Vestnik 1965 04 28

Page 1

Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas. Founded 1897. BENEVOLENCE

VOLUME 53 速 NO. 17

HUMANITY

BROTHERHOOD

Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. O. Box 100, TEMPLE, TEXAS

APRIL 28, 1965

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK A GOOD THING CATCHES ON The idea of presenting special awards, or at least giving recognition, to outstanding members of the various lodges is catching on. We had earlier mentioned that Lodge No. 47, Seaton, had given such an award. More recently, Lodge No. 84, Dallas, honored two of their members in this fashion: Sister Bessie Fete, and Brother Frank B. Steiner. Both are longtime workers in their lodge and richly deserved this special distinction. Members in other lodges have expressed an interest in the idea, and there is increasing sentiment in favor of these awards in the lodges. Not too long ago in this column, your editor expressed the opinion that it would be a good thing if the Supreme Lodge sponsored such an award on a statewide level, starting in early January 1966. I proposed the matter in the January meeting of the Supreme Lodge, and again in the April meeting. The idea seems to have found support among the rank and file in the lodges, and chances now appear quite good that we will inaugurate such an award, starting with the ,first issue of the Vestnik in 1966. As stated before, this would be an award to some member of the ,SPJST, over 21, male or female, who, in the opinion of other members, rendered the greatest service or contribution toward the overall betterment Of the SPJST, and who best

FRIENDSHIP PAYS Begin the day with friendliness, Keep friendly all day long. Keep in your soul a friendly thought, In your heart a friendly song. Have in your mind a word of cheer, For all who come your way, And they will greet you, too, in turn, And. wish you a happy day. 6

In friendship we find nothing false or insincere; everything is straightforIvard, and springs from the heart. --Cicero typifies a true, honest-to-goodness fraternalist. The matter will be taken up again at the July meeting of the Supreme Lodge, at which time details will be worked out and the facts made known to the membership through the Vestnik. Everyone and his brother, and practically every organization in Texas, from the Jaycees on, give some "outstanding member" a special award, even if it's no more than a plaque. We intend to do more than that. This will be one of the nicest honors that can be bestowed upon a member of our order. Be thinking about it, and if the program is announced, be prepared to submit your "candidate" for this high honor. Public Charity In the fall of 1964, the Supreme Lodge sent out questionnaires to our

142 "active" lodges, regarding fraternal beneficent activities in each lodge. Of that number, 77 lodges responded, roughly half. Why the other half never responded will probably never be known. This column tried to make it clear as to the importance of the questionnaire, since facts tabulated from them were to be used in combatting legislation which would adversely affect fraternal societies throughout the United States. The information was compiled to be forwarded to the secretary-treasurer of the National Fraternal Congress, which carries on a nationwide campaign against such pending or impending legislation. The report covered only 1964. For juvenile activities, the reporting lodges spent a little over 3 thousand dollars. Aid to the poor, sick, disabled or handicapped amounted to $1,159.41. Aid to victims of disasters amounted to $35. Total amount spent on charitable activities amounted to $7,552.50. For "service to the community," 14 lodges reported "yes." In donations to welfare organizations, such as the Red Cross, Scouts, Cancer Fund, and similar agencies, the 77 reporting lodges contributed $250.50, or roughly a little over $3 per lodge. For educational purposes, we contributed $116. (Note: It is not known whether all these figures include the many and various donations and stipends voted and granted by the delegates to the XIX Convetntion last June).


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