Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas. Founded 1897. BENEVOLENCE
VOLUME 55 — NO. 2
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, FOB 100, TEMPLE, TEX. 76501
JANUARY 11, 1967
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK LOOKING AHEAD
COMPOSITION
This is the time of the year when reports and surveys are made about the past year's activities and achievements and we take a brief glimpse into the year ahead.
The anatomy of any association or club includes four kinds of bones: 1. Wish bones, who want someone else to do the work 2. Jaw bones, who talk a lot but do little else 3. Knuckle bones, who knock everything others try to do, and 4. Back bones, who get behind the wheel and do the work.
The experts tell us that the nation's economic outlook is more difficult to assess right now than in the early part of years gone by. The future of life insurance business can be predicted with a good deal more certainty. Overall economic trends certainly affect the life insurance business. There is every reason to believe, however, that the American people's need for life insurance will grow even more rapidly in 1967 and the years ahead, as families become increasingly dependent on wages and salaries of family members. People are also becoming more aware of the need to protect income through life and health insurance and annuities. Further assurance of a bright future for the life insurance business is the fact that we are now on the brink of a tremendous infusion of young Americans into the 20-to-35 age bracket. This is the stage in life when most of the life insurance is purchased. If present trends continue, Americans will probably buy over $125 billion worth of life insurance in 1967. We hope that a sizeable portion of that amount will be SPJST insurance.
Leaders in the life insurance industry expect little change in the tight money situation in 1967. They see no return to the peak interest rates of last August and September, but no marked downturn from the present rates. Texas' total life insurance rose to about $48 5 billion, the sixth largest amount in force in a single state, according to year-end estimates by the Institute of Life Insurance. Texas families increased their protection by nearly $4.1 billion or about 9 per cent during 1966. This was the seventh largest dollar increase among the 50 states. Despite the growth of life insurance throughout the state, statistics indicate a need for more protection. A year ago, the average Texas family had about $13,800 of life insurance — which was equivalent to only about 17.9 per cent of their annual personal income.
It happened. Anyone could predict it would. The law of averages demands it. Alas, for many, the holidays were saddened by the death of a loved one. Death and misfortune indeed, did not take a holiday. The shock and grief were still there. Some of our good and dear friends and relatives were hale and hearty one day, perhaps attending a gala holiday occasion, and then were suddenly taken away. It all happened so fast, we could scarcely believe it. To all those members, whose lives were so greatly affected by the loss of a loved one during the holidays go our very special sympathies. Such losses are difficult to face at any time of the year, but somehow during the Christmas Season they seem especially hard to bear. SOMETIME, SOMEWHERE . You gave on the way a pleasant smile And thought no more about it. It cheered the life that was sad the while. That might have been wrecked without it. And so for the smile and fruitage fair, You'll reap a crown -- sometime, somewhere. You spoke one day a cheering word And passed to other duties; It warmed a heart, new promise stirred, And painted life with beauties. And so for the word and its silent