William Penn Association

The William Penn Association is a fraternal benefit society in the United States. It was created through the merger of a number of Hungarian American fraternal organizations such as the Verhovay Aid Association. Today the organization is open to people of any ethnicity and is licensed to sell insurance in 20 states.

History

The William Penn Association dates its origin to February 21, 1886, when thirteen Hungarian American miners formed the Verhovay Aid Association in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The Verhovay Aid Association was chartered in December of that year by the State. By 1926, Verhovay was the largest and most successful Hungarian American fraternal with 300 chapters throughout the Northeastern United States. That year the headquarters was moved to Pittsburgh.[1]

Over time, other Hungarian fraternals merged into Verhavy including the Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation (Munkás Betegsegélyzo Egyesület) of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Hungarian Budapest Society (Magyar Baptista Egylet) of Cleveland, Ohio.[1] The largest merger was with the Rákóczi Aid Association of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1955. This merger of the two largest Hungarian fraternals gave birth to William Penn Fraternal Association. It became the William Penn Association in 1971.[2] Other mergers included the American Life Insurance Association (Bridgeporti Szövetség) in 1979,[1] the American Hungarian Catholic Society in 1980 and Catholic Knights of St. George in 1983.[3] The last organization was established in 1881.[1]

Organization

Local groups called "Branches", of which there were 85 in 1979. The national authority is the "General Convention" which elects a board of directors. Headquarters in Pittsburgh.[4] Other than providing insurance, the Association also conducts fraternal and charitable activities and promotes the preservation of Hungarian culture.[5]

Membership

Membership is open to men and women regardless of ethnicity.[6] Verhovey had 21,512 members at the end of 1922[7] In 1955, the year it merged with Rakosi, it had 40,000.[8][9] In 1968 the William Penn Fraternal Association had 80,000 members, and 65,204 in 1979 (these last two numbers only reflect benefit membership, not social members)[10] It had 70,000 members in 1995.[11]

Ritual

The WPA had a secret ritual.[12]

References
  1. Our History
  2. Alan Axelrod International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders New York; Facts on File, inc 1997 p.263
  3. Axelrod p.263
  4. Schmidt, Alvin J. Fraternal Organizations Westport, CT; Greenwood Press p.353 Schmidt cites mimeographed history, bylaws and periodical
  5. We are dedicated to a four-part mission
  6. Schmidt p.353
  7. Preuss, Arthur A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co. 1924 p.472 Cites Fraternal Monitor Vol. XXXIII #8 p.12 March 1923;
  8. Schmidt p.348.
  9. Axelrod p.263
  10. Schmidt p.353
  11. Axelrod p.263
  12. Schmidt p.353
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