Karikázó, 1988. október - 1989. január (13. évfolyam, 2-3. szám)

1988-10-01 / 2-3. szám

William Penn Association A Fraternal Benefit Society • Founded 1886 Paul Body, Ph.D. The William Penn Association celebrated its centennial in 1986. The Association is the lest and largest Hungarian fraternal society in the United States. Its home office has been in Pittsburgh since 1926. According to a recent report of President Gay Banes, nationwide membership exceeded 68,400, the association was licensed in 19 states and 159 branch offices were in operation. The history of the Association is comparable in some respects to that of many other ethnic fraternal societies, while its patterns of development are reflections of the vicissitudes and successes of Hungarian American immigrants. Founded by thirteen Hungarian miners (actually 28;13 signed the state charter) in Hazelton, in the anthracite coal region of eastern Pennsylvania, on February 21, 1886, with $17.25 in original contributions, the Association’s aim was to provide mutual assistance to Hungarian immigrants in cases of sickness and death. In the course of its development, the Association also sponsored activities to preserve the Hungarian heritage and local community life of its members, an important factor in its early success and subsequent growth. The Association gave special attention to well-organized local chapters, each of which was expected to manage its affairs through a great degree of democratic participation and leadership. The original name of the Association was the Verhovay Aid Association or Verhovay Segély Egylet. It was known by that name until 1955. The choice of the Verhovay designation had been suggested by a Hungarian-educated editor, teacher and close friend of the organization’s founder, Michael Pálinkás. Julius Verhovay was a member of the Hungarian Parliament in the 1880’s, who engaged in vigorous criticism of the government’s failure to alleviate the economic and social distress of the deteriorating economic position of the rural population to the role of large estate owners and Jewish capitalists. Two equally significant reasons are cited by scholars for the conscious choice of Verhovay’s name. First, it denoted the Hungarian immigrants’ strong commitment to political and social transformation of contemporary Hungary. Secondly, it indicated strong class consciousness of the founding miners that was expressed by the exclusion from the Association of "educated” or "professional" persons. Exclusion of nonworking class individuals from organizational offices remained a consistent policy until the 1920’s. Enforcement of this practice resulted in the emergence of a self-confident, responsible and effective leadership, particularly in the early decades of growth. Later, strict adherence to it no longer responded to real needs. Its influence can still be detected in ranks of the organization at the present time. An important basis of the early Verhovay Association as of other immigrant societies was the intimacy of personal relationships among members. Frequently, immigrants associated with relatives, friends, villagers and these relationships were strengthened by the hardships of the American environment. One of the common expressions of personal intimacy was merrymaking and communal drinking. It was traditional practice in the Hazelton area to hold membership meetings in the saloon of John Bugely, where drinking was an obligatory part of the proceedings. Later, large halls with food and bar services were used to preserve the atmosphere of informality. In some cases, drinking was excessive, leading to criticism both by Hungarian and American observers. Nevertheless, the custom was highly prized by the Association as the basis of fellowship and closeness among members. The Fiftieth Anniversary edition of the Association periodical, Verhovayak Lapja, explains the traditions: Is it not natural that Hungarian immigrants spontaneously developed a free community life and prized especially the great virtue of friendship? It became an unwritten law also in the Association: "He who does not drink, is not a brother." Minute books indicate that those who refused to drink were not held qualified for office. At first glance, all this may be amusing. But on second thought it becomes evident that among those first, impoverished, suspicious immigrants fraternal community life was highly important. Verhovay would not create a sense of without expressing instinctive forms. Founders of the have been able to fraternal community their ideals in Professor Bela Vassady provides an excellent documentation of the early stages of the Verhovay in a recently published article. He characterized the earliest stage as the itinerant, migratory stage. Most of the early members were miners and workplaces tended to change from one location to another. As a result, the first four branches, based in eastern Pennsylvania, had constantly changing memberships, lacked consistent procedures and showed very little membership growth until 1900. These same characteristics, however, contributed to significant expansion after 1900. As Verhovay members moved to western Pennsylvania and Ohio, they established new branches. Another factor was the arrival of increasing numbers of immigrants who could be recruited. Major membership growth began in 1903 continuing to 120. In these years the Association experienced a great deal in internal turmoil, including severe conflicts between conservatives and modernizers, reflecting the need to provide consistent, stable procedures for a growing business organization. An important landmark was the adoption of an official newsletter, the Verhovayak Lapja, in 1917. Continued on page 6

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