ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1959-04-15
=1894-1959-
T.. r u
65th Anniversary
BY Stephen f. Brkich
- English Editor -
=1894-1959.

Seventh Convention

Seventh Convention
. The 7th Convention Of
the former National Croatian
Society (NCS), the first fra
ternal order of Croatians in
the United States and now
the Croatian Fraternal Union
of America, was held Sept.
29-Oct. 4, 1902, in Allegheny
City, Pa.
There is no record of the
hall used to house that con-
clave.
President Petar Pavlinac
called the Convention to or
der and then read a presiden-
tial message reviewing the
Society's efforts and progress
of the previous 8 years.
Said he: - From a hum
bic beginning Of 400 we have
today a total of IA, 900 men,
bers. During these past two
years, it was forcefully
brought home to us that our
bylaws were inadequate for
our needs and drastic revi-
sions are necessary if we are
to continue. Many sections Of
our bylaws are contradicto-
ry, not only to themselves but
in conflict with the laws of
certain states. 1t was on this
account that our charter was
not recorded in several states
notably Illinois"
President Pavlinac paused
at this point to notify the
Delegates that he had auth
orized an attorney to draw up
a set of bylaws which would
conform to the laws of any
state.
A Man of Vision
. In his message, Presi-
dent Pavlinac further pro-
posed the following:
The election of a Medical
Examiner; Organizers; the
establishment of a fund for
the support of certain patri-
otic organizations in Europe;
and the establishment of a
fund for the Official Organ.
President Pavlinac likewise
suggested that this Conven-
ton appoint committees to
handle much Of the detail
work and lessen the task of
the entire body, all of which
would save valuable time and
money.
Threat of Secession
. Among the first acts Of
the Delegates was to partici-
pate in ceremonies attending
the dedication of the new
NCS Banner, which was spon-
sored by the beloved Bishop
Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Ia
greb, Croatia.
Following this came heated
disputes over the seating Of
certain Delegates to the Con-
vention.
Next came a floor threat
from Lodges SO and 147 Of
Bennett (now Millvale), Pa,
to secede from the NCS and
set up an organization of
their own. Reminded that this
is a free country, and that
people could do as they saw
fit, the representatives of the
dissatisfied Lodges were told
to do some soul searching be-
fore taking so drastic a step.
In time, Lodges SO and 147
did divorce themselves from
the Society, but the new or
ganization was to be a short
lived one.
Associate Members
. After sending a telegram
of best wishes to Stjepan Ra-
die, Secretary of the United
Opposition in Croatia, the Del
egates decided to get down
to serious business.
They first voted to invest
surplus funds in U. S. Govern
ment Bonds, which could be
cashed at any time.
Next, they raised the death
benefit of regular members Of
the Society to $500 and that
of associate members to $4OO.
They decided also that
henceforth the monthly dues
for regular members were to
be SO cents and rs cents for
associate members.
Prior to this Convention Of
81 years ago associate MEM
bers were not assessed dues.
But this was contrary to the
laws of certain states and the