',4JSZ ciierath Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897. HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE VOLUME 59 — NO. 11
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE SP. ST , FOB 100, TEMPLE, TEX 76501
MARCH 17, 1971
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK Fraternal societies in general are privileged in the sense they do not pay taxes to operate as non-profit organizations. This is as it should be because the fraternals render far more to community service, and as adjuncts to charity, than those who would challenge their tax-exempt status. The cry of the latter, however, grows every year and it should behoove all fraternal society members to guard against any pitfalls which might endanger their exempt status. The 1969 Tax Reform Act is a good example of what is happening. They should be especially alert to see that their organizations: 1. Hold regular monthly meetings where a collection of dues is taken up; 2. Continue welfare activities; 3. Promote charity endeavors. Since most all the nationality fraternals center their activities around the latter two, we will discuss only the first. "The moment we stop holding monthly meetings," wrote an officer of another fraternal, "the moment we stop collecting dues from the lodge members, we shall start losing our taxexempt status." He recognized the fact that many meetings are poorly attended, but he urged the lodge officers to take the "bull by the borns" and go about conducting interesting meetings so that
BE A BOOSTER Be a booster every day, To help someone on their Way; A little boost may save a soul, That aided thrust scores the goal. When you're feeling mighty low And you don't know which way to go, Seems the world is at an end — Be a booster and a friend. A little boost — A helping hand — Really makes you feel so grand, The boost given really proves true Often becomes a booster to you. Life is really worth living By helping and by giving, A kindly word along the way Makes for us all a brighter day. many more members will want to attend and participate in discussions for the welfare of the lodge. "Let's stop crying about lack of interest among our younger members," he urged. "Let's start holding interesting monthly meetings geared to the times and the young will want to join us in building a bigger and a greater organization." * ♦ Although anxiety will always clamor for first place, we do well to put faith first. Even so, we may be aware of the fact that anxiety stalks the pathway of every human being. As any medical doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, min-
ister, or thinking person must know, there is in every life, be it famous or humble, a certain amount of legitimate anxiety. However, we may console ourselves that, in all physical or spiritual life, there exists action and counteraction; balance and counter-balance; stress or strain and release or relaxation. Anxiety is sometimes defined as distress or uneasiness of mind caused by danger or misfortune. That danger may be real, or it may be imaginary. When it becomes a state of apprehen -sioncupledwithsyc enio,t enters the realm, of mental illness. Medical doctors tell us that change creates anxiety in the human creature. Such change is thought to be a great threat to self. But we need to remind ourselves that the only permanent and fixed condition of life is the fact that there is always change. "Change and decay are all around , I see," is an authentic statement. Yet, the creative spirit in man is brought out by every threat which comes to him through change. It could well be said that man's creative spirit is the answer to the threat of change and death. It is imperative that he adjust, and that he has to create or die! ♦ ♦ ' We Would like to quote a great philosopher who said to an audience in Boston over 100 years ago, something that can be a good guideline to us and