AMST prratb. Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897. HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE VOLUME 60 --- NO. 1
BR.OTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE SPJST, P.O. Box 100, TEMPLE, TEX. 76501
JANUARY 5, 1972
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK Christmas Day, December 25th — our family made a trip to the S.P.J.S.T. Rest Home No. I in Taylor, Texas (which we have done annually since living here in West) to see your editor's mother and our sons' grandmother, Sister Theresa Sefeik, who is a guest there at our rest home. She is confined to her bed and a wheel chair, not being able to walk. Our three families (two sisters and mine) are very thankful for the fraternal care she is receiving there. Indeed, our two rest homes, one in Taylor and the other in Needville, truly are examples of our three mottos on the masthead of the front page of our Vestnik — Benevolence, Humanity, and Brotherhood! Of course, at her age (85 years), her eyesight and hearing are somewhat poor, however, she was glad to see us, especially 6-year-old Edwin (Bubba) and 15-year-old Terry, our two sons, and was looking forward to seeing her two daughters and their families (Hendrick and Vlha) the next day. While there, we took our camera in and put it to work taking some photos of some of our senior citizens; many had gone to their children's homes for the holidays and we were glad for them. The photos are in both sections of this week's and next week's issues. We love to give publicity and recognition to our youth throughout the year
JANUARY By Sadie Stover Cunning January is the first month In all the live-long year, That bids good-by to old days When the new ones do appear; It stands upon the threshold, Fresh, clean-groomed and strong, To greet the coming-in ones With laughter and with song. And when the grass is buried deep In snow upon the ground, January comes gliding in With moonbeams dancing all around; And waits for us to play the game Whichever way we Will; It's up to us to choose the mark, A record — good or ill. Sometimes the weather in January Is fitful in its stride, As if to gather up our plans And move them far and wide. But let us give to the New Year The cheerful, pleasant things, That they may fly together On graceful, peaceful wings. with pictures, however, we believe that our elder members also deserve recognition. We have to ask our conscience, always, would we have the SPJST without their long-range fore-
sight? Would that all of us in our ,Sp JST and all people of the world truly practice Brotherhood and Fraternalism — not merely voice it! The year 1972 has arrived and received the usual noisy welcome of a hopeful and optimistic world in spite of the fact that there has been little reason, if any at all, for trumpeting and merrymaking. It seems absurd to drink a toast to a multitude of misery and it is equally difficult to dance over the graves of thousands Of American boys who had to die, some not even knowing why, while the graveyard called Vietnam keeps its gates open awaiting still more victims. A prolonged unhappiness, however, tends to bring up despondency. It is, therefore, in human nature to try to forget, at least for a while and to cheer up, even though the cheers are borrowed and the Happy New Year wishes remain wishes only. Let us make them real! This could be a much happier year if we could greet its arrival in a peaceful atmosphere while the genius of men could be used for its benefits, instead of its destruction: if we could finally stop the endless trading of life for life in Vietnam and other brush wars, in a futile hope for a stalemate and bring the senseless killing to an end. If we could successfully fight the enemy in our own country by proper-