HERALD Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas. Founded 1897. BENEVOLENCE
VOLUME 53 — NO. 39
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 100, TEMPLE, TEXAS
SEPTEMBER 29, 1965
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK FRATERNALS AND YOU Fraternal insurance organizations have been and are the backbone, core, and substance of nationality groups in the USA, just as the SPJST comprises a large part of that heritage here in the State of Texas. The history of the SPJST is likewise a history of Czech-Americans in Texas and the Southwest. The two are inseparable.. Our fraternals are the main gathering and rallying point and main supporters of nationality observances, as for example, tne recent "Czechoslovak Spectacular" at SPJST Lodge 66 at Elm Mott, and the up-coming Czech Festival in Dallas at the State Fair on Oct. 10th, plus dozens of other similar projects around the state. The SPJST is right in the big middle of these projects. We are a main gathering place for our youth and their varied activities. To support and strengthen our fraternal system is to strengthen our own national conscience and our own national heritage. Every conscientious American, with just a drop of Czech blood in him, cannot afford to sit idly by on the sidelines in this movement. The late President Kennedy recognized the cohesion and unity that our nationality groups bring about in the US and supported the idea of preserving our languages, Old World cus-
THE MAGNANIMITY OF BIG MEN The story is told that during the Civil War Jefferson Davis one day wanted a reliable officer for an important command. He asked General Lee what he thought of a certain man by the name of Whiting for the post. Lee commended him highly. One of the latter's officers was greatly surprised at the General's commendations, and, calling him aside, asked him if he knew what unkind things Whiting had been saying about him. Lee said, "I understand that the President wanted to know my opinion of Whiting, not Whiting's opinion of me." Big men are too magnanimous to .nolice criticisms or slights. It is the small man, who is carried away with his own importance, who cannot overlook personal attacks.
toms, and our nationality cultures. He encouraged this sort of thing. You can do all this and still remain an American FIRST. No one believes anymore that by practicing your own nationality group customs that •you thereby forfeit your Americanism, or that you somehow lose your claim to being an American. There was a time when this was not so. Each of us can contribute something in this direction in his own
way. The SPJST is an excellent vehicle for this work, and we encourage and support it. • • There are still people who do not know, and care even less , about what fraternalism means. Some who do ,know do not practice it. Some of our own so-called Czechs shun the whole idea of a fraternal society; some even go to ridiculous lengths to hide the fact that they are of Czech ancestry. They avoid labels of any kind. Fraternalism and brotherhood apply to all members of our fraternal societies, be they of Czech ancestry or not. It would not be bad if all citizens subscribed to the principles of fraternalism and brotherhood. If we fully understand the true meaning of the word fraternalism then we must be genuinely concerned about our fellowman and about our neighbor's welfare. If we all practiced these principles , we would spend less time trying to injure someone else. We would be more tolerant of others; we wouldn't seize upon some little insignificant matter and magnify it beyond all reasonable proportions. We would lend a helping hand more often, and leave our gripes, complaints, petty dislikes, jealousies, and selfishness aside. All of these hinder .good fraternal work and get in
CZECH-AMERICAN FESTIVAL AT THE STATE FAIR DALLAS, OCT. 10th