Fraternity-Testvériség, 1948 (26. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1948-12-01 / 12. szám
TESTVÉRISÉG 5 eluding some that were regarded as among the very strongest in the country, whereas there were no casualties among the fraternal benefit societies and, so far as my information goes, every claim was paid in full. Today there are 111 fraternal societies affiliated with the National Fraternal Congress. There are nine million fraternalists in North America constituting a mighty army which makes for peace and good will among men. During the past 80 years, the fraternal benefit societies have distributed six billion dollars in direct benefits and they now have assets of $7,500,000,000 which constitute an irresistible barrier against human want and human misery. Fraternal Features The distinctive thing about fraternal benefit societies is the fact that associated with the insurance feature is the lodge system. I scarcely need dwell upon the merits of the lodge system, with the social and moral influence of its ritualistic form of initiation and its fraternal bond to carry out the society’s objectives. In almost every village and hamlet in America our lodges constitute a center of civic betterment which serves the public interest and contributes to the social and economic well being of the community. These lodges enlarge the acquaintance and social contacts of the members. They provide a means of mutual aid in all of the problems of life and facilities for team work in all that pertains to human welfare, good will, health, sickness, sorrow and distress, patriotism and recreation. The societies themselves provide hospitals for the sick, homes for the aged and infirm, care for orphaned children, trusts for the education of dependents and a multitude of other means for united action. All of these are incidents of the fraternal benefit system and, as I have already stated, find no parallel in commercial life insurance. HOW DO YOU USE YOUR LIBERTY? “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” (I. Pet. 2:16.) The Christian Church is the only institution in the world which honestly and ceaselessly fights for the freedom of men. Jesus is the one who unmistakenly told this world that there is no high race or low race, no privileged or unprivileged among men. We are all children of God, endowed with personal liberty and human dignity ... The trouble with freedom, however, is that many people use it as a cloak to cover up sins and maliciousness. For instance, you drag the good reputation of your fellowmen into‘the mud with your spreading of false and malicious news and remarks about them, and if somebody rebukes you for that, you say indignantly: “It is not your business; I am a free man, and I say whatever I please to say...” It means, of course, that you use the freedom of speech to hide your breaking of the ninth commandment of God: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Then, there are others who use their freedom as a means of evading all voluntary works, sacrifices and charity. The more you are grateful to God for your personal liberty, the more you should be glad to give your whole life for the voluntary service of God, the Church, and all your fellowmen. How do you use your own liberty? (Akron, O.) S. Kovács. AZ AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUS EGYESÜLET KERÜLETI SZERVEZŐI PITTSBURGHI KERÜLET — Pittsburgh District — Kerületi szervező: B. Tusai Mihály, District Manager, 1101 Portland Street, Pittsburgh 6, Pa. Telephone: Emerson 6555 TRENTONI KERÜLET — Trenton District — Kerületi szervező: Nagy Emil, District Manager, 910 N. Bergen St., Bethlehem, Pa. Telephone: 6-5782. CLEVELANDI KERÜLET: — Cleveland District — Kerületi szervező: Kovács Gusztáv, District Manager, 3405 Torrington Ave., S. W., Cleveland, Ohio. Telephone: Florida 5390. CHICAGÓI KERÜLET — Chicago District — Kerületi szervező: Szakatits Kornél, District Manager, 7006 Van Buren Ave., Hammond, Ind. Telephone: Sheffield 739. DETROITI KÖRZET — Detroit Section — Körzeti szervező: Veres József, Section Mgr. 7907 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich. Telephone: Vinewood 2-4184. NEW YORKI KERÜLET — New York District — Kerületi szervező: Szenfmiklóssy Pál, District Manager, 0-95—34th Street, Warren Point, N. J. Telephone: Fairlawn 6-2256. BÁNYAVIDÉKI KERÜLET — Mining District — Kerületi szervező: Sigismund Balia, District Manager, 537 Richwood Ave., Morgantown, W. Va. — Telephone: 9641. CALIFORNIAI KÖRZET — California Section — Körzeti szervező: Gacsály Otto, 1818 S. Cimarron St., Los Angeles 6, Calif. Telephone: Rochester 9063.
