Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
SPJST Herald Official Publication of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897
VOLUME 87 NUMBER 21
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 ISSN-07458800
Hats Off to Our Graduates in This Issue!
Radhost Mountain holds generations of history, secrets
Family Fun and Important SPJST Dates
By Louis Polansky
Leader-In-Training applications due to SYD May 28 May 28 - 30 Ennis Polka Festival May 31 May Vestnili. Projects/Contests due to SYD June 1 June 1 June 6 June 4 - 6 June 13 June 14 June 15 June 15 June 18 June 19 June 27 June 27 June 27 June 27 July 9 - 11 July 9 - 12 July 11 July 13 - 15 July 16 - 18 July 18 - 23 July 19 - 22 July 25 July 23 - 26 July 31 August 7 August 8 August 29
May 26,1999
oravia is now part of the Czech Republic but when the immigrants from that part of Europe immigrated to Texas, Moravia was a separate country as it was for many years prior to the union of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia after World War I in 1918. You hear many people of
Flag Day Essay Contest Deadline Youth Achievement Award application due to DYC Lodge 88 Homecoming (Free Barbecue Dinner for Members) Leader-in-Training Teen Leadership Workshop Lodge 40, El Campo - Hillje Family Day and 50-Year Pin Presentation Lodge 151, Wharton Honors 50-Year Members 1998-99 Merit Point Sheets due to SYD Fourth Quarter reports due to SYD District Six Camp -Camp Lone Star District Four Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 160, San Angelo District Two Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 24, Cyclone District Three Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 6, Cottonwood District Five Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 196, Houston-West District Seven Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 107, Floresville Bossier City Sales Rep Incentive Trip District Two Camp at Camp Val Verde District One Youth Achievement Day at Lodge 186, Caldwell Supreme Lodge Board Meeting Districts Four and Seven Camps at Camp Lone Star District Five Camp at Camp HEB District One Camp at Camp Val Verde District Six YAD at Lodge 4, Hallettsville District Three Youth Camp at Camp Val Verde Youth Club Membership Drive Ends SPJST State Royalty in Temple SPJST State Youth Achievement Day in Temple Family Day Lodge 4, Hallettsville —SPJST-
Moravian descent tell people that their ancestors came from Czechoslovakia in the 1870s or some other year. This is not true as at that time there was no Czechoslovakia. All of my ancestors who came to Texas in the years between 1857 and 1900 came from a region of Moravia known as Valassko, which is in the most northeastern part of that area. This region is so named because the people of this area are generally known as Wallaches. The Wallachian people primarily raised sheep in the mountains of the Wallachian region which area contains Radhost, one of the most famous mountains in all of Moravia. It is not the tallest mountain in the world or even in the area, but is a place that has been considered sacred by both the pagans who previously inhabited the area and by the Christians who were converted by the two Greek brohers, Saints Cyril and Methodius, who completed (Continued on page 18)
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Memorial Day May 31, 1999 For those who sacrificed their lives defending the ideals of our country, SPJST applauds their bravery and dediation and honor their memory.
The SPJST Home Office will be closed Monday, May 31, in observance of Memorial Day.
Radhost, one of the most famous mountains in Moravia, gets its name from Radegast, a Celtic warrior who figures heavily into the region's colorful history.