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

I@N DfOuSnC INTO DelnS Cne TrVdCSkd
IS Ia jednica" which, in time, was to
~ become a great American institu-
ton. Today, sixty years later, the
~ Croatian Fraternal Union is a gil
gantic organization boasting of more than
los, 900 Adult and Junior members, assets of
some $23 millions and insurance in force in eX-
cess of S82 millions.
But the Society had it's lean days in the now
dim, forgotten past, days filled with trials and
tribulatiOns for men and women then only re-
Gently arrived in a land strange to them the
United States of America. It took the last ounce
of courage on their part to overcome the oner-
Gus burdens of those uncertain times and keep
alive the only bond that kept them together as
a nationality, their venerated "Hrvatska Zajed-
MICA"
Today, the Society boasts of millions in as
sets and insurance in force. And yet there was
a time when it was not in a position to pay the
first death benefit recorded in the annals of the
organization.
That was back in 1895 when the Society was
called upon to pay the beneficiaries of Martin
Kasun $4,000 and in turn had to assess
each of it's 319 members at the time 81 cents to
make good it's pledge of unquestioned integrity
in all its dealings.
Today, almost six decades later, the Society
is proud of the fact that it has paid out the ire
mendous sum of almost $45 millions in benefits
since it's organization.
IL - IO GOD pLOuuO VI tIlC IhdI = p
of today are nearly $23 millions, a far cry from
the 1885. 33 in cash which the Supreme Treasurer
of the "Hrvatska Zajednica' brought to the Con-
vention of 1895 and asked the Delegates to
count and verify as representing the organiza-
TONS liquid assets of those days.
1t is equally proud of the historical fact that
it has survived such times of crisis as the Spa
nish-American War of 1898, World War I and
II, the Great American Depression of the 1905,
and other trials which tested the hearts of men.
The Croatian Fkaternal- Union has come
through thick and thin only because it's members
have always been loyal to God, Country and
Organization, and raised their children to re-
spect - to fight and die for - the land which
first made it possible back in 1894 for their fore
bears to found the Society, these United States
of America.
Living in Freedom and Peace, the members
of the Croatian Fraternal Union have been part
and parcel of the American Way of Life for six
decades. Thousands of it's members of the past
even of the present - became citizens of the
United States and Canada mainly through the
democratic teachings and urgings OF the Society.
Free of political and-or religious differen-
ces, and recognizing that all men and women
were indeed born equal in the eyes of Divine
Providence, the members of the Croatian Fra
ternal Union may we'll look upon their Society
with the fierce pride that can come only from the
hearts of those who are as American as apple pie
after being removed but three short generations
from the shores of Europe.
Let us, on this Goth Anniversary, not count
our Society's blessings in dollars and cents, but
in those which have helped it's members, morally
and materially, to make the amazing progress
which, in the span of six decades, has resulted
in their great Croatian Fraternal Union of
today.
The writer did not intend these lines to cov-
err the Cougar history of the Croatian Fraternal
Union of America. That would require a book
in itself and time far beyond the command of
For the history of the Croatian Fraternal
Union is, beyond the shadow of doubt, the his
tory of the Croatian people in the United States.
Of that we are proud as we join our fellow mem
bers everywhere in wishing our Society even
greater success in the future!
Stephen F. Brkich, Editor,
English Section, Zajednicar
Chairman, United Lodges Committee
e. nlIrAlcc ecAIn Dict uucuce