"CHANGING TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF FRATERNALISTS"
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
VESTNIK SPJST Herald
Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897 BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 July 6, 1994
ISSN-07458800
VOLUME 82 NUMBER 26
This week in history...
Independence Day marks 218 years of liberty and freedom This week, SPJST members joined with men, women and children all over the United States to
We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness . ."
celebrate Independence Day. The day, which marked the signing of the Declaration of Independence, set the course for a new kind of Ar e-ica--a nation based on the Jefferson
The Declaration of Independence
t real freedom, if pro?erly established and properly protected, would enable its people to achieve their highest good. These days, we tend to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, flagwaving and picnics. While such observations provide wonderful opportunities for families and communities to fraternize, it is important to remember that the birth of our nation did not come easily. The revolutionary roots of our democracy lead back to the reactions of a republic set against a monarchy. It was a revolution led by and composed principally of upstanding citizens. They were merchants, intellectuals, farmers, magistrates and clerks. At times they would disagree
strongly among themselves. In spite of their differences, they agreed on the really important things. They believed that tyranny was the ultimate evil. Working together, they conceived a consensus of opinion which resulted in the formation of the United States of America. In 1774, the First Continental Congress had declared that the colonists were entitled to "life liberty and the pursuit of property." Two years later, Thomas Jefferson, in The Declaration of Independence, reformulated the objectives of the new government to be "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.". And he continued: That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government . . (Continued on page three)
From sea to shining sea . . .
SPJST member going that "extra mile" for those in need They're not just sight-seeing. This summer, Kenneth Martinec, a student at Texas A&M University and a member of SPJST Lodge 24, Cyclone, joins with 64 other members of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity chapters across America, in doing something different from the average college student. He's "going the extra mile" for people with disabilities. And he's going the 3,530 extra miles on his bicycle! Pi Kappa Phi PUSH America program members are paving a Jolf ,-ney of Hope for a het ter understand• 3eginning people with the June 13, 1994 ....eparture •iron t-tancisco's Golden Gate Bridge to .-tugust 12 arrival at the steps of Congress in Washington, D.C., the Journey of Hope team is cycling from ch,, 7.o it:/, deliverin g the message of Am:zr!ca. teahi schedule begins
where PUSH America students team up generally cooler, yet mountainous route. with disabled children for an afternoon or Stops are scheduled in all sizes of comevening slate of special events. Kenneth munities—from Eureka, Nevada and and the rest of the Journey of Hope team Dinasour, Colorado to Chicago, Illinois are providing dozens of presentations on and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. campuses and in But it's not all communities helping hard work—the „kw others understand scenery is wonder4MIT EIVORNMEEr z% NIMEMNIF ItZ97 ful and the human the issues facing manammost those with disabi':experience can't be 6, ties. It's a hectic, but beat. Kenneth is StOf %nab. very rewarding pace keeping a daily which brings a ray diary to capture this of joy and encourexperience of a lifeagement time. America's disf.:' PUSH Americ_ Sleeping eacit. ,t was founded by Pi on gymnast _°_1 the Kappa floors, campsite grounds and ccct.s. the intention of improving v stuffed into hotel rooms, the c•••.:-...• yes of )eople with severely handiready to :o again the next itions tbrous0 service, ,etween two te•=s—. omen iS -/are • • .• rc.:: hnd -
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JOURNEY OF HOPE
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