William Penn Life, 2009 (44. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2009-05-01 / 5. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán On the shoulders of our forefathers The values upon which the first fraternal benefit society was founded 140 years ago are what will keep fraternal ism alive for the next generation of members. A few years after the close of the Civil War, a master mechanic in the railroad shops at Meadville, Pa., conceived the idea of organizing his fellow workers to introduce his "ideas of right and justice between man and man." The year was 1868, and John J. Upchurch organized Jefferson Lodge No. 1 of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. This was the beginning of the vast American fraternal system, which today is composed of more than 100 fraternal benefit societies in the United States with millions of members. Each fraternal benefit society operates under a representative form of government, for the benefit of the membership and without profit. No member of any fraternal benefit society who is consistent in maintaining his or her membership need ever hope in vain for a friend, because he or she will have many. He need not go without comfort in sickness because there will be a brother or sister member there to look after his wants. Most of our fraternal benefit societies originated as brotherly organizations comprised of those who spoke the language of a shared homeland but were now living in a new country. Their racial ties were strengthened by fraternal ties of mutual aid and encouragement during trying days in the lives of the membership. Our ethnic-based societies devoted much to the spirit and cause of fraternity in those days. When the tide of immigration was at its height, it was unnecessary to canvas for new members. New arrivals joined the local branches on their own accord and sheer desire to be among their own countrymen. In those days, the immigrants lived more or less together in communities. Today, the problem is somewhat different. People of a shared ethnic heritage live scattered over the length and breadth of the United States. We must make the attempt to reach those who moved away from the inner cities. We must recruit our young people into our folds at any cost. The future of our fraternal benefit societies depends on juvenile membership. We must implement plans for attracting young people on whose shoulders rest the responsibility for a successful future. Our societies need cooperation between adults and youths. Age can provide wisdom, experience and, perhaps, money. Youth can provide a guarantee of comparative immortality, vision and working muscles. When we call upon our young people to come and be our brothers and sisters in our fraternal organizations, we must do so with the intention not only of giving them protection in the form of life insurance but also of assisting them in their social life so that they may claim their place in this world as honest and good citizens. So what is Fraternalism? It is defined in many ways, but, basically, it is caring about others. If you are a church member, you witness your church performing many acts of fraternalism, such as caring for the elderly or providing help for people in less fortunate circumstances. There are many organizations which perform such acts of fraternalism, such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army. Some 50 years ago, while I spent some time 4 William Penn
