Volume 96 Number 14
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H
H E R A L D
Humanity
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Brotherhood
April 2, 2008
ISSN —07458800
SPJST is . . . Big on Heritage
We are Americans first and Texans second. Adding to that, we are the descendants of our forefathers. With that as our premise, SPJST members have a lot in common even as our cultural and ethnic backgrounds differ greatly. It is through understanding and celebrating these differences that we come to know, to accept, and to appreciate each other. As stated in the Preamble to our SPJST By-Laws, “The main ideal and purpose of this Society, as organized by fearless and peace-loving Czech pioneers in Texas, was and is “ . . . to endeavor to keep alive the cherished traditions, customs, heritage, culture and language of our forefathers.” With our Society observing its 111th anniversary in 2008, there’s no better time to establish some historical reference points for our lodges and members — especially as they relate to Czech heritage and culture and the founding of the SPJST.
Let’s Go Back a Few Years . . . Czechs have contributed greatly to Texas history dating back to the arrival of writer Karel Postl, who may have visited Texas as early as 1823 and Frederick Lemsky, who came in 1836 and played the fife in the Texan band at the Battle of San Jacinto. On November 6, 1851, 74 men, women and children from the Czech villages around Nepomuky and Cermna set off for America, looking to make a better life for themselves. Initially, that isn’t what they found. Conditions aboard the ship were so bad that only 38 members of the group reached Texas alive. Their first settlement was at Cat Spring in Austin County. Generally stated, the great majority of Czech immigrants to Texas were farmers. It should come as no surprise that the great majority of the 250 or so Czech settlements in Texas lay in or near the fertile Blackland Prairie soil regions of the state.
2007-2008 SPJST State Queen Lindsey Jones and State King Colby Havemann dance the polka at the 2007 Czech Feszt in Temple.
“The ownership and maintenance of the farm land and its buildings were from the beginning the criteria
of success for the majority of the Czech immigrants,” write authors Clinton Machann and James W. Mendl in Krásná Amerika, A Study of the Texas Czechs, 1851-1939. With few exceptions, they note that the first and second-generation Texas Czechs who became teachers, preachers, doctors and lawyers, not only owned farm land but worked at farm labor for a significant part of their lives. On the matter of fraternal organizations — including the SPJST which was organized by Czech pioneers in 1897 — the authors define fraternal societies as “the culmination of the Texas Czech’s characteristic enthusiasm for social organization . . . ” That’s a glowing testament to fraternalism. From the outset, the SPJST and its lodges have been making its members feel at home with one another in addition the economic security of fraternal life insurance.
See Big on Heritage on Page 13.
Easter - SPJST Style! LEFT PHOTO: Carol Havemann assists granddaughter Carley Zahn with finding an Easter egg at the Lodge 88, Houston Easter Party on Saturday, March 15. PHOTO 2: Sporting balloon hats, State Youth Director John Hoelscher and Kristi Davis of Lodge 80, Holland give the SPJST Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday,
March 22 two thumbs up! PHOTO 3: Ryan Henke of Lodge 107, Floresville gathers eggs at the Eggstravaganza. RIGHT PHOTO: Puny the Clown is all smiles with Angelina Ringwald of Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point, front, and friend Abby Rhoden. More photos from Easter events in next week’s Vestnik.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Inside This Week’s Vestnik ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Family Fun Dates ................................3 Interest Rates ......................................3 Fraternal Updates ...............................4 District News .......................................5 Lodge Section......................................6 Graduate Form.....................................9
Youth...................................................14 Camp Tee-Shirt Order Form .............18 In Memoriam ......................................18 Czech Culture ....................................20 Advertisements .................................21 Activities Calendar............................22
Lodge 139 honors 50year member
Lodge 6 recognizes birthday celebrants Page 7
Page 12
Lodge 239 Youth Club donates Easter eggs to center Page 17