Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 44, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 1, 1972 Page: 4 of 32
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4
graphic studio in 1902 and was in this
business 65 years. I made pietures of
igraduating classes every year.
“When I got on the board the first
year there was only one sohool build-
ing of two story red brick. Next year
we built a. smáli brick building and the
first floor was for one class. Under the
first floor was dug six feet deep for
another class. Tliis did not work good,
as it was under hill and when lots of
rain eame there was íour feet of wa-
ter in the classroom.
“In 1924 we erected the large two
Btory brick building- and before I re-
tired frjom the sohool board we built
Granger Sohool Gymnasium.
“It was my pleasure to serve on the
Granger Public Higii Sehool board.
After our daughter and our four sons
graduated, I retired from the sehool
board.”
LETTERS
DÍSTKICT I FALL MEETING
Sunday, November 5, 1972
Host Lodge; No. 17, New Tábor
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Schecliile
Meeting called to order
a. Presehtation of Colors — District I
' and lodge flagbeareirs
b. Pledge of Allegiance
c. Show of respect for deceased
members
Welcome by Lodge No. 17 president
Welcome and introduction of at-
tending Supřeme Lodge officers, editor,
and their families
Reading of District I minutes
■ District I youth report
District I treasurer’s report
Roli call of lodges by District I sec-
íretary
Report of district officers as follows:
District Organizer
District Rest Home Director
District Director of SL
Introduction of guest speaker by Dis-
trict I president
Old business
! New business
Youth program
Adjournment
This is also an invitation to a,11 Su-
preme Lodge officers, editor, members
and guests. Please set aside Sunday,
November 5th and come to the District
I meeting at New Tábor.
If any lodge is interested in hosting
the spring meeting, fee prepared to
make your bid.
Leťs all go Sunday, November 5 to
věstník
the district meeting, and leťs háve
an enjoyable evening with the host
Lodge No. 17 in New TaSbor.
Fraternally,
Carlson Jakubik
District I President
.—scjst—
LODGE NO. 88, HOUSTON
On Octu ber 22, 1972, Lodge 68, Hous-
ton eelebrated both the 75th anniver-
sary of SPJST and Czechoslovak Day.
Iilven thougli it was a very rainy day,
the lodge’s ballroom slowly filled up
allowing those attemding to enjoy an
excellent program filled with old Czech
songs by the Chorál group, music by
the Clarence Bača orchestra, Czech
dances by our youth, and a large group
dresseď in colorful eostumes.
The proclamation declared by Mayor
Louie Welch that October 22, 1972,
would be Czech Day in Houston was
read by Vice President Ernest Hanka.
After giving a warm welcome to those
;in attendahce, President Tillie Helm-
camp introduced one of our members,
Assistant County Attorney Jerry
Schank of County Attorney Joe Res-
webeťs Office, to give the address.
Because there were many good points
in Brother SChank’s speech, i would
like to bring his address to those of
you who did not haíve a chance to at-
tend Czech Day.
Fraternally,
Karel Sicner
The following address is for all SPJST
members in Texas:
* *
Ladies and Gentlemen, Brothers and
Sisters. and my Friends: As we are
gathered here, at SPJST Lodge No. 88,
for this Annual Czech Day, in this the
75th year of the existence of the Sla-
vonic Benevolent Order of the State
of Texas, more commonly known as
SPJST, i oannot help but wonder what
the nanie SPJST means to each of you.
For example, háve you notieed the
recent television commercials, news-
páper ads, and billboards of the Air-
lines? All they háve me thinking about
is attractive girls in hot pants.. Now
don’t get me wrong, I am not eriti-
eizing, in fact I like what I see- But,
by the same token, i am beginning to
wcnder if there might not be a few peo-
ple interested in knowing whether or
not their planeš get off the ground,
and about the Service they provide.
Now getting back to what SPJST
means to us, i like to think of it as
something that was left to us by our
ancestors, and as a product of their
way of life.
: V/ednesday, November 1, 1972
Before the Civil War, in 1854, the
Czechs in this country organized the
Czech-Slavic Benevolent Society, a
fialernal insurance society similar to
SPJST. One difference between it and
SPJST was that it was a national or~
ganization rather tlum a statě organi-
zation. As a national organizaticn it
developed local lodges in many states,
i nulu ding Texas. Another difference
between the national organization and
SPJST was that it had equal assess-
ments for all members, regarclless of
age or occupaťon. This led to prob-
lems. The mortality rate among miners
and people in other hazardous oceu-
pations in the northern industrial
states was much higher than that of
the; Czechs in Texas and in the mid-
western states. As a resulfc, the Czechs
in Texas and in the midwestern states
were paying higher assessments than
were necessary to cover their loeal
mortality rates.
At the convention of the national
organization in 1896, the delégation.
from Texas asked that the assess-
ments be based on mortality tables
similar to the method of calculating
life insurance premiums today- This
was rejected, and caused the Czechs
from Texas and the midwestern states
to break a way from the national or-
ganization. The Czechs from the mid-
west organized the Western Bohemian
Fraternal Association and the Texas
Czechs organized SPJST. In this man-
ner the local lodges in Texas conver-
te d over from the national organiza-
tion to SPJST.
Those people who organized SPJST
and established the local lodges were
primarily immigrants from Czechoslo-
vakia. Most of them carae to this
country with little more than the shirt
on their backs. They did not come here
looking for something for nothing.
They came here looking for work and
an opportunity to provide for them-
selves.
They did not look to Allstate or
Southwestern Life for their life Insur-
ance. They provided their own, through
SPJST, without governmental eontrol
or regulation, but under their own by-
la ws.
They did not look to John Wayne or
Racquel Welch for their entertain-
ment. In the local lodges they pre-
sented their own plays,
They did not look to Schlitz or Pearl
to satlsfy their thirsť They had their
own home brew.
Through the local lodges they provi-
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Sefcik, R. J. Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 44, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 1, 1972, newspaper, November 1, 1972; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth626277/m1/4/?q=Vestnik: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas.