Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1944 / Verhovay Journal
July 13, 1944 Verhovay Journal Page 5 A DREAM or REALITY? The Truth About Fraternal Brotherhood LET TRUTH BE UNCONFINED Wouldn’t it be wonderful if fraternalism really were what it professes to be? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the members in each and every branch could find trustworthy and understanding brothers and sisters in one another? Wouldn’t it be beautiful if fraternal life would give to each and every member an opportunity to exercise true friendship? Fraternalism means brotherhood. It means an abundance of common ties that unite the members in one big, happy family. It means common interests, common goals, the sharing of joy and sorrow, the assurance of support and comfort in need, the belonging to a group which will never let down any of its members. It means all this, and even more. And we advertise all this, in the books and leaflets and articles we publish. We claim to have a true brotherhood in the Verhovay, a brotherhood in which entertainment, social activity, friendship, comfort, support and assistance are offered to the members. We claim that the Verhovayans all have a chance to practice democracy, and to develop social talents, and qualities for leadership. In other words, we believe that fraternalism opens the way to a richer life, to a fuller realization of human relationships and to the satisfaction of social desires. * * * However, to all appearances, it does not work that way. Fraternal life is a pretty anemic affair at its best in most of our branches and lodges. An officer or two, and a handful of members desperately struggle for the realization of the idealistic dream of fraternal life, while the majority of the members keep themselves aloof, contributing little to, and expecting even less from the activities of their resp. lodge. Those who are active in the lodge, represent “a house divided.” Petty jealousies, unending quarrels, disappointing misunderstandings, lack of co-operation poison the atmosphere in most branches. Every picnic is a battlefield, every banquet a wrestling match, and every branch-meeting an opportunity to re-hash old grudges. The general effect is quite depressing, , to say the least. Committee members labor under apprehensions because whatever they do, it will bring them criticism from some quarters, consequently they are more sensitive while discharging their duties than they usually are, and, as a result, they misinterpret every remark made, thus adding to their troubles and disappointments. Their reproaches, directed against the members who do not participate in the work, serve only to add fuel to the fire, creating a general tension that has nothing in common with the idea of brotherhood. Disappointed officers who resign at every branch meeting, and selfappointed candidates who run for positions, increase general mistrust, and it is small wonder that in branches where such conditions prevail the membership prefers to forget about fraternalism. In consequence, claims in regard to the value of fraternal life are listened to with a great deal of cynicism by those who feel that they have seen what’s what in fraternal life, while others, whose activities have been rewarded by criticism or even accusation, show open resentment. A short “ha-ha”, a bitter shrug, is all that many an ex-branchofficer has "left in response to the claims of the preachers of fraternalism. * * * It is easy to dream and it is just as easy to be critical. Much printer’s ink and many words have been wasted on glowing descriptions of the ideal of fraternalism that has almost nothing in common with reality. And just as much waste has been going on in the way of painting the blackest pictures about the negative side of fraternal life. Men do not benefit by either extreme. The rapturuous descriptions of a dream-like lodge-life by cloud-walking idealists do not encourage anyone to follow them. They put their goal too high. The simplest minded member knows that they are talking about a visionary brotherhood, which would be beautiful to have but can never be realized. By talking in glowing words about the imaginary possibilities of fraternal life, they lose their following, because the every-day, down-to-earth individual will refuse to chase mirages in the desert. Neither does the one-sided negativism of the criticizers of fraternalism benefit anyone. Their pessimistic exaggerations are just as unreal as are the dreams of the optimistic star-gazers. They claim to be the real, down-toearth, matter of fact realists, but in truth they are just as much under the earth as the dreamers are above the earth. The optimist walks on clouds, the pessimist lives in cellars. ♦ * * Every human being needs ideals, distant goals, but he also needs the understanding of their relativity. It is useless to wish for a heaven on earth, and it is needless to believe that the earth is hell. The earth is between heaven and hell, the truth is between idealism and pessimism, reality is between dreams > and nihilism. Those who claim that fraternalism is a fraud, a disappointment, an impossible dream, are both onesided and ^xtreme in respect to. a single issue. They are usually the most inconsistent people on earth. If they were consistent", they should apply their misshapen philosophy to all the other human relationships also. Should we, for instance, cease to enforce laws because there are and ever will be law-breakers? If laws were perfectly conceived and fully enforced, there would be no crime. What a wonderful achievement that would be! Well, that, too, is a dream, yet we do not throw out the provisions of law because we all know that without them life would become an anarchy. Should we stop to study medical science, just because medical science has not cured every sickness? Should we say that physicians are unnecessary because sickness and deaths abound among humans? If medical science were perfect, there would be no sickness and even death could be postponed indefinitely. What a wonderful achievement that would be, too! Of course this is a dream, yet we do not do away with medicine, because Without medical science life would soon become a nightmare. Should we close the churches because so many of their members are hypocrites and in many instances worse sinners than those who stay away from church and religion? The answer again is “no”—because Nazi-Germany has certainly taught us a lesson as to the direction in which human character develops, if the teachings of the church cease to effectively influence public opinion. Should we do away with marriage because there are so many unhappy couples, so many divorces, so many broken homes? No, again, because without marriage human beings would lose even the little chance they have for happiness in sexual relationship. Should we do away with automobiles because they kill 25,000 people annually in our country? Should we do away with bathtubs because thousands of people die in them, every year? Obviously, each and every human relationship and each and every human achievement is imperfect. Its possibilities have limitations inherent in human nature. But within these limitations they serve to enhance the well-being and happiness of human beings. * * # Then why pick on fraternalism? Why say it is a thorough disappointment, a wish-dream with no basis in reality? Fraternalism is just as good as any great idea ever conceived by men. It has the same unlimited possibilities in its own field, as have medicine, technology, marriage, church on their own resp. field. And it has the same limitations within human' nature as they have. If we throw it out because of its imperfections, we throw out also the values it already has realized. If we don’t expect more of fraternalism than we expect of any other human relationship, then we shall be able to see the value of all it has to offer. If we accept the challenge that comes to us in the ideal of fraternalism, we will develop that which we have, into something better. The less we expect to find and the more we are willing to put into it, the greater will our chances be to see fraternalism develop into something truly worthwhile. Now the tendency to expect much and to give little is plain and simple selfishness. And that is the real root of all disappointment, of all pessimism and criticism that has been directed against fraternal life. A pessimistic and negativistic attitude always serves to cover selfishness, the only true opponent to the idea of brotherhood. * * # We, Verhovayans, believe in the reality of fraternalism. We believe that brotherhood among the members is a possibility which is only restrained by the limitations of human nature. But even within these limitations it represents a true value in human society. It has contributed im mensely to human welfare and happiness and it continues to contribute to the development of the best that is in human character. And if we are broadminded enough to understand human nature, instead of condemning it, then we will be able to look upon the imperfections of fraternal life with nmusement rather than scorn. A stormy Chicago Branch 503 The army is a good book in which to study human life. One learns there to put his hand to everything.—De Vigny. Again we were pleased to receive several letters from PVT. JOHN HUZIANY, who is with the Engineers somewhere in England. Writes he on June 2nd: “I have been on detached service for one week; it started on Mother’s Day. And I was a bugler for a headquarters in the Western Base Section. It sure was beautiful there. I went to town every second day; these were clean and pretty. The VERHOVAY JOURNAL came in handy and all the boys read it. I’m going to send a package of souvenirs from England soon, if I can. I will also send a ring that I got from an Italian prisoner. The food we’re getting in the army is O.K. It’s better than the food people get in town.” And parts of his June 15th Airmail letter: ‘T showed the Verhovay Journal around again, and the Nagy guy said he would like to have a copy sent to him whenever it is published, and he wants to pay for it, that’s how much he enjoys it.” (We’ll send you a copy every time it comes out, Soldier John and you can have your Buddy Nagy read it then.) And now go on with his letter: “It wasn’t the London Bridge on the post-card I sent. It was from Nottingham. While on my day off last month I visited that place and bought some cards. The next chance I get, with a little more time, I’m going to visit London and will send some postcards if I can. I haven’t received the Chicago Tribune as yet, but it sure would be good to read your own home newspaper. We have them here, but they are very old and all the guys grab for it, with the result that it is ready for the waste-basket before the rest of us guys get it. What do you mean by sending gathering may be looked upon either as a tragedy or as a comedy. It is always too bad for human relationships if the people take themselves too seriously. People often cry when they could just as well laugh, if they only could see the circus that is being enacted in the clothes of a drama. The individual who is but an ant in the cosmos of humanity is a funny sight when he throws himself around with the imaginary weight of an elephant. Taking ourselves too seriously, thinking too highly of our own contribution, being enraged about slights that should be encountered with a kindly chuckle, are the factors retarding and inhibiting the development of brotherhood. And they all come from selfishness ... the only real adversary of fraternalism. Of course, selfishness is an inherent part ol human nature and we shall never be able to restrain it completely. In fact, selfishness has contribut ed as much to the welfare of humanity as has unselfishness. It is not a human trait to be condemned entirely, but one to be harnessed to serve by leading it into channels where it can do some good for others, too. Yes, we will believe in the brotherhood of the Verhovayans as long as there is just one other brother who can share this belief with us. And there will lodge meeting as well as a tedious always be more than just one. good American paper money? Wc are paid in cigar coupons (Bril ish currency and bills) and th only time we’ll ever get to se the good old American lettucor greenbacks is when we retun to the States, or unless a fellow has one put away in his wallet (Boy, I’ve got a $1 bill; it looks beautiful!) “By the way, before I forget, last Friday I was sort of t painter. The Red Cross Clubmobile came around and servec us coffee and donuts. They an sure doing a swell job for u boys, for they come around one a week to camp. The RED CROS in town is also swell, for the have their own building, to whei the Yanks go to enjoy them selves. We even have dances Well, I guess I’ll sign off, ant. thanks for everything.” It was excellent to have hearc' from you, Engineer, for we like to read of such things to sort ol boost our morale on the home front. Just keep firing away, Johnny! * # * Mr. and Mrs. Albert Joczil were in Chicago recently, an«, paid a visit to several of thei close friends. We hope the newh weds enjoyed their visit her and that they will again vis! in this fair city. They visite« mostly with Steve Huzianyi ant his family. Since Steve says tha. he will write an article on their visit, this scribe will not mention the details, even though he. knows about them. All we cam say is that we are very glad that Editor Joczik and Contributor Margaret Vargo were brought into friendly correspondence through the instrumentality o. the Verhovay Journal. And thei) correspondence eventually bios-. somed like a beautiful flower We wish the couple everythin good that life has to offer. Ma the blessings of Mankind com to you, Albert and Margaret, h bountiful quantities. * * * Mrs. Robert P. Johnson anc her Air Corps husband could no: come to Chicago last week because Bob’s furlough was cancelled by the higher-ups, jus. when all the suitcases wer« packed. But they have hopes c coming in this month, and wc surely hope to see them soon. Sunday, July 2, 1944. THE SCRIBE OF KŐSZEG ---------------V--------------When I want to discover some thing, I begin by reading u everything that has been dor. along the line in the past. I se what has been accomplished a great labor and expense in th past. I gather the data of man; thousands of experiments as . starting point, and then I mak several thousand more. —THOMAS EDISO. You’ve got to teach youngster the difference between right an wrong, but you shouldn’t try t poke it down their throats. L< them ask questions and then giv them the answers. —HENRY FORI The only way to have a frien is to be one. —RALP WALDO EMERSO! Without accident in surance, a mishap may become a misfortune.
