National Slovak Society

50th Anniversary
of the 19th Regular Convention
Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio
August 5-10, 1946

Our Society
by John A. Willo

The story of THE NATIONAL SLOVAK SOCIETY is the story of the oldest and foremost fraternal beneficial society of the Slovaks in America - the story of a pioneer in a pioneering age.

Turning back the pages of history a little over a half century, we find the Slovaks who desired to escape the Magyar yoke, under which they then labored - the same yoke under which their forebears had groaned as an oppressed people for almost a thousand years - the Slovaks in whose bosoms still smouldered the fires of Slovak nationalism, the Slovaks who rebelled against the unjust conditions in the land of their fathers, the Slovaks who hoped and aspired for the better things of life, migrating by the thousands to the golden shores of the land across the Atlantic, where the political atmosphere was purified by the breezes of liberty and equality, and where institutions were fostered, which encouraged every man who had industry and ability to rise from the humblest to the highest position - America.

A goodly number of these early immigrants settled in the mining and industrial centers of Pennsylvania and in the industrial centers of Ohio and New Jersey. Though poor in the goods of this world, they brought with them as their gift to their adopted land a vigorous, honest manhood, a rich, native talent, a deep living love of God and a dauuntless courage.

Fifty-six ycars ago - on the 15th day of February 1890 to be exact - a handful of these sterling Slovak immigrants, under the inspired leadership of that immortal humanitarian, PETER VITAZOSLAV ROVNIANEK, banded together and dedicated themselves to the noble ideal of "the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man". On that memorable day, the National Slovak Society had its humble beginning in Allegheny, now a part of Pittsburgh - when that handful of Slovak humanitarians gathered about a table in Walter's Hall and planted a seed that was destined to grow into America's foremost Slovak fraternal beneficial society. The shibboleth of the society was the golden principle "one for all and all for one". Tn short time, the society was granted a charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

For over a half century, the National Slovak Society, true to its humanitarian creed, has in life's darkest moments ministered to its widowed, its orphaned, its sick, its needy and its aged; has preached and practiced the gospel of fraternity. And, true to its patriotic creed, has Americanized the Slovak immigrant, has taught the American world who the Slovaks are, whence they came, and where they mean to go, and has contributed immeasurably to the upbuilding of the greatness of America. And during World War I and World War II, it has played a leading role in the drama of nations, wherein the Slovak nation was re-established on the face of the globe as a partner in the Republic of CzechoSlovakia.

Today, wherever Slovaks or sons and daughters of Slovaks are to be found on the North American continent, there is also to be found the Subordinate Assembly or Young Folks' Circle of the National Slovak Society. Its membership scroll numbers almost 50,000 American - including a goodly number of Canadian - men and women of Slovak ancestry, invariably the leaders in their respective communities, who have found haven in the more than 800 adult and juvenile lodges established in the 26 outstanding mining, industrial and agricultural states in the Union and in several of the Provinces of the Dominion of Canada - in each of which the society is chartered or licensed to operate as a fraternal beneficial association.

The National Slovak Society came through the greatest depression known to modern history unscathed - justifying the faith of its founders and its membership.

Today, our society looks back with pride to its assets in excess of eight and a quarter million dollars; to its surplus in excess of a million dollars; to its record of almost eighteen millions paid in death benefits to widows and orphans; to the benefits in the millions paid to its disabled and distressed and aged members; to the millions upon millions in benefits paid by its Subordinate Assemblies to their sick members; to its record of most generous contributions for educational, cultural and patriotic purposes. It points with pride to its constitution, traditions and ideals, which, in letter and spirit, are similar to the sacred Constitution, noble traditions and high ideals of America.

As 56 years ago, so today, its members are humanitarians men and women who strive in a spirit of brotherhood for the bettermenz of their fellowman. Its members are Christian gentlemen ann gentlewomen - Christian in the sense of being practicers of the teachings of Him who taught that 'we should do unto others as we would they should no unto us' and 'to love our neighbors as ourselves'. Its members are Americans - men and women, who, as lovers of democracy, believe in the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and who, as loyal citizens, are ever ready to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. its members are proud of their Slovak ancestry - men and women, who in answer to the promptings of nature, foster and perpetuate such SIovak customs, traditions and ideals as fit into and enrich the pattern of American life.

In being loyal to America and feeling the throb of love for the homeland of their ancestors involves no conflict on the part of its members, as the immortal Rev. Stefan Furdek - a contemporary of Rovnianek - so aptly worded in his famous poem, "AMERIKA, ZEM VELIKA", which in English reads in part:

"And thou Tatra distant snow-crowned;
Whose children roamed so far away;
Weep not, for in this home new found,
Our love for thee will last for aye.

Loves not a son his mother still;
Though with a wife's love bless'd
'Tis such a love my heart doth feel,
For thc land where my fathers rest.":

Thinking Americans know that America is not a nation of one race or one creed; that America is a nation of 32 distinct racial elements - 32 living threads of life which the Master of All gently takes into His all-powerful, all-wise hands and tenderly weaves into that perfect tap=stry christened "Americanism". And what is that spirit of Americanism? It is an Americanism in which Washington and Jefferson built a foundation so deep and so solid and upon which Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt and the other patriots built a framework of democratic government so broad and so strong, that no storm, political or economic, has ever moved it, no upheaval has ever shaken it. It is an Americanism "which through the magic power of citizenship and the mystic influence of the Stars and Stripes makes thc men of all nations the men of one nation, and that nation our nation; the men of all flags the men of one flag, and that flag our flag".

Thinking Americans know that into the bloodstream of this nation have gone the hopes, the dreams and the loyalty of millions of men and women of every nationality.

Tn World War I, 60 of its members - the flower of its membership, who one by one left their peaceful pursuits to become a part of the great Armed Forces of the United States - gave their lives on the field of battle, "so that democracy may live; so that America may carry on". And, looking at our society's service flag commemorating its part in World War II, we find 4012 blue stars studding its field of white, bounded by a border of red, with 129 stars shining as only gold can shine - telling the world that 129 of its members made the supreme sacrifice in that greatest of all wars, so that "the most precious things of life, the God-given rights of man - freedom, justice and the right to worship God according to the dictates of one's own conscience - may not Perish from the earth".

As in World War I, so in World War II, our society's pocketbook was placed at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America. Our society bought bonds in every one of the seven War Loans and in the Victory Loan, aggregating $ 3,750,000. Our society did this not in a spirit of sacrifice, but in a spirit of privilege. Our society was ready to pledge its all in the defense and preservation of our American nation, of our democratic way of life.

At the War Conferences of the Slovak fraternal benefit societies held during the year 1942, under the auspices of the Office of War Tnformation, The National Slovak Society - under the inspired leadership of its president Wendell S. Platek - led the way in advocating the re-creation of the Republic of Czecho-Slovakia, on a basis of equal rights, privileges, obligations and opportunities. Two nations and two tongues - as equal partners - to make Czecho-Slovakia a country with two peoples, two languages but one heart, each freely contributing its share in its own way to the good of the whole - that was the plan of collaboration. As so aptly phrased by the immortal Dr. Milarl Hodza - that great Slovak patriot who died in our midst shortly before the realization of his dream - "Ty pan, ja pan".

For some years back, a spirit of indifference to all things Slovak has become quite prevalent amongst the youth of Slovak origin in America. That spirit of indifference must be crushed. The Slovak youth of America must be awakened from this lethargy, must be made to appreciate and to take pride in the beauty of the Slovak language and its golden literature, in the past and present glory of the Slovak nation, in the sweet melody of Slovak folk songs, in the charm of many old-fashioned Slovak customs, and in the many and large contributions of the Slovak pioneers to the greatness of America - none of which reflects greater honor and glory upon the Slovak-Americans of today and yesterday, than the founding and the upbuilding of fraternal beneficial societies for ministration to the widowed and the orphaned, to the sick, the aged and the distressed, of which the National Slovak Society was the first.

That's your father or grandfather that John Willow is taking about in the above paragraph.

Naturally, it is the prayer of all Slovak-American patriots that in short time, the youth of Slovak origin in America will become Slovak-conscious, will become fraternally-minded, will appreciate the dignity of its Slovak heritage, and take iust pride in its Slovak lineage, will decide to follow in the hallowed footsteps of its fraternal ancestors, those God-fearing and liberty loving pioneers of the past half century, who, despite the severest handicaps, managed to do so much for their fellowmen on this and on the other side of the Atlantic and to contribute so much to the greatness of America and Czecho-Slovakia.

For over half a century, The National Slovak Society, true to its fundamentals of human brotherhood, has guided the weary traveler over the rough highway of life when the going was hardest; true to its fundamentals of real Americanism, it has taught loyalty to our country and flag, has taught patriotism in America's hour of peril.

Standing for that unselfish service which stresses the fact that no man is so strong, so fortunate, that he is immune from obligations to others; that no man is so weak that he cannot aid others; standing for love of country, of God and of home, for friendship, for fellowship and for manhood, The National Slovak Society - our society - faces the future with confidence.

Protection of country, of home and family was never needed more than today.

Today our society, now one of the soundest and largest fraternal beneficial societies in America, looks back with pride on the great strides it has made during the past 56 years. Today, our society, with a Supreme Assembly of far-visioned and soundthinking fraternalists under the leadership of its able and conscientious president, WENDELL S. PLATEK, and with a loyal and militant membership, stands ready to continue to lead triumphant the march of fraternalism on the North American continent.

Every American of Slovak ancestry should do his part towards preserving and perpetuating the National Slovak Society the national monument left to posterity by the sterling Slovak Pioneer fraternalists.

Every American of Slovak ancestry should keep forever green the memory of his fraternal ancestors by making the National Slovak Society a greater, a grander society. United all, we and our society shall move onward and upward for God, for country, for fraternity.

May God bless and strengthen the National Slovak Society and its membership and continue the guidance and destiny of our society in wise, strong hands.

Daj Boze!

The National Slovak Society is very active in America today. For the latest information on the National Slovak Society visit the official National Slovak Society Web Site "Where Fraternal Benefits And Financial Security Have Met Since 1890".

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