davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
Tempus F'ugit

DRESENT day members of the Society
have only until June 30 to transfer to
the Sick Benefit Departments New Disabi-
lty Plan and do so on a Nom Medical Basis,
regardless of their age
Following that date, just % short DAYS
in the offing, all members past the age of
80 years will have to submit to Medical
Examination if they desire this modern
form of protection, whereas those past so
Will not be permitted to make the change
over in question under any condition
thousands Of members have already
taken advantage of this Offer first made in
January of 1852 and since renewed by the
Supreme Board on a number of occasions
On the other hand just as many thousands
have failed to avail themselves of the op-
portunity to qualify for the protection.
1t should be made perfectly clear that
there will be no extension of the June 80
deadlne in this matter. That date was set
by the Supreme Board and must be adhered
to strictly by the Home Office
Much can be done by our Lodge Secre-
taries in these remaining few days before
the switch to the New Disability Plan on
Non Medical Basis. This can be done at the
June monthly meetings, or by having the
Lodge Secretary visit the homes of those
still insured on the Old Disability Plan.
The task can also be performed by the
Field Workers currently engaged in the So
ciety's Goth Anniversary Membership Cam
paign, drive that must be success.
Those affixing their names to the forms
as proposers are entitled to Cash Award
of $1.0O and 1 Campaign Point per change
over, adequate compensation for work en-
failing very little time
The Home Office has done everything
possible through the medium of the Zajed-
nicar to publicize this changeover to the
New Disability Plan. 1t can do no more than
to remind all concerned that time is now
running out, that the end is in sight
A word to the insurance-wise member
should be more than sufficient.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
Damn Proud"

A SSOCIATED Press dispatches covering
the May 26 explosion aboard the Uni
ted States Aircraft Carrier bennington"
carried two items which showed the world
what Americans can do when disaster
strikes and hundreds of lives are at stake.
In one, the AP dispatch quoted Captain
W. F. Raborn, Jr., militant skipper of the
stricken ship, as saying after the tragedy:
=" am damn proud to be the commanding
officer of such a heroic, unselfsh crew of
American seamen.'
In the other, the AP called attention to
the heartWarmng fact that call for blood
donors to aid the Bennington injured
rushed to the Newport Naval Hospital Gre
ated traffic jam at the gates of the in
sttution. So many volunteered their blood
that even the Hospital switchboard could
not handle the flood of calls
These tales of heroism and patriotism
are typical Of the American people, be they
of Croat Irish German, Italian Polish,
Negro, French, English, or any other de-
scent. In time of need, or disaster, they are
--one and all = Americans.
Blessed indeed are those who possess
the privilege of living in America.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02

nifty when in reality that delinquency should
be defined as parental failure. If the father
and the mother possess no moral fiber,
then what but decay can manifest itself
in the life of that family How can any
child grow to command respect if he has
not been first taught to obey? A European
observer summed up our quandry when he
stated that in America parents obey their
children. That may be the easier way but
what a price we pay!
What are the foundations which we, as
parents, must have in order to teach and
guide our children? Have you thought
about loyalty? Is that youngster loyal to
his God, to his family, to his community,
to his friends, to his school, to his ideals
of fair play? Are you?
Willard d. Campbell
Loyal Order of Moose
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
What Next?

TOR a "City With A Future so dubbed
| bv those who have watched its civic
renaissance in recent years, the Pittsburgh
of the moment is forlorn community.
It's major department stores, among the
greatest in America, have been struck for
nearly 80 weeks Business is purportedly
going on as usual in spite of picket lines,
but all concerned are being hurt where it
hurts the most, the pocketbook
AS if this wasn't enough, Pittsburgh's
trolley operators struck on May and left
tens of thousands of citizens devoid OF
mass transportation system which is vltaly
important to the city and surrounding COM
munities AS of this writing there was no
sign of any immediate resumption of this
very necessary public service
Other strike rumors are making rounds
while the unions and the department store
and trolley heads continue to hem and haw,
to get nowhere and get there fast. Certain
independent bus drivers are unhappy with
their status quo. So are taxi cab company
mechanics. In fact, it's difficult to run
across anyone in Pittsburgh who is salts
fled with anything.
Be that as it may better than one mil
lion dollars day is being lost in sales,
wages, ETC., ETC., as the city stumbles along
without unhampered department store SER
vice and trolley system that isn't operat-
ing at all So goes Pittsburgh
Who - whom what - to blame?
Management? Unions? Or, should the pub
lie cry "a plague on both your houses as
the strikes roll on and bitterness deepens?
Rather than pin the blame on anyone or
anything, we should like to suggest that at
least several of this city's outstanding fra
ternal leaders be called in, as absolutely dis
interested parties to use their good offices
to help management and the unions resolve
their differences. 1t can and should be
done without delay.
Those stepped in fraternalism are by
nature, men of good will, men who can see
both sides of question and arrive at an
answer based on the brotherhood of man.
Fraternalsts have always held that the
rights of all men must be respected
Pittsburgh can most certainly use the
services of the fraternal leaders in it's midst
We know for fact that they are ready and
willing to step in and help it in this, it's
hour of civic trial.
Fraternalism has accomplished miracles
in many instances. Perhaps those who ex-
pound it can now use it to great advantage
in Pittsburghs plight of the moment
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
Amen!

He errs in his obliga-
ton to think, who blind
ly accepts as infallible
the platform of his own
political party, the opin-
ions of newspaper col
umnists and radio COM
mentators, the policies
Of well-oiled organiza-
tons, tn e pronounce
ments Of barber shop
philosophers, or even the
traditions of his forefa-
theirs. It is the first OBJ
legation Of every citizen
to think for himself and
to apply his best think
ing toward the discharge
of his duties as a citizen.
- Andrew ID. Holt
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
Greater Than Ever

THERE arc now on the North American
! Continent 154 Fraternal Insurance So
cieties in the "Milonaire Class" i, e., with
assets exceeding one million dollars.
Ranked twenty-fourth among these
giants is the Croatan Fraternal Union or
America whose admitted assets as of jan
uary I, 1854, totalled S21 1928, ,951 .54, a truly
staggering sum of money even in these
DAYS of box-car figures.
We have made many speeches recently
about the might of the Croatian Fraternal
Union, about it's humble beginnings back
in 1894 and it's almost unbelievable great
ness of today Some of our listeners no
doubt took our words with a grain of salt,
preferrng, in their own minds, to dismiss
us as given to fancy phrases and plattudes
based on wishful thinking.
But no matter what they think, no mat
ter how they reason, the plain, unvarnished
truth is that the Croatian Fraternal Union
is one of the twenty-five most powerful
such societies in North America and the
greatest of it's kind in the world.
Just how anyone can scott at the Gro
951.54 is beyond us, for we can run OFT
the names of literally dozens Of fratcrnals
which would give their right arm to be able
to boast of one-fifth of that amount, fra
ternals which are retrogressing while our
Society is steadily progressing.
Nor can anyone scott at the S44, ,44O,2oz
which the Croatian Fraternal Union has
paid out in benefits since it's organization,
a tremendous sum which brought ray OF
hope, of cheer into countless homes visited
by the spectre of death and injury.
Yes, the Croatan Fraternal Union is
Big Business personified, bigness which
has been brought about by the little men
and women affiliated with its great Amer
lean and Canadian ranks - you and |.
1t took all of Us to make our Society
what it is today -. the best.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
Ready New Stamp
For Summer Issue
WASHINGTON. ID.

Washington, D. c.
Postmaster General Arthur
e. Summerfield today an
nounced the description of
the Scent stamp being is
sued to commemorate the
Tooth anniversary of the
birth of George Eastman,
which will be first placed
on sale at Rochester, New
York, on July II, 1854.
Eastman was born at
Waterville, New York, but
left there an early age and
went to Rochester, where
he gained fame as an in
ventor and philanthropist.
The stamp will be 0.85
by 0.98 of an inch in di-
mension, arranged vertical
ly with a double outline
frame, printed by the ro-
tary process, electric-eye
perforated, and in sheets
of 70. The color of the
stamp will be announced
later. The printing of 49,
100000 George Eastman
stamps has been authorized
A portrait of George
Eastman is the central de-
sign and dominates the
stamp. Across the top Of
the stamp is the wording
United States Postage.
Arranged in two lines to
the left of the portrait is
the wording George East
man" and in the lower left
corner is the denomination
"3c". All lettering is in
white face Gothic.
Stamp collectors desiring
first day cancellations of
this stamp may send a rea-
sonable number Of address,
ed envelopes to the Post
master at Rochester, New
York, with money order re-
mittance to cover the cost
of the stamps to be affixed.
An enclosure of medium
weight should be placed in
each envelope and the flap
either sealed or turned in.
The outside envelope to the
Postmaster should be en-
dorsed First Day Covers.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02

Let us be thankful that
there is still sunshine, that
we can still glimpse the blue
of the sky, and, in our
stumbling onward way, con-
tinue to look up.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
FRATERNAL week PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, for many years each President of the
National Fraterna Congress of America has designated
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
"ZAJEDNICAR"
Early Settlers Made Many Sacrifices
Before Organizing "St. Rochus" Lodge
BY Frank M. Sobditch, President, Lodge

JohnstoWn, Pa - Saturday and Sunday, May 1916,
1854, will long remain in the memory of and all who
attended the both coorul and impressive Goth Anniver
sary Celebration of "St Rochus' CFU Lodge 5.
Sixty long years have come and gone since that day
when group of Croatan immigrants this historic
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02

The long depression of
1907 forced this society to
disband, but the tamburit-
zans, which were a part of
the group, decided to carry
on in spite of the difficult
ties of the times.
The dawn of 1910 saw
the organization of anoth-
er singing society under the
name of "Gorska Villa" and
later, in June of the same
year, the present Croatian
Educational Society "Rodo-
ljub" was organized in the
Croatian Hall at 7th and
Bradley Place. Today, "Ro-
doljub" is one of the lar
gest choral groups in the
United States.
In December of 1915 the
first Junior Order Nest of
the Croatian Fraternal Uni
on was organized in Johns
town. Today this Nest
numbers over 400 boys and
girls.
Promoted Many Sports
During it's long history,
"St. Rochus' Lodge 5 has
part ic p a t e d in many
sports activities, such as
bowling, baseball, softball
and basketball. Many of
the teams representing the
Lodge won championships
in their respective fields of
endeavor.
In later years these acti-
vities were taken up in the
ranks of Junior Order Nest
4 and the youngsters who
participated in them were,
and are, a credit to our
people and the community.
Countless social under
takings, dances, picnics,
celebrations, etc., were also
an important part of the
life of the Lodge these past
60 years. They still are, for
that matter, as no group
such as ours can long exist
unless it's members have a
social outlet at least occa-
sionally.
Stand By Your Society
The achievements Of the
past awaken and deepen
our conviction as members
of "St. Rochus" Lodge 5
that God has indeed bless
ed, supported and lead us
to enlightenment during
the 60 years of our exis-
tence as a fraternal group.
It is our sacred duty,
therefore, to carry on the
pious traditions and the
humanitarian work of our
pioneers, traditions and
work which are indispensi-
BILE to our salvation, our
happiness and success.
AS the new generation,
let us all pledge ourselves
on this Goth Anniversary
of both the Croatian Fra
ternal Union and "St. Ro-
chus" Lodge 5 to add to
the share of work and care
and love for our great or
ganization, for it was truly
built with difficulty and un-
told sacrifices.
Stand loyalty by your So
ciety and your Lodge, for
the Croatian Fraternal Uni
on is . living testimonial of
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02

detectives of the fraternal benefit system and it's contr
buttons to the welfare of the state and nation;
NOW THEREFORE, President of the National
Fraterna Congress of America, l hereby proclaim the
week of June 1919 1854 Fraternal Week and request
C) That all State Fraternal Congresses, frater-
nal benefit societies and local lodges cooperate and
make every possible effort to carry out the Fraterna
Week program in accordance with the suggestions and
recommendations made by the Committee on Frater-
nal Week of the National Fraternal Congress of
America.
(2) That, since patriotism is of the tenets
upon which the fraternal benefit system is founded,
National Flag Day, June IA, be particularly observed
in conjunction with Fraternal Week, and
60 That this Proclamation be published in the
official publication Of each fraternal benefit society,"
Lendon A. Knight, President
National Fraternal Congress of America
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02

the toll and the earnest
prayers of our mothers and
fathers!
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
YESTERDAY
> q J.
/ WaEs~ 4
AND TO-DAY
9th Convention - 1906

IN 1Sll vi LIlC
former National Croatian
Society, today's multi-milli-
on dollar Croatian Fraternal
Union of America, was held
September "a to October 6,
1906, in the Amsterdam
Opera House, New York
City, New York.
In his message to the Con-
vention, Supreme President
Ivan Ljubic, even as his pre-
decessor, suggested many
changes in the Society's by
laws and again called for
the creation of posts of or
ganizers. His suggestion
that the NCS abolish the
practice of insuring wives as
associate members, if they
lived in Europe, was adop-
ted.
Petar Pavlinac was elected
Chairman of the Convention
bV the DelegateS
In his report, Supreme
President Ljubic deplored
the conditions existing at
the time, stating that many
of our Croatian people were
more concerned with per-
sonalities and tearing down
regulations than in building
the Society. He explained
the reasons for the removal
from office of Supreme
Treasurer Jankovic and sub
sequent election of Tomo
Lackovic to the post.
The affaire Jankovic occu-
pied much of the Conven-
TONS time and patience.
1t was decided that the
Supreme President was not
to receive any salary except
per diem and expenses when
travelling on official busi-
ness. Other salaries set: -
Recording Secretary, $500;
Financial Secretary, 81, 200,
who was delegated to pre-
pare and submit a report to
all Lodges or Delegates be-
fore a Convention; Supreme
Treasurer, $500.
In a very lengthy report,
Financial Secretary Josip
Marohnic suggested adop-
tion of an adequate table of
rates, declaring that the
method used in those DAYS
was in reality a collection
for beneficiaries of dead
members, while the living
had no guarantee that they
or their beneficiaries would
ever receive a cent. 1t was
finally decided to publish
bro. Marohnic's report and
the suggested table of rates
in the Official Organ for the
members to study.
Motions made and adop-
ted: - Establish or set a.
side a Reserve Fund of
100000; all Lodges must
have a medical examiner;
Supreme Board instructed
to select a Supreme Medical
Examiner; 100 members ne
cessary to elect one Conven-
ton Delegate; Official Or
gan to remain a monthly
publication.
Members at large" those
too far removed from the
seat of any Lodge, were
again instructed to pay their
dues direct to the Home Of
flee and pay them promptly.
Franjo Zotti elected Su-
preme President; Ivan Hal
die, LIST Vice President; Nj
ko Badovinac, End Vice
President; Janko Gvozdano-
vic, Recording Secretary;
Josip Marohnic, Financial
Secretary; Tomo Lackovic,
Supreme Treasurer.
To show their great re-
spect and esteem for him,
the Delegates elected Petar
Pavlinac Honorary Presi-
dent of the National Cro-
attain Society and wished
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02

dedicated to the service of
God, their fellow country
men, and their newly adop-
ted land, the United States
of America.
After many setbacks,
those early immigrants fl
nally saw "St. Rochus"
Lodge 5 of today's Gro
attain Fraternal Union of
America become a reality
on May Is, 1894.
The history of the Gro
attain Fraternal Union is in
deed a saga of hardy men
and women who triumphed
over every heartache to es-
tablish in these United
S t a t e S an organization
which today is the greatest
and richest Of it's kind in
the entire world.
But the history of the
Croatian people Of Johns
town is equally as interest
ing, for it CLEANS like a
golden leaf in the annals of
fraternalism and the bro
therhood of man and a.
bounds in deeds of moral
courage and service for the
benefit of it's people and
community.
Great Flood Recalled
History h a S recorded
that the first Croatians
settled here in Cambria
City, a section of Johns
town, shortly after the
Great Johnstown Flood of
1889. The city lay PROSTATE
after the wake of that ca
tastrophe and the people
wandered around aimless-
ly, disorganized and delu-
stoned.
Not long after that ter
rible inundation, a drive
was launched to bring to-
gether in one organization
the Croats who chose this
vicinity for their newly a.
dopted homes. Leading the
drive was Bozo Gojsovic,
who came to America from
Lika in Croatia.
Working under severe
handicaps, the men behind
the drive canvassed from
door to door, meeting the
people and talking organi-
zation and fraternalism.
They met many disappoint-
ments. Not knowing the
customs of this country,
never hearing of organiza-
tional work, and, fresh in
their minds, the degener-
ates who came 20 the city
after the flood and victim
lied many of it's residents
with false schemes, the
people turned the organ
izers away from their
doors.
The struggles of our pi-
oneers of those days were
countless; their sacrifices
great and demanding; their
material sources extremely
meager and uncertain.
Trusted In Almighty
Inspired, however, with
a supreme trust and an un-
wavering confidence in AL
mighty God and armed
wi h dauntless courage,
those pioneers faced their
Sc fl m po S e d tasks of
struggle and sacrifice with
out flinching.
In a short space of time,
they gave the Croatian
Colony an institution dedi.
Gated to the brotherhood OF
man when on May 13, 1894
they organized the first
Croatian fraternal organi.
zation in the Common.
wealth of Pennsylvania
The group numbered about
q members at the time.
This group became affi'
1iotod with tho Not;o,o
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02

time in years.
Seeing the necessity of
having their own home,
where meetings could be
held, the membership de-
cided to raise funds for the
purpose. This was met with
disapprovals and protests
on the part of a small
group, which later left the
ranks of "St. Rochus"
Lodge 5 and formed their
own branch, "St. Michael
Archangel' Lodge %. In
1916 this group again
merged with "St. Rochus"
Lodge 5.
Ladies Lodges Merged
AS early as 1897 the first
ladies' lodge was organized
under the name of Maria
Sedan zalosti," and in 1899
another group Of ladies
organized under the banner
of Maria P o m a g a j."
These two organizations
merged in 1925 and they
too, in a short time, joined
the ranks of "St. Rochus"
Lodge 5.
In 1916 the est. Joseph
Lodge of the National Gro
atian Society was organ
lied. It prospered until
1925, when it too merged
with "St. Rochus" Lodge S.
This marked the merger of
all Croatian Lodges in
Johnstown. The era also
marked the merger of all
the leading Croatian bene-
ficial societies in the United
States into what is now the
mighty Croatian Fraternal
Union of America.
The old Croatian Hall at
7th and Bradley Place was
the home of all the above
Lodges and the center of
all the activities of the Gro
attain people of Johnstown.
In this humble dwelling,
the foundations for all 9TH
err Croatian organizations
in and around Johnstown
were laid.
Erected CrOat Church
Loving their God, and
fully appreciating t h c eir
freedom under the Amer
lean, the democratic way of
life, our people of those
days wanted a better
chance for material we'll be-
ing and a greater opportu-
nifty for spiritual and mo-
raj development.
To attain these objec-
tives, they were convinced
that they should have a
house of worship and in
1901 they set out to build
the st. Rochus Croatian
Catholic Church.
THE first pastor of this
Church was Rev. Ante Po-
liteo. He was succeeded by
Father Emery Kajic D. D.,
who served the spiritual
needs of the Croatian peo-
pie for thirty long years.
He died in 1888. After his
death, Rev, John A. Sosta-
rich was named admins
traitor and later appointed
the Pastor.
Realizing the ever grow
ing need for education, this
same group raised funds
for the school which was
finally completed in 1918.
Today, it is one of the lar
gest parochial schools in
the Altoona Dioces. 1t is
under the supervision of
the Sister Adorers of the
Precious Blood.
Nest Launched In 1915
With love in their hearts
for the music and songs of
their motherland, a group
of culturally minded Cro-
ofsonc oroO~,,oJ 49, c.l
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02
In Passing

Too often a youngster
has been branded a juve-
nile delinquent by the
,,rocc or hx fho oooono,,
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-06-02

one week OF tne year as FTaternaI
Week." to be observed and celebrated as
such by all State Fraternal Congresses,
fraternal benefit societies, and the more
than eighthy thousand local lodges of
such societies, in order that the public
at large and the more than ten million
members of such societies thereby may
be apprised more fully of the ideals and