Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1944 / Verhovay Journal

VOL. XXVII.

OCTOBER 26, 1944

31 «^*72

NO. 43.

What Ails the Fraternal Order?

In the course of its development, fraternalism had to overcome various difficulties, growing pains. In its attempts to overcome these difficulties it had to adapt itself more and more to the sound business principles followed by the insurance companies. Thereby, the Fraternal Order succeeded in overcoming the handicap of a weak financial structure. Fraternalism grew up. It accumulated experience as well as assets. It attained the means by which to put into practice the high principles that made the Frateranl Order. Aged members, Widows and orphans were cared for, patriotic and humanitarian causes were supported, social life Was fostered and the members were educated in their branches to the proper use of democratic principles.

However, that was not to be the end of the worries of this Fraternal Order. New problems arose, new difficulties developed during the last few years that seem to attack the foundations of fraternalism from an entirely different angle.

N.F.C. DIAGNOSES TROUBLE

The 58th Convention of the National Fraternal Congress of America was held in St. Louis, Mo., on September 27th, 1944

and the following days. Our organization, as a member of the National Fraternal Congress, was represented by Supreme Secretary Coloman Révész. 105 Societies belong to the National Fraternal Congress with a memberehip of over eight million.

The Convention seriously discussed the problems pertaining to the Fraternal Order and several papers were read and discussed in regards TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE LODGES AND THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF FRATERNAL PRINCIPLES IN GENERAL.

We find that the Convention seriously endeavored to answer the question which we pose in this article: “What ails the fraternal order?” And we learn that the Convention put its finger on the sorest point in fraternal life and accurately diagnosed the ailment of present-day fraternalism.

WHAT'S THE TROUBLE NOW?

Most fraternal organizations seem to suffer from a common ailment and affliction that is slowly eating on the heart of fraternalism. Yes, indeed, fraternalism has heart-trouble... it seems to be in danger of losing its heart... it has become a business-addict, because more and more emphasis is put upon securing new members, writing insurance, investing assets, while less and less is heard about the service fraternal organizations are supposed to render over and above the insurance protection. SOME fraternal organizations have degenerated to a point Where they resemble nothing but an old-line life insurance company, much to the resentment of

life insurance companies that do not receive the same special consideration from various authorities as the fraternal organizations.

For let us not forget one thing: fraternal orders are considered an asset to the nation deserving special favors and considerations because they profess to offer service other than life insurance protection to their members and to the nation and mankind in general.

A life-insurance policy is a contract between a company and the policyholder, obliging the company to pay a certain amount as death-benefit or as an endowment, and binding the policyholder to the payment of certain monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual premiums.

Now, the membership certificate of a fraternal organization is the same thing. However, fraternal organizations do not and should not consider their lifeinsurance dealings their essential activity. Every fraternal constitution provides for activities of a social nature. The By-laws of our Association, for instance, make provisions for its aged members, for the education of the younger members, for sport activities, for the development of social life within the branches, FOR THE AMERICANIZATION OF ITS IMMIGRANT MEMBERSHIP, for securing employment for the unemployed and for all sorts of patriotic and cultural activities. Now these are the things that make a fraternal Order an asset to the community and to the nation as a whple. It represents a concentrated effort of a group for the betterment of its members, for the preservation of certain ideals and for the creation of a brotherhood which feels responsible for the welfare of all members, individually and as a body.

BUSINESS AND SERVICE

A fraternal Order which is actively engaged in patriotic and social activities, is a servant of the nation. But a fraternal Order which has given up its fraternal principles and ideals, losing itself entirely in the business of selling life-insurance, is a chiseler in the life-insurance business and has no claim for considerations

so graciously granted to fraternal organizations.

Life insurance business constitutes the financial basis of our other activities, it makes it possible for us to support the needy, to assist students, to encourage sports and to- foster social activities. This is possible because the proceeds and profits of our life insurance business-activities are used in behalf of the membership. But that is as far as we can go. For we must not forget that in selling life-insurance certificates, we sell not only life insurance but all the benefits, other than life insurance protection, offered by our organization to the membership. Therein lies our real appeal to the public. We cannot and should not attempt to make competition to life-insurance companies by comparing their policies with our certificates—even though the comparison would not show us at disadvantage. In fact we are not making any competition at all... Fraternalists are a brotherhood. And we use life-insurance to enable our brotherhood to be of service to mankind.

TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT

Now there are some who ask: “If that be the case, then, why solicit new members? Why launch one membership drive after another? Why make such a point of selling more and more insurance certificates?”

The answer is simple: because the more members our Order has, the more good it can do. We pointed out before that life-insurance business serves as the financial basis of our social activities. It is obvious, then, that by extending our business activities we also extend the scope of our social activities. Just a few examples. During the last years the Verhovay has published a text-book to assist Hungarian immigrants in their preparations for the citizenship examination. Thousands of these books have been distributed freely. Then the Verhovay published the American-Hungarian Dictionary and Cor respondence book... 12,000 copies have been distributed at no cost to the recipients. Now the Verhovay, in the crowning act of its history, presents the families of

our heroic dead with a portrait of their son or husband who died in the service of his country.

Let us ask this: could a small organization do any of these things? The answer obviously is: no. Yet the Verhovay did all this and much more and it was enabled to do all these things because its membership continues to grow. A small organization cannot do much in the fraternal way... its activities are reduced to the payment of death and sick benefits... it is, therefore, only a miniature insurance company. But as the organization grows, its assets too grow by leaps and bounds, enabling the organization to do more and more over and above the rendering of insurance protection.

For that reason ... new members must be solicited ... It is a wrong idea to concentrate so much on the social activities of your lodge that you find no time to work for the increase of the lodge-membership.

A shrinking branch is a liability of the Fraternal Order, not an asset, and it acts as a brake on the social and humanitarian activities of the lodge as well as of the Order.

The other school of thought does not care much for the social and humanitarian áctivities ... it believes in the need for ever increasing membership and is apt to give up altogether the social aspects of branch-activities for the sake of more efficient business-procedure. But that school is wrong too ... for- in that way the Fraternal Order is led to turn into a life-insurance business concern pure and simple, and ceases to be a Fraternal Order, thereby jeopardizing its only real appeal to the public. For fraternalists appeal to the public only by what they differ from insurance companies and not by what they conform to them. And that difference is the essence of fraternalism that cannot be given up.

UNITE THE TWO SCHOOLS'.

The only way to insure the survival and victorious advancement of fraternalism is to unite the two schools ... constant efforts at soliciting new members must go hand in hand with zealous efforts at social and humanitarian activities. And the only place for the combined efforts is the LOCAL BRANCH. No Supreme Office can solicit new members for the branch ... and no Supreme Office can lead fraternal life for the branch. The essence of fraternalism is deeply rooted in the branches and cannot be displaced. And it is for this reason that the National Fraternal Congress came to the conclusion that the Fraternal Order’s greatest ailment at present is the insufficiency of active brotherhood within the lodges. That is expressed by no less man than the newly elected president of the National Fraternal Congress, Mr. Farrar Newberry, who upon assuming his new duties, issued the following statement:

SAYS MR. NEWBERRY:

Two things impress me forcefully as I assume the duties of President of the National Fraternal Congress of America. One is general, the other particular.

THE GENERAL FIRST:

I strongly feel the need of a great renaissance of fraternal activity—a wide renewing of our faith in the efficacy of neighborliness, and a fresh determination to put our brotherly tenets more fully into action. Our institution is financially sound, and we have in our own hands the machinery to remedy any business defect. But the spirit of fraternity, not the urge to business excellence, made us in the early days; it will remake us if only we give it opportunity. We are the heirs of a great past, but we are also faced with a great challenge to service—service which includes, but is not confined to the incidents of expense loadings and mortality tables.

AND NOW THE PARTICULAR:

Let's do some regenerating down at the “grass roots” of the local lodge, for here is the center of our present strength and the source of future growth. While we drill our teams and train our local officers in ritualism, let's program the lodge effort along the lines of service to the local community. Let's encourage its more extensive participation in civic and welfare work. It so readily cooperated with the government in every objective for winning the war, and can do the same in the postwar program of rehabilitation. Let us make it ready for the return of the men and women who have defended liberty and fraternity on the battle fronts of the world. Let’s be sure, when they come home, that in our local lodge they may find a place of welcome, and facilities for active peacetime community service.

To these two things—a general revival of fraternity and a new emphasis on the local lodge—I shall give the utmost of effort and such ability as I possess.

Fraternally yours,

FARRAR NEWBERRY.

Mr. Newberry’s statement expresses the gist of the conclusions at which the members of the National Fraternal Congress had arrived. It forcefully brings home to us the importance of the revival of branch-activities. Mr. Newberry dedicates his future efforts to the general revival of fraternity and a new emphasis on the local lodge,—and he knows whereof he is talking. His message should be heeded by all fraternalists. We of the Verhovay have no reason to feel ashamed. Our organization persistently followed the fraternal path. Nevertheless, there are more and more among our members who cannot see the fraternal angle of our purpose... We hope that the President and the members of the National Fraternal Congress can convince them as to the inescapable truth of their conclusions.