Verhovayak Lapja, 1947 (30. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)
1947 / Verhovay Journal
VOL. XXX. JANUARY 8, 1947 51 NO. 1. VERHOVAY’S PROGRAM FOR THE NEW YEAR There are certain permanent principles' and purposes whose validity never had been successfully challenged, like that of the basic tenets of faith, the fundamental rules governing social conduct, or the truths expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. However, because man has a natural tendency to become indifferent toward what he has grown used to, it is necessary to occasionally reaffirm these ultimate principles, for once they are lost sight of, man will be misguided by fashionable philoáiphies instead of being guided by permanent values. Such is the case with Verhovay’s program for 1947. Outside of certain details pertaining to promotion and management, fundamentally the program is not new. It was conceived 61 years ago by. 13 miners in Hazelton and, since that time, no essential changes were made. In fact, the program was not original with the 13 miners either. The idea of fraternalism is as old as Christianity and the methods adopted for its realization go back to the beginnings of American democracy. Still, it is necessary to reassert the old principles, for, as hunian beings, we are apt to lose sight of those very values that had béen instrumental in the development of our Association. As hunmanity progresses, new methods are developed, but only the methods are subject to changes never the ultimate purpose of our endeavors. Our purpose is still what is was 61 years ago: to unite those who believe in the brotherhood of mankind, in a society in which security, protection, aid and fellowship is afforded to all. VERHOVAY PROGRESS IN RETROSPECT What this society can do for its members, depends on its size. In the beginning the meeting of funeral expenses for deceased members exhausted the resources of the small association. As the membership increased, it was found possible to afford a shortterm securtiy to the survivors by raising the “death-benefits” to such amounts of which, after funeral expenses were paid, something was left for the period of readjustment. Further progress brought the inclusion of protection against losses caused by illness and accident . . . Thus the fraternal" program of the Association developed step by step ... From the humble attempt at helping with funeral expenses to the point where LIFE assumed an equal importance with DEATH in our life-insurance program . . . Membership in the Association became the means for the realization of saving-programs for various life-situations . .. Hundreds and thousands who otherwise would not have been able to set aside something for the rainy day, were assisted by the Association to create a sizeable estate for their old age and countless parents were given an opportunity to build a fund for the higher education of their children . . . By that time the Association has growft to such dimensions that benefits other than life, sickness and accident insurance could be included in its fraternal program . . . Scholarship loans, sport grants, childbirth benefits, and many other advantages over and above insurance protection were made available to the members of the Verhovay. — And the same spirit prevailed in the branches many of which carried on along similar lines. They rallied to the aid of members who became victims to unfortunate circumstances and, in many instances, sister-branches pitched in in order to help a brother or sister. Some even started a fraternal program of their own. The most recent example was furnished by the Alliance Home whose directors created a Fund for Crippled Verhovay Children. We are sure that many other branches will add their contributions to the $1,000.— to be presented by. the Alliance Home to the Board of Directors of the Association, for this purpose. — The scope of the fraternal activities of the Verhovay already has extended beyond what can be described in an article . . . But our readers surely remember all that had been done during the war for our soldiers, the survivors of our hero dead, the crippled veterans and, since the war ended, for the unfortunate ' people of Hungary . . . However, this brief resumé is sufficient to indicate the essence of Verhovay’s fraternal program: TO HELP WHERE HELP IS NEEDED. HOW WAS HELP MADE POSSIBLE? The growth of the membership of the Association over a period of 60 years tells only part of the story. As important as the numerical increase was the fact that the Verhovay always had branch officers who. inspired by the ideal of fraternalism, served UNSELFISHLY, but conscientiously, the members of their branches as well as the entire Association and, because the Verhovay was managed on a non-profit basis, the proceeds could be used for the benefit of those most in need of assistance. . The disappearance of UNSELFISHNESS is one of the most tragic indications of the spiritual improvement of our age. A BUSINESS-LIKE CONCEPTION OF JUSTICE AND EQUALITY THREATENS TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE IDEAL OF BROTHERLY CHARITY . . . Higher renumerations and an equal distribution of profits are demanded,, to the detriment of our fraternal program, by many who believe that the time has come for a complete reorganization of our activities on a/■purely business basis. There are many who seem to forget that the Verhovay FRATERNAL Insurance Association was founded for the purpose of BBROTHERLY ASSISTANCE and that the Association has gained the confidence of the public and the respect of the insurance authorities by its consistent adherence to the FRATERNAL aspects of its program. There are many who do not seem to realize THAT JUSTICE AND EQUALITY DO NOT PREVAIL IN LIFE. In fact, hunman life is essentially unjust. Some have all the advantages, others have none. And as long as human beings are not equally endowed with the material goods of life, we shall consider it our task to somehow BALANCE THE INEQUALITIES AND INJUSTICES OF HUMAN FATE. After all, every member of the Association receives his jusU due. All obligations are fulfilled as per contract and according to the most liberal interpretations. However, if the total costs of our fraternal program were to be equally distributed among the 55.000 members of the Association, each would receive a mere pittance. The 13 miners of Hazelton had a much higher conception of justice and equality. And we believe, like they did, that it is more just to give freely to those who have nothing and cannot expect help from anyone than to effect a business-like distribution of available funds on a so-called “equal” basis, regardless of the financial conditions and needs of the individual members. From the purely business point of view, such a “mutual” plan, undoubtedly, is equal and just. FRATERNALISM, HOWEVER, STANDS FOR A MUCH HIGHER INTERPRETATION OF JUSTICE WHEN IT PROPOSES TO GIVE FIRST CONSIDERATION TO THOSE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. Our program for 1947, therefore, cannot deviate from those principles and purposes that had determined the development through 61 years' of the Verhovay F. I. Association. — THE BASIC FEATURES OF OUR PROGRAM. 1. ) We propose to continue rendering fraternal assistance to those in need with a view to help balancing to an ever increasing extent the inequalities of life. In order that this may be achieved, we must: 2. ) work together for the advancement, increasing and strengthening of our Association, as the scope and effectiveness of our fraternal program depend on both, the numerical and financial strength of our organization. Naturally, this can be attained Continued on page 2 ’Till Death Us Do Part. . . . MR. AND MRS. ERNEST TYUKODY, It is a great pleasure to congratulate Ernest and Margaret Tyukody, both members of Branch 83, New York,' N. Y., upon their marriage in New’ York on October 5th, 1946. Ernest, a life-long member of the Association and descendant of an outstanding Verhovay family in Branch 83, serves with the Armed Forces and at present is stationed at »Fort Lewis, Washington. A sergeant, he expects to receive his Honorable Discharge sometime in April. His charming bride, the former Margaret Juhasz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Juhasz, resides with her parents at their- home at 317 East 90th Street, until the return of her husband when they will make their permanent home in Newr York. Members of the Verhovay are happy to extend a cordial welcome to the young Mrs. Tyukody who joined the Association shortly after her marriage keeping faith, thereby, with the “100% Verhovay” tradition of the Tyukody family. Congratulations and best wishes for an early reunion and a happy married life are conveyed' to the young couple in behalf of the great family of Verhovayans! VERHOVAY NATIONAL BOWLING TOURNAMENT To be held in South Bend, Ind., on May 30 & 31st The bowlers of the Verhovay will be happy to learn that the Verhovay National Bowling Tournament Committee, Vice President Albert B. Ari and Directors Joseph M. Prince, M.D., Charles Smith and Richard Phillips, have completed the plans for the 1947 National Tournament. A gracious invitation was extended by Branch 132, South Bend, Ind., that the Tournament be held in their city and the invitation was gladly accepted by the Board of Directors. The Tournament Committee agreed with the Secretary of the National Tournament, “Pop” Diliinger, that this Tournament be held on a handicap basis. Though many of our bowlers would have preferred a class competition it was still felt by the experts that we have not gone far enough for that as yet. Since 80% of our teams are representative of secondary teams it would be unfair to the majority of the bowlers to have other than a handicap tournament, at least for 1947. Further details concerning the Tournament will be Continued on page 2
