•
\
,0:,3
0 ')‘
(Ark
Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897 HUMANITY
BENEVOLENC
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P.O. VOLUME 65, NUMBER 2
x 100, Temple, Texas 76501 JANUARY 12, 1977
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK In last week's issue we had just a last minute notice about District V Director Alfred L. Hilsher having died Deicember 31st, 1978. Your editor was associated with Brother Hilsher in lodge and fraternal work plus business affairs for nearly 40 years and there is so much that could be written in these lines about the life of this true fraternal brother that there would be very little space for anything else. Brother Hilsher truly exemplified the three words that appear on the front page of the Vestnik each and every week: Benevolence, Humanity and Brotherhood, in his own fraternal way of living. He was always benevolent toward his fellow man and employees. He was humane as was evidenced by his many deeds he did for charity. He had a very soft heart and there were times when tears would appear in his eyes upon hearing of a friend's misfortune. That he believed in brotherhood and fraternalism is shown by the many fraternal organizations he belonged to. Not only that, he was also a very good, sincere and honest businessman. In all dealings with him, this writer never found any valid reason to criticize him on his actions. If we disagreed on anything, we resolved it by very personal friendly discussion and coming to a sensible compromise. Now he is gone. He had some critics. Will they find an equal replace-
A CENTIFOLIOUS ROSE Let the ocean toss asunder My life's sail upon its course, Let it cringe 'neath storm and thunder Whipped by elemental force. On the voyage, Fate has charted Bravely am, I sailing forth With a fearless soul I've started For distant, blissful port. And to light the deep dark night, In the triad of their night, Rising o'ver me high above Linger Faith with Hope and Love. —Fr. L. Cetakovsky (Translated from Czech. —Ed) ment for him? They don't come along every day! May honor to his memory be his now and forever. * .* The Publication Committee will meet at the SL Saturday, January 15th. Your editor will seek to reach a common-ground approach with the PC, on material that is sent to our Vestnik. Our Vestnik is a source or forum for the exchange of ideas and/or opinions and by too many restrictions of these we tend to. become a censored medium, which is not what the official organ was originally meant to be. Some approaches may not be allpopular ones, yet they certainly should have a chance to• be heard. After all, Columbus' idea. that the earth was round was not popular at all in 1492! Our PC has some
very sensible and dedicated members involved, and rest assured, they are very conscientious in their deliberations. I look forward to having a round table discussion with all of them. Four of them are new on the committee. They will elect their officers for the coming four-year term. * * Sunday, January 23, the date for the official chartering of Lodge No. 188, Centerville, is drawing near. Let us hope we will have a nice weekend on that date. So far the weekends have been miserable and wintery. * * The fraternal benefit system in the United States traces its origin to John Jordan Upchurch, a railroad master mechanic, who organized the first lodge of a fraternal benefit society in Meadville, Pa., on October 27, 1868. He took the step because he was anxious to have his lodge provide workingmen with greater privileges and opportunities than were available in the usual trade unions of that day. His society soon initiated a plan for protecting the widows and children of the men who died under the hazardous working conditions of that area. This program has grown among the fraternals to the point where they provide more than $37 billion of insurance protection for their members. Because the insurance program is conducted on a non-profit basis the fraternal bene-