say, he knew the people to whom he was talking and he trusted that they will understand his message anyhow. And they did. They drank his words up .. . They responded to softly spoken sentences that woltld have escaped any audience that would not have paid close attention to his address. Many an applause interrupted his talk . . ■ Yes, he is one of the people, and the PEOPLE understood him.

DR. SZEGEDY-MASZAK SPEAKS

“With brotherly love and a deep respect for the successful work done during the last sixty years I greet the greatest institution of American Hungarians, the Verhovay Association. Pride fills my heart when I think of how the initiative of a few Hungarian laborerss resulted in such a flourishing and important economic organization and how the idea of self-a ssistance proved an immense organizing power among American citizens of Hungarian descent.' And I think also of how the Verhovay Association, during these sixty years, meant support and help to a great many people in the most trying moments of life, and how foresight and competence resulted in social security and freedom from fear for those who understood the old proverb: ‘help yourself aud God, too, will help you’!

After two historic catastrophes and in the anxious and difficult hours of a new beginning, every Hungarian is deeply interested in finding the answer to this question: how did Hungarians and Hungarian descendants meet in the past the great challenge of life in other countries? We arc searching for the proofs of the strength and stamina of our own nation so that we may find energy and encouragement in dealing with the crushing problems of the present and a definite answer to the depressing question of ‘to be or not to be’.

In this respect we find that Americans of Hungarian descent give us the most encouraging answer. The country which they left, had often treated them as stepchildren denying them everything they had every right to expect or, at least, to hope for. They left behind a hard life and came into a hard life. They had to start from the bottom, working hard for every cent and even harder for recognition and appreciation.

But they had one great advantage: they came to . a free country, a country which was founded on the respect of human

dignity and equality. The opportunities were open to the Hungarian immigrants, too, and the American democracy assured a dignified life to all who were willing to accept it. And it was proven again that democracy is more than just the right way: it pays, too. It made it possible for latent abilities to develop, it gave them opportunities to win recognition. The Hungarians gained thereby, but so did America, for the Hungarians contributed their labors, their efforts and their blood to the development and greatness of their new country.

There is a great lesson, therein, for the old country: the Hungarian people, given the opportunities, are able to grasp’ them, to advance, to build an independent and dignified existence and, thus, they become an important and valuable factor in every society which recognizes their human values and grants them human liberties. We know that the American Hungarians are good American people, too, had a share in making this a great and happy nation.

What we want, however, is that Hungarians should prosper not only in Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Bridgeport, but likewise in Miskolc, Kecskemet and Gyor. They shall find, at least, human dignity, liberty and opportunities in the old country, too, so that there shall be a quantitative rather than qualitative difference between the old and the new country. We realize that Hungary will never be and never can be America. But it is our hope and will that there be human solutions, freedom from fear, dignified existence in Hungary, too, and that after the terrible losses and sufferings of two years are overcome and the storms *of hate and intolerance have abated, the Hungarian nation become a great Fraternal Association.

One of the most important reasons why free democracies are powerful is that free citizens are free to found various institutions, centers of individual and social life and instruments of general self-improvement. Such an institution is the Verhovay Association, for sixty years one of the main pillars of the lives of American Hungarians and promoter of friendship for the old country. At this anniversary celebration I would like to convey the thanks of the old country for everything that the generous members and unselfish officers of the Verhovay Association had done for Hungary and her people throughout the last six decades, for having been among the first to establish contact with the old country in times of peace and for having been among the first to lend a helping hand at times of crisis and tribulations.

Today there is greater need for such help than ever before. Bread, lard, sugar, clothing and medicaments are precious commodities and millions of children and adults are expecting them in order that they may survive. But of even greater value are love and the willingness to help, for these are needed just as much as calories and vitamines.

In conclusion permit me, as a simple Hungarian, to thank the Verhovay Association for having shown us an example of how great results can be attained by cooperation, self-assistance and the free organization of free men. The old country thanks you for this example and we hope that

she will be able to follow it. At any rate, the brotherly love and best wishes of the Hungarian people accompany the Verhovay Association on the road to new successes which shall lead to the milestones of coming anniversaries. Good luck to you and God Bless you!”

The address evoked another storm of applause and a thunderous demonstration of wholehearted agreement. Then Mr. Ari thanked the Envoy of Hungary for his address and expressed the hope of all Americans of Hungarian descent for a just and equitable peace. Then he introduced the Hon. James H. Duff who was elected by a Republican landslide to the high office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Hon. James H. Duff complimented the Verhovay for the beautiful women attending jhe celebration. Then he said: “It is a great pleasure to bring a word of greeting to this association which has developed from 13 to nearly 55,000 members. But I know that you want an opportunity to enjoy yourselves and, therefore—I congratulate you.”

THE VOICE AND HEART

OF ALEXANDER SVÉD.

Mr. Ari presented Mr. Alexander Svéd, member of the Metropolitan Opera Company. He told how this great singer gave all his time to the G.I.’s during the war. Once a seriously wounded soldier was brought back to the States. He could not be helped and was ready to die. He had a last request ... to hear the melodies sung by his mother . . . Mr. Svéd was called upon and he complied immediately at the bedside of the dying soldier and sang to him the old Hungarian songs ■ • • until the eyes of the young man closed for ever . . .

Mr. Svéd, the greatest of all Hungarian baritones . . . sang. Mr. Rudnyanszky accompanied him at the piano. Tt was a superb performance ... It was more than just singing ... It was the revelation of the Hungarian soul . . . tortured by the agonies of thousand years and, still, sustained by the love of their country, romance, love and invincible happiness . . .

If we could put the tears that blurred our eyes, upon this paper . . . those tears could tell what Mr. Svéd did to us on that evening ... If we could put our hearts that bled, and, yet, smiled, on the paper . . . that could describe what happened . . . The words we find ourselves able to write are just shadows of the ecstasy that carried us away . . ■

This great singer has a heart and it’s all in his voice.

Yes, he brought the house down . . . People stood and cheeered and cried and begged for more. And he gave himself freely.

During his second performance on that evening he suddenly

grabbed the entire audience with a single powerful motion . . . and six hundred Voices immediately joined him in one of the favored Hungarian songs, his Voice soaring above them all, carrying them away, lifting them up . . , and ending in tumult . . . The people adored him and he loved them for he could feel that they -understood him . . .

AWARDS PRESENTED.

Supreme President Mr. Bencze followed with the presentation of awards to the hundred winners of the Anniversary Membership Contest. Frank Wukovits, manager of Branch 132, South Bend, Ind., pinner of the First Prize was called. “I am glad — said Mr. Wukovits — that South Bend won in this contest. This was what I planned and aimed to attain. The

222,000 dollars of insurance written in South Bend prove the importance of experience in this task. That city has hundred thousand inhabitants of whom six thousand are Hungarians. They and the Home Office stood by me and helped me to attain this results.”

Great applause greeted the Winner of the Contest and his fellowwinners. Due to lack of space we cannot again publish their njimes and list their achievements as this was done in both, the May 8th and May 29th issue of the Journal.

After the Awards arid Certificates of Merit were p re sented, Mr. Ari took over to present the awards to the winners of- the.. Bowling_ Tournament.

“In the spirit of this type of sport — he said — we have made it our aim to hold a tournament once a year. The first Verhovay Bowling Tournament was held in 1942. We were compelled to delay in the following years but from to-day on they will be held every year. From the great interest shown in the Tournament held this year I conclude that future meets of this kind will be highly successful. I hope that by exerting a little pressure on the Board of Directors and the President, we will succeed in getting them to put up $3,000 in prizes for a tournament to be held for two days!” '

Miss lea Kiszely followed the presentation of awards with several beautiful songs and was warmly acclaimed by the audience. Then, Mr. Ari introduced the guests and greetings were read.

(The list of guests will be published in the future issues of the Journal. As to the greetings, the Association received so many of them that it would be impossible to print all of them in this issue. Nevertheless, because of their significance, they will he printed during the next few months. The anniversary celebrations will be remembered for many years and these messages will revive the memories of these two unforgettable days. A few messages, however, are printed in the following.)

ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS.

I have been a member of this Association for a number of years and value highly the service with it performs to its large membership, both as a fraternal and as an insurance organization. Through you, I am glad to extend to them my best wishes for the success of the meeting and for many years of continued valuable service on the part of the organization.”

SUPREME JUSTICE HAROLD H. BURTON

“I should like to extend my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the Association. Your great success in giving help to (Continued on Page 7)