Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897. HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE VOLUME 61 — NO. 22
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE SPJST, P.O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76501.
MAY 30, 1973
FROM TIE EDITOR'S DESK Memorial Day — The holiday that we Americans observe each year on May 30 as Memorial or Decoration Day was set aside 100 year ago to honor the dead of the American Civil War. Its significance has since been expanded to commemorate all those who have given their lives to the nation's wars. History reveals that the first memorial observanco was a simple spontaneous ceremony during the Civil War. In numerous places, ladies placed flowers on the graves of soldiers, both Union and Confederate who were killed in the course of the war. These observances coming amidst the chaos of a bitter war, expressed a nation's hope for peace and its determination to reach over the hostility which divided the nation. According to Henry . Heinze, Post Chaplain, there were 853 veterans interred in the VA Cemetery in Houston. On Memorial Day last year, there were 4,002 small American flags on as many graves as the cemetery. Let us pause this day to honor the Americans — among them many of our SPJST members — who fought the many battles for freedom. AND LET US REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE PRINCIPLES FOR WHICH THEY MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE!
Not gold, but only man make A people great and strong; Men who, for truth and honor's sake, Stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep Who dare while others fly — They build a nation's pillars deep And lift them to the sky." —Ralph Waldo Emerson Much has happened in the 76 years of the existence of the SPJST Society, good and bad, war and peace, which sometimes is easily and quickly forgotten, but the outstandingly progressive accomplishments of the SPJST which it still is accomplishing, is not to be easily and quickly forgotten. For instance, this was evident Sunday, May 20, 19'73 when SL officers, editor, members and guests gathered at the KC Hall in Houston, to help and extend a brotherly hand to the new SPJST DIRECTORY IN THIS ISSUE
members of the newest Lodge No. 176, Houston Northwest, who have joined the ranks of the SPJST Society. Under "Features" you will find a speech made at the dedication ceremonies which was sent to us by SL President Nick Morris; therefore we will refrain from elaborating too much on the matter. We extend a warm welcome to the members of the new lodge and it is your editor's wish for a continued progress and growth of their lodge. Our heartiest congratulations! • • Perhaps the greatest lines, or at least the ones most applicable to the greatest number of people, from the pen of Shakespeare are, "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day; thou can'st not then be false to any man." To state these words in terminology which even the child can understand, let us say, "The man who is sincere with others must first be sincere with self." Sincerity must begin with one's self, and so sound is this character trait that it reflects itself visibly and audibly to all who meet us as we travel life's highway. Webster says that sincerity implies an absence of deceit, pretense, or hypoc-