Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas. Founded 1897. BENEVOLENCE
VOLUME 53 — NO. 26
HUMANITY
BR, OTHERHOO 1)
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE, ..;P.IST, P. -0. Box 100, TEMPLE, TEXAS
"TUE GREATEIST QUESTION EVER DEBATED . . . " "The State House" was what the delegates to the Continental Congress called the red brick building in which they gathered on a sultry July 1, 1776, to argue what Massachusetts' John Adams called "the greatest question that ever was debated in America." They met in a 40x40 white paneled chamber, "neat but not elegant" with four large windows on either side, thrown open to catch any chance breeze, In the cupola above their heads was a bell cast with the inscription: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof — Lev. xxv. 10." A few short months before, independence was a whispered word. When Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. introduced on June 7 a resolution that "these United Colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states" the debate raged for four days, and the resolution was tabled until July 1. At the same time, Congress ordered a committee headed by Thomas Jefferson to draft a declaration "setting fourth the causes which impelled us to this mighty resolution." With July 1 came ominous news from George Washington commanding the army in New York. A British army, supported by a battle fleet, was landing on Staten Island. Thus, with the threat of the king's
iron fist only a few hours away, the delegates began their debate. Four states were neutral or negative the first day. But on the second, with John Adams leading the way, the vote was 12 to 0 Tor Lee's resolution, with only New York abstaining. The momentous decision was made. On the 3rd the delegates took up the Various clauses of young Jefferson's declaration. To his regret, a clause condemning Negro slavery was stricken. On July 4th the final text was put to a vote. It was 12 to 0, with New York abstaining. On July 8, with the Liberty Bell pealing, it was read to the people of Philadelphia in the State House yard. Not until August 2 did all the members Of Congress sign it. The date of its passage became America's Independence Day. The Declaration was by no means all the history enacted in the State House — now Independence Hall. It was here the Congress received Washington's victory dispatches from Yorktown in
JUNE lb, 1965
1781 and adopted the Articles of Confederation in 1778. On May 25, 1787, 55 delegates from 13 independent statos gaNiered here to write the Constitution of the United States and arter fem.' hot months of sometimes angry debate, the Federal ConVention assembled for the last time on ept..ember 17, 1787 and signed the document. Last year Independence :Tall attracted no less than 2.300,000 visi tors, including 50,000 foreigners. Thefe can be no better proof that it has become a symbol of freedom, not merely for America, but for the whole World, This Fourth of July weekend, as we commemorate the 189th anniversary of the .,founding of our cherished freedoms, we should take heed of the dangers that threaten us today, so similar to those that destroyed great nations of the past. Says Arnold Toynbee, British historian: "Of 21 notable civilizations, 19 perished not from conquest from without, but from decay from within." We must correct those flaws in our society that imperil the very structure Of American ;freedom. Here are some of our attitudes that, unless checked, could lead us into a disaster of ( ur own making. Voting Apathy: In the national elections in 1060 only 64 per cent, 69,000,000 of the eligible 103,000,000 voters, voted. Thus, about 34,000,000 qualified voters chose to forfeit their precious voting privilege.