WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:06.000 Jos Miller [Miller]: Benefit societies in the area. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:47.000 Miller: Still have a very, very strong ethnic. Yeah, a very strong ethnic ties we don't. Although our old timers are the people whose names I gave you would all be people who would go back to the days when with all German people. We lost that in our society. Some degree. When I can I like. Then the younger people can appreciate me, the, you know, the German heritage if it wasm't for violence[inaudible]. Speaker 1: Are a large majority of the membership now of German descent? Miller: Not anymore, of course it was that. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:01:01.000 Miller: Not anymore. I think the two World Wars. With Germany, I think that helped to weaken ethnic ties. But for now, our membership is. 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:02.000 Miller: Pretty much in the cross sections. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:31.000 Miller: Of Catholic fraternal benefits society, which means that the Catholic joint [inaudible] is close to the church. And as far as a strong ethnic identity. We don't really have any. We were founded in 1881. It was all German immigrants. And for many, many years it was just German people that were members. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:38.000 Speaker 1: How did they actually change and why? [inaudible] 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.000 Speaker 1: The original founders. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:02:11.000 Speaker 1: And the original organization, I noticed, is called the German-- Miller: German Roman Catholic [inaudible]. That was that was the original. In fact, in the early days, the the publications and the records were all kept in Germany. We still have some of our local lodges. We have their old record books and they're written in German. And some of our old our old publications are written in German. Speaker 1: [inaudible] Miller: Yeah. As I say, I. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:20.000 Miller: Just from my observation. I'm assuming that they, changing the name and all that. World War one and World. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:33.000 Miller: War Two had a lot to do with that. I can't remember all of One before my time, but I can remember World War Two. I had just gotten out of high school and I can. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:38.000 Miller: Remember that many of these organizations that were German. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:42.000 Miller: It was downplayed. And they changed the names of a lot of German singing society. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:49.000 Which is still part of German. 00:02:49.000 --> 00:03:01.000 Miller: Heritage is singing-- there still in Philadelphia has a lot of German singing societies still operating. Speaker 1: [inaudible] Helps to compile the information on the various ethnic groups. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:10.000 Speaker 1: And their social organizations. Political organizations and that. And that's when [inuadible] singing societies but. A lot of you. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:04:07.000 Speaker 1: Have disconnected numbers and that kind of thing that I wanted to [inaudible]. Miller: A lot. It's true. That's true. Speaker 1: It's not just the German, it's several ethnic groups. Miller: Yeah, it's. Well, that's not just any It's. That's the. That. The fact that you can't reach them is just the times. So many of these volunteer type of groups have just. They just have disbanded because of lack of participation. Miller: So it's because it's because [inaudible]. The fact that you. There were all German immigrants. They were. That was the reason for the organization existing was. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:18.000 Miller: German immigrants. You have to remember that most fraternal benefit societies when they began, that's how they began. They began because of a of a. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.000 Miller: Religious tie or an ethnic tie. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:35.000 Miller: Or. Also labor, but most of them were ethnic or religious. And it was. Was German Roman Catholics. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:40.000 Miller: Pretty broad. Pretty broad. Speaker 1: Has this organization. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:46.000 Speaker 1: Been much in the way of labor [inaudible]? 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:51.000 Speaker 1: Organized at one point. Yeah. Miller: Now ours wasn't. Ours was a more, uh, you know, it was German immigrants who came. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:05:02.000 Miller: To this country who formed the organization. So like [inaudible]. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:14.000 Miller: Once they got into operation did they help the members of staff who maybe [inaudible]? Miller: Probably not. I really wouldn't. I don't think. I don't think I'd be qualified. I would doubt it. I think it was mostly in. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:23.000 Miller: The area of social setting. Helping to support the schools and such. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:55.000 Miller: We are very closely associated and identified as sponsored by a local parish. Speaker 1: This one here? Miller: Yeah, this is a little bit different. Most of our, you know, most of our we call them branches, our local lodges or branches. And every one of them was always identified with a parish church, and they were usually German Catholics. 00:05:55.000 --> 00:06:00.000 Miller: And that was the whole. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:21.000 Miller: We are connected here with this is a this is the Home Office that we hold operation. But the charter you saw out there is that we have a branch for just our home office employees and so they can go on to a local group. And so we identify the [inaudible]. 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:30.000 Miller: We want to give an opportunity to all of our employees to become part of the programs. Now. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:07:04.000 Miller: The programs were not in labor. They were in the social settings. [inaudible] What did I send you? Did I send you some material? Speaker 1: Yes you did [inaudible]. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:06.000 Speaker 1: Pamphlets and [inaudible] . Okay. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:08.000 Miller: Oh, yeah, I see what I think. Okay. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:17.000 Miller: Yeah. And I also sent [inaudible]. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.000 Miller: November December [inaudible]. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:43.000 Miller: All of our members that you can ask. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:08:34.000 Miller: Our membership. Speaker 1: I was just going to ask you what kind of you have [inaudible]. We have about 57,000 members [inaudible] 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:40.000 Speaker 1: And each situation is different. Miller: Yeah, I suppose it was. It would be, you know. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:47.000 Miller: With regard to a questionnaire. But basically the questions remain the same. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:57.000 Miller: When I. We want to convey to [inaudible]. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:03.000 Miller: The reservations in my mind to draw the people out because they're all, you know. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:35.000 Speaker 1: Based on your letter that you wrote originally, you know, I took the older people, the people who were most part would have. Probably all four of these people. Go back. Go back. I could. How are you doing to yourself? 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:38.000 Miller: Well, I suppose yeah. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:43.000 Miller: Yeah. [inaudible] I couldn't even. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:46.000 Miller: So if you're going to be in German, I'm going to ask you for the questionnaire. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:57.000 Miller: As well, because a lot [inaudible] language. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:29.000 Miller: Because that's a good that would be a good area that you could that I couldn't answer, but these men could is what did the German language play in there? [Inaudible] what probably happened. They went to a parochial school. They may have spoken English because that was the tradition of our whole country. Was that. The Slovak school is important. Slovak gem that belongs to the German parish. They were taught German in school. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:35.000 Miller: And I can remember the church that I went to the kids in Sunday morning and I didn't understand. 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:59.000 Miller: German at all, ever. But on a Sunday morning, the priest would have we'd have to sit through three sermons would be one in English and one in German. You see traditional. That's what they did. The people accepted it. Now, these men could get into those areas[inaudible]. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:09.000 Miller: Will be people who are. For and a lot of things [inaudible]. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:10.000 Miller: That they could probably get into [inaudible] how much they can do about our relationship with our society. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:32.000 Speaker 1: That. Yeah. Uh. But. Aside from the question, because for the most part. World and our society would be whatever they did in their. Minimal activity [inaudible]. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:49.000 Miller: Branch is simple existence because maybe I should give you this back about. And for many of the old timers, this was the greatest benefit of the fraternal orgnaization. That is a fundamental. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:57.000 Miller: Benefit of belonging is that we are given the opportunity to influence. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:03.000 Miller: So many of our local lodges. That was the extent they administered the insurance program. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:14.000 Miller: Collectively. [inaudible] I want to say that. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:20.000 Miller: Many of our of our branches, that was the extent of the service, but it was a very important [inaudible]. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:58.000 Speaker 1: Today we take a much broader look. Local lodges bring a more awareness. It used to be. That's why I don't want to minimize the fact that even in the early days, while some of them some of them had activites, do something whatever they might be. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:06.000 Miller: Many of them did nothing but insurance. But that was important to still, a very unique service. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:37.000 Miller: Which would apply. Doesn't surface [inaudible]. Back in the early part of the century especially. [Inaudible]. Uh, when a man. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:56.000 Miller: Leaves his job, he could no longer pay. Along with having to remember those who didn't have it. In many cases, the local planning secretary. We'll put it in. What if we get it? Well, you know, let's take a break. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:09.000 Miller: And take a break. Maybe you paid your. Another month [inaudible]. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:19.000 Miller: He kept all the records and put it in his bank account. But each month he. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.000 Miller: Something to play with. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:30.000 Miller: Not that that's not legal. However, he wasn't being dishonest. It wasn't legal because he was using somebody else's money. But the important. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:40.000 Miller: Thing, and I find this out more and more. Is that these local. All the way to. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:15:02.000 Miller: The service that they never realized what they doing. They kept that man's insurance during the period, a very difficult time. So in reality, they were you know, now the methods that they used to see, in other words, they played the float if you offer him some of the commercials today. But they were performing a real service, which today we frown. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:06.000 Miller: Upon if they do it. Because. Because [inaudible]. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:27.000 Miller: But in those days, what they did is that they were performing a sell out because they were helping that man protect his family and some of them being tied up for years. Some of them did carry. 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:34.000 Miller: You [inaudible] going to cost you more because you're older. And so that this is probably. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:38.000 Miller: And I find that that wasn't just [inaudible]. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:45.000 Miller: This is happening all the time. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:16:00.000 Miller: There's a real, real social person that doesn't appear in the books anymore. This has only been my. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:34.000 Miller: Home Office for [inaudible]. We? I was concerned. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:43.000 Miller: Now they're all from different branches. Now there are four different branches. I have a bit of a stretch. Right, right, right. Now, this one man. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:17:17.000 Miller: This man is. Older. With one [inaudible]. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:32.000 Miller: That's scheduled for demolition to. Well, you haven't heard too much about that one when you've heard about it. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:38.000 Miller: The phone. Well, this one here, he's at the Saint Mary's Church. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:40.000 Miller: And so he. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:53.000 Miller: Which would have a long. History. Mr. Kevin [inaudible]. 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:58.000 Miller: It's enough because she Townley. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:19:57.000 Miller: Gonna tell me about this, Richard. Trying to take some time timers to. Much, but you never know. Today. Not long. Overall the [inaudible]. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.000 Miller: Gatherings [inaudible]. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:14.000 Miller: You. In our society. In our society. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:19.000 Miller: As far as the German heritage and architecture. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:21:29.000 Miller; Whether that particular local brand. Probably. Over the years. Then the second generation [inaudible]. 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:41.000 Miller: Lets us show our local branches that when they have parties or things [inaudible]. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:22:11.000 Miller: We try to work in. [inaudible]. Yeah, a little bit. Yeah. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:27.000 Miller: [Inaudible] it's still there, but it's not really predominant. I'd like to encourage it more because I think it's people like like my children would now appreciate it. I can't see them because I don't like myself. But. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:45.000 Miller: You know, when we have, uh, uh, when we have a. We [inaudible]. Thank you. 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:52.000 Miller: Yeah, That's why when I. When I wrote the letter, I didn't think he could get too much out of me as far as the actual process, because I never even. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:23:10.000 Miller: Experienced except for the fact that I heard people talk. I never really was a part of the. We have. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.000 Speaker 1: I would be interested in. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:24:18.000 Speaker 1: What you can learn because. The. Miller: I'll do it. He was dug out. Yeah, I do too, now. Yeah, I. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:31.000 Miller: Heard. I would have liked to have gotten to that, but I. But I. But I didn't. It's very possible that some of our people did, but not as an organization. [Inaudible]. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:25:46.000 Miller: No. In high school. Most of us would be. Functions. Something cool. And that's the. About we're all. Thought that might be might be the way to not be one of the things. To [inaudible].The idea promoting an essay contest with pilots having to do with the German club and would be amazed if it. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:26:16.000 Miller: Happened.[Inaudible]. What would happen is that the librarians of the closest schools will have to make sure they take some German books into the school library. Well, that's actually a. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:26.000 Miller: It's in time. [Inaudible] part of our heritage. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:55.000 Miller: [Inaudible]. They don't deserve it. Miller: And this don't have to be. Speaker 1: Right. Miller: We understand where we came. Right. That's [inaudible]. Anyway, you find fascinating. And one of our. 00:26:55.000 --> 00:27:26.000 Miller: One of my one of my tenants projects that. Who also. He continued to fight. 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:56.000 Miller: Order and order! We wanted. Most of them have were born in. The use were in. My very strong German. I like. Go back home for a. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:10.000 Miller: Will eight months. [Inaudible] 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:28.000 Miller: [Inaudible] who? Who knows? We have them down there. You find it? 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:35.000 Miller: But I did find that that is probably because we'd be talking. 00:28:35.000 --> 00:29:18.000 Miller: In Yemen. This is a long time. Yeah. With the. [Inaudible]. But at least. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:23.000 Miller: They could [inaudible] 00:29:23.000 --> 00:30:00.000 Miller: I say, I just find it fascinating. You want to set up appointments? Opened. A classmate didn't think about doing that know but that's another. And founding the. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.000 Miller: Home for the aging. And we would look for Jim and moments. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:31:04.000 Miller: You know, today is a. For this. Will we leave the history behind a little bit? The movie here. This has no sentimental, I don't think. This is a home office. Thousand [inaudible].
Reddit
Twitter
Facebook