William Penn, 1956 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1956-09-05 / 9. szám

VoL XXXIX. SEPTEMBER 19, 1956 51 NUMBERS.

Cleveland Hungarian Day Commemorates Hunyadi Victory

DIRECTORS AND NATIONAL OFFICERS HONORED AT TESTIMONIAL

Cleveland and area Hungarians and their guests celebrated CLEVELAND HUNGARIAN DAY, sponsored by the United Hungarian Societies of Cleveland, Ohio, in a special co irmvemoröitive program held on August 19, 1956,

The affair was dedicated to the 500th Anniversary of John Hunyadi’s victory over the invading Turks at the crucial battle of Nándorfehérvár, now Belgrade, for it was in 1456, exactly 500 years ago, that Christianity and Western Civilization were in the peril of the barbarian Turks. The great Hungarian victory of Hunyadi postponed for decades the eventual invasion of Hungary, bulwark of the Cross and Occidental Culture, by the fanatic hordes from infidel Turkey,

Adding much to the success and spirit of this year’s CLEVELAND HUNGARIAN DAY, held at Puritas Spring Park, was the sincere tribute paid to the Hungarian people by the distinguished guest speaker, the Hon. Christian M, Ravndal, American Mi raster to Hungary recently back from Budapest after a five year tour

of duty there. The diplomat spoke in excellent Hungarian and thrilled the audience with his extensive knowledge of Magyar history and his sympathetic understanding of the many woes that have befallen the Hungarian people in their more than thousand year European history. It was most gratifying to hear the Hon. Christian M. Ravndal’s speech and to learn of his deep feeling for the Magyars.

The event was honored also by the presence of Coloman Revesz, National President of the William Penn Fraternal Association, who spoke on the founding of the Magyar State by King St. Stephen, first monarch of the Árpád line, and how significantly that founding has affected the course of Magyar history.

CLEVELAND HUNGARIAN DAY, August 19, 1956, reiterated the goodness of the much-maligned Hungarian race — the nation that almost bled to death to save. Christianity and Western Civilization — and now remains horribly mutilated by the infamous Treaty of Trianon and the even more sinister evil of Communism.

FRATERNALISM

Every fraternal benefit society of the National Fraternal Congress of America is proud of its financial statement. The fraternal benefit societies have some other “assets”, however, that are not always taken into consideration but that are so important that they should never be overlooked.

There is an asset that surpasses any other and that is the spirit of ownership that comes with the fraternal organization. Every person who becomes a member of a fraternal society becomes a part owner of it with just as large a share as the highest officer or the oldest member. Every member has the same right of expression and the value of his or her vote. Ke can oppose any action that might .be proposed and he can go to the very top of the Society with a protest, with complete right to be heard.

To this asset there might also he added that greater thing which we call fraternalism and which manifests itself in the desire of every member to do what is best for the entire group without regard to his or her own interests or desires. This is really the heart of the fraternal system and that it is a real and moving force is best seen in the many services which the fraternal society renders outside of its actual contract.

When you read of the members of a society plowing and seeding the fields of an unfortunate member; when you read of the members rebuilding a home that has been destroyed by fire; when you hear of any of the many human services that are rendered by a fraternal group, you are hearing of the greatest asset that the society has — the asset of love for fellow man. Of course, the afflicted brother could have insurance to pay for illness or fire or any other misfortune but he could never have enough; but the small payment of money the fraternal society has given him is an assurance that surpasses anything that he could buy and it comes to him because his brothers know that he would do as much for any of them under like conditions.

Liabilities ? ? ? ? The fraternal system has only one liability today and that is not too serious. That liability is the inactive member. That liability is not a danger to the stability of the society. He “keeps up his dues and makes contributions” and hence in no way endangers the finances of his society. He is only a liability to the growth of the society. He takes his protection, and when he dies, he simply leaves a vacancy on the roster. He is a liability only because he has not prepared someone to take his place. We really have a great purpose. Every fraternal benefit society looks to the National Fraternal Congress of America for leadership. It recognizes that among the assets of fraternal societies it enjoys hidden and untold accomplishments. Now — are you an asset or are you a liability to your society? If you have not taken full part in the past, will you not do so during the coming year?

Submitted by the Public Relations Committee National Fraternal Congress of America

Its time to roll up vours/eeve~

CALL YOUR RED CROSS TODAY!

The beautiful Norse Room of the Fort Pitt Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was the setting for an inspiring occasion on the evening of September 12, 1956 when the Board of Directors, in Pittsburgh for its regular fall session, awarded to four of its members and to two National Officers the highest testimonial granted by the William Penn Fraternal Association to its cream of the crop members and workers, namely, the ILLUSTRIOUS CITATION and the GOLD MEDAL.

The awards were made to Directors Alexander Moldovany, Frank Magyary, Aloysius C. Falussy, Joseph Kormondy, to National Secretary Albert J. Stelkovics and to National Auditor John Sabo.

Present were the Board of Directors, the National Officers, the Investment Manager, the Field Manager, the Legal Adviser and the Medical Adviser. Invited guests were John Bencze, former National President of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association and now Permanent Honorary National President, and William C. Kohut, Secretary of the Auditing Committee. Others present were Assistant National Secretary Frank J. Cher, who, among other things, delivered with precise timing the individual awards to the presenting speakers, and Albert J. Jozik, on hand to report the event in this issue.

The program began formally at 6:30 with the serving of cocktails.

In exactly a half hour, at 7:00, National Auditor John Sabo asked that all the guests seat themselves for the dinner.

The welcoming address was made by National President Coloman Revesz who, after offering thanks to the Almighty for the sumptuous meal, then signaled that the banquet had begun.

Delicious food, featuring thick steak, graced the candlelighted table, and the feast was made even more feastful by the playing of recorded Hungarian music, thanks to Legal Adviser Gay B. Banes who had brought along his automatic machine and a sizable collection of Hungarian records. The entire atmosphere was permeated with congeniality.

At 8:10 the National President again addressed the assemblage of William Penn officialdom and introduced Vice President Julius Macker as the toastmaster of the evening.

The Vice President rose, extended his greetings, congratulated the honored award participants, and followed these by referring to the presence of former National President Bencze, then brought out in words the long Verhovay record of Mr. Bencze, He concluded by asking Mr. Bencze to speak. Applause followed.

The Permanent Honorary National President had much to say, too much to reproduce in toto here. He expressed his gratification at the honor of having been invited to this elaborate affair, exhorted the four Directors and two National Officers to put their ILLUSTRIOUS CITATIONS in prominent places and to wear their GOLD MEDALS. Further, he thought that the Directors and National Officers should get together socially, “Dutch treat,” often, and he would be most fain to be with them on every such occasion.

The toastmaster thanked Mr. Bencze for the fine speech and specifically charged the Board members, in the interests of true unity, never to carry their Board meeting disagreements outside in the form of grudges.

Now came the main part of the program of this meeting, the awarding of the ILLUSTRIOUS CITATIONS and the GOLD MEDALS.

The order of presentations was made as follows:

1. Director Louis Vizi to Director Alexander Moldovany,

2. Director László Fishbein to Director Frank Magyary,

3. Director Albert B. Ibos to Director Aloysius C. Falussy.

4. Director Michael J. Faczan to Director Joseph Kormondy.

5. Vice President Louis Varga to National Secretary Albert J. Stelkovics.

6. Director Dr. Andrew Kovács to National Auditor John Sabo.

(Continued on page 3)