Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 24, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 10, 1964 Page: 39 of 68
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Wednesday, Jane 10, 1964
'''i
VES T N í K
ÉÉÉI
M—L _ _
Lodge No. 118, Kingsville: This picture was laken March 9fcn, 1847, at ihe meeting hekl at thc home of Brother
Herny Onarej, now aeceased.
In the picture, rcading leJffc to right, front row: Joe W. Horák , Jerry Lukastik, Charlie Elsik (deceased), Louis S. Elsik,
Lome I!, Elsik, Joe Farek 3v., Frank Elsik, Frank Laza, Henry Ondřej (deceased), Joe Farek, and Henry Ondřej, Jr.
Baek row: Lula Elsik, Marie Elsik, Catherine Horák (desceas ed), Evelyn Elsík Brown, Barbara Farek, Rosa Horák, Jane
Farek Sanders, Annie Laza, Lillie Elsik, Theresa Ondřej, and Mary Farek.
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 118,
KINGSVILLE
Latě in the year of 1924 several then
members of the SPJST of different
lodges got together and discussed the
possibility of organizing a lodge here
in Kingsville. There was a oalled meet-
ing at the farm home of Brother Joe
and Sister Terezie Elsik. Present at
the meeting were Joe and Katherine
Horák and sons Joe W. and Frank,
members at that time of Lodge No.
117 at Robstown, originally Corning
from Elk and Mart, Texas, Also present
were Brother Henry and Sister Teresa
Ondřej and Brother Frank Laza from
from Lodge No. 45 Vlastenec in Shiner.
Brother Joe Elsik and Sister Terezie
Elsik, charter members of the SPJST,
were also members of Vlastenec No.
45. Brother Jim Farek and Sister Bar-
bara Farek, whe were members of the
Seymour lodge, were also present.
It was unanimously decided to start
the balí rolling and the results were
that on the 7th day of December
1924, Lodge No. 118 was orgaiVzed and
ta ke n into the fold of the great SPJ
ST Society by Brother John R. Kuběna,
then secretary of the Supreme Lodge.
The big day took plače at the farm
home of Brother Joe and Sister Tere-
zie Elsik, who were my parents. It was
an all-day affair, with several non-
members jbining- the organization.
Those joming then were Joe Lnkas,
Anna Laza, Charles and Mary Elsik,
Frank, and Louis Elsik. Joe Farek,
Jerry Lukastik and Joe Dvorak Sr. also
joined at this time. A little later more
of the Horák Family joined, and also
the Hašek Family. At the meeting also
were some members from Robstown,
the John Veselkas, Zita, Machart, and
some others that I do not remember
were there.
This is our 40th anniversary year
and we still háve monthly meetings.
After we started we had our meetings
in the old city jail house for a couple
of years, which was also ušed by the
earpentei”s union. We then ušed an old
abanboned church in the country for
some time and after it was sold we
started having meetings in the homes
of members in rotation by drawing
numbers. This was carried on until
about tl-rne or four years ago when we
started using- the American Legion
Halí, and recently we changed to the
VFW Halí. We also háve meetings in
the homes of those who wish to háve
them.
We háve always had goocl attendance
of members at our meetings, consider-
ing the number of members in our
Icdge. We háve at the present time
■changed over to night meetings and
háve better attendance. I am sure it is
no different in our lodge than it is in
otfcer lodges where it is very hard to
get the young members to attend meet-
ings and to také over the duties of of-
ficers because the old ones will not be
here forever. Some of us háve been
officeřs since our organization, and
would certainly be glad to see some
of the younger set come in and také
over.
It has always been my pleasure to
serve as an officer and attend' meet-
ings because I enjoy the get-together
and enjoy a talkfest, a game of dorni-
noes, or other gam.es. I am sure if the
young members would start attend-
ing meetings and taking part in all
lodge activities they would enjoy it as
much as we old ones do.
I ani sure that there are some names
that are omitted but it is not inten-
tional because it is hard to remember
all these things after so long a time.
Our first secretarial record book was
destroyed by fire in 1929 when my
t-ome was destroyed, i feel sure' that a
more interesting story could háve been
written had there been more referen-
ces.
Our present lodge officeřs are Frank
Laza, President; Joe Farek, Vic,e-Presi-
dent; Frank Els:k, Secretary; Lome H.
Elsik, Bookkeeper; and Louis Elsik,
Treasurer.
I will close with best wishes for a
most successfui convention, and best
wishes for a most successful conven-
tion, and best wishes to all members
of the SPJST.
Fraternally,
Frank Elsik
——SPJST'.—-
The oldcst living charter member of
the SPJST is Sister Terezie Valchar,
102 years young, and a member of Bila
Hora No. 16, Hallettsville.
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Morris, Nick. Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 24, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 10, 1964, newspaper, June 10, 1964; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth624945/m1/39/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas.