Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1956-06-01 / 6. szám

FRATERNITY

3

AN ANSWER

(L. L. E.) Recently, articles were published by certain sources attacking fraternal activities on different accounts. Some dislike the tax exempt status of the fraternal societies, others criticize their political influence, while a few are even inconsiderate enough to stamp the subversive stigma on their forehead. We believe that the 60-year spotless past of our beloved Federation obliges us to refute these unjust accusations by giving the highlights of those outstanding achievements fraternalism has accomplished in charitable, social and political fields.

With many societies children’s and old people’s homes are provided for the needy members. Helpless orphans and innocent young victims of broken marriages find real homes in these institutions where arey are reared in religious and patriotic spirit, and therefore, become good citizens instead of increasing juvenile delinquency. Through these homes old men and women without close relatives are enabled to live out their sunset years under expert care among people of same religious and social interest, and very often of the same national background. If our opponents would visit our well cared orphans, laughing and playing in our “Bethlen Home”, or would see the happily beaming faces of our old folks as they sing the old Hungarian psalms in our little church on the hillside, they could not possibly dare to write down ever another disparaging word about the value of the charitable fraternalism. No. We do not pay taxes, but the amount of our voluntary contributions probably exceed taxes states or federal government could levy on our nonexisting profit.

Fraternalism is a very existing reality in the sunny days of life also. Social and religious events of different sort give plenty of opportunity to the members to meet and understand each other. The aim is to distract membership from those frivolous amusements available in abundance especially in the bigger cities, disorganizing, if not destroying family life. By offering decent recreational facilities, fraternalism preserves American homes — the nucleus of our society.

Fraternal organizations are schools of American democracy. Through its lodge system built upon democratic principles, and through its representative form of government, fraternalism helps its members to understand and cherish the highest American ideals from their childhood on. This education and spirit may explain why fraternalists were always among the most determined defenders whenever our “American way of life” was endangered by different “isms” in the past. The spirit and determination that fraternal leaders have shown are the best assurance for the future, when this nation may sorely need the benevolent influence of fraternalism and its more than 14 million members in the decisive fight against world communism.

These achievements told in a nutshell merely authorize us to proudly repudiate accusations of certain irresponsible sources and may give the reason to everyone to keep alive the fine spirit of fraternalism, as we did for the past six decades and intend to do forever.