Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives— Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
Official Publication of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897
ENCE
.Do Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503
July 7,1999
ISSN-07458800
VOLUME 87 NUMBER 26
SPJST: Where Good Friends Meet
Wo.
The SPJST Youth Program offers many opportunities to build friendships. Pictured, from left, getting to know each other at a past District Two Youth Achievement Day are Lacy Cervenka and Tracy Betak of Lodge 29, Taylor and Lisa Greger of Lodge 24, Cyclone .. .
.. and here they are again — seven years later -in 1999, sharing the stage at the recent District Two Youth Achievement Day hosted by Lodge 24, Cyclone. Bringing friends and families together: It's an old SPJST tradition and one that is still going strong.
July 11
•
plgti06..
te 'tient
atLodge 186, Caldwell
July; ll::::Vot#1*::FOtitt:Rhisertfree Dang...attod4 July 13 -15 ;$41i.tv010ttidgelNiketing July 16 -18 Districts dour acid Seven Camps at Camp Lane Star;-. July 17
Tarok Tournament at .odge 1 7, New.Tahor
July 17
TexasSurnmeer
o.(Looge:24;::::cYdidtie •
SPJST observes 102nd anniversary of fraternal order exans have long been familiar with the initials SPJST. Less familiar is the Czech name they represent — Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas. English translation: Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas. By any name, the SPJST is a proud organization with a colorful history. The organization celebrated its 102nd anniversary on July 1, 1999. Paradise on Earth To better understand the SPJST and why it was established, it is important to know a little about the group's founders and their homeland — the Czech lands of Moravia, Slovakia and Bohemia. Combined, this territory represents a section of central Europe, rich in natural resources and often referred to in song and poetry as "Zemsky Raj To na Svet," or "Paradise on Earth." Because it was so well-endowed by natural resources, the Czech lands were among the most progressive and highly developed in central Effrope. With the establishment of the first uniItrsity, Charles University, in Prague in 1348, the region also became a center of higher education. For these and other reasons, the Czech lands became an attractiveprize and the target of recurring assaults by its neighbors. These attacks culminated with the Battle of White Mountain in 1620 when the Czech people were thoroughly defeated. The nation ceased to exist and all its people were either killed or sent into exile and its wealth went to its conquerors.
Coming to America Deer Creek-garich. 141
lad
July 31 August 7 August 8
SPJST' SPJST Tarpk. itlYiern
October 10
District
tg at Victoria Electrlc
The exiled Czechs immigrated into Germany, Russia, England and the United States. The first arrived in North America after the Battle of White Mountain to New Amsterdam, which is now known as New York. Many others soon followed. They brought with them the spirit of liberty that had been crushed at White Mountain. They took great pride in this country which gave them the privilege to determine their own destiny and to bind together to achieve even greater accomplishments. Between 1834 and 1900, approximately 200,000 people of Czech (Continued on page three.)