--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Passtor, Arpad collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 14 number: 9 published: 1911-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Arpad Passtor, "What a Hungarian Gentleman Writes," *Improvement Era* 14, no. 9 (July 1911): 812–814.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1409unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1409unse start_page: 812 end_page: 814 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1911-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1409unse publication_year: 1911 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1911, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # What a Hungarian Gentleman Writes What a Hungarian Gentleman Writes. A Hungarian traveler. Arpad Pasztor, who visited Salt Lake City and became somewhat acquainted with the Latter-day Saints has written to a leading paper in Budapest, Hungary, relating among other things his visit to the Latter-day Saints and the impressions received of them. Elders John E. Hill, Samuel V. Spry, and Desmond J. Barker, have sent to President Joseph F. Smith a translation of his letter which was printed in the Budapest paper and read by many thousands of people. Some excerpts from his writings, which are entitled, "Around the world from Budapest to Budapest," will prove of interest to the readers of the Er\, and are here given. One must, of course, allow for some slight exaggerations, where the intent is as honest as the writer's: In the midst of this rough, formidable world, the great American West, is the State of Utah, and the City of Salt Lake, where live a civilized, wealthy, contented and peace-loving people. The land of the "Mormons!" The holy and righteous "Mormons," who are solemnly sworn by oath that they will not gamble, not drink intoxicating liquors, and not commit adultery. The emblem of their state is the "Bee-hive"—Labor and industry. They are not permitted to criticize or find fault with their religion, nor permitted to make light of their most holy book, the Book of Mormon, which was engraved by man upon plates of brass two thousand years before the birth of Christ, and hidden up in the promised land of America, that in time it would be found that Nephi and Laman were the direct descendants, (the American Indians) of the house of Israel. Viewed from the eye of an infidel, every religion is quaint, and what is more, perhaps, amusing and strange; but one need not WHAT A HUNGARIAN GENTLEMAN WRITES. 813 look altogether at the religion, but at what kind of men are being reared and what kind of a world is being built. Look at their leader, Brigham Young. See what marvelous wonders were accomplished under his direction. How the barren desert was changed into a garden, and a city built which in the world has no equal. Its narrowest streets are as wide as "Andrassy-ut," [widest straight street in Europe, located in Budapest] and it has beautiful business blocks; wealth, order and contentment are in evidence everywhere. There were perhaps two thousand "Mormons," when they came here,and now there are fifty thousand, and in the United States five hundred thousand. Brigham Young truly was one of the greatest builders of the past century, powerful agitator, orator, achiever and director, most eminent of all the pioneers, and moreover, in all respects an artist. He himself designed and constructed the holy temples and tabernacles of the "Mormons." He was not an architect, but he built as a child, who at his play constructs masterpieces. The tabernacle is the plainest of buildings, and yet is wonderful. There is a seating capacity for twelve thousand. This mighty hall is arched by a single turtle-shell like dome, seventysix meters long, forty-six meters wide, and so perfectly built that a whisper can be heard to the most remote corner. Yet not a single European theatre is patterned after it. Not in the world can an auditorium be found that is preferable to this. The great organ cannot be equalled the world over. It is comprised of five thousand pipes, a most marvelous masterpiece! I entered the biilding at 12 noon. A concert was being held. The sensation and esctasy of those few moments will never be forgotten. It was an experience worth the struggles of a lifetime. Lohengrin and Elsa's beautiful love duet was played, and also that simple Southern melody known so well to all Americans, "Old Folks at Home." Then, as if the harmony had been wafted for miles, or even from heaven itself, the choir sang—the purest and most beautiful music I have ever heard. Thousands and thousands of sounds were produced as waves lowering and rising with the clear, silvery strains of the soprano, the rich, sparkling flow of the alto, the bright, golden 814 IMPROVEMENT ERA. glow of the tenor, and the deep, majestic ocean-like roar of the bass. The soft, mellow effect of the organ could be felt throughout the entire piece, and after the finest tones that can be produced by man dwindle into stillness, one is still held spellbound by its divine influence. I entered the presiding Bishop's office building. In every office were men and women -the women have equal rights with the men. When I inquired after a "Mormon" Hungarian, a healthy young lady answered, "Perhaps my brother, the apostle, will know." Dear brethren! My brother-in-law is a prophet, my brother is an apostle, and my uncle a bishop. But these apostles, prophets and bishops are excellent business men. The offices are humming with business activities, since the Church is interested in every honorable kind of business in existence. In these pursuits they are prudent and wise, and their members are contented and prospering. "No, no, I am not ashamed to confess," said a "Mormon" to me, "that in my younger days I was a tippler. I already had a wife and child. I could hardly wait until evening to build the fire in the factory and rush out with the trainmen to drink. I spent my money in carousing, my wife watching and waiting for my return till three in the morning, when I would be brought in. Then the 'Mormon' missionaries came to us. I reformed. Nine of us came out here. We now have two shoe factories. We are all partners. Each of us has a home of our own. Early in the evening I buy fruit and go home and play with the children. We sing, dance, we are happy. Isn't it so, Brother Schulthess?" This confession was made to me at the office of the Salt Lake Beobachter, where ended my search for the Hungarian "Mormons." Upon my inquiring, Mr. Arnold H. Schulthess, the editor, went to the telephone and called up Brother S., who made the statement that he will never return to Hungary. Why not? He said: "Here I have extra good work. I love my home in Banat. A more beautiful place on earth cannot be found, but I shall remain here, because here it was where my happiness began." His eyes sparkled, his face became bright. In contentment and peace he lives.