Officiat Organ of The Sla nie Benevolent Order Of The State ei Texas. Founded 1897.
BENEVOLENCE
VOLUME 55 — NO. 44
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE, SP.IST, POD 100, TEMPLE, TEX. 76501
► FROM DISTRICT MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Our fall district meetings are all over, with the exception of District III, as this is being written. In our recollection, this fall's district meetings have been the livliest and most fruitful of all the district meetings. Members seem to want to know more about where and how funds are being spent and invested. There seems to be more curiosity on the part of the rank and file. This is good. It could also be attributed to the fact that there is a natural increase in interest since we have a convention coming up in 1968. In the District VI meeting at East Bernard, Supreme Lodge Secretary Urbanovsky pointed out the importance of the form that he will be sending out soon to all the lodges, relative to our fraternal-charity-benevolent work. This topic has been covered several times in this column, particularly two years ago, when the questionnaire was first instituted and sent out. Its impOrtance cannot be overemphasized. Our future and perhaps even existence may well depend on it. When your lodge receives this questionnaire, don't fill it out carelessly or haphazardly. See to it that it is filled out, above all, completely. As Brother Urbanovsky pointed out, in order to continue en-
Ira TIT:
NOVEMBER 1, 1967
S DESK
IT'S AUTUMN . A haze on the far horizon The infinite, tender sky, The ripe, rich tint of the cornfields, And the wild geese sailing high; And all over upland and lowland The charm of the.golden-rod, . Some of us call it Autumn, And others call it God. Author Unknown joying our status as a fraternal society, we must prove that we are, indeed, a fraternal and benevolent society. There is no question that we are, except that we are called upon, from time to time, to offer some proof of this. Hence, the questionnaire. Although the District I meeting was fairly well attended at New Tabor on Oct. 8th, a vast majority of the lodges in that district were not represented. District I has more lodges than any other district, but has consistently had the poorest representation at district meetings. And were it not for the youths' participation, there might have been even fewer present. (This, of course, can be said about the attendance in any district). The meeting, however, was a very good one because the membership was
able to learn of some of the activities and proposals of the 086A Committee, as reported by Brother Melvin Skrabanek, member of the three-man committee. Members should not hesitate asking questions, since that is a major source of information, and chances are, you won't find out if you don't ask. It's your organization. Most of Brother Skrabanek's remarks will be contained in a report from that committee that will soon appear in the Vestnik. They are considering several big and important items. One thing may be mentioned, and that is that the •8LA Committee will recommend the construction of a new home office building, to be located in Temple. (While at New Tabor, Bro. Skrabanek escorted us to the gravesite of pioneerteacher Josef Masik, who is buried on property that he now owns). Brother Joe B. Hejny also pointed out some pertinent facts relating to camping, 1968, which were most helpful. The attendance at the District VII meeting was small, and consisted mostly of elderly members. The younger people, with the exception of the very young who were involved in the youth program, were most conspicious by their absence. A nice crowd came for the noon meal and left as soon as that was over. The meeting was held