ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1956-02-29

Pittsburgh Pa At the very start of negotiations for
the consolidation of the Croaan Brotherhood with own
Society," noted that the ratio of adult members of the
Croatan Brotherhood to juvenile members too great
In the Union for every two adult members have
juvenile member ratio of two to one, while in the Gro
attain Brotherhood with 433 adult members there only
62 members in the Junior Order ratio of seven to
We tried to find the reason why their Junior Order
numerically weak. We to the conclusion that
either the benefits to be derived from membership were
not satisfactory, that people there simply did not
have many children.
During my visit Montana had ample opportunity of
being convinced that the latter not correct and that our
immigrants there minded and actually have size
able families.
saw families with 20 and 80 MEMBERS and in one in
stance Black Eagle Montana, had the honor of meet
ing visiting the home of their oldest member brother
Tom Pancich and his wife, who sc years of and
boast of 79 members in their family!
though all the social life of Great Falls and Black
Eagle revoved the venerable brother Tom Pancch
his and daughters nephews and neces from the ear
years and right up to the recent past still able to
the records that of the large number of per-
in that family less than 20 members of the Gro
attain Brotherhood.
Of course this large family is exception and others
do not have nearly many members; STILL it
example of how grevousy somebody neglected his duty
towards his Croaan fraernal organization by not enrolling
the members of his family into it's ranks
do not blame the older people, who came from Pri-
more 60 and years ago. bringing with them all
lovely CUSTOMS and preserved them to the present day.
together with their native tongue do however, blame
younger people, who proved unfahfu to Croatian
| language and national customs and heritages
This ratio of juvenile to adult members in the
Croatan Brotherhood exists in all Croatian communities
throughout Montana where lodges of the Brotherhood
list The older folks kept the lodges and social life going for
which them much gratitude and admiration for their
steadfastness.
AS for the younger people, do not think they
completely lost to u.s. and believe they WILL later
develop of pride and love towards their elders the
origin and language of their fathers and forefathers
In doing so, they will lose of their love toward
America and will sacrifice of the American way OF
fe while at the time becoming patriotic and worthy
successors of their great forefathers.
While the average age of members of the Croatan Fra
tena Union is A years. the average age of the members
of the Croatian Brotherhood was 81 years.
That is the chief why the Insurance Depart
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania raised the
question whether the absorption of the members of the
Brotherhood would be detrimental beneficial to the Gro
atian Fraternal Union.
Our strongest argument in favor of the merger
that the Union would have opened to it large and rich
field for recruiting membership among people in
| the State OF Montana.
With proper presentation of all the benefits offered
by the Union to its membership the number of
bers Montana could easily be doubled within years
time, if find only ten members to conduct a
cered drive for members in the ranks of Union
with particular emphasis the Junior Order
That is why offered the Juvenile Branch of the Gro
attain Brotherhood the privileges those enjoyed by
members of Junior Order which far and away
greater and better than the juvenile members
erhood had