ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-08-04

resnected among the fraternal organizations on this Contin-
ent, because it is a product of the successful, vol
NNAAIM untary and unsefish labors and efforts Oh an
ATEE IA honest and Industrious people.
&GG 1t is indeed heart warming to see in this pro-
SAaa% gram book so many sincere tributes expressed by
some very prominent national, state and city government
leaders on the occasion of the Goth Anniversary of our
Union. To all of them I voice the deepest appreciation OF the
entire membership of the Croatian Fraternal Union of Amer
lea and Canada for their very kind thoughts and good wishes.
It is good to know that SO distinguished national, state and
city government officials think so highly OF their fellow
Americans and Canadians of Croatian, Yugoslav and Slav
descent united in our Society by a common bond for common
good. We shall forever treasure these expressions among the
many tributes paid our people and the Union since It's or
ganization, in 1894, or sixty long years ago. To all of them
we are grateful.
In leafing through the pages of the history of the Gro
attain Fraternal Union of America, we will come upon lnnu-
merable rich and happy moments, which strengthen within
us a faith in a better future. Passing through epochs of peace
and progress-the happy days-the Society did not lose It's
equilibrium. In the history of the Union, we will find many
sad and unhappy episodes, the results of dissension and dis
unity among brothers, and again, the Society maintained It's
balance, did not despair, but remained firm and %steadfast, un-
afraid, with a firm and unyieding desire for progress on the
idea of true and sincere brotherhood and unity.
In celebrating the anniversary of our Society, 1t is ne
cessary to point out that the Croatian Fraternal Union of
America, throughout the years of it's existence and opera
ton. has more than fulfilled all the obligations required of
it. 1t carried out in full measure the purpose for which it
was organized. 1t gave assistance to its members in accident,
sickness and death. 1t showed the way to our pioneers how
best to adjust themselves to the new way of life in the new
world. It helped them to assume the duties and responsible
ties of citizenship, and helped them to understand the laws
of these two great nations. Ithelped American and Canadian
charitable and benevolent institutions to meet their needs
in time of want or disaster. Millions and millions of dollars
of material help and assistance were given to our people in
the homeland, especially during and after the Second World
War. 1t helped our pioneers to educate themselves and their
children in the American spirit, American schools, so that
they became equals with all the peoples who make up this
great nation.
In the cultural and educational field, too, the Croatian
Fraternal Union of America has fully performed it's task.
Bv the provisions of it's charter, it kept alive Croatian ma
tional consciousness, promoted the Croatian language, Gro
attain song, national costumes, tamburitza music, etc. In
other words, it preserved our national characteristics, our
national pride, our national heritage, and for that reason
alone, every American and Canadian of Croatian, Yugosav
and Slav origin should be proud of his membership in our
Society.
We are now permanently domicied in this, our new
homeland, which affords us, as it did our forebears before
us, the opportunity to make a descent and respectable living.
America gave our children and grandchildren a privilege
which no other nation in the world could offer, whereby the
poor are equal with the rich. They may attend the high
schools, colleges and universities of the country, to become
doctors, engineers, architects, bankers, professors, and so on.
We and our children do not know hunger, we need no
travelling permits. We take no orders from dictators. We
may work wherever we please. We own our homes, our farms
and stores and shops. In short, we are free people, firmly be-
lieving in America, dedicated to the ways of peace in the
!, world. We can see today that our way of life is under attack,
because the dictators of the world are opposed to our con-
cept of government based on the freedom and dignity of
the individual.
The entire system of fraternalism had its foundation and
was developed on principles embodied in the Constitution
of the United States. We, the members of today, in order
to repay fully the debt of gratitude to our pioneers, shall
~rededicate ourselves to carry on the noble work of our foun-
f ders so that those, who shall inherit our Union from us,
will be as proud of our accomplishments of today, as we are
t proud of the deeds of our forebears.
Ours is the responsibility not only to the present genera
. ton, but also to generations still to come, for our actions
of today. We should make sure that we guard and protect
u the treasure of accomplishments of those before us. This
we shall do best, if we do not tear down, but cherish and
n uphold the great idea of brotherhood and mutual respect,
which was born among our people here in Old Allegheny
sixty long years ago, an idea which our founders and men
and women since, have carried through, nurtured and built
upon-our great pride of today, the Croatian Fraternal
; Union of America!
I" So re-dedicated to continue the noble work of our pic.
a neers, to continue to walk humbly in the firm belief in the
Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man everywhere
J. we shall build our Society to even greater heights, and thus
: contribute our share to an ever stronger bastion of Democra-
cy and a more prosperous America.
4 Long live the membership of the Croatian Fraterna]
Union!
Long live and prosper our America and Canada!