William Penn, 1963 (46. évfolyam, 5-23. szám)

1963-05-15 / 10. szám

PAGE 4 May 15, 1963 William Penn Official Organ of the William Penn Fraternal Association OFFICE OF PUBLICATION RAPID PRINTING COMPANY 7907 West Jefferson Ave. Detroit 17, Michigan PUBLISHED SEMIMONTHLY BY THE William Penn Fraternal Association Managing Editor: JULIUS MACKER Editor’s Office: 436-442 FOURTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH 19, PA. Telephone: COurt 1-3454 or 1-3455. All articles and changes of address should be sent to the WILLIAM PENN FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION 436-442 Fourth Avenue Pittsburgh 19, Pa. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: United States and Canada ......................................... $1.00 a year Foreign Countries ........................................................ $1.50 a year SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT DETROIT, MICHIGAN UNDER A UNITED FLAG By: JULIUS MACKER President of William Penn Fraternal Association On the 10th of April, 1888, a new Hungarian association was formed in the city of Bridgeport, Conn. This was an event of seemingly little impor­tance even then, when the community life of the Hungarians in the United States just started to develop. Even then thei'e were many struggling or already defunct, small Hungarian societies which folded up mainly because of inexperience. But whatever was the cause of their failure: every one of them was started because they were badly needed. Today, in the era of unemployment benefits, hospitalization, company pensions and Social Security, it is difficult to picture the conditions of 75 years ago when none of these benefits existed for the workingman. It is just as difficult to visualize the helplessness in which the immigrant workingman lived in those days. “Help yourself”: this motto had to be adopted by them because nobody under the sun was willing to extend a helping hand to them. Why was it necessary to start a new aid society in Bridgeport? This important industrial city on the eastern shore of the ocean just started to unfold its wings and it was not difficult to foretell that fairly soon it will be the most important industrial center of a large territory. The immigrants came in always greater groups and among them the number of those who soon needed some community assistance became gradually larger. And such help could have come only from the joint efforts of themselves, from their own aid societies. Eighteen Hungarians met on that day. The short list relates who were the members of this small group. Beside the Hevesis, Molnars, Toths, Vargas, Katonás, Rózsás there were sitting the Gyurcsaks, Macsankos, Kenyherczs and Bialkos. What do these strangely sounding names, tell us ? They tell us that their owners came from a part of old Hungary where the Magyars have * lived together with other nationalities, but where, in spite of their differently sounding names there was no difference among them in their loyalty to the Hungarian fatherland. The memories of centuries-Jong mutual sufferings made them friends and brothers. Several generations previously, in the re­volution of 1848-49, and even much sooner, in the national insurrection led by Prince Francis Rákóczi II. (1703-1711), the ancestors of these men who were sitting side by side in Bridgeport, stood similarly side by side under the banners of Kossuth and Rákóczi, ready to fight for the liberty and rights of the Hungarian nation. Their blood blended, just like their hearts were beating in unison when they came together to start some constructive Hun­garian work in their new country. The pure Magyars and the Ruthenian- Magyars of the northern counties of Abauj, Zemplen, Bereg, Ung and Mara­­maros have given to Rákóczi his most faithful soldiers. There must have been a very valid reason that the great Prince called these men “gens fidelissima,” his “most loyal” people. The people of these counties have known no greater name than Rako­­ezi’s. And for this reason it was no problem what the name of the new aid society should be. Even in those days there were so many Hungarian aid groups in the United States that there remained hardly any historical names to choose from. There existed even a small group in New Jersey that called it­self “Francis Ferdinand Aid Association”, the founders of which evidently had no idea how the heir to the Hungarian crown and throne hated the Hun­garians. Strangely there was no society named after Rákóczi, so the illus­trious name came very handily for the founders. And so the name of “Rákóczi” entered into the life of the American- Hungarians, quietly and modestly. None of the founders would have dared even to dream that some day this will be one of the most important and influential nationwide associations of the American-Hungarians, with many thousands of members, with assets of millions of dollars and with valuable achievements behind it. For them it was enough to hope that they were starting a group which would be able to give real assistance to the widows (Continued on Page 7.)- FLAG DAY -On June 14th the Nation observes Flag Day. It is the 47th Anniversary of Flag Day and the 186th Anniversary of the day on which Congress formally adopted the Stars and Stripes as the National Flag. Last year, during National Fraternal Week, the Fraternal Life Insurance Companies of the United States, ob­tained a flag which had been flown over the Capitol of th:e United States. It was presented to the school near Fredonia, Wis­consin, where Flag Day had its beginning, to be flown there on that occasion. This year, we are continuing our efforts in further­ing interest in Flag Day by encouraging all members of our com­bined organizations to display the National Flag on Flag Day! FLAG DAY — JUNE 14TH Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand is the originator of Flag Day. He made a practice of flying the National Flag over the school where he taught near Fredonia, Wisconsin, every June 14th. In 1906 a stone memorial was erected near Fredonia commemo­rating Dr. Cigrand’s act of patriotism. In 1916 President Wilson officially made June 14th Flag Day. PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, The National Fraternal Congress of America has heretofore sponsored a specific week as Fraternal Week to expand public awareness of the function and ideals of the Fraternal Benefit System, and WHEREAS, Our System is a staunch advocate of our form of government and its precepts, and Whereas, Flag Day, June 14, holds special significance to all fraternalists, Now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, That the week of June 9 to June 15, 1963, is hereby designated as Fraternal Week. The cooperation of all member-societies and their respective constituents is earnestly solicited to promote and participate in programs designed to better apprise the citizenry of our service to and interest in the well-being of mankind and this great nation. Coincidentally, you are also urged to give special observance to Flag Day. Fraternally yours, EDNA E. DUGAN President HAJAS Branch 15, Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Hajas comes to us from Canada, where he had a suc­cessful career in life insurance selling. We feel sure that Mr. Hajas will find himself right at home in the Windy City. Mr. Hajas has dedicated •himself to the William Penn Fraternal Association and we feel certain that with his background and qualifications he shall prove to be an asset not only to Branch 15, but the entire Association as well. We urge all members to cooperate with Mr. Hajas in his work. We welcome him to our sales force and wish him much suc­cess in his field. IGNÁC Pictured here is Ignác Ha­jas, recently appointed Dis­trict Manager and Manager of Pennsylvania District No. 15 PRE-CONVENTION DISTRICT SESSION BRANCH 88, Yatesboro, Pa. Please be informed that the District Representatives of Branches 47, Iselin, Pa., 73 of Leeehburg, Pa., 88 of Yatesboro, Pa., 143 of Punxsutawney, Pa., and 172 of Leeehburg, Pa. will meet on June 9, 1963 at 2 p.m. in the WILLIAM PENN HOME at 132 Main Street, Rural Valley, Pa., for the pur­pose of electing their Delegate to the coming Convention. FRANK VARGA District Secretary

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