William Penn Life, 1986 (21. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1986 / Különszám
Page 2, Special Centennial Issue, William Penn Life Our History: The William Penn Story The first Board of Directors of the William Penn Association following the Verhovay-Rakoczi merger in 1955. Seated from left: Alexander Molnár, Stephen Lang Sr., Dr. Andrew Kovács, National President Coloman Revesz, László Fabian, Gabriel Czernai, Frank Magyary. Standing from left: Vice President Julius Macker, Louis Vassy, Joseph Kormondy, Albert Ibos, Frank Radvany, Michael Faczan, Michael Korosy, Andrew Fejes, Louis Vizi, Vice President Louis Varga, Stephen Bencze, Alonysius C. Falussy, Julius J. Lenart, Alexander Gyulay, John Balia. By Albert J. Stelkovics National Vice President The William Penn Association was founded on February 21, 1886, in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, by thirteen Hungarian coal miners. It was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in December of that year under the name “Verhovay Aid Association.” The goal of the founders was to extend a helping hand to each other and to the many Hungarian immigrants who worked and suffered in the mines and industrial centers of America at a period in its history when insurance of any sort was still in the faraway future. With no sick benefits, no unemployment compensation, and no death benefits for their families, and with the immigrants being maimed and killed by the thousands in the ever-recurring industrial accidents, they had no other recourse but to turn to each other for help. This is how fraternalism was born in America, and these were the same conditions that prompted the thirteen founders to establish the Verhovay Aid Association. After nearly four decades of growth, and with well over threehundred chapters throughout the northeastern states, in 1926 the Home Office was moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. By this time the Verhovay had grown into the largest, wealthiest and most successful of all the Hungarian-American fraternal organizations. This growth was also speeded up by mergers with a number of other smaller fraternal societies. The most significant of these mergers included the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the Hungarian Baptist Society of Cleveland, Ohio; and the Rákóczi Aid Association of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The merger with the Rákóczi Aid Association in 1955 was most significant, for here two of the largest Hungarian-American fraternals came together to form the William Penn Fraternal Association to preserve and to perpetuate Hungarian culture in America. In 1972 the name of the joint organization was changed to William Penn Association, which is regarded to be identical with the original Verhovay Aid Association, but also a direct descendent of the Rákóczi Aid Association founded in 1888. Although by now the dominant and unrivaled Hungarian-American fraternal society, during the past decade it continued to grow by additional mergers. These included the merger with the American Life Insurance Association in 1979; the merger with the American Hungarian Catholic Society of Cleveland, Ohio in 1980; and the merger with the Catholic Knights of St. George of Pittsburgh in 1983. The last of these mergers was again very significant because it brought a major local fraternal society, founded nearly a hundred years earlier in 1881, into the fold of the William Penn Association. Today the William Penn Association stands as the unrivaled major Hungarian fraternal society in America. Its goals are to provide benefits to its members and their beneficiaries, to provide housing for its elderly and disabled members, to render other fraternal services to these members and their families (including scholarships for their children), and to aid in the preservation of Hungarian culture and Hungarian ideals in this great land of America, and to do so in accordance with the goals of the founding Fathers of both the Association and the United States. A Special Issue For A Special Celebration This year we have banded together, perhaps as never before, to reaffirm our commitment to the goals and ideals of the 13 coal miners who created our society a century ago. And we have celebrated our 100th birthday with style and dignity, in the true spirit of fraternalism and with our eyes, hearts and minds set on the future. First, there was the sense of accomplishment felt in the celebration of Founder’s Day. As guests gathered in the beautiful Home Office for the event, you could almost taste the sweet irony in the situation; what once was the home of an industrial magnate was that day hosting the 100th anniversary celebration of an organization created by and for the workers exploited by the industrial economy. Our members had gone from the mines to the mansion, always remembering where they came from. Next, there was the pride and enthusiasm reflected in the individual branch celebrations. These magnificent affairs stood as symbols of the dedication of our members not only to our national fraternity but also to branch life. Although each affair was held for the same purpose, each contained the distinct flavor and character of the host branch. These events proved once again that there are many strong links in the William Penn’s chain of branches. Finally, there was the unity and commitment displayed in the main Centennial Banquet held in Pittsburgh. The unity was selfevident in the more than 1,000 members and friends who came from across the nation and Hungary to celebrate our centennial that night. The commitment to our heritage and to fraternalism was mirrored in the gracious words of the guest speakers and our contribution to the Hungarian Heritage Center. This special issue of the William Penn Life was created to serve as a record of these special centennial events, to give them perspective and to preserve them in detail for posterity. It also serves as a tribute to the people who planned, organized and participated in these events. Without these people there would have been no centennial celebration. We thank them for their devotion and dedication. Most importantly, this special issue is our way of sharing the centennial celebration with all of our members. We hope that it will rekindle pleasant memories of the past year and offer a taste of what our celebration was all about. Like the centennial celebration, this special issue is the product of hard work of a number of people. We thank those who contributed articles and information to this effort, including the National Officers, Board of Directors, members of the Advisory Board, Dr. Ruth Biro, Alexander Jozsa Bodnar, Vivian Findon, Gerry Robinson and Helen V. Sabo. We extend special thanks to Louis Fodor for many of the photographs which appear here. We also thank the production staff of Gateway Press Inc. for their assistance in preparing this special issue. We also thank you, our members and friends, for making this centennial year one which will live forever in the annals of the William Penn Association. John E. Lovász Managing Editor Special Centennial Issue WILLIAMPENN LIFE U.S. Postage Paid Pittsburgh, PA Permit No. 2724 Editor in chief Gay B Banes Associate Editor E E Vargo Managing Editor John E. Lovász Editing Office 709 Brighton Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Area Code (412) 231-2979 Office of Publication 709 Brighton Rd.. Pittsburgh. PA 15233 Print production by Gateway Press. Inc.. Monroeville. PA Published Bi Monthly I Postmaster: If undelivered, please send form 3579 to: WILLIAM P* <N ASSOCIATION 709 Brighton Rd.. Pittsburgh. PA 15233
