The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 1/Catholic Bohemians at work

CATHOLIC BOHEMIANS AT WORK

 

The older organization of People of Czech birth, the Bohemian National Alliance of America, enjoys now the full support and co-operation of the National Alliance of Bohemian Catholics. At first the church people were reluctant to take part in the campaign of the National Alliance and limited their efforts to the collection of a large relief fund. But throughout the year 1916 enthusiasm for independence of the old homeland grew apace. After the solemn promise of the Allies in January, 1917, representative priests and laymen of Bohemian blood held a great meeting in Chicago on February 6, 1917. As a result of it an organization was effected for the purpose of taking part in the work of gaining freedom for Bohemia. This organization received the name of the National Alliance of Bohemian Catholics, and after negotiation with the officers of the older body an agreement was reached on July 4th, by which the Catholic body adopted the political program of the Bohemian National Alliance and joined hands with it for united efforts.

The Catholic Alliance is growing very rapidly. Today it numbers over sixty branches, and the national officers will not rest, until every Bohemian parish in the United States has a branch of the organization. The national officers are: Rev. Innocence Kestl, president; Rev. F. W . Jedlička, vice-president; Thomas M. Filas, secretary; Jos Kopecký, treasurer; John Vollmer, financial secretary; John Straka, J. J. Janda, Chas. Radous and John F. Novotny are members of the executive committee; Rev. V . Kohlbeck and Rev. F. Boženek are alternate members. The office of the Alliance is located at 2601 South St. Louis avenue, Chicago; it is in charge of Frank Šindelář, executive secretary.