Verhovayak Lapja, 1946 (29. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1946 / Verhovay Journal
Page 2 A Memorable Event (Continued from Page 1) here and now that equal opportunities shall be had by all and that persecutions shall become a thing of the past. Let us continue in our efforts to keep our country the greatest in the world.” A SOUND BIT OF ADVICE. Introduced by the Master of Ceremonies, the Rev. Father Lawrence F. Schott made the following remarks: 'T am happy to be with you upon this glorious occasion to welcome back the men in the service. I saw most of you off to the war. Some did not return. To you who were fortunate enough to return I have a sound bit of advice. Two million men had been greeted by us in the City of Harrisburg. You cannot meet two million men and not know something about them. Some are bitter, many disillusioned. There is, however, no need for you to throw up your hands and quit fighting. This is no time to quit, to loaf. Those who remained behind did neither quit, nor loaf. Neither did we who had worked day and night in order to give you everything you needed. Nor did our fathers and mothers who quit only when they died. The job before us takes every bit of courage we have and then some. For there are forces in America today trying to destroy cveryihing we have gained. Y'ou know them because you meet them every day. They are not real Americans because they would sell us out any day. We should do our utmost to prevent them from causing any damage to us and to our country. And as our strongest weapon in our struggle ' against these forces we must keep our religion, because we need it badly. We must live up to the principles of the Ten Commandments and live in such a way that God’s blessing may be upon us and our homes. You, service men, should keep on working doing your best to live in a world worth living in.” The impressive address by the Rev. Father Schott was followed by the introduction of Mrs. David S. Kohn, charming wife of the Assistant District Attorney. Then the Master of Ceremonies introduced our own veteran, Supreme Auditor John Sabo, who was given an enthusiastic welcome. USE YOUR POWER TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD! “I am very glad—said the Supreme Auditor—to Lave the opportunity to express my congratulations to you and my appreciation for the splendid job you have done in the City of Harrisburg. This celebration is a noble attempt on your part to honor your returned veteran fellow-members. You have made this occasion even more worthwhile by providing for these veterans, and all members, a Home which now is free of all encumlyrances. I know that all veterans really appreciate your efforts in their behalf. To my former buddies I want to say that you did a wonderful job. But you succeeded only because those who stayed behind did everything in their powder to produce what was needed on the battle fronts. Our job, however, is far from completion. We still have to win the peace. The majority of our people complain about the policies of our leaders, about the inflation, about the peace which is now' in the making. They think something better could be had, they think that improvements could be made. However, they do nothing about these things. If only these people w'ould realize that they really are the cues at fault if anything goes wrong, because the leaders that are were chosen by them. The people must be made to realize that they have a powerful hand in the shaping of national and international affairs and if they would only use that power, a great deal of good would be achieved and a better world would result. And therefore, I urge all of you, especially the veterans, to take an active part in the administration of your government’s affairs. Furthermore, I urge you to join some fraternal association where you can learn how to w'ork together and lead together. Fraternalism is needed by our world today. It is the only effective defensive weapon against the atomic bomb. The great leaders of our nation had come, as a rule, from the ranks of fraternalists. Let us follow in their footsteps by practicing brotherly love as only true fraternalists can. Before closing my speech, I want to call your attention to the good work done by your loyal president, “Uncle Jim” Nagy. He has done a splendid job. Please, stand behind him and support him in all respects in order that an even better job may be done in the future. In the name of my fellow-officers and all members of our Association I greet you and wish you continued success and a happy time tonight.” Thunderous applause followed Mr. Sabo’s address and then Supreme Treasurer John Szalanczy was introduced and given a rousing ovation. PRESENTATION OF TITLE TO HOME. “In the first place—said Mr. Szalanczy—I extend to you my greetings and those of Supreme President John Bencze and Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz. These gentlemen could not be here tonight, but they requested me to convey to you their best wishes for continued success. To the returned veterans I want to express my thanks for the wonderful job they had done. However, I, too, want to remind you that the job is not finished as yet. We still have to win the peace. We are striving for that peace, I urge you not to give up your faith, your religion, for in these times we need religion ever so much. Without it no just peace can be established. And so, in behalf of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association I thank you, my veteran friends, and ask you to do a good job in establishing a better, peaceful world. To the member of Branch 336 and the Verhovay Home Association I have a few words, also. In 1939, Mr. Nagy, your president, came to Pittsburgh to lay his plans before the Board of Directors and the Officers of our organization. He claimed that there wras a great need for a home and a clubhouse in the City of Harrisburg. We listened to him and finally decided to act in favor of his request. Although the branch was not in a good The Verhovay Album of Branch Managers JULIUS NEMETH — BRANCH 289 — ROSETON, N. Y. Roseton, a little town about ^ 60 miles north of New York f City, is the site of Branch 269. Founded in 1914, it struggled along from a small J beginning to slow, but; steady development, which is quite remarkable considering the highly unfavorable com- ! bination of local conditions. Indeed, it is to the credit of i the officers of this branch f that a consistent tendency f for increase in the membership was maintained while the Hungarian colony, never too strong, kept dwindling away amidst the sparse population of that area. Undoubtedly, manager Julius Nemeth, with more than 60 new members to his credit, has a great share in the steady advancement of this branch which had 117 members in the year of Verhovay’s 60th. anniversary. Mr. Nemeth was born at Koronczo, Gycr county, Hungary, on April 8, 1885. He came to the United States in 1910, settled in Roseton, entered the employ of the Jova Brickworks in the same year working there ever since as a fireman. He married the former Julianna Magyar on April 23, 1912, and they have three children, William, Yolan and Mary. William, 33, served with the U. S. Army during World War II, as a corporal. Manager Julius Nemeth joined the Verhovay as a charter-member of Branch 269 in 1914, and served for three years as recording secretary, 7 years as treasurer, 6 years as secretary and president and, since January 1, 1942, as manager. As officer of the branch for more than twenty years he has served his fellow-members conscientiously, with loyalty and devotion. In face of highly discouraging circumstances he did his best and succeeded. And this is the greatest compliment that can be paid to any man. Verhovay Journal ___________________________ August 28, 1946 financial position, we approved the plans and resolved to help you buy your Home. And today you have demonstrated your loyalty. You have proven that our faith in you and Mr. Nagy, was not in vain. Our Association purchased this home, you paid for it in seven years and now I have the pleasure of turning over the title of this Home to Branch 336 and the Verhovay Home Association. I hope that the members of this Branch and the Home Association will take as good care of this home as they had so far. And now I call upon Mr. Nagy, your President, to accept the title io your Home. Before, however, I present this to you, Mr. Nagy, I want to tell your fellow-members that you were the one who vas responsible for getting the help of our Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association. It was upon your word and promise that we helped purchase this home for you. Our directors and officers had much faith in you and you did not fail us. You made good in every respect. The home is paid and it is yours. The members of the Home Association should not forget that it was you and your Branch who made this purchase possible.” Mr. Szalanczy then presented the title to Mr. Nagy who accepted it amidst a prolonged demonstration on part of the audience. A deafening cheering and applause arose while the two men shook hands and then Mr. Szalanczy continued: “I thank you, Mr. Nagy, and I hope you will stay with this group of men and women and that you will continue looking after them. I ask you and all of your fellow-members to secure more and more new members for the Verhovay and your Home Association. Work hard so as to give al! the members a chance to become true fraternalists. Let me conclude by quoting the remarks made in Pittsburgh by the Insurance Commissioner of Pennsylvania: Brothers, if we ever needed fraternaiism, not only in this country, but throughout the entire world, if we ever needed religion and faith, we need it now. And so, let us do our best to establish a world which will have brotherly love for all.” “I HAVE KEPT MY PROMISE!” Mr. Nagy expressed his appreciation and thanks as he accepted the title to the Heme and then, turning to the audience, remarked: “Fellow-members, in 1939, when we organized this Association, I promised you a fine heme and clubhouse for some time in the future- Here is the title, I have kept my promise!” A great demonstration of sincere affection on part of the audience iollowed his words. An excellent banquet and the dance completed the program of this celebration which marked the happy ending to another chapter in the history of Verhovay achievements. BUY VICTORY BONDS sms AN ACT OFHONOR (Continued from Page 1) the brightest spots on the map of the Verhovay . . . One shadow, however, fell upon the joy of those péople who lived and worked together as one happy family in the Verhovay Home of Alliance. Indeed, they had discharged all of their obligations. They could hold up their heads before the world knowing that they didn’t owe anyone anything. Yet, they remembered . . . They remembered the nineteen families who had lost a total of $1,691.42 due to the failure of the first owners of this building. Of course, they realized that they were under no legal obligation to take care of their losses. The house was for sale for a certain price. The price was paid and the building was theirs. However, Hungarians, and especially Verhovayans have a different conception of honor. They couldn’t be entirely happy in a home which was the cause of great loss to some of their fellowmen. They couldn’t fully enjoy the security of their ownership as long as they felt that there were some people who could not look at their home without resentment. They couldn’t have a good time in a hall which could awaken only bitter memories of ’losses suffered in the minds of those who so generously supported the first owners in their endeavor. . . They wanted their Home to be beyond reproach, a place that meant peace, cooperation and satisfaction to all who entered its portals. And so, half a year after the mortgage was burned, the House- Ccmmittee of branches 189 and 369 held a meeting at which only one subject was to be discussed: the losses suffered by the 19 guarantors. And in compliance with instructions received from the members of these two branches, the House Committee resolved to reimburse these people for their losses. “Neither the present, nor the future generation, declared the House Committee, shall be able to say that their fathers had lost their mcney on the Hungarian Home of Alliance. Even though the Verhovay has no legal obligations to anyone, we wish to clear our Verhovay Home even of the shadow of reproach.” An evening of Joy On August 24th, 1946, Saturday evening the Alliance Home was tilled to capacity by the members and friends of the two local branches. Happily the members of the House Committee greeted the guests, proudly they offered a cordial welcome to nineteen guests of honor, the men who nineteen years ago decided to support at their own risk the building project of Alliance Hungarians. This was to be their evening on which their confidence was to be rewarded by a group of people, Verhovayans, who had given a new meaning to the concept of honor. It was on this evening that nineteen checks, totalling $1691.42, were distributed among nineteen recipients. It was on this evening that nineteen men found their money, lost nineteen years ago. We don’t quite know who was happier: these nineteen good people who got their money back, or the members of the branches 189 and 369 who voluntarily as(Continued on Page 4)
