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''THE MOTHER' 
 
 bv Albin Poldsek 
 
 Erected in front of the Cremiitorutm tn the Jubilee year of 1927 
 
'mo 
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 
 
 JUBILEE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOHEMIAN 
 
 NATIONAL CEMETERY 
 
 ASSOCIATION 
 
 IN CHICAGO 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 A FREE ENGLISH VERSION OF J. J. JELfNEK'S 
 BOHEMIAN HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 BY 
 
 Dr. J. E. S. VOJAN 
 
 Ai. 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 THE BOHEMIAN NATIONAL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION 
 
 1927 
 
The History of the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa- 
 tion, 1877 — 1927, by J. J. Jelinek (in Bohemian) was com- 
 piled from the minutes of tlie meetings of the Association 
 with the help of the Historical Sketch by F. B. Zdrtkbek. 
 and of the Editorial Committee. It is dedicated to the 
 memory of all those dear and beloved ones who dream 
 their last sleep at the Bohemian National Cemetery and 
 published as a remembrance for all sincere Americans of 
 Bohemian descent, both present and future generationsi 
 
 436 R. MEJDRICH & CO. 
 

 %-'i'<^*1.'\M^i 
 
 "Under the wide and starry sky- 
 Dig the grave and let me lie. 
 Glad did I live and gladly die, 
 
 And I laid me down with a will; 
 This be the verse you grave for me: 
 "Here he lies where he longed to be, 
 Home is the sailor, home from sea. 
 
 And the hunter home from the hill.' 
 
 
 HIS beautiful little poem from Robert 
 Louis Stevenson is the most sublime ex- 
 pression of the human long^ing for eter- 
 nal peace when — in Shakespeare's 
 words — we enter the undiscovered 
 country, from whose bourn no traveller 
 returns. 
 
 Our duty is to take from every 
 
 grave its fear. From the wondrous 
 
 tree of Life the buds and blossoms fall 
 
 Vjj along with the ripened fruit, and in 
 
 V the common bed of earth patriarchs and babes sleep 
 
 ^^ side by side. Why should we fear that which will 
 
 \K come to all that exists? Death means peace and rest 
 
 for the departed. But to those who survive and live 
 
 separated from their loved ones, it means grief. The 
 
 custom introduced in this country by the communities 
 
 ^- of Moravian Brothers, who formed their burial places 
 
 ^ into gardens, has changed cemeteries to Gardens of 
 
 ''i^ the Dead. The Moravian Brothers were Bohemian 
 
 >^ emigrants who went first from Moravia to Saxony, 
 
 ^' in 1724, and then, between 1741 and 1762, settled 
 
 in Pennsylvania. The Bohemians of Chicago trod 
 
 3 
 
therefore in the steps of their fellow-countrymen 
 when they made the Bohemian National Cemetery of 
 Chicago a beautiful Garden of the Dead. 
 
 The Bohemian National Cemetery owes its exis- 
 tence to regrettable circumstances which arose in the 
 seventies of the last century. Some Catholic priests 
 so far forgot the charitable teachings of the founder 
 of their religion as to refuse to permit burial of Bohe- 
 main freethinkers in the ground of their cemeteries. 
 But as James Thomson said, ''from seeming evil still 
 educing good," the Bohemian freethinkers who in 
 those days, just as today, formed about 75 per cent 
 of the Bohemian population of Chicago, joined to- 
 gether and founded their own cemetery which grew 
 so successfully from such small beginnings that the 
 present Bohemian National Cemetery is the pride not 
 only of the Bohemians of Chicago, but of the Bohe- 
 mians of the whole United States. 
 
 The Bohemian National Cemetery is a splendid 
 monument to the united fraternal action of Bohemian 
 societies of this great city and is a proof that the 
 greatest things may be built from modest beginnings 
 if a zealous and enthusiastic love fills the minds and 
 hearts of intrepid men. The Bohemian Freethinkers 
 of Chicago leave their beautiful Bohemian National 
 Cemetery to their sons and all their posterity as a 
 dear and precious heritage with the deep conviction 
 that the honor for the dead beloved who sleep in the 
 bosom of this sacred Garden of the Dead will always 
 be an incentive for those who will come after us to 
 zealously guard this national property and to take 
 care of it with the same love as their fathers and fore- 
 fathers did. 
 
 Such is the heartiest wish of those who put this 
 book into the hands of our people, to the greater 
 honor and glory of the Bohemian name! 
 
 -iIk» 
 
 ■ ^^ '■ 
 
ECENTLY an American author said that 
 the Czechoslovaks were the Yankees 
 of Central Europe, in the traditional 
 sense of that word. From about 500 
 A. D. they lived in their beautiful Bo- 
 hemia, an independent, liberty-loving 
 nation, valiant and unconquerable. In 
 1620 Bohemia lost her independence. 
 The nation suffered for 300 years un- 
 der the Habsburg yoke, but when the 
 World Ware came, the Bohemians 
 (Czechs) and Slovaks rose up. The Czechoslovak 
 legionnaires fought in France, Italy and Russia, 
 and on October 28, 1918, the rebirth of Bohemian 
 independence put the Republic of Czechoslovakia on 
 the world's map. Such is the race whose blood cir- 
 culated in the veins of Bohemian immigrants who 
 have been coming steadily to the United States ever 
 since 1848. They hoped that this Land of the Free 
 would give them the political liberty of which they 
 were deprived when their country was a part of the 
 Austrian monarchy, as well as the economical possi- 
 bilities closed to them in the old, overpopulated coun- 
 tries of Europe, full of barriers and hatreds, and well 
 were their hopes realized. Our immigrants who came 
 
to America in those days knew that they would have 
 to struggle and fight for existence, and therefore only 
 daring, hard-headed people came to these shores. The 
 present economic strength of the Bohemians of Chi- 
 cago shows that they belonged and still belong to 
 the most desirable immigrants, and that the best poli- 
 cy for the United States is to receive these sturdy 
 self-made men with open arms. 
 
 The first groups of Bohemians appeared in Chi- 
 cago in 1852 — 1853. These pioneers squatted on the 
 outskirts of the city, on land that is now a part of 
 Lincoln Park. But the first permanent Bohemian 
 settlement took root about 1856 on Canal Street. From 
 that time on the Bohemians became a significant ele- 
 ment. Already in 1860 the population of the Bohe- 
 mian settlement had mounted to 10,000 people and 
 the settlement extended on Canal Street from Ewing 
 and Polk Streets south to the river and on almost all 
 cross streets west to Halsted Street, and especially on 
 De Koven, Bunker and West 12th Street. Here many 
 Bohemians became house owners, and the first mani- 
 festation of a rapidly growing social life was the 
 founding of the first Bohemian society *'Slovanska 
 Lipa'^ (The Slavic Linden) on November 20, 1861. 
 After the big fire the Bohemians moved to the 18th 
 Street district where the second and very prosperous 
 Bohemian settlement became known under the name 
 of the "Bohemian Pilsen" (in the old country Pilsen 
 is the next largest city after the capital of Prague and 
 enjoys a world renown on account of its famous Pil- 
 sen beer). "The Pilsen Station," the official name of 
 the post office in this section of the city, shows how 
 popular was the name of the Bohemian settlement. 
 On October 8, 1875, the first number of "Svornost" 
 (Concord,) the first Bohemian daily in the United 
 States, was published by August Geringer. 
 
 The last U. S. census (1920) found 106,428 Bohe- 
 mians in Chicago (43,676 foreign-born and 62,752 
 native), but the correct number of Bohemians is much 
 greater, because thousands of them are living in Ber- 
 wyn, Cicero, Oak Park and other suburban districts. 
 Whole blocks in the "Bohemian California'* (the sec- 
 tion around W. 26th St., west from California Ave.) 
 
and in the above named suburban towns were built 
 up by and are owned by Bohemians. A significant 
 evidence of their prosperity can be found in the fact 
 that the Bohemian Building and Loan Associations 
 already in 1910 were 94 in number (of a total of 197 
 Chicago associations) and their assets were $8,785,- 
 917. Twenty state banks and three national banks 
 were established by Bohemians of Chicago. 
 
 But let us return to the seventies of the last 
 century. 
 
 In 1876 Father Joseph Molitor, pastor of the 
 Catholic St. Vaclav Parish, a very quarrelsome man, 
 got into trouble with the fraternal St. Vaclav Society 
 and later went so far that he refused burial at the 
 Bohemian-Polish Catholic Cemetery to all whom he 
 disliked. The case of Mrs. Marie Silhanek who died 
 on July 25, 1876, taxed the patience of the Bohemian 
 people to the breaking point. Although she had been 
 Catholic all her life, the erratic priest did not allow 
 her to be buried at the Catholic cemetery, simply be- 
 cause she did not confess before her death. From 
 this day on the movement for freedom from the 
 yoke of the fanatic priest began to grow rapidly. 
 
 The initiative was taken by Mr. Frank Zdrubek, 
 then editor of the Bohemian daily ''Svornost'', who 
 held public lectures under the auspices of the Bohe- 
 mian Freethinkers' Society at the hall of the Sokol 
 Gymnastic Association. Influenced by the above men- 
 tioned case of Mrs. Silhanek he announced to the 
 public that in his January lecture he would discuss 
 the necessity of a National Bohemian Cemetery. 
 
 1877 
 
 The lecture was held on January 7, 1877, and 
 the attendance was surprisingly large. This fact was 
 proof that there was a mighty public interest in this 
 matter. The speaker urged the audience to free them- 
 selves from the yoke of the church in all vital events 
 and especially in the matter of wedding and funeral 
 ceremonies. After the lecture those present resolved 
 to call a meeting of the presidents of all national 
 societies as soon as possible, with the object of found- 
 
ing a Bohemian National Cemetery where any Bohe- 
 mian, regardless of creed, could be buried among his 
 fellow-countrymen without begging a priest for per- 
 missiQn. Everybody talked with great enthusiasm 
 about this plan but the difficulties and obstacles to 
 be overcome had not been foreseen. 
 
 At the next lecture, held January 21 at the same 
 place, a committee of three was elected, Messrs. Zdru- 
 be'k, John Dusek and M. Polacek, who were instruct- 
 ed to ask all Bohemian societies of Chicago to send 
 one delegate to the public meeting fixed for February 
 12. At this meeting the important question was to be 
 discussed thoroughly and its main points solved. 
 
 The meeting of February 12 was called to order 
 at 8 P. M. John Dusek was elected chairman and 
 F. B. Zdrubek recording secretary. Eighty delegates 
 were present, and all national societies except two 
 were represented. The names of delegates and so- 
 cieties which were ready to put their hands to work 
 were as follows: 
 
 1. John Morava, Bohemian-American Sokol 
 Society. 
 
 2. John Rajsler, Bohemian Workingmen's So- 
 kol Society. 
 
 3. John Beran, Workingmen's Benevolent So- 
 ciety Pokrok. 
 
 4. Mat. Karasek, Bohemian Workingmen's 
 Benevolent Society. 
 
 5. Martin Baumruker, Bohemian Tailors So- 
 ciety. 
 
 6. Procopius Hudek, Bohemian Military Com- 
 pany. 
 
 7. Jacob Padecky, Dramatic Society Thalia. 
 
 8. J. V. Benes and Jos. K. Sisler, Singing So- 
 ciety Lyra. 
 
 9. Vaclav Zabransky, Benevolent Society Jifi. 
 
 10. Joseph Matousek, Fire Aid Society. 
 
 11. Fr. Chlupsa, Bohemian Workingmen's So- 
 ciety Rovnost. 
 
 12. Henry Kohn, Praha Lodge No. 13 C. S. P. S. 
 
 13. Joseph Svojse, Rovnost Lodge No. 14 C. S. 
 P. S. 
 
 8 
 
14. Vaclav Donat, Vernost Lodge No. 8 C. S. 
 P. S. 
 
 15. Thomas Cap, Slavonian Boh. Nat. Benevo- 
 lent Society. 
 
 16. Joseph Hodoval, St. John Society. 
 
 17. Martin Ruzicka, St. Procopius Benevolent 
 Society. 
 
 18. Vojt. Freml, St. Vaclav Benevolent Society. 
 
 19. Thomas Petrtyl, Freethirikers' Society. 
 
 20. Joseph Kostner, Sokol Gymnastic Associa- 
 tion. 
 
 The most important decision made at that meet- 
 ing was that all societies should found the cemetery 
 jointly and hold it in common as national property. 
 All agreed that the idea could not find sufficient sup- 
 port among the societies, if only one of them would 
 be the owner, and that it would be a constant cause 
 of quarrels. 
 
 Henry Kohn, delegate of the Praha Lodge C. S. 
 P. S., reported that the Grand Lodge of the State of 
 Illinois had secured 63 acres which were very suit- 
 able for a cemetery and would be willing to offer 
 them to the societies under the same conditions as it 
 had acquired them, without any profit, only with the 
 reservation that in case of persons not belonging to 
 any society the burial fees would be paid to the 
 Grand Lodge. The price per acre of that ground was 
 $550.00. This proposition did not meet the approval 
 of the delegates, whereupon Mr. Kohn reported that 
 the Grand Lodge decided that in case of unwilling- 
 ness of the delegates to take over the above men- 
 tioned piece of land it would give up its plan and 
 would co-operate with the other societies. This re- 
 port was accepted with great satisfaction and after a 
 longer debate the following resolutions were made : 
 
 1) A committee of three shall make investiga- 
 tions around the city and look for a suitable loca- 
 tion which could be bought for the Bohemian Ceme- 
 tery at a low price. 
 
 2) The members of this committee, Messrs. Fr. 
 Bedlan, Mat. Karasek and Stephen Sramek, shall re- 
 port to the next meeting called in two weeks. 
 
 9 
 
3) All delegates shall meet Monday night, Feb- 
 ruary 26, at the same place, to hear the report and 
 to discuss what they shall recommend to their so- 
 cieties. 
 
 On February 26 the meeting was attended by 40 
 delegates. John Beran presented himself as a dele- 
 gate of the Bohemian Fraternal Society and was ac- 
 cepted. The committee announced that they took a 
 survey of three places together with the contractor 
 Mr. J. V. Benes in his carriage, and of the tracts of 
 land reported on the first, 110 acres lying west of the 
 township of Jefferson, 10 miles distant from the cen- 
 ter of the city, offered for $13,000— about $125 an 
 acre — met the general approval. There was a good 
 road to that place, with the exception of half a mile 
 which had to be bought out and built. At the meet- 
 ing it was resolved to concentrate all discussions on 
 this land, because the other two tracts were found 
 far less suitable. Finally a committee of five was elect- 
 ed, Messrs. Jos. Matousek, Proc. Hudek, Vojt. Freml, 
 Jos. Svojse and John Beran, to draw up a sketch of 
 the statutes of the Cemetery Association. The chair- 
 man and the secretary were requested to hold their 
 offices till the next meeting when new officers would 
 be elected. 
 
 On March 12, 1877, the following eight dele- 
 gates met to organize and found the Bohemian Na- 
 tional Cemetery Association: 
 
 1. Maurice Polacek, Sokol Gymnastic Associa- 
 tion. 
 
 2. Fr. Pracna, Bohemian Work. Benevolent So- 
 ciety. 
 
 3. Jos. Novak, Rovnost Lodge No. 14 C. S. P. S. 
 
 4. Jos. Dostal, Bohemian National Benevolent 
 Society. 
 
 5. Jos. Matousek, Fire Aid Society. 
 
 6. Voj. Freml, St. Procopius Benevolent Society. 
 
 7. Stephen Sramek, St. Vaclav Benevolent So- 
 ciety. 
 
 8. Proc. Hudek, Workingmen's Benevolent Poli- 
 tical Society Pokrok. 
 
 10 
 
Several other societies sent letters, stating that 
 the delegates could not attend the meeting, but that 
 they were willing to co-operate. 
 
 Those at the meeting then agreed to organize 
 the Association, Frank Pracna was elected President 
 and Proc. Hudek Recording Secretary. It was re- 
 solved that the meetings of the National Cemetery 
 Association should be public, that everybody could 
 attend them, but the right to speak at meetings and 
 to vote was reserved to the delegates. 
 
 The delegates reported how much their societies 
 were willing to loan to the Association, and in this 
 way the amount of $1,325.00 was subscribed at this 
 first meeting. It was enacted that the eight dele- 
 gates present should form the committee of the Ceme- 
 tery Association and with the aid of a lawyer should 
 draw up the statutes of the Association and continue 
 in the work now begun. 
 
 As usual rumors began to circulate which tended 
 to belittle this national undertaking and to deter the 
 progress. These obstacles had to be removed again 
 and again for many months, but finally all calumnies 
 and suspicions were reduced to silence. The commit- 
 tee could lay stress upon the fact that the cemetery 
 would be a national undertaking, without profit to 
 anybody, only for the honor and benefit of the Bohe- 
 mian population of Chicago. Any emolument in the 
 future would belong only to the Bohemian people, 
 and the Association would be able to make dona- 
 tions for various Bohemian benevolent and education- 
 al purposes. It almost seems that the committee fore- 
 saw all those magnanimous donations of thousands 
 and thousands of dollars which later were actually 
 given by the Association to various Bohemian national 
 and educational institutions. 
 
 On April 11 the incorporation of the Association 
 was sanctioned by the State of Illinois, and in the 
 Charter of the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa- 
 tion are mentioned as trustees for the first year Joseph 
 Matousek, Joseph Novak and Stephen Sramek. From 
 the profits of the Association the charter specifies 
 the following purposes may be fostered: a) The edu- 
 cation of children of Bohemian descent, b) The or- 
 
 11 
 
ganization and maintenance of a Bohemian library, 
 c) The organization and maintenance of a Home for 
 old people or other benevolent institutions. The char- 
 ter was signed by George H. Harlow, Secretary of 
 the State, at Springfield, 111., on April 11, 1877. The 
 certificate, dated April 7, was signed by Frank Prac- 
 na, St. Sramek, Jos. Dostal, Jos. Novak, Maurice Po- 
 lacek, Jos. Matousek and Albert Freml. 
 
 The above named Board of Trustees was elected 
 for a term of six months. Mat. Karasek was elected 
 President, Fr. Fencl Recording Secretary, Fr. Pracna 
 Financial Secretary and Jos. Dostal Treasurer. 
 
 The number of delegates increased to 16. New 
 delegates were as follows: 
 
 Fr. Fencl, Bohemian National Benevolent Society. 
 
 Fr. Pracna, Bohemian Work. Benevolent Society. 
 
 Fr. Bedlan, St. Vaclav Society. 
 
 John Beran, Work. Benev. Pol. Society Pokrok. 
 
 Jos. Sauer, Fire Aid Society. 
 
 Fr. Skalicky, Sokol Gymnastic Association. 
 
 Vaclav Kiehha, Rovnost Lodge No. 14 C. S. P. S. 
 
 The committee now visited various locations in 
 order to find a suitable place for the cemetery. Be- 
 sides the above mentioned lands various West Side 
 locations were investigated, especially Silverman's 
 grounds near Waldheim Cemetery, offered for $1,000 
 an acre, IV2 rniles from city limits, with a toll of 60 
 cents per carriage, and Hickinson's farm, 6 acres, 
 priced at §950.00 an acre, but both were too low to 
 make safe burial grounds. It seemed doubtful that 
 the committee would be able to find anything satis- 
 factory. 
 
 Towards the end of April Fr. Fencl was in- 
 structed to look for something on the North Side. 
 He learned from Mr. Hintz that Mr. Snell had sev- 
 eral pieces of land for sale on the North West Side. 
 Mr. Snell first showed him his grounds behind the 
 Bohemian-Polish Catholic Cemetery. The price was 
 $100 an acre. Mr. Fencl did not like them on ac- 
 count of the remote and disadvantageous location. 
 They went then to SnelTs lands near Crawford Ave- 
 nue, where Fr. Fencl took an option on a piece of 
 land, about 30 acres, for $200.00 an acre. He re- 
 
 12 
 
ported it to Mr. Matousek, who with another mem- 
 ber of the committee called upon Mr. Snell who now 
 broke his promise and asked $250.00 an acre. 
 
 At the meeting of the Committee Mr. Fencl con- 
 demned Mr. Snell's faithlessness and promised to find 
 another place in the vicinity, for §200.00 an acre or 
 cheaper. With the help of Mr. Hintz such a place 
 was found. It measured 40 acres, east of Crawford 
 Avenue, and belonged to Martha and Frank Clybourn. 
 The prices was $7,500.00, under the condition that 
 simultaneously an added 10 acres must be bought 
 from August Ringel, at $250.00 and acre. It was a 
 wooded piece of land, which today forms the eastern 
 part of the cemetery. 
 
 A total of 50 acres had to be bought for $10,000 
 under the condition that no commission would be paid 
 to anybody. In June and July the transactions with 
 the lawyers were continued, the grounds were found 
 quite suitable, but the township of Jefferson was not 
 willing to permit any burials within its limits. Since 
 they had no cemetery of their own and buried their 
 dead in Chicago cemeteries, they opposed vehement- 
 ly any such actions and did everjrthing that their 
 lawyers advised to defeat the project. 
 
 The land was bought in May, and the lawyer for 
 the Committee suggested that one or two dead bodies 
 be buried in the cemetery, the sign "Bohemian Na- 
 tional Cemetery*' put up on the fence, and the legal 
 steps of the township awaited. It was not easy to 
 persuade anybody to consent to such a burial, be- 
 cause people feared that the township would compel 
 them to remove the body from the grave to another 
 cemetery. Finally the Committee succeeded in find- 
 ing willing families to whom it guaranteed compen- 
 sation for all expenses that might possibly be incurred. 
 On July 1, 1877, the first body, that of a child of 
 Chas. Brada, was buried there, the fence was pro- 
 vided with the cemetery sign, and on August 7 the 
 second burial took place, Anna, daughter of John 
 Bican, was interred there. 
 
 The township of Jefferson was waiting for its 
 opportunity and brought a legal suit against the trus- 
 tees. Hastily one more dead body was buried in the 
 
 13 
 
cemetery, and then all burials were stopped until 
 the court could render a decision. The Cemetery 
 Association was represented by attorneys Charles 
 Leake and William Vocke. The case created a sen- 
 sation, because there was no precedent and the deci- 
 sion had to become a directive rule for all future 
 cases of this kind. 
 
 On October 16 Judge Williams passed judge- 
 ment which permitted burials in the cemetery by the 
 Association and gave to the township only the right 
 of police inspection. The lawyers' fees were $80.00 
 and the Association paid them gladly, because they 
 were well deserved. 
 
 By the deeds dated August 1, 1877, and signed 
 by Martha and Frank T. Clybourn, and by August 
 Ringel and Minnie Ringel resp., the Association be- 
 came legal owner of lots 23, 24, 25 and 28, 40 acres 
 for $7,500.00, and of lot 26, 10 acres, for $2,500.00. 
 
 The property bought with legal rights awarded 
 in this way consisted of 50 acres, situated in the 
 County of Cook, Township of Jefferson, 7 miles from 
 the courthouse of the City of Chicago, on Milwaukee 
 Avenue, Elston Road and Clybourn (today Crawford) 
 Avenue. The total cost was $10,000.00. Since Frank 
 Clybourn was a minor, the Association received only 
 a contract and a warranty deed, which was returned 
 after the final signing of the deeds on April 24, 1878. 
 The location of the cemetery between Bowmanville 
 and Jefferson on the Chicago River was excellent, 
 the grounds were high and covered with trees, the 
 road was good and the toll only 10 cents a carriage. 
 The neighbors themselves agreed to fill up and re- 
 pair the road from the bridge to the cemetery. 
 
 The first installment of $2,000.00 was paid 
 through the sale of the lowest 10 acres to Mr. Kara- 
 sek, who offered that amount, which was unanimous- 
 ly accepted by the delegates. It was not possible to 
 use that lowest part for burying, and the cemetery 
 needed only the higher wooded 30 acres. The re- 
 maining 10 acres could be improved and sold later. 
 Mr. Karasek paid $1,000.00 to the Association and 
 with amounts loaned by the societies (Bohemian Na- 
 tional Benevolent Society, $300; Workingmen's So- 
 
 14 
 
ciety, $275; St. Vaclav Society, $295; Workingmen's 
 Society Pokrok, $300; Fire Aid Society, $50; Lodge 
 Rovnost, $50, and Sokol Gymnastic Association, $25, 
 totalling $1,295) there was sufficient money on hand 
 to pay the first installment as well as the first nec- 
 essary improvements. The St. Procopius Society did 
 not report any loan and ceased to send its delegate 
 to the meetings. 
 
 The Association issued a public notice to the 
 societies and individuals, asking for loans. The credi- 
 tors had to accept judgment notes for their loans 
 at the rate of 6% interest. As soon as the price for 
 the cemetery would be paid up, the loans were to 
 be repaid. 
 
 The cemetery affairs became now a constant sub- 
 ject of discussion at meetings of societies and private 
 debates. The Association had many enemies, and 
 the priests whose income was lessened by nonsecta- 
 rian funerals were not among least of these. While 
 it was impossible to deny the usefulness of the under- 
 taking, the probability of success somewhat was 
 doubtful, and with a great gusto all past co-operative 
 failures, especially the brick-yard, the banks, etc., 
 were cited in order to sap the public confidence. 
 
 At the meeting of August 1, 1877, the following 
 officers were elected in accordance with the new 
 statutes: M. Karasek, President; F. Fencl, Record- 
 ing Secretary; F. Pracna, Financial Secretary; J. Do- 
 stal, Treasurer. Board of Trustees: J. Matousek, J. 
 Novak and Stephen Sramek. The loans by societies 
 amounted to $1,170.00. 
 
 On August 9, the ninth society became a mem- 
 ber of the Association, the Bohemian Tailors' Society, 
 which sent to the meeting Vaclav Stehlik and Jacob 
 Vavfinek as delegates and announced a loan of 
 $100.00. It was resolved to pay the first install- 
 ment of $2,000.00 on August 10 and the further in- 
 stallments as follows: $500 after 6 months, $800 after 
 9 months, $500 after 12 months and $500 after 18 
 months. On the unpaid balance the Association had 
 to pay 10% interest. M. Karasek who had paid the 
 first $1,000 promised to pay $500 after 9 and $500 
 after 18 months with 8% interest. A member of the 
 
 15 
 
Board of Trustees, J. Novak, resigned. A commit- 
 tee of five wsiS appointed to ma'ke recommendations, 
 concerning the erection of a fence and the employ- 
 ment of a grave-digger. 
 
 At the meeting of August 16 the erection of the 
 fence was given to Mr. Sramek for 23c a foot, totalling 
 $260.72, and Mr. Jos. Lahvice v^as appointed grave- 
 digger v^ith a monthly salary of $25.00, from among 
 five applicants. 
 
 On August 24, the Palacky Lodge No. 630 I. O. 
 O. F. became member of the Association, v^ith V. Ka- 
 sparek and Fr. Novak as delegates. 
 
 On August 29, John Bernhardt and Jos. Trojan 
 were accepted as delegates of Bohemian Brethren 
 Society and brought a loan of $100.00. 
 
 The celebration of the official opening of the 
 Bohemian National Cemetery v^as held on Sunday, 
 September 2, and became a real national manifesta- 
 tion. 4,000 members of various societies took part 
 in a splendid procession which marched from De 
 Koven, Taylor and Canal Streets over the city to the 
 Northwestern depot, where the train of 25 cars left 
 at 9 A. M. At the Irving Park Station the proces- 
 sion again was formed and marched to the cemetery. 
 The celebration began at 1 P. M. The Singing So- 
 ciety Lyra opened it with a festival chorus. The 
 speaker of the day, Fr. B. Zdrubek, described the 
 hazardous beginnings of the cemetery and turned it 
 over officially to the Bohemian public. Capt. Hudek 
 also introduced the German General Lieb, who con- 
 gratulated the Bohemians of Chicago and expressed 
 his pleasure with the noteworthy celebration. The 
 celebration closed at 6:30, but dancing was continued 
 until late at the hall of the Sokol Gymnastic Associa- 
 tion. Next morning the celebration was very favor- 
 ably commented upon in the English dailies. The 
 pet proceeds were $600.00. 
 
 On September 7 Mr. Polacek as delegate of Sokol 
 Gymnastic Association was succeeded by Fr. Mencl. 
 
 On September 21 Fr. Pracna of the Working- 
 men's Society was succeeded by Henry Hajek and 
 Mr. Hudek by Fr. Ring. 
 
 16 
 
The Association began to work with great en- 
 thusiasm on further improvements. The rules for 
 burials were laid down, a brick building for the 
 grave-digger was erected for $400, and the prices for 
 graves were fixed ; an adult grave $5.00 ; children 
 from 6 to 12 years, $3.50 ; children from 2 to 6 years, 
 $2.50, and infants, $1.50. 
 
 The first public funeral was held on November 
 1, and to the deceased, Mrs. Anna Hubacek, an espe- 
 cially beautiful place was reserved. Temporarily 10 
 acres were designated for burials. Contractor John 
 Benes drew up the plans for the division of the ceme- 
 tery free of charge. 
 
 From November 21 only delegates were admit- 
 ted to the meetings, because the public meetings did 
 not prove to meet the proper purpose and often were 
 only disturbed by non-delegates. 
 
 On October 31. Henry Hajek was elected Finan- 
 cial Secretary. Delegates Vac. Klenha and Vavfinek 
 who resigned were succeeded by Fr. Cilik and Fr. 
 Novy. 
 
 On December 5 new delegates of the Palacky 
 Lodge No. 630 I. O. O. F., Vac. Kaspar and J. V. 
 Benes brought a loan of $25.00. A temporary wooden 
 gate was erected, a gift of John Benes. 
 
 The troubles with the township of Jefferson did 
 not cease until after two years. Misusing their right 
 of police supervision, the citizens of Jefferson tried 
 to hinder any new interment. They used to send 
 their constable to the cemetery, and this officer 
 always arrested the grave-digger Lahvice and brought 
 him to the township jail. The committee finally 
 visited the township board with Mr. V. Kaspar who 
 deposited a big bond for the grave-digger in order 
 to stop the molestations, but only after two years 
 when the appeal of the township was rejected as 
 groundless, did the Association get rid of all troubles 
 and enjoy a permanent peace. 
 
 17 
 
1878 
 
 The financial report for the period from August 
 1, 1877, to the end of 1877 showed receipts $4,685.36, 
 disbursements $3,228.50, net balance $1,456.56. There 
 were 26 graves in the cemetery, of these 3 were given 
 free of charge and for the rest $56.00 was paid. Do- 
 nations collected by Messrs. Stehlik, Fencl, Karasek, 
 Beran, Trojan, Sauer, Ring, Novak, Sramek, Bedlan, 
 Hajek and Skalicky amounted to $664.35. 
 
 The direct receipts from the cemetery still be- 
 ing so low that they did not even cover the salary 
 of the grave-digger, further loans from societies were 
 necessary. Many necessary expenses developed. The 
 most urgent matters were to divide the cemetery into 
 lots, the sale of which would bring the necessary in- 
 come, to make a regular fence, to survey the land, 
 to fell the obstructing trees, to improve the roads, 
 etc., and on February 1 the second installment was 
 due. Fortunately the societies, asked for loans, did 
 not fail in their obligations and at the end of the first 
 semester the following loans were made by societies 
 and individuals: 
 
 Work. Benev. Pol. Society Pokrok $ 422.86 
 
 Boh. Nat. Benev. Society 528.88 
 
 Mor. Slav. Benev. Society 200.00 
 
 Palacky Lodge No. 630 I. O. O. F 127.77 
 
 Singing Society Lyra 100.00 
 
 Bohem. Brethren Society 158.37 
 
 Vernost Lodge No. 8 C. S. P. S 150.00 
 
 St. Vaclav Society 422.85 
 
 Jungmann Lodge No. 20 C. S. P. S 50.00 
 
 Boh. Tailors' Society 417.45 
 
 Sokol Gymnastic Association 26.69 
 
 Fire Aid Society 130.00 
 
 Rovnost Lodge No. 14 C. S. P. S 105.65 
 
 Work. Benev. Society 449.25 
 
 Jif i Podebradsky Lodge No. 24 C. S. P. S. . . 50.00 
 
 Wor'kingmen's Society 75.00 
 
 Praha Lodge No. 13 C. S. P. S 50.00 
 
 Fr. Pokorny 200.00 
 
 Mat. Valis 150.00 
 
 Jos. Houda 150.00 
 
 18 
 
Vac. Placek 310.00 
 
 Vac. Matas 50.00 
 
 Jos. Chudy 200.00 
 
 Mart. Volf 516.00 
 
 Mat. Blazek 200.00 
 
 Jos. Engelthaler 150.00 
 
 $5,390.77 
 
 At the end of this year the loans increased to 
 $5,400.00 and the donations to $700.00. When in 
 the second part of the year the sale of lots began, 
 the financial situation improved considerably. Mr. J. 
 Benes was intrusted with tracing the plans of the 
 cemetery, which was a preliminary requirement for 
 the division into lots. On January 17 the second in- 
 stallment was paid, with interest amounting altogeth- 
 er to $1,781.85. 
 
 On February 20 a committee of five was elected 
 to draw up the statutes of the Association, formulate 
 cemetery rules, prescribe the duties of the grave-dig- 
 ger and enact rules of order for the meetings. The 
 members of the committee were Fr. Mencl, Fr. Ring, 
 John Reran, St. Sramek and Fr. Cilik. The statutes 
 of the Association and the cemetery rules as well as 
 the duties of the grave-digger were approved at the 
 meeting of March 20. According to these new 
 statutes any national society may become a member 
 of the Cemetery Association after furnishing a five 
 year loan of $50.00 and is entitled to two delegates. 
 It was also enacted that every charter member of the 
 Association shall be entitled after the expiration of 
 his term to attend meetings, make motions and vote 
 at the semiannual meetings as well as to audit the 
 books and bills. Further it was resolved to register 
 the names of all delegates in a special memorial book 
 as a permanent remembrance. 
 
 On March 13 it was resolved to begin the sale 
 of lots, and the prices were fixed at from $10.00 to 
 $30.00. This price could be reduced as much as 
 one half in cases of poor families or widows. In the 
 year of 1878 such a reduction was granted in three 
 cases. 
 
 19 
 
R. Spikings, an old settler of that vicinity, was 
 appointed road-maker. He promised that he would 
 guarantee the work for a whole year. Felling of the 
 trees was not connected with any special expense, 
 as the trees were given to the laborers in compensa- 
 tion for their work. The main road was to cost 2y2C 
 a square foot. 
 
 The lawyer William Vocke informed the Asso- 
 ciation that his bill for the cemetery law-suit would 
 be $500.00, but a specially appointed committee suc- 
 ceeded in bringing it down to $250.00. 
 
 In April a new fence, six feet high, was erected 
 around the cemetery, Rovnost Lodge sent Chas. No- 
 vak and Fr. Cilik as delegates and Jos. Matousek was 
 reappointed by the Fire Aid Society. 
 
 When surveying the cemetery V. J. Benes left 
 three vacant spaces on the main roads for the future 
 decoration of the cemetery by public monuments 
 which, of course, were long delayed on account of 
 the modest means of the Association. One of these 
 spaces is today taken up by flower displays, the sec- 
 ond is occupied by KlaceFs monument and the third 
 by the Civil War Soldiers' Monument. 
 
 On May 1 the first annual meeting was held. 
 Jos. Matousek was elected President; John Benes, 
 Vice-President; Fr. Fencl, Recording Secretary; Henry 
 Hajek, Financial Secretary; Jos. Dostal, Treasurer; 
 Ant. Havlfk, Agent; J. V. Benes, Cemetery Superin- 
 tendent; Fr. Bedlan, Vac. Stehllk and Vac. Sejk, 
 Members of the Board of Trustees. J. Benes, Jos. 
 Slach and Fr. Ring as Auditing Committee reported 
 favorably at the next meeting. Weekly meetings 
 were changed to fortnightly meetings. Receipts from 
 January 9 to May 1, 1878, were $4,065.21; disburse- 
 ments $3,500.52; treasurer's balance, $564.69. The 
 receipts for 49 new graves were $104.00; 8 lots were 
 sold for $90.00. The receipts of the first year there- 
 fore were $8,750.57, disbursements $6,729.02. Dur- 
 ing the first years 65 graves and 8 lots were sold. 
 
 The worst difficulties of the first years were 
 overcome. Now the most urgent needs were a large 
 vault, solid and dry, for keeping of coffins when frost 
 or other causes did not allow the digging of graves, 
 
 20 
 
and a well to supply water for the watering of graves, 
 which were now pretily arranged and planted with 
 flowers. The road-maker Spikings also insisted on 
 making a ditch for draining of roads after rains. 
 
 For the vault the plans and estimates of J. V. 
 Benes were accepted and the first Sunday in August, 
 the day of the second Annual Celebration, was chosen 
 for the laying of foundations for the vault. For the 
 building of the vault the lowest bid of A. Holpuch 
 was accepted, but later the construction was given to 
 Mr. Benes when Mr. Holpuch could not make several 
 changes asked by the Committee and Mr. Benes of- 
 fered to the Association his supervision if it would 
 buy all materials and pay for all work the prices he 
 would have to pay himself. Mr. Benes did not charge 
 anything for the supervision and even donated to the 
 cemetery the price reductions which he received on 
 the purchase of material. 
 
 New members admitted on July 17 were: Vernost 
 Lodge No. 8 C. S. P. S. with Fr. Vytlacil and Ign. 
 Novak as delegates; Lodge Jiff Podebradsky No. 24 
 C. S. P. S., with Jos. Vistein and Vac. Paara as dele- 
 gates; Palacky Lodge No. 63 L O. O. F., with Ant. 
 Kanak as delegate. 
 
 The Foundation-Stone Celebration was held on 
 July 21 at the cemetery. It was again a big national 
 affair, over 30 societies marched in the procession, 
 with Capt. Hudek as Marshall. Joseph Matousek, 
 President of the Association, was introduced by Vac. 
 Stehlik and delivered the introductory speech, then 
 the Singing Society Lyra sang, Fr. B. Zdrubek, the 
 speaker of the day, delivered his speech, and finally 
 the memorial documents of individual societies were 
 put in a box which was sealed into the foundation 
 stone. The celebration was continued in the neigh- 
 boring garden of Mr. Karase'k where the participants 
 remained till night. The net proceeds were only 
 $571.12 on account of an insufficient supply of bev- 
 erages. 
 
 On August 21 new delegates succeeded their 
 predecessors, M. Hanzlik from Fire Aid Society and 
 V. Slapak from Vernost Lodge. 
 
 21 
 
St. Vaclav Society having accused Mr. Bedlan of 
 certain irregularities, the Association which found all 
 accusations to be groundless called a public meeting 
 on September 22 at the Sokol hall where a detailed 
 financial report was presented to the public and the 
 delegates of all 12 societies forming the Association 
 cleared all doubts. 
 
 In September and October new delegates were 
 appointed by the Work. Benev. Society (John Nikl),. 
 Jungmann Lodge No. 20 C. S. P. S. (Alois Broz and 
 Vine. Dlouhy) and Praha Lodge No. 13 C. S. P. S. 
 (Jos. Fiser and Aug. Loula). 
 
 On November 6 Jos. Matousek, who was appoint- 
 ed with Ant. Kafiak and Jos. Slach to visit all lodges 
 and societies, to reassure them that their loans were 
 not in any danger and to ask them for further aid, re- 
 ported that he was heard everywhere with the utmost 
 consideration. 
 
 A final report, placing cost of the vault at 
 $828.12, was approved. 
 
 From May 1 to December 21, 1878, receipts were 
 $3,184.44, disbursements $2,983.93, balance $200.51. 
 112 graves were dug for which $200.50 was paid. 
 60 lots were sold for which $626.00 was paid in 
 cash, with some balance still due. To the end of the 
 year 187 dead were buried in the cemetery. 
 
 1879 
 
 The Association began to discuss the question 
 of paying off the first mortgage by means of new 
 loans whereby the debt would be transferred into 
 Bohemian hands. An appeal to the societies was 
 published in Bohemian newspapers to this effect. 
 
 On February 26 President Matousek announced 
 that the lawsuit of the township of Jefferson vs. the 
 Bohemian National Cemetery Association had result- 
 ed in the complete victory of the Association. The 
 decision Ol the Appelate Court, signed on March 2^ 
 1880, by Judges Joseph M. Bayley, Issac G. Wilson 
 and W. K. McAllister, dismissed the plaintiff's com- 
 plaint. 
 
 22 
 
On March 12 new delegates were announced, 
 John Vavruska from Praha Lodge No. 13 C. S. P. S. 
 and Vac. Nekola from St. Vaclav Society. 
 
 On March 17, at a special meeting, held for the 
 purpose of receiving new loans, Mr. V. Silhanek of- 
 fered a loan of $2,000 for 18 months at 7%. In addi- 
 tion Vac. Matas loaned $300, Al. Broz, $175; Work. 
 Benev. Society Pokrok, $100; Fire Aid Society, $100; 
 Bohem. Brethren, $70; M. Wolf, $300; Boh. Nat. So- 
 ciety, $100; Vernost Lodge, $200; Fr. Pelikan, $200; 
 Jacob Jordan, $150; Mrs. Anna Firman, $100; A. Po- 
 pelka, $50; Jos. Trojan, $300; Moravian Benev. So- 
 ciety, $50; V. Topinka, $500; Jos. Houda, $200; 
 Boh. Work. Society, $200; Palacky Lodge, $100, and 
 Mr. Engelthaler, $100. With these amounts the first 
 mortgage of $4,500 could be paid off and transferred 
 upon 25 acres for the loan of $2,000, made by V. 
 Silhanek. It was also resolved to sell those 10 acres 
 not connected with the cemetery. 
 
 The troubles with the township of Jefferson were 
 revived by a new law-suit as the township was not 
 satisfied with the court's decision. 
 
 A new gate being needed badly, the Ladies' 
 Societies were requested to make a collection for this 
 purpose. 
 
 In April the following new delegates were ad- 
 mitted: V. Tejcek, Rovnost Lodge; Ant. Prusa, Jifi 
 Podebradsky Lodge; John Pajml, Work. Society Po- 
 krok; Tom. Kosatka, Boh. Tailors' Society; Fr. Bed- 
 Ian, St. Vaclav Society; Fr. Pretl, Praha Lodge; John 
 Nikl and Fr. Pecha, Work. Benev. Society; Vac. 
 Topinka, Palacky Lodge; Jos. Matousek and Proc. 
 Fiser, Fire Aid Society, and Fr. Pelikan, Nat. Benev. 
 Society. 
 
 On May 7, 1879, the second annual meeting w^as 
 held. Jos. Matousek was re-elected President; Vac. 
 Matas, Vice-President; Fr. Pech, Recording Secre- 
 tary; M. Wolf, Vac. Tejcek and Fr. Mencl, Board of 
 Trustees. J. V. Benes was requested to retain his 
 office of Cemetery Superintendent. From January 
 1 to May 7 receipts were $6,344.01 ; disbursements, 
 $6,185.42; cash balance, $158.59. 
 
 The question of correct bookkeeping had for a 
 
 23 
 
long time been very troublesome. The differences 
 were very small, but sufficient enough to arouse new 
 complaints repeatedly. Finally it was necessary to- 
 depose the Financial Secretary, Henry Hajek, and a 
 new one was elected in the person of Fr. VytlaciL 
 The new officer found that the differences caused 
 by Hajek and by Bedlan at whose home the office 
 of the Financial Secretary was located and who 
 sometimes accepted money, made together about 
 $19.00. It was truly a small amount, but in conse- 
 quence of Mr. Bedlan's obstinacy the meetings were 
 bothered by these disorders till February 25, 1880. 
 In the meantime the Sokol Gymnastic Association sent 
 a new delegate, Vac. Rezanka, instead of Mr. Hajek 
 and St. Vaclav Society was requested also to send 
 another delegate instead of Mr. Bedlan to whose in- 
 accuracy the final difference of $15 was ascribed. 
 The Association never received it, because it was too 
 small an amount to bring suit for. 
 
 For the new gate the following amounts were 
 donated: Vlasta No. 1, $35; Vlasta No. 2, $48.60, 
 collected by the members among the public, and Pre- 
 myslovna Lodge No. 5 J. C. D., $10.00. 
 
 On May 21 the President announced that Mr. 
 Karasek paid the last installment of $500.00 with 
 interest for the 10 acres, sold to him. He also signed 
 a document which stated that the rear road to the 
 cemetery belonged to the Association which had in- 
 demnified him for that part of his property which 
 was necessary for the road. 
 
 On June 4 Fr. Mencl resigned from the Board 
 of Trustees and Fr. Pretl was elected to fill the va- 
 cancy. On July 16 the delegate of Praha Lodge,. 
 Vavruska, was replaced by John Kotek. 
 
 The annual celebrations at the cemetery began 
 to be very popular among the Bohemians of Chica- 
 go and a very important source of revenue for the 
 Association. The third celebration, connected again 
 as usual with a picnic in the neighboring garden of 
 Mr. Karasek, was held on August 10. 
 
 On August 20 it was resolved to begin with re- 
 deeming the loans of individuals; the loans of socie- 
 ties had to be postponed for a later time. That 
 
 24 
 
meant that the bad days of financial troubles were 
 ^one. 
 
 In August and September new delegates were 
 admitted: Phil. Novak, St. Vaclav Society; Ant. 
 Fiala, Mor. Slav. Benev. Society; John Baumrucker 
 and Ign. Kouba, Jifi Podebradsky Lodge. 
 
 The action brought against the Association by 
 the township of Jefferson ended in March 1880 with 
 victory for the Association, but it was necessary to 
 pay $200.00 to attorneys Vocke and Leak and later 
 give them $50.00 more, because the township again 
 tried to save its cause by appeal. 
 
 Poor fellow-countrymen always had been buried 
 free of charge, but in order to avoid any misuse of 
 this favor it was resolved that in all such cases a 
 ticket had to be secured from the Board of Trustees 
 and shown to the grave-digger. 
 
 On September 24 it was reported that through 
 the mediation of Mr. Ad. B. Chladek the tax from 
 the cemetery property was remitted and in the future 
 the cemetery would be exempt from state taxes. It 
 was resolved to express public thanks to Mr. Chla- 
 dek for this great service. 
 
 On November 5 Osveta Lodge No. 27 C. S. P. S. 
 iDecame a member with a five year loan of $50.00; its 
 delegates were Chas. Drabek and Ign. Kuta. On 
 December 17 Lodge Pravda No. 37 C. S. P. S. follow- 
 ed with the same loan and appointed Jos. Base and 
 Mat. Matousek as delegates. Other newly admitted 
 delegates were Vac. Chmatal (Boh. Nat. Society) 
 and John Vondra and Jac. Cerny (Jifi Podebradsky 
 Lodge). At the last December meeting the death of 
 John Nikl, delegate of Work. Benev. Society and 
 former Recording Secretary of the Association, was 
 reported. A resolution of sympathy was sent to the 
 family. Phil. Novak became his successor. 
 
 1880 
 
 In January a new delegate of Cesko-Narodni 
 Lodge No. 58 C. S. P. S. (formerly Boh. Nat. Benev. 
 Society) Proc. Hudek was announced. On January 
 31 a ball was given by the Association at the hall of 
 
 25 
 
tlu' Boh. Amer. Sokol offered free of charge for this, 
 purpose, because the net proceeds were destined for 
 the new cemetery gate. They amounted to $112.00. 
 Another new delegate admitted in this month was 
 John Rajzler (Boh. Work. Benev. Society). 
 
 In February St. Vaclav Society replaced the re- 
 voked Fr. Bedlan by John Bambula as its delegate. 
 On February 25 Kip Lodge No. 41 C. S. P. S. became 
 a member with the usual loan, its delegates were Vac. 
 Mlynafik and Mat. Kolaf. 
 
 On March 24 Bohemian American Sokol became 
 a member, with John Churafi and Tom. Bilek as 
 delegates. Other new delegates were Florian Otra- 
 dovsky (Vernost Lodge) and Alois Melkus (Mor. 
 Slav. Benev. Society). 
 
 On April 7 Obcansky fi-ad No. 2 became a mem- 
 ber, with Fr. Kvapil and Jos. Jankovsky as delegates. 
 Other new delegates v/ere: Fr. Fiser (Rovnost 
 Lodge) and Vac. Husak (Cesko-Narodni Lodge). On 
 April 21 Otakar Lodge No. 78, Knights of Pythias, 
 became a member, with Fr. Rothbauer and Vojt. Sil- 
 hanek as delegates; John Sindelaf, delegate of Hip 
 Lodge, and John Tichy, delegate of Osveta Lodge^ 
 were also admitted. 
 
 On May 5 the third annual meeting was held. 
 Jos. Matousek was elected President; Vac. Matas, 
 Vice-President; Fr. Pech, Recording Secretary; To- 
 mas Kosatka, Financial Secretary; Vojta Silhanek, 
 Treasurer; Fr. Rothbauer, Fr. Kvapil and John Kotek, 
 Board of Trustees; Fr. Ring, Jos. Rothbauer and 
 Flor. Otradovsky, Auditing Committee; Simon Han- 
 zlik. Agent; J. V. Benes, Cemetery Superintendent. 
 Receipts during the past half-year were $1,770.59; 
 disbursements $1,326.97; cash balance $443.62. 
 
 New delegates were announced: Jos. Trojan and 
 John Bernhart from Bohemian Brethren; Jos. Roth- 
 bauer from Palacky Lodge; Simon Hanzlik from 
 Pravda Lodge; John Kolaf from St. Vaclav Society; 
 Jos. Bubrdle from Cesko-Delnicky Lodge No. 16 C. S. 
 P. S. (formerly Boh. Work. Benev. Society). 
 
 On May 19 Obcansky Rad No. 9 became a mem- 
 ber and Mr. Pech, having resigned, Flor. Otradov- 
 sky was elected Recording Secretary. On June 16 
 
 26 
 
Mr. F. Rothbauer resigned and John Churaii was 
 elected member of the Board of Trustees in his stead. 
 Work. Benev. Polit. Society Pokrok announced V. 
 Vondracek as its new delegate. 
 
 It was resolved to rent 10 acres outside the 
 cemetery free of charge to anyone who would culti- 
 vate this land and take care of it. A contract to 
 this effect was made with Mr. Karasek. 
 
 The building of the gate was given to Mr. J. V. 
 Benes in recognition of his many services furnished 
 free of charge. His offer was $1,480 (Mr. Kralovec's 
 $1,445 and Mr. Otradovec's $1,500). 
 
 On June 30 new delegates were announced by 
 liip Lodge, Vac. Matejka and Jos. Hajek. 
 
 The annual celebration of this year required a 
 special interview by Mr. Alois Pergler with the rail- 
 road management which was not willing to send out 
 two return trains in the evening, but the desired 
 agreement was finally reached. 
 
 On July 14 Vysehrad Lodge No. 48 C. S. P. S. 
 became a member, with Petr Podzimek and John 
 Kuttan as delegates; other new delegates were Ant. 
 Kozel and John Chleboun (Jiri Podebradsky Lodge) ; 
 Mart. Baumruker (Vernost Lodge) ; in August J. 
 Martinek (Sokol Gymn. Assn.), and Em. A. Haas 
 and V. Tejcek (Rovnost Lodge). 
 
 St. Vaclav Society disbanded, because it lost its 
 school building which was adjudged by the court to 
 the priest as church property. The Association which 
 held its meetings in that school had to look for a 
 new meeting place. First the hall of American Sokol 
 at De Koven St. was rented, but when it was found 
 unsatisfactory, the Association moved to the hall of 
 Sokol Gym^n. Association at Pilsen. 
 
 Vaclav Obcansky Rad No. 23, formed from the 
 disbanded St. Vaclav Society, became a member 
 (delegates Jos. Hrubec and Fr. Rezek), as well as 
 Lincoln Lodge No. 52 C. S. P. S. (delegates Fr. Dvo- 
 rak and Vac. Sticha) and Bohemian Sharpshooters 
 No. 1 (delegates John Hanzlik and Norb. Kfenek). 
 A new delegate, Vac. Kuchynka, was announced by 
 the Bohemian Tailors^ Society. Other new delegates 
 were admitted : Fr. Prochazka from Vysehrad 
 
 27 
 
Lodge ; Thomas Kalas from Boh. Amer. Sokol ; Ludv. 
 Novy from Obcansky Rad No. 9 and John Vrba from 
 Osveta Lodge; the Work. Benev. Polit. Society Po-^ 
 krok changed its name to Pokrok Lodge No. 65 C. 
 S. P. S. 
 
 Several changes occurred also in the Committee : 
 Fl. Otradovsky resigned and Vac. Kuchyfika was 
 elected Recording Secretary on September 22. V. 
 Matas resigned and Fr. Rothbauer was appointed his 
 successor by the president. Fr. Fisher was elected 
 to the Board of Trustees to replace John Churafi. 
 The attendance at meetings began to slacken, there- 
 fore all societies were requested to admonish the 
 delegates to fulfill their duties. Only during the 
 winter months the more remote societies were re^ 
 lieved in the sense that instead of both delegates 
 only one was obliged to attend the meetings. 
 
 The semiannual financial report on October 20 
 was as follows: receipts, $4,719.76; disbursements, 
 $4,174.40; cash balance, $545.36. 
 
 The desirability of a Memorial Book was dis- 
 cussed, and Mr. Bernhard promised to bring such a 
 book as a gift of the Bohemian Brethren. The new 
 gate was reported finished on November 17 and the 
 payment of the balance due was recommended. 
 
 In December the following new delegates were 
 announced: Mart. Jensik (Obcansky Had No. 2); 
 Vac. Ludvik (Mor. Slav. Benev. Society) ; John Nerad 
 (Cesko-Delnicky Lodge) ; Jos. Jankovsky and Fr. 
 Ring (Pokrok Lodge) ; Fr. Lahvic (Boh. Sharpshoot- 
 ers No. 1) ; Thom. Kamis (Cesko-Narodnf Lodge) ; 
 Jos. Smrcina and John Novotny (Jungmann Lodge) ; 
 John Mencl (Vysehrad Lodge). 
 
 1881 
 
 New January delegates were as follows: Fr. 
 Hess (Pravda Lodge) ; Fr. Fiser (Vernost Lodge) ; 
 Fr. Kolaf (Jifi Podebradsky Lodge) ; Ant. Vesecky 
 (Lincoln Lodge). 
 
 At the meeting of February 9 the Memorial 
 Book, dedicated by the Bohemian Brethren Society,. 
 was presented. First it was resolved to ask Mr. Fencl 
 
 28 
 
as charter member to describe the history of the 
 Association from the beginning in the book, but later 
 a committee was elected, Jos. Matousek, Thom. Ko- 
 satka and Em. Haase who were instructed to ask 
 Mr. Frank B. Zdrubek to write such a history and to 
 preserve it in this Memorial Book for all future 
 times. 
 
 The Association now had sufficient sources of 
 new finances, and therefore it was resolved that after 
 January 1, 1882, only 5/f interest should be paid and 
 new loans accepted only at the same rate of interest. 
 
 On April 6 a helper for the grave-digger, whose 
 work had been considerably increased, was approved. 
 His son was appointed at a salary of $1.50 a day. 
 New delegates were admitted: Vac. Ksandr (Cesko- 
 Narodni Lodge) and Jos. Kfist'an (Osveta Lodge). 
 
 On April 20 the superintendent, Mr. Benes, re- 
 ported that the first private tomb, for the Kalal fam- 
 ily, was to be built. The Committee instructed him 
 to draft an appropriate article which would be adopt- 
 ed by the Association as a part of the statutes. New 
 delegates were admitted: John Benes and V. Bartos 
 (Cesko-Delnicky Lodge) ; Proc. Hudek and Jos. Strobl 
 (Pokrok Lodge No. 65); Ant. Kouba (Mor. Slav. 
 Benev. Society). 
 
 On May 4 at the fourth annual meeting the fol- 
 lowing officers were elected: Jos. Matousek, Presi- 
 dent; Vac. Topinka, Vice-President; Em. Haase, Rec. 
 Secretary; Proc. Hudek, Financial Secretary; Vaclav 
 Ksander, Treasurer; Fr. Fiser, Jos. Jakubka and 
 Vaclav Tesaf, Board of Trustees. The receipts 
 from November 3, 1880, to May 4, 1881, were 
 $2,880.61, disbursements $2,502.86, cash balance 
 $377.75. The salary of Mr. Lahvice, the grave-digger, 
 was raised to $30.00 a month. The following societies 
 sent new delegates: Palacky Lodge — V. Topinka; 
 Obcansky Rad No. 2 — J. Holpuch ; Sokol Gymn. Asso- 
 ciation — Vac. Matejka; Obc. fiad No. 9 — Phil. Novak; 
 Otakar Lodge No. 78, K. of P. — Alois Palda; Boh. 
 Brethren — John Bernhardt and Jos. Trojan; Praha 
 Lodge No. 13 — Jos. Jakubka; Jungmann Lodge No. 
 20 — Jos. Smrcina and Fr. Novotny. 
 
 Many improvements were made at the cemetery, 
 
 29 
 
and for Sundays and Mondays a policeman from Jef- 
 ferson township was hired to protect the cemetery 
 against loafers. 
 
 Upon motion of Rovnost Lodge the question of a 
 salary for the recording and financial secretary was 
 discussed. Both served up to that time without any 
 compensation, but now their work was taking so 
 much time that compensation was only just. Finally 
 on December 28 the salary of the recording secre- 
 tary was fixed at $50.00, of the financial secretary 
 also at $50.00 and of the treasurer at $30.00 a year. 
 Further it was resolved that the members of the 
 Board of Trustees shall receive $2.50 for every trip 
 to the cemetery. After this enactment the fin. secre- 
 tary Hudek, the treasurer Ksandr and Fr. Fiser of 
 the Board of Trustees declared that they would serve 
 to the end of their terms free of charge and their 
 offfer was accepted by the Association with thanks. 
 
 In June and July the following societies sent new 
 delegates: Boh. Brethren — John Palma; Boh. Sharp- 
 shooters — Proc. Hudek and Chas. Raus; Osveta Lodge 
 No. 27 — Chas. Drabek; Boh. Tailors' Society — Vac. 
 Stehlik. 
 
 The annual celebration held on Sunday July 31 
 at Karasek's garden met with unusual success. About 
 7,000 persons were at the cemetery and in the gar- 
 den, the net proceeds were $1,924.11, from which 
 some of the oldest loans were paid. 
 
 V. Tesaf and Jos. Jakubka who resigned from 
 the Board of Trustees were succeeded by Jos. Kfist'an 
 and Thom. Kamis, the third member, V. Matejka, re- 
 tained his office. From October to the end of the 
 year the following new delegates were admitted : 
 John Brejcha — Praha Lodge No. 13; Alois Cinkl — Ob- 
 cansky Kad No. 23; St. Sramek — Fire Aid Society; 
 Chas. Libal — Rip Lodge No. 41 ; Rufin Jirsa and Vac. 
 Hopp — Boh. Amer. Sokol ; Fr. Masa — Pokrok Lodge 
 No. 65; Vac. Klima and Jos. Kaisler — Obcansky ftad 
 No. 2; Fr. Svatek — Jungmann Lodge No. 20; Andrew 
 Kubes and John Skopec — Jifi Podebradsky Lodge 
 No. 24 ; Chas. Soldat and Fr. Suk — Lincoln Lodge No. 
 52; Jacob Struhadlo — Vysehrad Lodge No. 48; John 
 Vejrostek — Obcansky Rad No. 2; Jos. Tolar — Boh. 
 Work. Society. 
 
 30 
 
1882 
 
 In the first three months of this year the follow- 
 ing new delegates were admitted: Jacob Cerny — Jifi 
 Podebradsky Lodge No. 24; Caspar Cerny — Otakar 
 Lodge, K. of P.; Jacob Koupal — Praha Lodge; J. V. 
 Matejka and Fr. Mencl — Sokol Gymn. Assn.; Ruf. 
 Jirsa and Vac. Hopp — Boh. Amer. Sokol; Jos. Cinkl — 
 Fire Aid Society; Wm. Vogel — Vernost Lodge; Chas. 
 Soldat and Fr. Suk — Lincoln Lodge; F. Lahvic — Rip 
 Lodge; Fr. Fiser — Vernost Lodge; Mart. Jensik — 
 Obc. Rad No. 2; Edw. Ilezanka^-Sokol Gymn. Assn.; 
 Ant. Uhlif and Jos. Spousta — Vernost Lodge ; F. Dvo- 
 rak — Praha Lodge; Mat. Shanel and Vojt. Janecek — 
 Osveta Lodge. Two loans were paid, Singing Society 
 Lyra $50.00 and Osveta Lodge $300.00 and two new 
 loans were accepted, Palacky Lodge No. 630 L O. O. 
 F., $200.00, and Otakar Lodge, K. of P., $200.00. 
 
 In the spring the roads to the cemetery being 
 almost impassable, an agreement was made with the 
 township of Jefferson which asked for one third of 
 the amount required for improvement. This amount 
 of $300.17 was approved. 
 
 In April and May the following societies sent 
 new delegates: Palacky Lodge — Jos. Base; Ces.-Na- 
 rodni Lodge No. 58 — Chas. Lusk; Rovnost Lodge — 
 Fr. Fiser; Otakar Lodge — J. Vodicka; Vaclav Lodge 
 — Fr. Novak; Pokrok Lodge — Chas. Jankovsky; Ver- 
 nost Lodge — Flor. Otradovsky; Jungmann^ Lodge — 
 Jos. Ruze; Obc. Rad No. 2 — John Pavel; Ces.-Delni- 
 cky Lodge No. 73 — John Hamza. 
 
 The fifth annual meeting was held on May 3. 
 Jos. Matousek was elected President; Vac. Topinka, 
 Vice-President; Em. A. Haase, Rec. Secretary; Proc. 
 Hudek, Fin. Secretary; Ant. Kouba, Treasurer; Thom. 
 Kamis, Fr. Fiser and Jos. Vodicka, Board of Trustees. 
 Receipts of the past year were $5,626.13, disburse- 
 ments $5,324.26. 84 lots were sold for $2,760.00; 
 491 persons were buried. Loans paid amounted to 
 $2,830.00. Thus the Association had debts of only 
 $225.00 to individuals and $5,350.00 to societies. 
 
 On May 31 upon motion of Chas. Lusk a bell 
 was bought for the small steeple above the cemetery 
 gate. 
 
 31 
 
For the summertime a policeman was engaged 
 from the township of Jefferson which appointed the 
 grave-digger, Mr. Lahvice, and vested him with the 
 right of arresting disturbers of the peace. 
 
 The annual celebration was marred by a bad all- 
 day rain. 
 
 From June to September the following new dele- 
 gates were admitted: Jos. Chaloupka — Praha Lodge; 
 Fr. Kaspar — Boh. Amer. Sokol; Jos. Kubal — Obc. 
 Kad No. 2; Jos. Popelka and J. Sima — Jifi Podebrad- 
 sky Lodge; John Chochola — Boh. Tailors' Society; 
 Fr. Riha^ — Jungmann Lodge; Jos. Mandl — Vysehrad 
 Lodge] Fr. Gerhard — Praha Lodge; Jos. Plachetka — 
 Obc. Rad No. 2; George Nikodem — Pravda Lodge; 
 Vacy Puc— Obc. Md No. 23; Fr. Pavlicek— Boh. 
 Sharpshooters; Vac. Smidl resigned as delegate of 
 the Obcansky Rad No. 9 which disbanded. 
 
 Lincoln Lodge No. 52 C. S. P. S. held a ball on 
 September 30 for the benefit of a national monu- 
 ment at the cemetery. The net proceeds of $100.00 
 were deposited in the bank for future use. 
 
 On October 18 it was resolved not to bury in the 
 cemetery any person who died of small-pox. 
 
 Upon request of Mr. Jos. Dostal the Associa- 
 tion instructed the recording secretary to draft a 
 memorandum of confidence in Mr. DostaFs correct 
 and honest actions and to send it to his society. 
 
 On November 1 A. Kouba resigned and Jos. Base 
 was elected treasurer. Proc. Hudek also resigned and 
 George Nikodem was elected financial secretary. The 
 society Obcansky Rad No. 2 was officially informed 
 that its delegate Vac. Klima had been expelled on 
 account of his infamous public utterances about the 
 recording secretary and the entire Association. 
 
 On November 15 a comm.ittee of four, Jos. Ma- 
 tousek, Chas. D. Lusk, Jos. Fucik and George Niko- 
 dem, was elected to draft the necessary amendments 
 to the statutes. These amendments were adopted 
 after the third reading on March 21, 1883. 
 
 Lawyer Lusk who was appointed for all neces- 
 sary notarial services resigned as member of the Asso- 
 ciation. The last of the new delegates admitted in 
 this year were: Fr. Capouch and John Mencl — Vyse- 
 
 32 
 
JOHN PECHA 
 
 The present President of the Bohemian National Ceme- 
 tery Association, holding this office 
 already for 30 years 
 
Officers of the Bohemian National Cemetery Association 
 
 Stan. Simecek, Vice-Pres. ; Victor H. Filip, Sec'y; 
 Jos. Jurka, Treas. 
 
The Board of Trustees of the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery Association 
 
 Jar. Bartos 
 Jos. Siman Fr. Boucek 
 
Bookkeepers of the Bohemian National Cemetery 
 
 John Kozak 
 
 Jar. Gregor 
 
 Jos. Hroch 
 
Editorial Committee of the "History of the Boh. Nat. 
 Cemetery" 
 
 Stan. Simecek 
 
 Chas. Kopecky 
 
 J. J. Jelinek 
 
DR. JAR. E. S. VOJAN 
 
 Author of the English version cf the "History of the 
 Boh. Nat. Cemetery." 
 
hrad Lodge; Mart. Kuchaf and Fr. Davidek — Lincoln 
 Lodge; Jos. Rezny and Fr. Riha — Jungmann Lodge; 
 Fr. Svatos and Jos. Soukup — Praha Lodge; Thorn. 
 Kosatka — Boh. Tailors' Society; Jacob Prepejchal — 
 Mor. Slav. Benev. Society. 
 
 1883 
 
 On January 1883 Vernost Lodge announced Mr. 
 Fr. Mencl as its delegate. Since he was already dele- 
 gate of another society, Vernost Lodge was informed 
 that the statutes do not allow two or more societies 
 to be represented by the same delegate and that 
 therefore the lodge had to elect another delegate. — 
 New delegates: Fr. Ring and Ant. Fiala — Pokrok 
 Lodge; Jos. Dostal — Ces.-Narodni Lodge; John Beran 
 — Obc. Rad No. 2; Fr. Pavlicek and J. Krasa — Boh. 
 Sharpshooters. 
 
 The sixth annual meeting was held on May 2. 
 Jos. Matousek was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice- 
 President; Em. A. Haase, Recording Secretary; 
 George Nikodem, Financial Secretary; Jos. Base, 
 Treasurer; Fr. Hess, Jos. Dostal and Jos. Cinkl, Board 
 of Trustees. Mr. J. V. Benes retained willingly the 
 office of cemetery superintendent. Receipts for the 
 past year were $5,122.12 and disbursements $4,493.91. 
 
 A fireproof safe was bought for $180.00 for 
 keeping all books, papers and documents of the Asso- 
 ciation in safety. Clock-maker Mr. Steffek donated 
 a fine clock ajid Hubka Brothers a picture for the 
 office. Both gifts were accepted with thanks. 
 
 The net proceeds of the annual celebration held 
 on July 29 were $1,897.95. 
 
 On August 22 $1,704.53 was paid on the loans 
 of societies with interest. 
 
 On October 3 Vac. Topinka was elected tempo- 
 rary treasurer, because Mr. Base resigned and moved 
 to Wisconsin. 
 
 First donations in accordance with the statutes 
 were voted on December 12, $100.00 for the Bunker 
 Street School and $100.00 for the 18th Street School. 
 
 The semiannual financial report showed a cash 
 balance of $1,728.82 (receipts $3,991.36, disburse- 
 ments $2,262.54). 
 
 33 
 
New delegates: Mat. Dusek — Vernost Lodge; 
 Ant. Kubes and John Pavek — Jifi Podebradsky 
 Lodge; Norb. Kfenek and Vac. Drz — Boh. Shrap- 
 shooters; Vac. Matas — Vysehrad Lodge; Fr. Mencl 
 and E. A. Haase — ^Sokol Gymn. Assn. ; Ant. Dundl — 
 Jungmann Lodge; John Peroutka — Kip Lodge; Jos. 
 Matousek — Palacky Lodge ; Gasp. Cerny — Otakar 
 Lodge, K. of P.; F. C. Matasek — Rovnost Lodge; Jos. 
 Cinkl and V. Topinka — Fire Aid Society; Mart. Lud- 
 vik and Jos. Tomek — Boh. Tailors' Society; Ferd. 
 Reis and Vaclav Kouba — Mor. Slav. Benev. Society; 
 Ant. Potucek — Ces.-Narodni Lodge; Vac. Seyk — Po- 
 krok Lodge ; John Pecha — Vysehrad Lodge ; Jos. Kost- 
 ner — Palacky Lodge; Fr. Bilek and Fr. Pancner — 
 Lincoln Lodge; Ant. Kubes and Fr. Cimanzl — Jifi Po- 
 debradsky Lodge; Al. Straka — Boh. Tailors' Society. 
 
 1884 
 
 Klacel Monument Association which was organ- 
 ized to erect a monument at the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery to Prof. Ladimir Klacel, the great pioneer 
 of Free Thought, requested the Cemetery Associa- 
 tion to appoint Mr. V. Topinka as delegate to the 
 Klacel Monument Association in order to facilitate 
 prompt agreement between these two bodies. It was 
 resolved that the center of the main circle in the new 
 section be dedicated for the monument. 
 
 Important road improvements in the cemetery 
 as well as in front of the same were already begun 
 in March because of the better and cheaper labor 
 at that time. 
 
 On April 16 the salaries of all officers were in- 
 creased: the president to receive $30.00, the record- 
 ing secretary $50.00, the financial secretary $100.00, 
 the treasurer $30.00, the board of trustees $3.00 for 
 each trip. The salary of the grave-digger was fixed 
 at $40.00. 
 
 On May 4 it was resolved to divide one half of 
 the net proceeds of the annual celebration as follows: 
 $100.00 for Klacel's monument and the rest to 
 schools in the 6th and 8th ward. The new school 
 in the 14th ward was also to get a donation on con- 
 
 34 
 
dition of the good progress of the same. The other 
 half of the net proceeds was to be retained by the 
 cemetery. 
 
 The question of telephone connection was post- 
 poned, because it was found that the Telephone Com- 
 pany charged $400.00 for the installation and 25 cents 
 for every message. 
 
 New delegates from January to the end of April : 
 Ant. Recek — Osveta Lodge ; John Cesal — Vysehrad 
 Lodge; Fr. Tesaf and John Kostka — Praha Lodge (if 
 not mentioned otherwise, ''lodge" means a lodge of 
 C. S. P. S.) ; Fr. Hauer — Mor. Slav. Benev. Society; 
 Jos. Dvorak — Boh. Tailors' Society; Vojt. Silha — 
 Vernost Lodge ; J. Hlavka — Vaclav Obc. Rad ; Ant. 
 Sedlacek — Obcansky Sad No. 2; John Liska — Otakar 
 Lodge, K. of P.; Jos. A. Smejkal — Rovnost Lodge. 
 
 The annual meeting was held on May 14. Jos. 
 Matousek was again elected President, Fr. Mencl 
 Vice-President; Em. A. Haase, Rec. Secretary; George 
 Nikodem, Fin. Secretary; Vac. Topinka, Treasurer; 
 Fr. Haase, Jos. Kostner and Jos. Cinkl, Board of 
 Trustees; Fr. Ring, Fr. Tesar and John Kotek, Audit- 
 ing Committee; J. V. Benes, Cemetery Superinten- 
 dent. 
 
 Rules for private monuments and enclosures were 
 laid down, picking of flowers on lots and graves and 
 other similar misdemeanors were prohibited, and all 
 other routine work was done in these months.. 
 
 New delegates: Ant. Brom — Osveta Lodge, V. 
 Rousek — Boh. Sharpshooters; V. Cerveny — Jungmann 
 Lodge; John Hamza — Ces.-Delnicky Lodge; Ant. 
 Uhlif — Vernost Lodge. 
 
 The annual celebration on July 27 became an 
 historical event, because it w^as connected with the 
 laying of the foundation-stone to Prof. Klacel's Monu- 
 ment for which the Free Thought Community in Chi- 
 cago and other societies in sympathy with the Free 
 Thought were collecting funds. The procession was 
 truly remarkable and showed the great strength of 
 these societies. At the cemetery Frank B. Zdrubek, 
 the speaker of the day, delivered a splendid speech 
 in which he put stress on the harmony and fervor of 
 the societies as well as individual frethinkers who 
 
 35 
 
built up this beautiful cemetery in such a short time 
 and made it a phenomenal success. All debts — and 
 there were many — were paid up within six years. 
 And now this cemetery was to be embellished by a 
 monument erected in honor of Ladimir Klacel, a 
 teacher and awakener of the Bohemian people of 
 America, a pioneer of the Free Thought and Ration- 
 alism, the memory of whom will never be forgotten 
 in this country. The ceremony ended with the plac- 
 ing of memorials and documents into foundation- 
 stone by all societies represented. 
 
 The receipts of this celebration were $4,050.79, 
 disbursements $1,937.98, and from the net proceeds 
 of $2,122.82 — according to the above mentioned reso- 
 lution — $500.00 was given to the Bohemian 18th 
 Street School, $500.00 to the Bunker Street School, 
 $100.00 to the Northwest Side school, $100.00 to the 
 Klacel Monument Association and $100.00 to a widow, 
 Mrs. Anna Castka, and her children. 
 
 There could not be the slightest doubt now that 
 the entire area of the cemetery would very soon be 
 occupied, and therefore it was resolved that the com- 
 mittee should make all efforts to get an additional 
 10 acres in the vicinity for a reasonable price. 
 
 The financial statement from May 14 to October 
 29, 1884, was as follows: receipts $5,288.53, disburse- 
 ments $3,054.83, cash balance $2,233.70. 
 
 1885 
 
 The financial situation of the Association had as- 
 sumed such a favorable aspect that when Garfield 
 Lodge No. 90 C. S. P. S. applied for membership with 
 the usual loan of $50.00 this amount was declined 
 with thanks and the society admitted without it. Its 
 delegates were Jos. Siller and Jos. Kozojed. Other 
 new delegates admitted in the first semester were: 
 Mat. Skala — Ces.-Delnicky Lodge; Fr. Fencl — Ces.- 
 Narodni Lodge; Jos. Matousek — Palacky Lodge L O. 
 O. F. ; Louis Zavadil — Rovnost Lodge; John Vondra 
 and Ign. Polanka — Jiri Pod. Lodge; Fr. Sikyta — 
 Pokrok Lodge; Fr. Hloucal — Vysehrad Lodge; Jos. 
 Hladovec — Boh. Amer. Sokol. 
 
 36 
 
The prices of lots in the new section were fixed 
 at $60.00 at the main road, $50.00 at the side roads, 
 $40.00 at the narrow roads and the corner lots $1.00 
 higher. Four lots around Klacel's monument were 
 priced at $100.00. 
 
 At the annual meeting in May Jos. Matousek 
 was elected President, Fr. Kaspar, Vice-President; 
 Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; George Nikodem, Fin. Sec- 
 retary; Vac. Topinka, Treasurer; Jos. Kostner, E. A. 
 Haase and John Kotek, Board of Trustees; John Be- 
 nes, Cemetery Superintendent, and Fr. Tesaf, Louis 
 Zavadil and John Kotek, Auditing Committee. 
 
 It was resolved to build a spacious green-house 
 for cultivation of plants and to make efforts to ex- 
 terminate ants at the cemetery by hot water. 
 
 On August 5 the Klacel Monument Association 
 reported that it had collected $638.05 and the price 
 of the monument being $800.00, asked the Cemetery 
 Association to donate the rest of $161.95. The re- 
 quest was granted, the superintendent, Mr. Benes, 
 inspected the monument and when sculptor, Mr. Fr. 
 Hess, promised to make some corrections, found neces- 
 sary by Mr. Benes, the monument was accepted. 
 
 The annual celebration and the unveiling of Kla- 
 ceFs Monument were held on July 26. It was a note- 
 worthy manifestation by Chicago freethinkers. Many 
 of those who were contemporaries of the great philos- 
 opher were present. The great procession was the 
 more impressive in that it was marching without 
 bands, with only the rolling of veiled drums, on 
 account of the national mourning occasioned by the 
 death of President Ulysses Simpson Grant who died 
 July 23, 1885. 
 
 F. B. Zdrubek, president of Klacel Monument 
 Association, was the speaker of the day, Jos. Matou- 
 sek, president of the Bohemian National Cemetery 
 Association, accepted the monument in the name of 
 the cemetery and promised to keep it faithfully in 
 trust. Mr. Zbanek of Cedar Rapids, who was presi- 
 dent of the committee which in June, 1884, had 
 erected a monument to Klacel at Belle Plaine, la., 
 where Klacel was buried, also delivered an address, 
 and finally Mr. Ant. Jurka, teacher of St. Paul, Minn., 
 
 37 
 
delivered greetings of Cech Lodge No. 12 C. S. P. S., 
 St. Paul, and remarked that we would erect the best 
 monument to Klacel, if we would teach our children 
 to love the Bohemian mother-tongue. Sixty-five tele- 
 grams and letters were read from all larger Bohe- 
 mian settlements in the United States. The celebra- 
 tion ended with entertainment at Karasek's garden. 
 
 ''Ladimir Klacel, the Bohemian patriot, philos- 
 opher and freethinker,'* as the inscription on the Belle 
 Plaine monument reads, arrived in the United States 
 in 1869. He was born on April 7, 1808, at Ceska 
 Tfebova, Bohemia, taught philosophy at Augustinian 
 Friars school at Brno, Moravia, but was deposed from 
 his office by the reactionary Vienna government 
 which accused him of pantheism and political radical- 
 ism. When Klacel came to America, he was in his 
 sixty-first year. Here he disseminated rationalism 
 among American Cechs and died at Belle Plaine on 
 March 17, 1882. 
 
 Receipts of the celebration were $3,310.31, dis- 
 bursements $1,784.82, net proceeds $1,525.49. 
 
 On September 2 a free burial of a child was 
 granted to a poor Bohemian family and on Septem- 
 ber 16 five dollars were given to Mrs. Marie Megs, 
 suffering from poverty. 
 
 The contract for the erection of the green-house 
 was given to Mr. J. V. Benes for $1,810, not including 
 a heater. 
 
 New delegates admitted in the second semester 
 were : John Blaha and Ad. B. Chladek — Otakar Lodge 
 K. of P. ; Fr. Hosna and Jos. Krause — Ceska Koruna 
 Lodge; Mart. Jensik and Fr. Odehnal — Obcansky 
 Had No. 2; Fr. Pech — Ces.-Delnicky Lodge; Jos. Kos- 
 t'al — Rip Lodge; Wm. Piskacek and Gasp. Cerny — 
 Svobodna Obec No. 1 ; Fr. Cirhan — Osveta Lodge ; 
 Fr. Kosatka and Jos. Rothbauer — Otakar Lodge, K. 
 of P.; Fr. Smrt — Boh. Sharpshooters; John Vondra 
 and Ign. Polanek — Jifi Podeb. Lodge; Chas. Blazek — 
 Boh. Amer. Sokol ; Fr. Kratky — Mor. Slav. Benev. 
 Society. 
 
 A regular gardener became a necessity and ad- 
 vertisements were therefore placed in two Bohemian 
 papers, Svornost and Slavia, and in the Polish Gaze- 
 
 38 
 
ta. From 14 Bohemian and 3 Polish applications that 
 of Mr. Leopold Ine was chosen in a secret meeting 
 on October 7. This applicant produced a recommen- 
 dation of the Chicago Florist Association and there- 
 fore received the majority of votes. He was ap- 
 pointed for two years with a salary of $50.00 a 
 month, living quarters and fuel, and was placed un- 
 der a bond of $500.00. 
 
 The semiannual statement from May 13 to Octo- 
 ber 28 was: Receipts, $3,715.65, and disbursements, 
 $2,874.28; cash balance, $841.36. 
 
 1886 
 
 On January 6 it was reported that all cemetery 
 roads were finished. The cost was $2,414.07. 
 
 On January 20 the committee was instructed to 
 begin with the work on an artesian well. The con- 
 tracted price — as it was reported on February 3 — 
 was $1.75 a foot to the depth of 1,600 feet and $1.95 
 a foot to the depth of 2,000 feet. The work was to 
 be stopped as soon as sufficient water should be 
 found. 
 
 Palacky Lodge loaned to the Association $500.00 
 and Otakar Lodge $400.00 at 51/2%. 
 
 On February 17 it was reported that through the 
 good offices of Mr. Fr. Fucik many flowers were 
 donated to the cemetery from city parks. 
 
 On March 3 prices for decorating graves were 
 fixed. 
 
 On April 14 it was resolved to buy a horse and 
 a wagon for the cemetery and to hire a man to take 
 care of it. 
 
 On April 28 the committee was instructed to in- 
 form the public that the gardener was allowed to 
 sell flowers besides those for the cemetery also for 
 private homes. 
 
 At the annual meeting, held on May 12, Jos. 
 Matousek was elected President, Fr. Kaspar, Vice- 
 President; Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; George Nikodem, 
 Fin. Secretary; Jos. Kostner, Treasurer; E. A. Haase, 
 V. Topinka and Jos. Smejkal, Board of Trustees; 
 J. V. Benes, cemetery superintendent. The financial 
 
 39 
 
statement from November 11, 1885, to April 28, 
 1886: Receipts, $6,621.52; disbursements, $6,236.51; 
 cash balance, $385.01. 
 
 On May 26 a grave was given gratis to a poor 
 v^idow, Mrs. Altmeyer, for her deceased husband. 
 
 On June 9 the grave-digger and the gardener 
 were sworn in at Jefferson as policemen, authorized 
 to arrest any wrong-doer at the cemetery. — ^The arte- 
 sian well was finished, giving a sufficient quantity of 
 water at the depth of 1,600 feet. — The Board of Trus- 
 tees submitted a valuation of the whole property of 
 the National Cemetery, taken at a moderate price 
 and fixed at $62,276.80. 
 
 The annual celebration was held on Sunday, July 
 28. The picturesque procession of all societies 
 through the city to the depot, with banners and 
 bands, Marshall Edw. Holy at the head, created a 
 big impression. Next morning the reporter of "The 
 Inter-Ocean" said in a fine article that he had never 
 before seen such joyous people on a holiday and so 
 well-behaved as on this occasion. Receipts were 
 $4,239.22, disbursements $1,988.27, net proceeds 
 $2,250.95. 
 
 On September 1 the committee was instructed to 
 build a stone-cistern, 6 by 6 feet, at the well for 
 $265.00. 
 
 On August 18 Fr. Hess and Wm. Piskacek were 
 sent as delegates to the celebration of the opening 
 of the National Cemetery at Braidwood, 111., held on 
 August 23. 
 
 The semiannual financial statement from April 
 28 to October 31 was: Receipts $6,421.24, disburse- 
 ments $5,829.00, cash balance $591.26. 
 
 New delegates admitted during the year: Jos. 
 Janousek and John Peroutka — ftip Lodge; John Ba- 
 bor — Vysehrad Lodge; Rud. Vopat — Pokrok Lodge; 
 Vac. Puc and Thom. Miller — Vaclav Obc. Had; Vine. 
 Kopecky — Fire Aid Society; John Skupa — Lincoln 
 Lodge; John Rajchart and Chas. Kopfiva, succeeded 
 later by Vac. Balsan and Jos. Vopat — Boh. Sharp- 
 shooters; Jos. A. Smejkal — Rovnost Lodge; John 
 Chvala — Jifi Podebradsky Lodge; John Nemec, suc- 
 ceeded later by Vojt. Janecek — Boh. Amer. Sokol ; Fr. 
 
 40 
 
Husak and Rud. Fortner, succeeded later by John 
 Kfivanek and John Lukes and these again by Fr. Ne- 
 kola and John Hora — Jungmann Lodge; Vac. Klima 
 — Obcansky Rad No. 2; Fr. Kucaba and Ant. Kry- 
 zan — new member — Jifi Washington Lodge No. 66 
 C. S. P. S. ; Jos. Braza — Svob. Obec ; Jos. Machacek — 
 Ceska Koruna Lodge. 
 
 1887 
 
 On January 5 it was resolved to ask all debtors 
 to pay up, because the total of debts amounted to 
 $2,317 and to charge them 6% on their debt until 
 paid. — Mr. Scheiner sent a donation of $10.00. 
 
 After negotiations with the Telephone Company 
 which fixed the price of the telephone connection 
 between the cemetery and the city at $500.00 and 
 asked a guarantee of at least $180.00 a year for mes- 
 sages, it was resolved to sign the contract, because 
 such a connection became an absolute necessity. The 
 connection was formed on March 30. 
 
 It was also resolved to buy another horse and 
 wagon and to build another green-house. 
 
 On March 2 it was resolved to sell lots only to 
 one person and never to several individuals and to 
 draw up the cession to only one person in order to 
 avoid many troubles. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 11 Fr. Tesaf was 
 elected President, Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Jaroslav 
 Lenoch, Rec. Secretary; Thomas Kosatka, Fin. Secre- 
 tary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Nekola, Smejkal and 
 Hora, Board of Trustees; Fr. Hess Cemetery Superin- 
 tendent. 
 
 On June 6 the Committee received the permis- 
 sion from the County Sheriff to have a Deputy Sheriff 
 for whom a bond of $4,500 was deposited. This pro- 
 vision was very urgent for keeping order at the ceme- 
 tery. Mr. J. A. Smejkal was appointed the first Dep- 
 uty Sheriff. It was resolved that no games and no 
 betting for money should be allowed at the ceme- 
 tery. In consequence of complaints that on week- 
 days many picnics were being held near the ceme- 
 tery, carriages took up the road along the cemetery, 
 
 41 
 
beer was drawn and various disturbances committed, 
 it was resolved to publish public warnings in news- 
 papers and to urge everybody to desist from such 
 offenses. 
 
 The annual celebration was held on July 31. 
 The procession with Marshall E. Holy and the Slavo- 
 nic Band was imposing, and the celebration, aided 
 by the fine weather, resulted in a great success. The 
 receipts were $3,174.05, the disbursements $1,890.35, 
 the net proceeds $1,283.70. 
 
 On August 31 it was reported that the new green- 
 house increased the sales of flowers to such an extent 
 that the net profit during the last six months was 
 $510.64. 
 
 On September 14 it was resolved that persons 
 not of Bohemian descent who desired burial in the 
 National Cemetery must comply with all enacted con- 
 ditions and rules. $10.00 was donated for the found- 
 ing of a Bohemian Sunday school at Ladimir Klacel 
 Hall. 
 
 On October 12 it was resolved that if a debtor 
 refused to pay for the purchased lot, the body buried 
 in that lot should be transferred into the com.mon 
 rows and the lot should be resold. In case that the 
 address of the debtor was unknown the intended re- 
 sale should be announced in the newspapers and the 
 transfer of the dead body made 30 days later. The 
 debts for lots in October already amounted to $4,445, 
 therefore John Peroutka was intrusted with the col- 
 lections of those debts for $25. 
 
 During this year 343 dead were buried, 10 of 
 them gratis. 
 
 On December 7 it was resolved that federal 
 bonds should be bought for the surplus in the treas- 
 ury, and the committee purchased 41/2 pct. bonds 
 for $2,000.00. The entire property of the cemetery 
 was insured for loss by fire ($3,500.00). The cost of 
 the new green-house was $865.32. A donation of 
 $25.00 was given to the 14th Ward School. 
 
 New members in 1887: Bozena Nemcova Lodge 
 No. 1022, K. L. H., with delegates Vac. Topinka and 
 Ant. Kanak (the lodge was admitted on January 19 
 and withdrew on August 3) ; Vratislav Lodge No. 51 
 
 42 
 
C. S. p. S. on July 20, with delegates F. J. Doubek 
 and J. Havel. 
 
 New delegates in 1887: Otakar Lodge, K. of P.— 
 Vac. Bilek and Mat. Blazek (succeeded by L. Melka) ; 
 Osveta Lodge — John Vysoky and Jos. Ruecker; Lin- 
 coln Lodge — Chas. Soldat and Aug. Geringer; Gar- 
 field Lodge — Al. Cerny and Chas. Sramek; Vac. Obc. 
 fiad — Mat. Hanzlik; Fire Aid Society — Mart. Traznik 
 and Proc. Fiser; Hip Lodge — Ign. Slezak, succeeded 
 by Mart. Ring; Vysehrad Lodge — John Mencl, suc- 
 ceeded by Mat. Vesely and Mart. Silhanek; Ces.-Del- 
 nicky Lodge — Ant. Hybl and Fr. Vranek, later J. 
 Hospes; Jiri Podebradsky Lodge — John Vondra and 
 John Chvala; Ces.-Nar. Lodge — Fr. Duha; Praha 
 Lodge — Jar. Lenoch; Vernost Lodge — Vac. Slapak; 
 Mor. Slav. Benev. Society — Jos. Komeraus and Fr. 
 Masek; Ceska Koruna Lodge — Vac. Stal and Mat. 
 Han; Boh. Sharpshooters — Jos. Caithamr and Jos. 
 Francl; Boh. Amer. Sokol — Rud. Kapsa; Jifi Wash- 
 ington Lodge — E. Smola; Obcansky fiad No. 2 — Fr. 
 Riedl; Rovnost Lodge — Jos. Svojse. 
 
 1888 
 
 On February 29 it was reported that the effort 
 to collect debts had been unsatisfactory. Therefore 
 it was resolved to try again and to remit all uncol- 
 lected cases to a lawyer for collection. All legal 
 work was given to Mr. C. D. Lusk. 
 
 The total number of burials (from the begin- 
 ning) was 4,061, and 813 lots were sold. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 9 Jos. Matousek 
 was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; 
 Em. A. Haase, Rec. Secretary; Thom. Kosatka, Fin. 
 Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos, A. Smejkal, 
 Jos. Kostner and George Nikodem, Board of Trus- 
 tees; Fr. Hess, Cemetery Superintendent; Aug. Ge- 
 ringer, Fr. Ring and Jos. Svojse, Auditing Commit- 
 tee. Receipts in this half were $7,659.25, disburse- 
 ments $6,624.75; 248 burials of which 6 were free 
 of charge, 50 lots sold; $1,800 was paid up on loans 
 during the past year. 
 
 Upon motion of Fr. Hess it was resolved to hold 
 
 43 
 
only one meeting every month, on the first Wednes- 
 day, and this custom became permanent. 
 
 Upon request of the Bohemian Sharpshooters 
 permission was given to them to celebrate the un- 
 veiling of Procop Houdek Monument on June 3. 
 
 On August 1 it was resolved to make it a rule 
 to cover the graves only with sod, because the stone- 
 borders fell to pieces after a few years and presented 
 a very bad appearance. The same rule had been 
 adopted by all of the other cemeteries in Chicago. 
 
 The annual celebration met with great success. 
 The procession, v/ith George Sindelar as Marshall, 
 marched through the city to the depot. The receipts 
 were $3,433.58; disbursements $1,819.49; net pro- 
 ceeds $1,614.09, from which the Boh.-English Freeth. 
 School received $175.00, Matice Skolska in Chicago 
 $125.00, Klacel School $78.00, Northwestern Boh. 
 School $78.00, Matice Skolska in Bohemia $78.00. 
 
 On December 5 the Association was requested to 
 send a delegate to the committee for the erection of 
 a monument to the Civil War Veterans at the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery. Jos. Kostner was appoint- 
 ed to attend the meetings of the committee and to 
 make reports. 
 
 The receipts for this semester were $8,208.45; 
 disbursements $6,546.49; 36 lots sold; 318 burials, 
 of which 6 were free of charge. 
 
 The only new member admitted in 1888 was Ob- 
 cansky Rad No. 28, with Maurice Halek and Vac. 
 Krai as delegates. (These delegates were later suc- 
 ceeded by Vac. Malecek and Fr. Vlach.) 
 
 New delegates in 1888: Jifi Washington Lodge 
 — Vojt. Sedlacek; Rip Lodge — J. V. Matejka (suc- 
 ceeded by J. Peroutka and after Peroutka's death by 
 Jan Nechvatal) and Fr. Lahvic; Garfield Lodge — 
 Jos. Krupicka and M. Nosek; Vernost Lodge — J. Ja- 
 vurek (succeeded by John Prochazka) and Fr. Ka- 
 lina; Osveta Lodge — Vac. Kudrle and Jos. Becvaf; 
 Lincoln Lodj^e — Aug. Geringer; Fire Aid Society — 
 Mat. Silhanek; Boh. Amer. Sokol — Vojt. Janecek and 
 Vojt. Churan (succeeded by Fr. Kaspar) ; Otakar 
 Lodge, K. P. — Fr. Kubu ; Vysehrad Lodge — Vac. Lu- 
 kes and Fr. Capouch ; Boh. Sharpshooters — John Zeit- 
 
 44 
 
hamer and Vac. Kodrout, later Jos. Hospes; Obc. 
 ftad No. 2 — Vac. Kapoun; Ceska Koruna Lodge — Jos. 
 Kraus (succeeded by Fr. Kaspar) ; Praha Lodge — 
 Vac. Topinka; Mor. Slav. Benev. Society — Fr. Kratky; 
 Vratislav Lodge — Vac. Kabat; Pokrok Lodge — John 
 Spillar. 
 
 1889 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that 10 acres 
 were purchased. The real estate of the Cemetery 
 was valued at $35,303.50; movable property at 
 $6,145.00; total $41,498.50. During the past year 
 there were 600 burials of which 17 were free of 
 charge; 83 lots were sold. 
 
 On February 6 the statute amendment by which 
 the stone-borders around the lots were prohibited in 
 all new sections was accepted on the third reading. 
 Further, by 31 votes against 11, the transfer of meet- 
 ings to the Boh.-Engl. Freeth. School on 18th St. 
 was accepted. 
 
 On March 6 the treasurer was instructed to pay 
 $6,000.00 to Jeanne and Thomas Conway for the new- 
 ly purchased 10 acres. 
 
 On April 3 a committee was elected to draft all 
 necessary statute amendments: J. B. Nikodem, Fr. 
 Mencl, Fr. Hess, Fr. Macek and John Vojta. 
 
 At the annual meeting, held on May 1, Jos. Hla- 
 dovec was elected President; John Kfiz, Vice-Presi- 
 dent; Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; Thom. Kosatka, Fin. 
 Secretary; Vac. Visa, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smejkal, 
 Jos. Sindelaf and Jos. Hora, Board of Trustees; Fr. 
 Hess, Cemetery Superintendent. The financial re- 
 port for the entire past year was as follows; receipts, 
 $15,618.98; disbursements, $14,358.28. There were 
 263 burials, of which 8 were free of charge. 
 
 Matice Skolska in Prague sent a diploma of 
 honorary membership which was framed. 
 
 $50.00 was donated on July 3 for relief of miners 
 at Coal City and Sufferanceville. 
 
 The annual celebration on July 28 was held in 
 connection with the celebration of the laying of the 
 corner stone for the Bohemian Civil War Veterans 
 Monument. The American attendance was large. 
 
 45 
 
The Grand Army of the Republic and Sons of Vet- 
 erans took part at this manifestation, and the bonds 
 between Bohemians and their American fellow-citi- 
 zens were considerably stren^hened. George Sinde- 
 laf was the marshall; Jos. Cermak, editor of the 
 Daily Svornost and author of a History of the Civil 
 War in the Bohemian language, was the speaker of 
 the day; attorney Kraus, Col. J. H. Southworth and 
 Vac. Kaspar were speakers in the garden. More 
 than 100 documents were sealed into the corner stone 
 by various societies. It was also resolved to express 
 thanks to Capt. E. R. Lewis for his effective support. 
 Receipts were $3,857.25; disbursements, $2,126.03; 
 from the net proceeds ($1,731.22) one half, $865.61, 
 w^as donated to the monument fund. 
 
 On August 7 new sections of the Cemetery were 
 opened. $20.00 was sent to the flood sufferers in 
 Bohemia. On October 2 a donation of $25.00 was 
 made to the 16th Vv^ard School. On December 4 
 Christmas tree donations were made: $25.00 to the 
 18th Street School and $15.00 each to Maticni, Klacel 
 and Northwestern Schools. 
 
 New members admited in 1889 were: Jan 2izka 
 Lodge No. 1 J. T. (Vac. Matas and J. L. Dvorak, dele- 
 gates) ; Prokop Veliky Lodge No. 3 J. T. (Vac. Sedlak 
 and Jos. Dubsky, delegates) ; Jan Hus Lodge No. 2 
 J. T. (Jos. Kosatka and John Wilfort) ; Obcansky 
 Rad No. 8 (John Tauchen and Jos. Fronek, succeed- 
 ed by Theo. Smidl, delegates) ; Klacel Court No. 84 
 I. O. O. F. (John Kfiz and Vac. Paara, delegates), 
 all with $50.00 admission fees. 
 
 Changes in delegates were : Vysehrad Lodge — 
 Fr. Marousek, succeeded by John Pecha; Garfield 
 Lodge — Vac. Nekola and Jos. Baeumel ; Jif i Pode- 
 bradsky Lodge — L. Cerny and V. Budilovsky; Vaclav 
 Obc. Rad — J. Jedlicka, succeeded by Jos. Lahvic; 
 Jifi Washington Lodge — Mat. Papez; Rip Lodge — 
 Jos. Sindelaf; Boh. Amer. Sokol — Jos. Hladovec and 
 J. V. Matejka; Pravda Lodge — J. B. Nikodem and 
 Fr. Hess; Ceska Koruna Lodge — Mat. Hahn and Mat. 
 Benes, succeeded by Fr. Valvoda; Vratislav Lodge — 
 Fr. Drasal; Rovnost Lodge — Fr. Hrejsa; Ces.-Del. 
 Lodge — Jos. Vranek; Fire Aid Society — Jos. Cinkl; 
 
 46 
 
Svobodna Obec — Ant. Smrz; Palacky Lodge I. O. O. 
 F. — Jos. Matousek; Praha Lodge L O. O. F. — Jos. 
 Jurka and V. Topinka, succeeded by Jos. Novak; Ota- 
 kar Lodge, K. P. — Jos. Vodicka ; Osveta Lodge — Mat. 
 Tanzer; Obcansky Rad No. 2 — Jan Zika; Boh. Sharp- 
 shooters — Ad. Cerny; Pokrok Lodge — Fr. Masa. 
 
 1890 
 
 Prices in the new section at Klacel Monument 
 were fixed as follows : four corner lots near the 
 monument, $150.00 each, other lots, 75, 65, 60 and 55 
 dollars, according to location. The gardener's salary 
 was raised to $50.00 a month. 
 
 The annual report showed that there was a to- 
 tal of 5,176 dead buried in the cemetery and 994 lots 
 sold (during the last year there were 625 burials, 
 of which 17 were free of charge; 104 lots were sold 
 for $7,000). 
 
 The entire property was valued at $57,471.00. 
 
 On March 5 the Board of Trustees submitted the 
 plans for new sections and roads in the eastern part 
 of the cemetery, drafted by Messrs. Greeley and Carl- 
 son, engineers. 
 
 On May 7 the annual meeting was held. Jos. 
 Matousek was elected President; John Kfiz, Vice- 
 President; Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; John J. Vojta, 
 Fin. Secretary; Jos. Babka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smej- 
 kal, Jos. Hora and Jos. Sindelaf, Board of Trustees; 
 Fr. Hess, Cemetery Superintendent. The salaries 
 were raised as follows: Financial Secretary $150.00, 
 members of the Board of Trustees $3.00 for each trip 
 to the cemetery and $25.00 a year for time losses 
 due to negotiations in the city. The treasurer was in- 
 structed not to keep more cash than $5,000.00 on 
 hand and to remit any money in excess of this amount 
 to the Board of Trustees who would deposit it at in- 
 terest. The Association consisted of 35 societies with 
 70 delegates; in case of 12 societies the 50-dollar ad- 
 mission fees were still in the hands of the Associa- 
 tion to be returned after the expiration of 5 years. 
 Debts for lots sold totalled $6,557.30. Mr. Benes's 
 plan for a green-house annex was approved. 
 
 47 
 
On June 18 a special meeting approved several 
 statute amendments. The most important were : New 
 members were to pay a $100.00 admission fee which 
 was non-returnable. Amounts to be used for other 
 purposes than those of the cemetery could be voted 
 upon only if two thirds of the delegates present ap- 
 proved of the proposed subscriptions. 
 
 The net proceeds from the annual celebration 
 were $2,224.73. 
 
 On August 6, upon request of the Boh. Engl. 
 Freeth. School Patronage, a loan of $1500.00 for 6 
 months at 6% was voted. On October 1 two dona- 
 tions were made : $25.00 to the Boh. Engl. School 
 and $50.00 for flood sufferers in Bohemia in the care 
 of Mr. Vojta Naprste'k. 
 
 New member admitted: Cesky Lev Court No. 
 24 I. O. O. F., Jos. Babka and Jos. Soller, later suc- 
 ceeded by Phil. Cesal, delegates. 
 
 New delegates were: Otakar Lodge, K. P. — Fr. 
 Kvapil; Osveta Lodge — Chas. Synek; Vysehrad 
 Lodge — Jos. Becvaf and Fr. Vales; Obc. Rad No. 2 — 
 Vojt. Morava; Vaclav Obc. Rad No. 23 — Jos. Hru- 
 bec; Mor. Slav. Ben. Society — Jos. Komorous and 
 Mart. Krauskruber, the first followed by Fr. Kopfi- 
 va and both followed by John Hospes and Jos. Vra- 
 nek; Pravda Lodge — J. V. Matejka, followed by Fr. 
 Hess; Ces.-Nar. Lodge — Chas. Flemr; Sokol Gymn. 
 Assn. — Stan. J. Halik; Lodge No. 8 CSPO. — J. Mar- 
 tinek; Klacel Court — John Krtezius; Jan Hus Lodge 
 J. T. — Fr. Kovafik; Rovnost Lodge — Libor Poslusny; 
 Praha Lodge — Jos. F. Kohout, followed by Vac. To- 
 pinka; Svob. Obec — L. W. Kadlec; Ceska Koruna 
 Lodge — John Suda; Jifi Podebradsky Lodge — Mat. 
 Tyk; Palacky Lodge lOOF. — Fr. Fucik; Prokop Ve- 
 liky Lodge J. T. — Jos. Kundrat. 
 
 1891 
 
 According to the financial report for 1890 the 
 gardener's receipts were $5,179.39 and expenditures 
 $3,382.60. There were 700 burials, of which 27 were 
 free of charge. The total number of buried was 
 
 48 
 
5,881. Total lots sold were 1,113 (in the past year 
 121 lots were sold for $7,380). 
 
 On March 4 Fr. Mencl was appointed delegate 
 to the Bohemian Veterans Monument committee. 
 
 The Board of Trustees recommended the open- 
 ing of a new section with a provision that nothing 
 should be sold there until all lots in the older sec- 
 tions were sold. 
 
 On April 1 it was reported that the debts for 
 lots sold still amounted to $7,608.00 and for grave 
 decorations $151.40. The financial secretary was 
 instructed to send notices to the debtors. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 6 Vaclav Matas 
 was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr. 
 Ring, Rec. Secretary; Stan. J. Halik, Fin. Secretary; 
 Jos. Babka, Treasurer; Jos. Jurka and Jos. Sindelaf, 
 Board of Trustees; Jos. Kostner, Cemetery Superin- 
 tendent. The latter received a badge which enabled 
 him to visit other Chicago cemeteries to study their 
 management. The Board of Trustees was instructed 
 to buy bonds for $3,000.00 and to look for additional 
 land. 
 
 The annual celebration on July 26 brought 44 
 railroad cars of excursionists to the cemetery. The 
 net proceeds were $1,944.79. 
 
 On Septemer 2, the Civil War Veterans commit- 
 tee reported that $1,500.00 was wanting to the full 
 price of the monument and the Association was asked 
 to donate this amount. A committee of three, Ma- 
 tousek, Kostner and Fucik, was elected and upon its 
 recommendation the Association voted that amount 
 on November 4. 
 
 On August 18 a tour of inspection of all mem- 
 bers of the Association was held for the purpose of 
 a thorough inspection of the cemetery and to give 
 an opportunity to the members to disclose their opin- 
 ions and to find what could be improved. The fares 
 and refreshments were paid for from the treasury. 
 40 delegates were present. 
 
 On December 2 the following donations were 
 made: Matice Skolska in Chicago, $10.00; the 
 Grand Lodge C. S. P. S. of the State of Illinois, $6.00 
 worth of flowers for the National Committee cele- 
 
 49 
 
bration; poor children in Bohemian schools, $100.00, 
 ($20.00 to each of five schools). 
 
 New delegates in this year were: Sokol Gymn. 
 Assn. — Fr. Mencl; Boh. Amer. Sokol — J. V. Matejka 
 and J. Hladovec; Vernost Lodge — John Forst and 
 Wm. Vogel; Praha Lodge — John Brejcha; Jungmann 
 Lodge — John Hora; Jifi Podebradsky Lodge — Vac. 
 Kolaf and Jos. Kerner; Jifi Washington Lodge — Fr. 
 Smola; Garfield Lodge — Vac. Vaska and J. Tupy, 
 the latter followed by Proc. Vitek; Prokop Veliky 
 Lodge J. T. — Jos. Kundrat and Vac. Sedlak; Boh. 
 Sharpshooters — Fr. Sima and Jos. Chylek; Vaclav 
 Obc. Rad No. 23— Fr. Kalina, followed by Fr. Bau- 
 dys, and Jos. Bradac; Svob. Obec — Vojt. Vofisek 
 and Chas. Svoboda; Jan Zizka Lodge J. T. — John 
 Dvorak and John Zika; Klacel Court — Jos. Benes; 
 Obc. Rad No. 28 — Jos. Cimbura and John Svoboda; 
 Otakar Lodge, K. P. — Wm. Kosa; Vratislav Lodge — 
 Mat. Kolaf and Jos. Turek. 
 
 1892 
 
 On January 6 it was resolved to return the 50- 
 dollar admission fees to the seven remaining societies 
 which had not yet received them. A donation of 
 $20.00 was made to Matice Skolska in Bohemia. 
 
 On February 3 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that there was no possibility of buying any more land 
 for the cemetery, because this land was within the 
 city limits and could not be used for cemetery pur- 
 poses. 
 
 During the year 1891, 185 lots were sold; there 
 were 865 burials, of which 29 were free of charge. 
 The real estate of the Cemetery was valued at 
 $75,574.00, cash and bonds were $10,145.73, making 
 the total $85,609.73. 
 
 On April 6 $25.00 was donated to the National 
 Committee. It was resolved to start new books, install 
 a correct commercial bookkeeping system and hire a 
 capable bookkeeper at least for the summer months 
 for a salary of $50.00 a month. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 4 Vac. Matas 
 was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Jos. 
 
 50 
 
Becvaf, Rec. Secretary; Stan. J. Halik, Fin. Secretary; 
 Jos. Babka, Treasurer; Jos. Sindelaf and Fr. Fucik, 
 Board of Trustees; Jos. Kostner, Cemetery Superin- 
 tendent. Twelve applications for bookkeeper were 
 received; the lowest offer by E. A. Haase for $40.00 
 a month was accepted, and he began to work on 
 April 23. 
 
 The celebration of the unveiling of the Bohemian 
 Veterans' Monument was held on May 29. It was 
 the greatest patriotic manifestation by Bohemians of 
 Chicago up to that time, and all American dailies 
 had detailed reports next morning, with pictures and 
 full texts of speeches. All Freethinker Societies 
 marched in the procession with banners and bands, 
 and a prominent place in the procession was reserved 
 for the veterans of the Grand Army of Republic and 
 for the Sons of Veterans. The procession was led 
 by the marshall, W. Stuchlik; E. R. Lewis was the 
 Grand Marshall, Jos. Sindelaf and A. J. Miks were in 
 his staff (Sindelaf led the Bohemian division, A. J. 
 Miks led the division of the veterans) and Petr Hand, 
 Fr. Stejskal, H. J. Lehman and J. C. Barker were 
 adjutants. Near the veiled monument at the ceme- 
 tery Mayor Carter H. Harrison, William S. Elliot, L. 
 W. Kadlec, Jos. Cermak, Ed. Harlan, commander of 
 the Grand Army of Illinois, the historian Robert H. 
 Vickers and the members of the Cemetery committee 
 awaited the procession. 
 
 About 200 school children sang the anthem 
 ''America", Miss Albina Stejskal, in behalf of the 
 Singing Society, presented the officers of the Ceme- 
 tery with a big American banner, for which Jos. Kost- 
 ner expressed thanks. The president of the Cemetery, 
 Jos. Matousek, made the introductory speech in which 
 he declared: *'We are Americans and love this new 
 country not only with words, but with deeds, as this 
 monument proves." The Grand Marshall, Lewis, was 
 the English speaker of the day, his theme being ''This 
 is the day of brotherhood," and after his speech the 
 monument was unveiled by John Schultz, son of the 
 Bohemian veteran Frank Schultz. Vaclav Kaspar, 
 in behalf of the Monument Committee, dedicated the 
 monument to the Bohemian National Cemetery, and 
 
 51 
 
after a short reply by V. Matas, Jos. Cermak, editor 
 of the Daily Svornost and the Bohemian speaker of 
 the day, spoke, followed by Mayor Harrison, W. S. 
 Elliott and Commander Harlan. The Ladies' Society 
 Vlasta No. 2, today Vlasta Lodge No. 9 S. P. J., do- 
 nated a beautiful golden emblem to that member of 
 the Monument Committee who deserved the great- 
 est merit, and the emblem was presented by Mrs. 
 Marie Slapak, president of the Vlasta Society, and 
 by Mrs. Uhlif to Mr. Fr. Schultz. The Bohemian 
 ladies also dedicated on this occasion a splendid 
 American banner to the Cemetery Association which 
 uses it at celebrations to this day. 
 
 On June 1 Jos. Jurka resigned on account of 
 his trip to Bohemia and Jos. A. Smejkal was elected 
 his successor on the Board of Trustees. 
 
 On July 7 the recording secretary was instructed 
 to draft a memorial for the foundation stone of the 
 Plzefisky Sokol building. — It was reported that the 
 cost of the Veterans' Monument was $5,035.00, the 
 committee collected $3,490.00, earned $824.00; and 
 the amount to be supplied by the Bohemian Cemetery 
 was $720.40. The report was approved and all bills 
 settled. 
 
 The annual celebration on July 31 met with an 
 extraordinary success. Five trains brought big 
 crowds to the cemetery. The weather was unusually 
 fine. Jos. Sindelaf was again marshall of the proces- 
 sion. The net proceeds were $1,265.78. 
 
 In September E. A. Haase resigned as bookkeep- 
 er and F. Mencl as Vice-President. Jos. Hora was 
 elected Vice-President. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on No- 
 vember 13 and reporters from the Bohemian news- 
 papers were invited. Improvements recommended by 
 the delegates at this occasion were : new gate, new 
 fence, new house for the gardener, new road for 
 freight wagons and other minor suggestions. 
 
 On December 7, it was resolved to build a new 
 gate and to begin work on it in the spring. $100.00 
 was donated to the Bohemian schools, $25.00 to each. 
 
 Sokol Gymn. Association and Boh. Amer. Sokol 
 merged into Slovanska Lipa Association and as a new 
 
 52 
 
society were admited on August 3, with St. J. Halik 
 and Al. E. Kapsa as delegates. 
 
 New delegates this year were : Boh. Amer. So- 
 kol — A. M. Kapsa and Jos. Dvorak; Vernost Lodge — 
 John Novak ; Lincoln Lodge — Ant. Dvorak ; Jifi Wash- 
 ington Lodge — Vojt. Matousek and Ant. Kryzan; 
 Oarfield Lodge — Vac. Nekola and Vac. Vaska; Ce- 
 ska Koruna Lodge — Fr. Aulicky and John Suda; Ob- 
 cansky Rad No. 2 — Fr. Riedl and Jos. Plachetka, 
 the latter followed by Vac. Opat; Vaclav Obc. Rad 
 — Jos. Hrubec; Boh. Sharpshooters — John Stropni- 
 cky, later Adolf Cerny and Fr. Suchy; Klacel Court — 
 Mat. Rolenc, followed by Chas. Vesely, and Fr. Te- 
 saf; Prokop Veliky Lodge J. T. — John Pecha; Pra- 
 ha Lodge lOOF. — Emil Hambachr; Jan Zizka Lodge 
 J. T.— Ed. Sichra; Ces.-Nar. Lodge — Mart. Wolf; 
 Pravda Lodge — Em. A. Haase; Svob. Obec — Jos. Bra- 
 za and Ant. Smrz, later Chas. Censky and John Bam- 
 l)ula; Vratislav Lodge — Mat. Kolaf and Vac. Hejda- 
 nek; Vysehrad Lodge — Jos. Becvaf and Vac. Pelikan; 
 Ces.-Del. Lodge — Fr. Vranek and Jos. Vranek. 
 
 1893 
 
 The annual report showed that in the past year 
 there were 850 burials of which 30 were free of 
 charge; 178 lots were sold for $1,330. 
 
 On March 1 the design for a new gate by archi- 
 tect Kfivanek was approved. — The Jefferson Electric 
 Street Railway asked for signatures to its petition for 
 the right of way for its line passing near the ceme- 
 tery. It was agreed to comply with this request. — 
 The National C. S. P. S. Supreme Lodge asked the 
 Association to send a delegate to a public meeting, 
 concerning the erection of a Bohemian Orphans' or 
 Old Peoples' Asylum. The Association answered that, 
 being itself a body consisting only of delegates of 
 other societies, it could not send such a delegate, 
 but that it would support such an institution as much 
 as possible. 
 
 On April 5 the Bohemian Veterans' Monument 
 Committee submitted a request that the Association 
 should take charge of the Memorial Day Celebra- 
 
 53 
 
tion. This matter was referred to the Board of Trus« 
 tees. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 3 Jos. Hora was 
 elected President; Vac. Matas, Vice-President; Fr. 
 Ring, Rec. Secretary; St^ J. Halik, Fin. Secretary; J. 
 Babka, Treasurer; J. A. Smejkal and Fr. Fucik, Board 
 of Trustees; Jos. Kostner, Cemetery Superintendent. 
 
 On June 7 $50.00 was donated to the new Klacel 
 School Building. 
 
 The salary of the gardener, Mr. Ine, was raised 
 to $75.00 a month. 
 
 The annual celebration on July 30 brought 4 
 trains and 44 cars to the cemetery. The net proceeds 
 were $1,165.05. 
 
 On August 2 flowers for the welcome of guests 
 from Bohemia were donated, and on Sept. 6 the bill 
 for flowers for the Sokol float on the Bohemian Day 
 at the World's Fair was cancelled. On November 1 
 a wreath was voted for the funeral of the deceased 
 friend of Chicago Bohemians, Mayor Harrison. 
 
 On December 6 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that several new improvements were finished: new 
 gate and house for $15,179.30, new barn for 
 $1,118.54, new fence for $345.00. $100.00 was do- 
 nated for Christmas celebrations to 4 Bohemian 
 schools. 
 
 During this year 144 lots were sold for $11,185. 
 There were 819 burials. The real estate of the ceme- 
 tery was valued at $98,918.00. 
 
 New delegates in 1893 were: Prokop Veliky 
 Lodge J. T. — Ant. Chmelik and J. G. Panoch; Vaclav 
 Obc. Rad — ^Jos. Hrubec and Jos. Bradac; Mor. Slav. 
 Ben. Society — Jos. Vranek, followed by Jac. Pfepej- 
 chal, and John Hospes; Lincoln Lodge — Jos. Wolf 
 and Thom. Kosatka; Klacel Court — John Krtezius 
 and John Kfivanek; Jungmann Lodge — Jos. Hora and 
 Jos. Najemnik; Praha Lodge lOOF. — Em. Hamba- 
 cher; Praha Lodge CSPS. — John Kfiz and John Brej- 
 cha, followed by Jos. Hladovec; Cesky Lev Court — 
 M. Kalal and Phil. Cesal; Vernost Lodge — Fr. Mend 
 and John Novak, followed by Jos. Cedik; Jan 2izka 
 Lodge J. T. — Ed. Sichra and Vas. Matas; Jan Hus 
 Lodge J. T. — John Fiser; Ces-.Nar. Lodge — Vac. 
 
 54 
 
Trumpich, followed by Chas. Tremer who again was 
 succeeded by Mat. Salava; Pravda Lodge — J. V. Be- 
 nes; Obc. Rad No. 2 — Mart. Fuxa; Rip Lodge — 
 Chas. Llbal; Ceska Koruna Lodge — F. Hlavin and 
 Jos. Moravec; Obc. Rad No. 28— Fr. Vlach; Fire Aid 
 Society — Mat. Hanzlik; Boh. Sharpshooters — Jos. Ku- 
 bicek; Vysehrad Lodge — Jos. Mandl and Jos. Raus. 
 
 1894 
 
 On January 7 it was reported that the insurance 
 was increased to $7,000.00. 
 
 On April 4 $15.00 worth of flowers was donated 
 to the Boh. Engl. School at Town of Lake for the 
 celebration of its opening. 
 
 On May 2 the annual meeting was held. Jos. 
 Hora was elected President; Ant. Chmelik, Vice-Pres- 
 ident; Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treas- 
 urer; Vac. Matas and Jos. Sindelaf, Board of Trus- 
 tees. On May 16 Jos. Spiegelhauer (Zrcadlovsky) 
 was appointed bookkeeper, on account of his exper- 
 ience at the cemetery at Manitowoc, Wis., and a new 
 office was opened for him at the hall of Mr. Pechota 
 on 18th St. 
 
 On June 6 it was resolved to decorate the gate 
 with a memorial tablet with the names of the origi- 
 nal founders of the cemetery: Jos. Matousek, Jos. 
 Dostal, Fr. Bedlan, M. Polacek and Vojt. Freml. 
 
 The annual celebration on July 29 met with fine 
 success notwithstanding the financial crisis from 
 Avhich workingmen and business men suffered very 
 badly. The net proceeds were $637.19 of which one 
 third had been promised to the Old Peoples' Home. 
 
 On September 5 president Jos. Hora was elected 
 delegate to the Committee for the Ethnographic Ex- 
 position in Prague and Fr. Pechota was elected dele- 
 gate to the Old Peoples' Home committee. 
 
 The Board of Trustees began the work on the 
 pond. This was to be 400 feet long and 80 feet wide 
 and a new section was to be filled with the soil 
 hauled out. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection took place on Sun- 
 day, October 7. Eighteen delegates were present. 
 
 55 
 
A check for $212.90 for the Bohemian Old Peo- 
 ples' Home was issued. $25.00 worth of flowers was 
 donated to the Klacel School and $10.00 worth to 
 the Ladies' Committee for the Matice Skolska bazaar. 
 $100.00 for Christmas was donated to five Bohemian 
 schools. 
 
 St. J. Halik was instructed to write a short his- 
 tory of the Association for the Ethnographic Exposi- 
 tion in Prague. 
 
 Two members dropped off: Obcansky Had No. 
 28 disbanded and Vaclav Obc. Rad No. 3 merged 
 with the Ces.-Delnicky Lodge. New delegates: Ver- 
 ost Lodge — John Forst and Fr. Mencl; Jifi Podebrad- 
 sky Lodge — Jos. Drznicek and John Stropnicky ; Osve- 
 ta Lodge — Ign. Kutta and Vojt. Janecek; Pravda 
 Lodge — Jos. Zarobsky; Lincoln Lodge — Jos. Pavlik; 
 Jifi Washington Lodge — Ign. Schultz, followed by 
 Vac. Kratochvil, and Ant. Kryzan; Ces.-Del. Lodge 
 J. T. — John Kadlec; Boh. Sharpshooters — Fr. Sima; 
 Fire Aid Society — Vac. Topinka; Prokop Veliky 
 Lodge J. T. — Phil. Cesal; Otakar Lodge, K. P. — M. R. 
 Hfebik; Klacel Court — Vac. Minafik; Palacky Lodge 
 — F. J. Pechota; Praha Lodge — John Kuttan; Rov- 
 nost Lodge — John Dolezal; Obc. Had No. 8 — Dav. 
 Mach; Vysehrad Lodge — Jos. Hosek, succeeded by 
 Jos. Skala and Fr. Capouch; Ceska Koruna Lodge — 
 Fr. Komorous. 
 
 1895 
 
 On January 2 the Board of Trustees reported 
 the rear gate finished. It was resolved that every lot 
 purchaser pay one third of the price at time of the 
 purchase, and that all lot debtors pay 6% interest on 
 the amount due. 
 
 In 1894 according to the annual report there 
 were 953 burials (among them 67 free of charge) 
 and 106 lots were sold for $8,388.00. 
 
 The Board of Trustees gave an order for a large 
 map of the cemetery to the surveyor, Mr. Pavlicek, 
 who presented the same on June 5. The cost was 
 $300.00, and it was resolved to make several blue 
 prints for all cemetery offices. 
 
 56 
 
On March 6 it was resolved to comply with the 
 request of the committee for the Ethnographic Expo- 
 sition in Prague and to take pictures of various views 
 of the cemetery as well as a group picture of the dele- 
 gates. 
 
 On April 3 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 it was necessary to open a new section near the Vete- 
 rans' Monument. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 1 Fr. Mencl was 
 elected President; St. J. Halik, Vice-President; Jos. 
 Vaska, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A. 
 Smejkal, Fr. Fucik and M. Wolf, Board of Trustees. 
 
 The Board of Trustees submitted the 20-year 
 History of the Cemetery, written by F. B. Zdrubek. 
 The names selected for the main roads were as fol- 
 lows (beginning from the north) : 1, Komensky; 2, 
 Klacel; 3, Hus; 4, National; 5, Havlicek; 6, Beach. 
 The name of the road east from the Veterans' Monu- 
 ment was to be Bohemian-American Veterans' Road. 
 The roads from the north to the south, beginning from 
 Crav^ord Avenue, were to be numbered. 
 
 At a special meeting, held on June 24, the offer 
 of the Boh. Engl. School at 18th St. was accepted. 
 The Association was to have its office there for 
 $10.00 a month. Joseph Spousta was elected Finan- 
 cial Secretary. 
 
 At the annual tour of inspection, held on Sep- 
 tember 22, special attention was given to the vault 
 for the storage of the dead. 
 
 At the meeting of November 6 an expression of 
 sympathy to the family of the deceased grave-digger, 
 Jos. Lahvic, was voted, and his son, Jos. A. Lahvic, 
 was intrusted with the duties of his father. The 
 bookkeeping was given to the financial secretary who 
 had to move to the cemetery. 
 
 It was reported that the artesian well was in 
 such a condition that any attempt to repair it would 
 be hopeless. Therefore it appeared necessary to build 
 a water-house. The plans were submitted at the 
 meeting of December 4 and approved. $100.00 was 
 given to the Bohemian schools for Christmas. The 
 semi-annual report was: receipts, $19,495:17; dis- 
 bursements, $8,178.34; cash balance, $11,316.83. It 
 
 57 
 
was resolved to buy bonds for $10,000.00. When 
 that was done, the Association owned the following' 
 bonds: City of Chicago, $5,000.00; United States 
 $4,350.00; Village of Evanston, $2,000.00, and Chica- 
 go Water Bonds, $10,000.00. 
 
 In this semester 51 lots were sold for $4,849.00. 
 There were 510 burials, 18 free of charge. 
 
 New delegates in 1895 were: Praha Lodge I. O. 
 O. F. — Ign. Vavfinek, followed by Jar. Lenoch; Lin- 
 coln Lodge — Mat. Kozisek and Jos. 2orna ; Jifi Wash- 
 ington Lodge — Mart. Rezny and Jos. Rada; Cesky 
 Lev Court — V. Bartuska; Jan Zizka Lodge J. T. — 
 H. Suesmilich and Ant. Cermak; Svob. Obec — Jos. 
 Spiegelhauer and Al. Vafioucek; Palacky Lodge — Fr. 
 Fucik; Klacel Court — Fr. Brouk and Ant. Fingl ; Po- 
 krok Lodge — John Havlice; Ces. Koruna Lodge — 
 John Suda and F. J. Pechota. 
 
 1896 
 
 On January 8 $20.00 was donated to the Freeth. 
 Sunday School of Matice Skolska Ladies' Auxiliary. 
 
 The report showed that to the end of 1895 a 
 total of 1,786 lots had been sold. From the begin- 
 ning 10,544 burials were made. 
 
 On March 6 the vice-president, St. J. Halik, re- 
 signed from his office as well as from the member- 
 ship in the Association. The Board of Trustees re- 
 ported that a fountain for $328.00 was ordered. 
 
 At a special meeting of March 25 an amendment 
 to the charter, prepared by attorneys Jones and 
 Lusk, and cancelling the use of the surplus and profit 
 of the Association for educational and similar pur- 
 poses, was unanimously approved by 27 members 
 present. The reason for this change was that the 
 annual celebrations bringing a considerable profit 
 were discontinued and the Association was obliged 
 to save to the utmost and to use all profits only for 
 the improvement and decoration of the cemetery. 
 
 On April 1 it was resolved to start a reserve 
 fund. $15,000.00 were put aside for this purpose 
 immediately, the interest was to be added as well as 
 20 per cent from every lot sale, until the fund would 
 
 58 
 
reach the amount of $40,000.00. Such an amount 
 was never to be drawn upon, and only the interest 
 from it was to be used for decorations and improve- 
 ments of the cemetery. This resolution was unani- 
 mous. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 6 Fr. Mencl was 
 elected President; John Kfiz, Vice-President; Fr. 
 Ring, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Spousta, Fin. Secretary; 
 Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Fr. Fucik and Mart. Wolf, 
 Board of Trustees. The Recording Secretai-y was to 
 receive $25.00 a year as salary. 
 
 In June the Board of Trustees reported that the 
 old green-houses could not be repaired any more and 
 that it would be necessary to build new wooden 
 green-houses, together with a proper building for the 
 gardener's office. It was recommended that the city 
 office be given up as unnecessary. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep- 
 tember 27. 
 
 At the meeting of November 4 it was reported 
 that the cost of new green-houses and gardener's of- 
 fice was $5,624.55. 
 
 The financial secretary J. Spousta was removed 
 from office on account of malversations, but the 
 amount of $198.19, which was found missing, was 
 paid up by his guarantors on June 2, 1897, and this 
 unpleasant affair settled definitely. 
 
 The office of the financial secretary was moved 
 from the gate to the new gardener's house. 
 
 $100.00 was donated for Christmas celebrations 
 to the Bohemian Freeth. schools. 
 
 New delegates in 1896 were: Osveta Lodge — 
 John Slabihoud; Rip Lodge — Fr. Feujan; Pokrok 
 Lodge — John Havlice ; Lincoln Lodge — John Kosat- 
 ka; Klacel Court — Vojt. Sedlacek and John Dusek; 
 Jan 2izka Lodge J. T. — Ant. Zarobsky; Garfield 
 Lodge — Chas. Sramek, succeeded by Vac. Nekola; 
 Prokop Velky Lodge J. T. — Jos. Filip ; Sokol Slov. 
 Lipa — John Vanek; Vernost Lodge — John Forst; 
 Praha Lodge lOOF. — Vac. Horacek; Rovnost Lodge 
 — J. Dolezal; Vysehrad Lodge — Fr. Capouch ; Jan 
 Hus Lodge J. T. — Jos. Sinkule; Otakar Lodge, K. P. 
 — B. C. Legros. 
 
 59 
 
1897 
 
 At a special meeting held January 27 a new 
 financial secretary was elected to succeed J. Spousta. 
 From among 30 candidates at the fourth ballot Fr. 
 Husak received 26 votes of 49 present. 
 
 The buildings of the cemetery were insured for 
 $3,400.00 for five years. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 5 John Pecha 
 was elected President; J. Kfiz, Vice-President; J. 
 Filip, Rec. Secretary; F. Husak, Fin. Secretary; J» 
 Jurka, Treasurer; J. Sindelaf and J. A. SmejkaU 
 Board of Trustees. 
 
 On June 2 the first section adjoining the pond 
 was opened. Because of the fact that many people 
 of other nationalities buried their dead in the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery on account of the low price 
 of graves, it was resolved that the old prices would 
 be valid only for Bohemians and that the price for 
 other nationalities would be increased from 7 to 15 
 dollars. 
 
 The trouble about the artesian well was settled 
 at a special meeting of July 22. It was resolved to 
 follow the advice of experts and to sink it over 2,000 
 feet. Finally, at the depth of 2,160 feet, sufficient 
 water was found, 75 gallons a minute. 
 
 The old vault had become insufficient and obsolete, 
 and on July 7 the Association therefore resolved ta 
 build a new one. It was found that there was no 
 better place in the cemetery than that of the old 
 vault, but that it would be necessary to buy three 
 neighboring lots for the new building. This matter 
 was settled satisfactorily by the statement of the 
 owners of these three lots that they were willing to 
 exchange them for other lots. A special committee, 
 consisting of president Pecha, secretary Filip, mem- 
 bers of the Board of Trustees Sindelaf, Smejkal and 
 Fucik and of three specially elected members, H. 
 Kutta, Rud. Kapsa and V. Kolaf, submitted a de- 
 tailed report which recommended the building of a 
 modern two story tomb, with a ground-floor where 
 150 to 160 dead bodies could be stored in winter and 
 during hard frosts and with a large hall for funeral 
 ceremonies on the upper floor. The plans submitted 
 
 60 
 
by Mr. J. V. Benes were approved and the work of 
 building started. 
 
 On September 1 it was resolved to amend the 
 statutes to conform with the changes in the charter 
 and all other resolutions passed in the meeting. A 
 committee was elected to draft the amendments (Jos. 
 A. Smejkal, Vac. Kolaf and John Pecha). 
 
 At the meeting of October 6 a letter from the 
 lawyer, Mr. Charles D. Lusk, was read calling the 
 attention of the Association to the sad end of Robert 
 H. Vickers. This great friend of the Bohemian na- 
 tion, author of ''History of Bohemia," the first story 
 of th^ Bohemian nation in English, a splendid orator 
 whose speech at the Comenius Tercentenary, held at 
 the Central Music Hall on March 30, 1892, would 
 never be forgoten, since its masterly pathos saved the 
 situation after a painful fiasco of the other speaker, 
 Ignatius Donnelly, who knew so little about the Bohe- 
 mian nation — this man of great merit died in dejec- 
 tion and poverty. His colleagues had to pay the 
 funeral costs and provide a grave at Forest Home 
 where Vickers now reposed forgotten. Mr. Lusk 
 therefore asked the Association to transfer Vicker's 
 body to the Bohemian National Cemetery and to 
 bury it there in a grave which would be marked with 
 a tablet carrying the inscription: "Here reposes 
 Vickers, English author of the History of Bohemia." 
 The letter so impressed all the delegates that they 
 resolved without any debate to comply with this re- 
 quest. Vickers was buried in the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery on October 17, 1897, and the above tablet 
 reminds all passers-by to render homage to the great 
 Czechophile. 
 
 On December 1 $110.00 was donated to 11 Bo- 
 hemian schools. 
 
 New delegates in 1897 were: Boh. Sharpshoot- 
 ers — Fr. Mudroch and John Mraz; Praha Lodge — 
 Jos. Cunat; Pravda Lodge — Rud. Kapsa; Lincoln 
 Lodge — Jos. Valentin and Ant. Radlicka; Garfield 
 Lodge — Chas. Sramek, succeeded by Jos. Kubik, and 
 Vac. Vaska; Klacel Court — Chas. Vittmer and John 
 Dusek; Jiri Washington Lodge — Fr. Ort; Ceska Ko- 
 runa Lodge — Ferd. Svoboda; Sokol Slov. Lipa — Jac. 
 
 61 
 
Hrodej; Praha Lodge lOOF. — Chas. Novak; Otakar 
 Lodge, K. P. — Fr. Holub and Ant. Vopat. 
 
 1898 
 
 On New Year's the office of the National Ceme- 
 tery was moved to the new gardener's building. 
 
 On March 2 it was resolved to erect a big water- 
 tank in the water-house to distill the water and make 
 it soft, because the water from the artesian well was 
 too hard and not suitable for flowers, especially roses. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 4 John Pecha 
 was reelected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; 
 Jos. Filip, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. 
 Sindelaf, Jos. Smejkal and Fr. Fucik, Board of Trus- 
 tees; Fr. Stejskal, Vojt. Sedlacek and Jos. Matousek, 
 Financial Committee. Fr. Husak was reelected Finan- 
 cial Secretary, Leo Ine, gardener, and Jos. Lahvic, 
 grave-digger. 
 
 The entire property of the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery represented $170,803.02 (bonds, $26,350.00; 
 inventory, $131,723.00; debts for lots, $5,000.00; 
 grave decoration reserve, $1,250.00). 
 
 The Board of Trustees was instructed to secure 
 a Bohemian and an English speaker and to ask the 
 Bohemian-American Girls' Society to render suitable 
 songs at the Memorial Day Celebration. 
 
 It was resolved to issue identification cards to 
 the lot owners and other responsible persons for ad- 
 mittance to the cemetery on Sundays to stop the dis- 
 gracing of the cemetery by undesirable people. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection on August 30 was 
 marred by bad weather. 
 
 $200.00 was donated to 12 Bohemian Freeth. 
 Schools for Christmas. 
 
 The Fire Aid Society, one of the charter members 
 of the Association, disbanded, and its delegates, Vac. 
 Topinka and Rud. Soukup, were released from the 
 attendance of meetings from March 2 on. 
 
 New delegates this year were : Osveta Lodge — 
 Fr. Knytl ; Jan Hus Lodge J. T. — Vac. Ryba and Jos. 
 Sinkule; Lincoln Lodge — Vac. Sticha; Garfield Lodge 
 — Jos. Kroc; Jiff Washington Lodge — Fr. Ort, fol- 
 
 62 
 
lowed by Chas. Raus; Rip Lodge — J. J. Vojta; Mor. 
 Slav. Ben. Society — John Komeraus and Jos. Dobry; 
 Ces. Delnicky Lodge — John Benes and John Cesak, 
 succeeded by Vac. Topinka and Chas. Benda; Vyse- 
 hrad Lodge — Jos. Skala and Jos. Fiala ; Narodni 
 Lodge — Vac. Trumpich, folowed by Fr. Duha and 
 Aug. Burian; Rovnost Lodge — Fr. Stejskal; Jan 2iz- 
 ka Lodge J. T. — Ant. Charvat; Vysehrad Lodge — Fr. 
 Capouch; Ceska Koruna Lodge — Jar. Vitek; Otakar 
 Lodge, K. P. — Fr. Milsic; Svobodna Obec — John Sta- 
 yer and Miss Marie Zeman. 
 
 1899 
 
 On January 4 the Association voted an expres- 
 sion of sympathy to the family of Joseph Matousek, 
 who died December 23, 1898. A committee of three, 
 Fr. Stejskal, J. A. Smejkal and John V. Benes, was 
 instructed to draft it and have it published in all Bohe- 
 mian papers. Jos. Matousek was sent by the Fire 
 Aid Society to the original committee which gave 
 birth to the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa- 
 tion on February 12, 1877. In this society the idea 
 of a Bohemian cemetery originated. On February 
 26, 1877, Matousek was elected chairman of the com- 
 mittee for the drafting of the first statutes of the 
 Association. He was elected President of the Associa- 
 tion eleven times; 1878-1886, 1888 and 1890. 
 
 On February 1 a wreath of flowers was donated 
 to the Klacel School Patronage for the KlaceFs Birth- 
 day Celebi:ation on April 9. As usual after the cele- 
 bration the wreath was sent to Belle Plaine, la., to 
 be laid upon the grave of Ladimir Klacel. 
 
 On May 3 the annual meeting was held. John 
 Pecha was reelected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-Presi- 
 dent; Jos. Filip, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treas- 
 urer; Jos. Sindelar, Fr. Fucik and Jos. A. Smejkal, 
 Board of Trustees; Jos. Hora, Fr. Stejskal and Ferd. 
 Svoboda, Financial Committee. The financial secre- 
 tary Husak was reelected and his salary increased 
 to $60.00 a month. Additional paragraphs contain- 
 ing the rules for the new chapel-Vault, prepared by 
 a special committee (Fr. Ring, Mat. Sikyta and J. A. 
 Smejkal), were inserted into the statutes. 
 
 63 
 
The Memorial Day Celebration was held on May 
 30. The English address was delivered by Judge 
 Ebresold, the Bohemian address by Prof. Boh. Simek 
 of the University of Iowa. 
 
 On March 31 the entire property of the Ceme- 
 tery amounted to $180,802.04 (inventory $142,427.75, 
 bonds $29,500.00, cash $2,987.90; debts for lots, etc., 
 $5,836.39). There were 2,033 lots sold and 13,420 
 bodies buried. The cemetery had an area of 50 
 acres. Of these 20 acres were sold, 20 were re- 
 served for use and 10 covered by buildings. There 
 were still 1,462 lots for sale and about 8 acres for 
 rows which guaranteed sufficient space for burials 
 for the next 18 to 20 years. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep- 
 tember 13. This day the building committee (Jos. 
 Babka, chairman, Jos. Filip, secretary, Fr. Fucik, J. A. 
 Smejkal, Jos. Sindelaf, John Pecha, Chas. Novak and 
 V. Kolaf) officially dedicated the new Chapel-Vault 
 to its purpose. The final cost was $10,864.34. Sin- 
 cere thanks were expressed by the Association to the 
 chairman, Mr. Babka, and all other members of the 
 committee for their strenuous and unselfish services. 
 
 On October 4 the death of the grave-digger Lah- 
 vic was reported. 
 
 On December 6 $200.00 was donated to 12 Bo- 
 hemian Freeth. Schools. 
 
 New delegates this year were: Pravda Lodge — 
 A. Jifikovsky and Jos. Benes; Garfield Lodge — P. 
 Prazak, succeeded by Jos. Kubik, and J. B. Suster; 
 Lincoln Lodge — Tom. Lupac; Jifi Washington Lodge 
 — Jos. Srachta; Mor. Slav. Ben. Society — John Svec, 
 followed by Fr. Kratky, and Fr. Bubrle ; Klacel Court 
 — Fr. Liska; Praha Lodge — Vojt. Bartuska; Cesky 
 Lev Court — Phil. Cesal; Boh. Sharpshooters — Jos. 
 Chylka; Palacky Lodge lOOF.— Mat. Sikyta; Jan 
 Zizka J. T. — Ign. Suesmilich ; Vysehrad Lodge — Jos. 
 Becvar; Sokol Slov. Lipa — Jos. Kostner; Osveta Lodge 
 — John Vysoky; Jungmann Lodge — Vac. Nekola. 
 
 64 
 
F. B. ZDRUBEK 
 
 Co-founder of the Boh, Nat. Cemetery and author of 
 its first ''History." 
 
Monument of Ladimir Klacel 
 
 Philosopher and Free Thought pioneer 
 
Civil War Veterans Monument 
 

 
 u 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 c 
 
 
 

 
 s 
 O 
 
 
 o 
 o 
 
Q 
 
 e 
 
 
 
# 
 
 '1 .. 
 
 
 Spanish War Veterans Monument 
 
1900 
 
 On February 7 P>. Stejskal and Jos. Hora re- 
 signed from the financial committee and Vac. Kolaf 
 and Jos. Kostner were elected to fill their places. 
 
 The president, John Pecha, was instructed to ex- 
 plain to a new C. S. P. S. club, which wanted to as- 
 sume the name of Robert H. Vickers, and requested 
 such information — what R. H. Vicker's merits with 
 regard to the Bohemian nation were. 
 
 On April 4 complaints were presented that Mr. 
 Laziiovsky had started the erection of a dance hall 
 almost opposite the entrance to the cemetery. This 
 if allowed would be a disgrace. The committee was 
 instructed to enter into negotiations with Mr. Laziiov- 
 sky, and in case of his refusal, to go to law. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 2 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr. 
 Ring, Rec. Secretary; Fr. Husak, Fin. Secretary; Jos. 
 Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smejkal, Fr. Vytlacil and 
 Jos. Sindelaf, Board of Trustees; Jos. Kostner, J. Bec- 
 var and Vac. Kolaf, Financial Committee; Leo Ine, 
 gardener. 
 
 On June 6 a letter of the Straz Osvojenych was 
 read which pleaded in favor of the modern burials 
 by cremation. This matter was referred to the Board 
 of Trustees. — It was resolved to sell lots in the new- 
 ly opened section for $120 to $150 with exception of 
 corner lots and to open another section with cheaper 
 lots, for $60 to $100. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was set for August 
 26. 
 
 On July 11 an expression of sympathy for the 
 family of the deceased Joseph Najemnrk, a delegate 
 for many years, was voted and on this occasion also, 
 the rules on how to honor the deceased delegates 
 were approved. 
 
 On August 1 the women delegates of the Sester- 
 ska Podporujici Jednota visited the cemetery and 
 were accompanied by the Board of Trustees. 
 
 A. J. Smejkal reported that he had inspected 
 the Graceland Crematory which was built in 1893 for 
 $4,000.00. From the beginning to the end of June 
 
 65 
 
of this year 610 bodies were cremated there. The 
 fee was $25.00, the expense of the crematory $10.00. 
 After a lengthy debate this matter was postponed. 
 
 It was recommended to open a new section near 
 the Boh.-Amer. Veterans' Monument, 
 
 On October 3 four Bohemian lodges and next 
 month seven other lodges sent complaints that clamor- 
 ous picnics were held in gardens situated close to 
 the cemetery. The secretary was instructed to send 
 a written request to all societies represented in the 
 Association not to hold picnics in the neighborhod of 
 the cemetery and to help keep order. 
 
 The board of Trustees asked for authorization 
 to buy 10 adjacent acres. Approval was given, and 
 in December the board reported that 10 acres were 
 bought from Mr. Lange, at $750.00 an acre. 
 
 $200.00 was donated to 12 Bohemian schools. 
 
 It was resolved to give an order for a portrait 
 of the deceased Jos. Matousek to the well-known 
 artist, Mrs. Koupal-Lusk. $100.00 was voted for this 
 purpose. 
 
 New delegates this year were: Ces. Lev Court — 
 Fr. Vytlacil; Vysehrad Lodge — Vac. Bambula; Ver- 
 nost Lodge — Ign. Plechaty; Jifi Washington Lodge — 
 Chas. Raus; Klacel Court — Vac. Brouk, succeeded by 
 Vac. Koutnik; Lincoln Lodge — V. Pospisil; Ces.-Na- 
 rodni Lodge — Mart. Wolf; Jan 2izka Lodge J. T. — 
 John Vodak; Pravda Lodge — John Pfibyl; Vratislav 
 Lodge — Vac. Hejdanek; Ceska Koruna Lodge — F. J. 
 Pechota; Jungmann Lodge — Fr. Novak. 
 
 1901 
 
 On January 2 an amendment of the statutes w^as 
 accepted unanimously upon motion of J. Kostner. 
 The change provided that the business year would 
 begin on January 1 and end on December 31. 
 
 Upon motion of J. A. Smejkal it was resolved to 
 permit no flowers be brought in from the outside 
 and planted upon graves of the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery, in view of the present arrangement that 
 watering and mowing of grass was done free of 
 charge. 
 
 66 
 
On March 6 new rules for the Memorial Day cele- 
 brations recommended by the Board of Trustees were 
 approved. To honor the memory of Bohemian vet- 
 erans of the Civil and Spanish Wars the Board was 
 authorized to make all preliminary preparations, to 
 invite speakers and military and other societies, as 
 well as to procure a band and all necessary decora- 
 tions. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 1 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Jos. 
 Filip, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. Sin- 
 delaf and Fr. Vytlacil, Board of Trustees; Jos. Bec- 
 var, Fr. Stejskal and Vac. Kolaf, Financial Commit- 
 tee; Fr. Husak, bookkeeper; Leo Ine, gardener. 
 
 On June 5 the Bohemian Old Peoples' Home As- 
 sociation submitted a request for a $15,000 loan. It 
 sold its property at Bensonville and bought another 
 one near the cemetery from Mr. A. Pergler. After 
 a thorough debate the loan was granted at 4 percent 
 interest for 5 years, guaranteed by first mortgage. 
 
 Jos. Matousek's portrait v/as placed in the office 
 of the bookkeeper. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection took place on Au- 
 gust 18. 
 
 On November 6 the Board of Trustees submitted 
 plans for the rebuilding of the water-house for about 
 $1,659.00. 
 
 Upon motion of J. A. Smejkal, $300.00 was do- 
 nated to twelve Bohemian Freethought schools and 
 the monthly, ''Svobodna Skola." The amount was di- 
 vided according to the number of pupils in each 
 school, from $16.00 to $40.00. Jos. Kostner donated 
 his first yearly salary of $30.00 to the Matice Skol- 
 ska, $15.00 to the one in Chicago and $15.00 to the 
 one in Prague. 
 
 New delegates this year were : Ces.-Narodni 
 Lodge — Jos. Husak, followed by Fr. Hrdlicka; Klacel 
 Court — Fr. J. Tesaf and Fr. Siska; Mor. Slav. Ben. 
 Society — Buberle and John Hospes; Vratislav Lodge 
 — Dr. Drasal ; Lincoln Lodge — Mat. Kozisek ; Garfield 
 Lodge — Otto Rychtafik; Boh. Sharpshooters — Jos. 
 Mraz; Otakar Lodge, K. P. — Jos. Rothbauer; Vernost 
 Lodge — Ant. Petr; Svob. Obec — Vac. Kehak. 
 
 67 
 
1902— THE YEAR OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH 
 ANNIVERSARY 
 
 On January 8 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that the insurance was increased to $4,500.00. The 
 Board was instructed to submit suggestions for the 
 celebration of the jubilee of the Association due this 
 year on April 11. 
 
 On February 5 it was resolved to publish the his- 
 tory of the first 25 years of the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery. 
 
 On March 5 the memory of the deceased mem- 
 ber of the Association and of the Board of Trustees, 
 Joseph Sindelaf, was honored by a resolution, a copy 
 of which was sent to the family. 
 
 A special committee, V. Topinka, J. V. Benes and 
 Fr. Ring, was elected to help the Board of Trustees in 
 the publication of the history of the Cemetery. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 7 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; 
 Jos. Filip, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. 
 Smejkal, Jos. Kostner and Mat. Sikyta, Board of 
 Trustees; Becvaf, Vytlacil and Benes, Financial Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 The request of several well known citizens that 
 F. Vonasek, a Catholic who had always used abusive 
 language when he talked about Freethinkers, be 
 buried free of charge in the Bohemian National Ceme- 
 tery, because the Catholics denied permission for his 
 burial in the Catholic cemetery, was approved. 
 
 According to the financial statement the property 
 of the Bohemian National Cemetery on December 31, 
 1901, aru.ounted to $232,748.17 (cash, $4,243.37; 
 bonds, $69,000.00; inventory, $154,491.30, and debts 
 for lots and grave decoration $5,013.50). The area 
 of the cemetery was 60 acres with 3,740 lots, of 
 which 2,374 were sold and 1,366 for sale. The total 
 receipts of the Association from the beginning to Dec. 
 31, 1901, were $452,241.18, the disbursements, $447,- 
 997.81. 
 
 The Memorial Day celebration was a huge suc- 
 cess. The attendance was enormous. The Bohemian ad- 
 dress was delivered by Leo J. Palda of Cedar Rapids, 
 la.; the English address by attorney W. S. Elliot, Jr. 
 
 68 
 
On June 4 the Board of Trustees submitted a 
 new scale by which the wages of workingmen em- 
 ployed by the cemetery were increased. They were 
 divided into three classes: first class (skilled men), 
 $2.00 a day; second class, $1.75, and third class, 
 $1.50, for a 10-hour work-day. Further salary recom- 
 mendations were : Gardener-Superintendent, $90.00 
 a month; bookkeeper, $70.00 a month, and treasurer, 
 $50.00 a year. All these recommendations were ap- 
 proved. Only the treasurer's salary remained un- 
 changed, $30.00 per year, because Jos. Jurka declared 
 that he was satisfied with this amount. 
 
 On July 2 it was resolved that anybody who 
 got permission to bury a body in a lot not belonging 
 to him had to present the written permission of the 
 owner of the lot and the so-called "deed" at the 
 office of the cemetery. 
 
 At the meeting of August 6 the first step was 
 made which led later to the erection of the first Bohe- 
 mian crematorium in the world. The Bohemian- 
 American Cremation Society founded on May 26, 
 1901, in Chicago asked for the election of a commit- 
 tee which would attend the meetings of the society 
 and take part in its deliberations. After a lengthy 
 debate such a committee was elected: J. A. Smejkal, 
 V. Rehak and Fr. J. Pechota. 
 
 The Jubilee Celebration was combined with the 
 annual visitation on August 31. Jos. Kostner, mem- 
 ber of the Board of Trustees, delivered a summary 
 statement summing up all the important facts of the 
 first 25 years of the Bohemian National Cemetery. 
 
 The best illustration of changed conditions are 
 the following figures: in the first six months of the 
 cemetery, November, 1877 to April, 1878, there were 
 67 burials for which $158.50 was paid. In the same 
 period after 24 years, November, 1901 to April, 1902, 
 there were 414 burials for which $1,604.00 was paid. 
 On April 30, 1902, the last burial number was 16,179. 
 
 At the meeting on September 3 an expression of 
 sympathy to the family of John V. Benes who for 
 many years was superintendent of the cemetery and 
 member of the Board of Trustees was voted. 
 
 69 
 
An order for 5,000 bound copies of "The His- 
 tory of the Bohemian National Cemetery during the 
 first 25 years of its existence" by F. B. Zdrubek, was 
 given to the "Svornost" for $1,025. 
 
 On October 1 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 60 and % acres of land north of the cemetery were 
 bought from W. Peterson for $60,000 and that the 
 purchase would become valid in six weeks, if permis- 
 sion for the extension of the cemetery would be ob- 
 tained. 
 
 On November 5 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that an announcement was inserted in Bohemian pa- 
 pers, stating that the Association was about to accept 
 loans in a total of $60,000 from Bohemian societies 
 and individuals. The purpose was to pay for the 
 above mentioned 60 acres without selling any bonds. 
 Such a sale would have meant a considerable loss, 
 because the prices of securities were low on account 
 of the financial depression. The decision of the 
 Board was approved and it was resolved to pay 5 
 percent interest. 
 
 On December 3 it was reported that the loans 
 accepted amounted to $56,220 and that the 60 acres 
 purchased were paid in full. 
 
 A New Year's donation of $500.00 for the Bohe- 
 mian Freethought Schools in Chicago was approved, 
 and the officers and the Board of Trustees were in- 
 structed to distribute that amount at their best dis- 
 cretion. 
 
 A long debate was started about the erection of 
 a Bohemian Crematory. Fr. J. Pechota, V. Rehak, 
 Ort and V. Kolaf advocated the idea enthusiastically, 
 and finally the committee was instructed to submit 
 a more definite report. 
 
 Upon motion of Fr. Ring it was resolved to pro- 
 vide the grave of the child of Mr. and Mrs. Brada, 
 the first child buried in the cemetery, with a memorial 
 tablet, to cost not more than $50.00. 
 
 A new map of the cemetery was submitted by 
 August Petrtyl. 
 
 New delegates in 1902 were: Czechoslovak 
 Veterans Society "Marshall Radecky" (new member) 
 — Vojt. Suchy and Ed. Oberman; Boh. Sharpshoot- 
 
 70 
 
ers — Ant. Mraz; Vernost Lodge — Ant. Petr; Jifi 
 Washington Lodge — Fr. Ort; Ceska Koruna Lodge — 
 John Florian; Jan Hus Lodge J. T. — John Benes; 
 Klacel Court — Vac. Paara and Fr. Masek ; Rip Lodge 
 — Vine. Starman; Cesko-Narodni Lodge — T. Meskan; 
 Otakar Lodge, K. P. — J. Rothbauer; Pravda Lodge — 
 J. V. Matejka. 
 
 1903 
 
 On January 7 F. J. Pechota was elected mem- 
 ber of the financial committee to fill the place of the 
 deceased J. V. Benes. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 6 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; 
 Jos. J. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; all 
 unanimously. F. Kostner and Fr. Vytlacil were elect- 
 ed members of the Board of Trustees; J. V. Matejka, 
 Jos. Becvaf and Fr. J. Pechota, members of the Audit- 
 ing Committee. Fr. Husak was reelected as bookkeep- 
 er and Leo Ine renamed as chief gardener and super- 
 intendent of the cemetery. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that a new^ sec- 
 tion. No. 12, would be opened, with lots 14x17 selling 
 for $125 and $133. It was recommended to open also 
 a section for people of less means, selling 6x12 lots 
 for $25. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on Au- 
 gust 16. 
 
 On September 2 upon motion of Vac. Kolai* and 
 Fr Stejskal it was resolved to send 1,000 crowns to 
 flood and hail sufferers in Bohemia in care of the 
 daily "Narodni Listy" in Prague, the editors of which 
 were to distribute the amount among the worst suf- 
 ferers. 
 
 The extension of green-houses was approved. 
 Jos. A. Smejkal as member of the Board of Trustees 
 reported that he had succeeded in freeing the ceme- 
 tery of real estate taxes. 
 
 At the meeting of October 7 the delegates John 
 Pecha and J. V. Matejka reported that the Old 
 Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum Association had 
 a sum on hand which it would like to loan to the 
 
 71 
 
Cemetery Association until it would start with the 
 building. The offer was accepted, and the treasurer, 
 J. Jurka, received $4,000 as a 4% loan. 
 
 On November 4 it was resolved that the house 
 where Mrs. Lahvic Jr. still lived after the death of 
 Mrs. Lahvic Sr. be vacated and the use of it with fuel 
 be given to the bookkeeper, Fr. Husak, from New 
 Year on as an addition to his salary. 
 
 At the meeting of December 2 the New Year's 
 gift to the Bohemian Freethought schools was in- 
 creased to $1,000.00 by a great majority of votes. 
 This proof of a rare understanding of the significance 
 of these schools for our national and society life was 
 greeted by the Bohemian public with warm satisfac- 
 tion and recognition. The officers and the Board of 
 Trustees were authorized to distribute the amount. 
 The only voice of disapproval was heard from the 
 Otakar Lodge, Knights of Pythias, which sent a letter 
 of indignation protesting that the Association could 
 dare to donate such a large amount to the Bohemian 
 Freeth. Schools. The letter was accepted and ignored. 
 
 The Bohemian Slavonian Association in Prague 
 asked for a directory of Bohemian societies of Chi- 
 cago. The secretary was instructed to send them a 
 list as complete as possible and also the "History of 
 the Boh. Nat. Cemetery." 
 
 1904 
 
 To the meeting of January 6 Rev. Leo Pociechow- 
 ski, pastor of the Independent Polish St. Barbara 
 Parish, sent a letter inquiring whether his parishion- 
 ers could be buried in the Bohemian National Ceme- 
 tery. The bookkeeper Husak was instructed to an- 
 swer that everybody who would observe the rules of 
 the cemetery and pay the fee could perform burials 
 in this cemetery. 
 
 The treasurer of the Old Peoples Home Associa- 
 tion, Jos. Bozovsky, sent another check for $1,000.00 
 asking that the obligation be issued for the total of 
 $5,000.00. On April 6 and on August 3 the same 
 treasurer sent again checks for $1,000 each as tem- 
 porary loans to the Cemetery Association. 
 
 72 
 
At the annual meeting on May 4 John Pecha was 
 elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; J. J. 
 Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smej- 
 kal and Vac. Topinka, Board of Trustees; F. J. Pe- 
 chota, Thorn. David and J. V. Matejka, Auditing 
 Committee. 
 
 Garfield Lodge No. 90 C. S. P. S. sent a letter 
 asking the Association to stop in the future all such 
 lamentable, events as that committed by the Catho- 
 lic Rev. Pelikan v^ho in his funeral speech at the 
 Bohemian cemetery had said: **You v^ill repose here 
 in God while the other dead bodies are buried here 
 like dogs and carrions!" This affair was ended at 
 July meeting by a declaration of the Board of Trus- 
 tees that that gentleman "did not behave like a peace- 
 able man and a teacher of his people, but like a par- 
 tisan holding in contempt those who were not in his 
 power." The secretary was instructed to write a let- 
 ter to Rev. Pelikan in this sense. 
 
 On June 1 a resolution of sympathy was voted 
 for the family of the deceased Vaclav Kolaf who had 
 been a delegate to the Cemetery Association for many 
 years. Ed. Holy, T. David and Mat. Kozisek were 
 elected as a committee to draft the resolution. 
 
 On September 7 a resolution of sympathy drafted 
 by Jos. F. Plhak, E. Frydl and Ed. Holy was voted 
 to the family of the deceased delegate, J. V. Matejka. 
 
 Fr. Vytlacil having resigned from the Board of 
 Trustees, Vac. Kolacek was elected in his stead. 
 
 On December 7 it was reported that a new sec- 
 tion was opened with single grave lots for $16.00 
 and eight grave lots for $80.00. 
 
 The contract with the Chicago Telephone Com- 
 pany was renewed from January 1, 1905, at a rate 
 of $135.00 a year for 1,200 calls. 
 
 The Board of Trustees submitted a detailed re- 
 port of the status of the Bohemian Freethought 
 Schols in Chicago. There were 12 such schools and 
 2 singing schools with 1,600 boys and girls. A dona- 
 tion of $1,000.00 was voted for them and the Board 
 of Trustees was instructed to distribute that money. 
 Upon request of the Straz Osvojenych and upon mo- 
 tion of J. A. Smejkal a donation of $200.00 was 
 
 73 
 
voted for the Blue Island Ave. Bohemian Reading 
 Room and the Board of Trustees was instructed to 
 buy good Bohemian books for this amount and to 
 send them to the City Public Library as a gift for 
 the above Reading Room. 
 
 In consequence of reiterated complaints that 
 flowers were torn out and valuable bouquets and 
 ribbons were stolen from graves it was resolved that 
 everyone caught in the act should be brought to the 
 office and eventually to court. Further it was re- 
 solved that all those who wished to take bushes or 
 flowers from their graves in order to winter them at 
 home, had to get the permission from the cemetery 
 superintendent and show in every case what they 
 were taking home. 
 
 1905 
 
 At the meeting of January 4 new delegates were 
 initiated. 
 
 A special committee (J. M. Kralovec, Jos. Sin- 
 kule, Fr. Fischer, F. J. Pechota and Jac. Hrodej) 
 sent to the Forest Home cemetery to see how a 
 machine for digging of drainage pipe ditches was 
 working, recommended the purchase of such a ma- 
 chine from Van Buren, Heck & Marvin Company at 
 Findlay, O., for $1,500.00. The superintendent, Ine, 
 was instructed to go to Findlay to purchase one. 
 The same was delivered in the first part of June. 
 
 A long debate was caused by the question of 
 iDurials of poor people. In view of the fact that the 
 benevolence of the Association had been often mis- 
 used it was resolved that in the future each under- 
 taker must pay for every burial, but in case of poor 
 people the fee would be returned if the respective 
 request would be signed by at least five trustworthy 
 neighbors. 
 
 The Old Peoples' Home Association sent a fur- 
 ther $1,000.00 to the account of the temporary loan 
 to the Cemetery Association. The total loan amount- 
 ed in July to $14,000.00. 
 
 At the annual meeting of May 3 John Pecha was 
 elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Jos. J. 
 
Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; all of them 
 unanimously. Vac. Kolacek and Jos. Kostner were 
 elected members of the Board of Trustees, and Long- 
 in Tuma, F. J. Pechota and Thom. David, members 
 of the Auditing Committee. Fr. Husak was reelected 
 as bookkeeper and L. Ine as superintendent and 
 gardener. 
 
 On June 7 a resolution of sympathy was voted 
 for the family of the deceased secretary Joseph J. 
 Filip. The resolution was drafted by a special com- 
 mittee, Stejskal, Friedl and Pitte. As a temporary 
 secretary for this meeting F. J. Ring was elected, and 
 at the end of the meeting Stan. Halik was elected 
 Secretary. 
 
 On August 2 a new member was accepted, Robert 
 H. Vickers Lodge No. 63 C. S. P. S., which sent J. J. 
 Krai and Chas. Scheiner as its delegates. 
 
 On September 6 the Board of Trustees and the 
 Secretary were instructed to publish in the news- 
 papers a request to all societies whereby they were 
 asked not to allow their picnic bands to play in the 
 vicinity of the cemetery from noon to 2 P. M. on 
 Sundays, this being the time when funerals and cere- 
 monies took place in the cemetery. 
 
 The Board of Trustees was instructed to submit 
 plans for modern waiting rooms for the public near 
 the gate and also to start the extension of homes of 
 the gardener and bookkeeper at once. 
 
 On October 4 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that Mr. Jens Jensen, a prominent horticultural ex- 
 pert and superintendent of the Chicago West Parks 
 system, was invited to lay out the newly bought 60 
 acres so that the cemetery would have a pleasing 
 appearance and the work in that section could be 
 started as soon as it would be necessary. 
 
 It was resolved that the fee for deposition of an 
 urn with ashes be $4.00 if the body was cremated in 
 the Graceland Cemetery crematorium. 
 
 At the meeting of December 6 a donation of 
 $1,000.00 was voted for the Bohemian Freethought 
 Schools. 
 
 It was resolved to establish a card system in the 
 office to make the finding of dates, installments, 
 
 75 
 
ownership of lots, etc., easier and to order uniforms 
 for the grave-diggers. 
 
 1906 
 
 At the meeting of March 7, the survey made by 
 Mr. Jens Jensen was approved and the bill for $600.00 
 directed paid. 
 
 On April 4 the Board of Trustees and a special 
 committee, consisting of Messrs. Kralovec, Waska, 
 Stejskal, Rehak and Bartusek, recommended the plans 
 submitted by the architect Rusy for the gate annex 
 and remodeling of the gate. The cost was to be 
 about $15,000.00. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 2 the salary of 
 the president was increased to $50.00 and that of 
 the members of the Board of Trustees to $100.00 
 each, without any other additional pay. John Pecha 
 was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; St. 
 Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smej- 
 kal and J. M. Kralovec, members of the Board of Trus- 
 tees; F. J. Pechota, Thom. David and L. Tuma, mem- 
 bers of the Auditing Committee ; Jos. Kostner, mem- 
 ber of the Building Committee (instead of J. M. 
 Kralovec who resigned). A special committe was 
 appointed to revise and amend the statutes: Jos. J. 
 Krai, R. L. Pitte and Stan. Halik. 
 
 On June 6 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 the Association now owned various good bonds 
 amounting to $100,000.00. 
 
 On August 1 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 the 50th anniversary of the death of Karel Havlicek- 
 Borovsky who died on July 29, 1856, in Prague, was 
 honored by a special flov/er decoration with a bust 
 of the Bohemian national hero and martyr. 
 
 On November 6 the contracts for the new gate 
 were approved. The total cost was $13,677, and 
 besides this $250.00 was paid to the architect Rusy 
 for his services. On November 11 the foundation- 
 stone was laid and documents with names of officers 
 and delegates, the statutes, the History of the ceme- 
 tery, local newspapers, etc., were sealed into it. 
 
 76 
 
On December 5 a committee of the Ceska Straz, 
 consisting of Messrs. C. G. Foucek and Dr. Semerak, 
 appeared before the meeting and asked for assign- 
 ment of a place for the Havlicek monument. The 
 request was granted and the Board of Trustees au- 
 thorized to settle all details with the Ceska Straz. 
 
 The following donations were voted: $1,000.00 
 for the Bohemian Freethought Schools and $50.00 for 
 the Czechoslav Immigrants' Home in Baltimore, Md. 
 
 1907 
 
 On February 6 an invitation to the Freethink- 
 ers' Convention was accepted and Fr. Mencl and St. 
 J. Halik elected as delegates. 
 
 A delegation of the Cremation Association, con- 
 sisting of Messrs. Jos. Bufiata, Jos. Hejno and Ant. 
 Trefil, appeared before the meeting and submitted 
 reasons for the erection of a crematorium at the ceme- 
 tery. The Board of Trustees was instructed to keep 
 the realization of this idea in mind. 
 
 On March 6 a donation of $50.00 for the Free- 
 thinkers' Convention was approved. 
 
 At the annual meeting of May 1 John Pecha was 
 elected President; Chas. Kopecky, Vice-President; 
 St. J. Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; V. Ko- 
 lacek and J. M. Kralovec, members of the Board of 
 Trustees; and F. J. Pechota, L. Tuma and Th. David, 
 members of th6 Auditing Committee. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that V. J. Luiiak, 
 secretary of the C. S. P. S. National Supreme Lodge, 
 and Vice-Governor L. J. Sherman were invited as 
 Memorial Day speakers. 
 
 Two donations were voted : $50.00 for the tJstf ed- 
 ui Matice Skolska in Bohemia and $50.00 to the 
 widow of an old cemetery employee, Mrs. Zacek. 
 
 On June 5 the request of the Freethinkers' Con- 
 vention to build a speaker's tribune at Klacel's monu- 
 ment for the day of the celebration held there on 
 June 16 was granted. 
 
 It was resolved to add $10.00 to the monthly 
 salary of the bookkeeper. The Board of Trustees 
 was instructed to investigate the financial status of 
 
 77 
 
T. B. Potter, from whom bonds were being bought 
 for the Association, in order to prevent any possibi- 
 lity of financial losses. 
 
 On July 8 the Supreme Lodge C. S. J. became a 
 member, with Fr. Dostal and Jos. Doudera as dele- 
 gates. 
 
 On September 4 the architect reported the new 
 gate finished. 
 
 On October 2 it was resolved that each lot 
 owner be permitted to erect only one monument on 
 his lot and that monuments on graves in sections 
 must not be more than 2 feet wide, one foot high 
 and 6-12 inches thick and must be only of granite. 
 
 On November 6 a resolution drafted by R. L. 
 Pitte, Longin Tuma and Vac. Topinka and express- 
 ing the most sincere sympathy to the family of the 
 deceased mem.ber, Joseph Kostner, was voted. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that experts 
 found the financial status of bonds owned by the 
 Association favorable. 
 
 New Year's donations were voted as follows : 
 $1,200.00 to the Bohemian Freethought Schools, 
 $300.00 to the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asy- 
 lum, $5.00 to the Narodni Jednota Severoceska in 
 Bohemia. 
 
 1908 
 
 On February 5 the statute amendments drafted 
 by a special committee, consisting of E. Frydl, Chas. 
 Novak, F. J. Ring and M. Wolf were adopted. The 
 duties of the bookkeeper, assistant bookkeeper, super- 
 intendent, etc., v/ere clearly defined by these provi- 
 sions. 
 
 L. Tuma was appointed assistent bookkeeper for 
 a termx of 14 months with a salary of $70.00 a month. 
 
 The Bohemian American Cremation Association 
 sent a committee (J. Hejno, Fr. Kubec and Dr. Ant. 
 Mueller) to the meeting which elected a committee 
 consisting of V. ftehak, V. Waska and Ant. Charvat 
 to discuss all the details of the question of a Bohe- 
 mian crematory. 
 
 On March 4 it was resolved that cemetery em- 
 
 78 
 
ployees must avoid all religious demonstration at 
 funerals. 
 
 On April 1 a delegation of the Jednota Ceskych 
 Dam (Bohemian Ladies' Union, Mrs. B. Ludvik and 
 Smrcek as delegates) appeared and presented the 
 request for co-operation of the Association at the cele- 
 bration of the unveiling of the Pavla Cechova tomb- 
 stone. The Board of Trustees was instructed to help 
 to the utmost in the preparatory work. — The request 
 of the joint committee for the celebration of the 100th 
 birthday anniversary of the late Ladimir Klacel was 
 also granted. 
 
 A donation of $50.00 was voted for the Palacky 
 School. 
 
 The crematorium committee submitted a report 
 after which it was resolved to wait for the results of 
 the newest cremation systems. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 6 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Chas. Kopecky, Vice-Presi- 
 dent; St. J. Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; 
 Jos. A. Smejkal and J. M. Kralovec, members of the 
 Board of Trustees; Th. David, J. H. Cerny and John 
 Klaus, members of the Auditing Committee. Fr. Hu- 
 sak was reelected bookkeeper and Leo Ine, cemetery 
 superintendent. 
 
 It was resolved that the Board of Trustees be 
 obliged to report to the Association what bonds were 
 offered to the board for purchase. 
 
 On June 3 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 county drainage bonds were purchased for $9,668.41. 
 The salary of the cemetery superintendent was in- 
 creased to $125.00 a month. 
 
 J. J. Krai resigned from the statute committee 
 and C. R. Walleck was elected to fill the vacancy. 
 
 On July 1 it was resolved to buy only Cook 
 county and drainage canal bonds in the future. 
 
 It was further resolved to take part in the cele- 
 bration of the unveiling of the tombstone on the grave 
 of the author, Pavla Cechova, and to hold the annual 
 tour of inspection on the same day. 
 
 On October 7 the delegates honored the memo- 
 ry of the deceased delegate M. Wolf by rising from 
 their chairs. The recommendation of the Board of 
 
 79 
 
Trustees to donate the burying place for the deceased 
 Vac. Kuchaf, a soldier in the U. S. Army, was ap- 
 proved. 
 
 On December 2 M. Kozisek was elected dele- 
 gate to the Association for the welfare of Bohemian 
 Saturday and Sunday Freethought Schools. A writ- 
 ten motion of Ferd. Svoboda to call a conference to 
 discuss the organization of a central body for the 
 management of all Bohemian Freethought Schools 
 was referred to the above Association. 
 
 The following donations were voted: $2,000.00 
 for the Bohemian Freethought Schools and for the 
 Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum and $100.00 
 for the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani. To facilitate a 
 just distribution the secretary was instructed to ask 
 all local schools to submit reports on their number 
 of pupils and teachers. 
 
 1909 
 
 At the annual meeting of May 5 John Pecha was 
 elected President; John Bouse, Vice-President; St. J. 
 Hali'k, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. M. Kra- 
 lovec and R. L. Pitte, members of the Board of Trus- 
 tees; John Klaus, Th. David and V. H. Cerny, mem- 
 bers of the Auditing Committee. 
 
 On June 2 a committee, consisting of Chas. Ko- 
 pecky, Chas. Novak and J. W. Egermayer, was elect- 
 ed to draft a resolution of sympathy to the family of 
 the deaceased delegate Fr. Vytlacil. 
 
 Judge Kersten was the English speaker at the 
 Memorial Day celebration. 
 
 On July 7 R. L. Pitte was appointed delegate 
 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani Convention at Iowa 
 City, la. — The annual tour of inspection was set for 
 the second Sunday in September. 
 
 On September 8 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that three visitors from Bohemia who came to Chica- 
 go for the Sokol gymnastic drill and competitive exer- 
 cises had been invited to the National cemetery. 
 
 On October 6 the sad news of the death of the 
 chief gardener and cemetery superintendent, Leo Ine, 
 was reported. The president praised warmly the 
 
 80 
 
meritorious work of the deceased for the perfection 
 of the Bohemian National Cemetery and asked the 
 present delegates to honor the memory of the lament- 
 ed by rising from their chairs whereupon a resolution 
 of sympathy was voted. Chas. Novak, Vac. Topinka 
 and J. J. Jelinek were appointed to draft the same. 
 
 On November 3 a committee, consisting of J. J. 
 Jelinek, Fr. Masek and V. jRehak was elected to draft 
 a resolution of indignation, condemning the execution 
 of the great freethinker, Francisco Ferrer, in Spain. 
 
 On December 1 the following donations were 
 voted: $2,000.00 for the Bohemian Freethought 
 Schools and $1,000.00 for the Bohemian Old Peoples' 
 Home and Orphan Asylum. 
 
 Longin Tuma was elected Cemetery Superin- 
 tendent. 
 
 1910 
 
 At the January meeting the delegates honored 
 the memory of the deceased delegate Charles Spirek 
 by rising from their chairs. 
 
 On April 6 Bohumir Velisek was appointed assis- 
 tant bookkeeper. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 4 John Pecha was 
 elected President; John Bouse, Vice-President; St. J. 
 Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smej- 
 kal and Chas. Kopecky, members of the Board of 
 Trustees; Thom. David, V. H. Cerny and John Klaus, 
 members of the Auditing Committee. — Longin Tuma 
 was reelected cemetery superintendent and F. Husak, 
 bookkeeper. 
 
 The Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum As- 
 sociation sent an invitation to the celebration of the 
 dedication of their building. The president requested 
 the delegates to attend. 
 
 State Attorney Wyman was English speaker and 
 Dr. Jar. E. S. Vojan, Bohemian speaker, at the Mem- 
 orial Day celebration. 
 
 A special meeting was held on June 29 to settle 
 the question of a donation for the Havlicek Monu- 
 ment. 37 delegates were present and a delegation 
 of the Havlicek Monument Association, consisting of 
 
 81 
 
V. B. Sedlacek, T. G. Polivka, F. J. Benes, Mrs. A. 
 Hladky and Mrs. L. Benes, appeared before the meet- 
 ing. After a live debate a donation of $1,500 to the 
 fund for the Havlicek Monument was voted, v^here- 
 by the Bohemian National Cemetery performed its 
 patriotic duty in a very honorable v^ay. 
 
 At the annual tour of inspection on August 14 
 special attention v^as paid to the tract of land offered 
 to the cemetery by the Illinois Trust and Savings 
 Bank. The land measured 60 acres and the price 
 asked was $55,000. 
 
 President Pecha and secretary Halik were elect- 
 ed delegates to the Havlicek Monument Association. 
 Bohemian American Camp No. 30 United Vet- 
 erans was admitted as a member. Math. Cerny and 
 Albert Machacek were initiated as delegates. 
 
 Ferd. Svoboda and V. Sustr were appointed dele- 
 gates to the Bohemian Freethought School Associa- 
 tion. 
 
 At the September meeting a vote was taken 
 about the intended purchase of 60 acres. 22 votes 
 were for the motion, 28 against it. The future with 
 its lack of space in the cemetery and the soaring 
 prices of land showed that this vote was very un- 
 fortunate. 
 
 On December 7 the following donations were 
 voted: $2,000.00 to the Boh. Freeth. Schools, $500.00 
 to the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum, $25.00 
 to National Slovak School, $25.00 to Matice Vyssiho 
 Vzdelani and $25.00 to Boh. Benevolent Society. 
 
 1911 
 
 On January 4 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that City of Chicago intended to purchase the tract 
 of land which had been offered to the cemetery and 
 another 100 acres and to build a municipal tubercu- 
 losis sanitarium there. Upon the advice of Alderman 
 Cermak it was resolved to protest against such an 
 institution in the vicinity of the cemetery and to sign 
 petitions against the purchase of that land by the 
 city. 
 
 82 
 
A donation of $25.00 was voted to the Bohe- 
 mian American Press Bureau. 
 
 On February 1 it was reported that the protest 
 against the purchase of the above mentioned land 
 was fruitless and that the city had bought the tract. 
 
 A new committee, consisting of Fr. Mencl, Dr. A. 
 Radesinsky and A. Kapsa, was elected on March 1 to 
 study the crematorium question and to work out pre- 
 liminaries. 
 
 On April 5 it was resolved to increase the salaries 
 of the officers. The president and the secretary were 
 to receive $100.00 each per year, the treasurer, 
 $250.00, without any further extra pay, and the mem- 
 bers of the Board of Trustees, $150.00 each, per year. 
 
 A delegation of the Bohemian American Crema- 
 tory Association (J. W. Egermayer, Dr. Fr. Iska and 
 Dr. A. Mueller) appeared before the meeting to ex- 
 plain the situation, regarding the erection of a crema- 
 torium. After their addresses the amount of $100.00 
 was voted for the preliminary work. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 3 John Pecha was 
 elected President; E. Frydl, Vice-President; St. J. 
 Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; V. Psenicka 
 and Chas. Kopecky, members of the Board of Trus- 
 tees, and V. H. Cerny, Th. David and J. Klaus, mem- 
 bers of the Auditing Committee. 
 
 A special meeting was held on May 18 to dis- 
 cuss the motions, regarding several statute amend- 
 ments and to decide about the offers for the erection 
 of greenhouses. As to the latter, the offer of J. G. 
 Maninger Co. was accepted. 
 
 The motion of V. Ruzicka and V. H. Filip recom- 
 mended that elections be held at the January meet- 
 ing. But by 19 votes against 6 it v/as decided to hold 
 elections at the May meeting and in the present 
 way. 
 
 The motion of Rudolph Kapsa to increase the 
 memJoership fee to $1,000.00 and all other motions, 
 regarding statute amendments, were rejected. 
 
 On June 7 it was resolved to send letters of 
 thanks to Messrs. Cermak, Mangasarian and Gaske 
 v/ho had delivered the addresses at the Memorial Day 
 celebration. 
 
 83 
 
On August 2 the recommendation of the Board 
 of Trustees to raise the prices of graves from Sep- 
 tember 1 on was approved. 
 
 The delegates of the Association, attending the 
 sessions of the Havlicek Monument Association, re- 
 ported that the celebration of the unveiling of the 
 Karel Havlicek Monument at Douglas Park on July 30 
 met with remarkable success. 
 
 On September 6 it was reported that all prelimi- 
 nary work for the erection of a crematorium had been 
 done and that it only remained to secure services of 
 an expert to choose the best cremation system. It 
 was resolved that V. Dobias, Jos. Ringl and Jos. Hla- 
 dovec be added to the present committee and that 
 these with the officers form the committee for the 
 definite work. 
 
 On October 4 the delegates honored the mem- 
 ory of the deceased editor and co-founder of the Bo- 
 hemian National Cemetery, Fr. B. Zdrubek, by rising 
 from their chairs and a committee (Dr. A. Radesin- 
 sky, J. M. Kralovec, Fr. Mencl, E. Frydl and Jos. Hla- 
 dovec) was elected to draft a resolution of sympathy. 
 
 The Bohemian American Camp No. 30 United 
 Veterans sent a letter expressing thanks for the plac- 
 ing of monuments donated by the U. S. government. 
 
 On November 1 the green-houses were reported 
 finished. 
 
 At the December meeting the following dona- 
 tions were voted: $25.00 to the Nat. Slovak School, 
 $25.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani, $2,000.00 
 to the Bohemian Freethought Schools and $500.00 to 
 the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum. 
 
 An approval was expressed, regarding the re- 
 ported intention of the Old Peoples' Home Associa- 
 tion to transfer the inn and restaurant to the so- 
 called "Point" of its land, and it was resolved to re- 
 quest the Association not to allow any undesirable 
 elements to attend the picnics, held in its gardens. 
 
 1912 
 
 On January 3 a donation of $25.00 was voted 
 for the Bohemian American Press Bureau. 
 
 84 
 
On February 7 the Bohemian American Crema- 
 tion Association was admitted a member. 
 
 On March 6 Dr. Radesinsky resigned from the 
 crematorium committee and Jos. W. Egermayer was 
 elected to fill the vacancy. A new contract for un- 
 limited calls was signed with the Telephone Company. 
 
 On April 3 the workingmen, employed by the 
 cemetery, presented a complaint that wages were not 
 justly apportioned. A committee (C. Fiala, J. Hlado- 
 vec, J. Komorous, J. Spevak and J. J. Benes) was 
 elected to settle the complaint. 
 
 The crematorium committee reported that the 
 architect Mr. Rusy had been intrusted with the crema- 
 torium sketches. 
 
 At the annual meeting on May 1 John Pecha was 
 elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr. Ma- 
 sek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A. Smejkal 
 and Chas. Kopecky, members of the Board of Trus- 
 tees, and J. Klaus, Th. David and Jos. Becvaf, mem- 
 bers of the Auditing Committee. 
 
 A donation of $200.00 was voted to the employee 
 Sykora, whose home had burned down, as well as 
 a lot for the members of his family who had burned 
 to death. 
 
 The committee which had been elected to settle 
 the complaints of the workingmen submitted a de- 
 tailed plan of work-time and wages (nine hours a 
 day and five classes of wages from $2.00 to $3.50 a 
 day) which was approved. A letter signed by 47 
 employees was read in which confidence in the super- 
 intendent and the Board of Trustees was expressed 
 and the insulting actions of other employees were 
 condemned. 
 
 Ferd. Svoboda and V. Suster were appointed 
 delegates to the Freethinkers* School Association and 
 V. Dobias, M. Kara, V. Ruzicka, V. H. Cerny and J. J. 
 Benes were elected as members of a committee to re- 
 vise the statutes. 
 
 Donations of $25.00 each were voted to Sokol 
 Berwyn school and Jan Neruda school. 
 
 The crematory committee reported that they were 
 waiting for the sketches of one more architect. Jos. 
 W. Egermayer, who was going to California, prom- 
 
 85 
 
ised to inspect crematories in that state and members 
 of the Board of Trustees, Smejkal and Kopecky, pre- 
 paring to go to Bohemia, promised to visit the crema- 
 torium in Reichenberg. 
 
 The salaries of the cemetery superintendent and 
 bookkeeper were increased to $115.00 a month. La- 
 ter they were given also a 2 weeks' vacation, provid- 
 ing that they did not go simultaneously. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep- 
 tember 8. 
 
 A special meeting was held on November 13 to 
 discuss the recommendations of the crematorium com- 
 mittee. It was resolved to unite the crematory with 
 the Chapel building which would then satisfy all de- 
 mands present and future. As to the price it was 
 resolved that it must not exceed $35,000.00 and this 
 amount had to include remodelling and adorning of 
 the terrace before the chapel. Cremation furnaces 
 were excluded from the approved amount. A com- 
 mittee of three (Ringl, Smejkal and Dobias) was 
 elected to investigate the gas question. For plans 
 of architects a public competition was adopted with 
 three prizes: 1, adjudication of the building work; 
 2, a prize of $100.00, and 3, a prize of $75.00. Only 
 Bohemian architects were admitted to the competi- 
 tion, and any builder who would submit plans for a 
 higher price than $35,000.00 would not be entitled 
 to any prize. 
 
 On December 4 the cemetery superintendent re- 
 ported two sections in the new ''60 acres" finished. 
 
 The chairman of the crematorium committee, 
 Mencl, reported that it would be necessary to se- 
 cure four lots for the extension of the building. 
 
 The follov/ing donations were voted: $2,500.00 
 to the Bohemian Freethought Schools, $500.00 to the 
 Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum, $50.00 to the 
 Red Cross in Europe, $25.00 to the Matice Vyssiho 
 Vzdelani and $25.00 to the Nat. Slovak School. 
 
 1913 
 
 On January 8 it was resolved that the Associa- 
 tion become a member of the Bohemian American 
 
Press Bureau with dues of $25.00 a year. A dona- 
 tion of $50.00 was voted to the Singing school of the 
 Bohemian Workingmen's Singing Society and it was 
 resolved to include this school in the New Years* 
 donations in the future. 
 
 Fr. Masek Sr. was appointed delegate to the 
 Freethinker School Association. 
 
 A resolution of sympathy was voted to the fam- 
 ily of the deceased delegate, Math. Kara. The reso- 
 lution was drafted by Jos. W. Egermayer, Ferd. Svo- 
 boda and Jos. Hladovec. 
 
 On February 5 two donations were voted: $25.00 
 to the Bohemian Benevolent Society and $10.00 to the 
 Komensky Educational Club at Lincoln, Nebr., for 
 the erection of a Comenius Monument. 
 
 It was resolved that in case of failure by the 
 undertaker to order the grave 16 hours before the 
 funeral the body be put into the vault and interred 
 next day, with the exception of those who had died 
 of a contagious disease. 
 
 The crematorium committee recommended the 
 plan of the architect Randak for the first prize, the 
 plan of the architect Rusy for the second and that of 
 the architect Charvat for the third prize. But all 
 plans were rejected on account of a price higher than 
 $35,000.00. 
 
 On March 5, three shares of the Boh. Free- 
 thought School at Hanson Park were purchased. The 
 request to decorate the graves of all amateur-actors 
 on the jubilee day of March 23 was granted. 
 
 A special meeting was held on March 22. Vari- 
 ous sections of the statutes were amended and de- 
 clared valid from May 1, 1913, on. One of the amend- 
 ments was the increase of the membership fee to 
 $200.00. 
 
 On April 2, the motion of Chas. Kopecky that 
 the officers with exception of one member of the 
 Board of Trustees be elected only to February, 1914, 
 was adopted. 
 
 The crematorium committee reported that the 
 contract between the committee and the architect 
 Randak was signed and that he would submit the 
 r.ew plan before April 15. 
 
At the annual meeting on May 7 John Pecha was 
 elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr. Ma^ 
 sek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Chas. Kope- 
 cky (for two years) and J. M. Kralovec (for one 
 year), members of the Board of Trustees; and Th. 
 David, John Klaus and V. H. Cerny, members of the 
 Auditing Committee. 
 
 Kristof Kolumbus Lodge No. 9 C. S. J. was ad- 
 mitted a member with Ant. Zrust and Vac. Plzak as 
 delegates. The lodge paid only $100.00 admission 
 fee, because the meeting of the lodge in which it was 
 resolved to become a member of the Bohemian Na- 
 tional Cemetery Association was held in April be- 
 fore the meeting which adopted the increase of the 
 membership fee to $200.00. 
 
 Upon motion of E. Frydl, Dr. A. Mueller, as a 
 sanitary expert, was appointed member of the build- 
 ing committee. 
 
 On June 6 the chairman of the building com- 
 mittee reported that the architect, Mr. Randak, did 
 not conform to the contract and submitted plans for 
 a crematorium which would cost at least $50,418.00. 
 After a violent debate it was resolved to ignore Mr. 
 Randak's plans and to hold a special meeting where it 
 would be discussed what further steps should be 
 taken. 
 
 At the special meeting of June 11 Mr. Randak's 
 letter was read first. In this letter he explained that 
 the higher price was caused by some absolutely nec- 
 essary additional work, especially a complete rebuild- 
 ing of the present tower in order to obtain space for 
 chimes, and a special construction of ventilation for 
 the cremation furnaces. Further the prices of build- 
 ing material and cartage went higher after May 1. 
 Finally the original conditions reckoned with a too 
 small a space. The given area would be sufficient 
 only for 100 persons, and therefore if the new chapel 
 was to offer room for 350 persons, it was necessary 
 to change the plans which would represent now ^an 
 increase of 2,000 square feet. A cheaper material 
 would be a hard blow to the imposing aspect of the 
 crematory, but the use of marble and all other more 
 expensive adornment had necessarily to increase the 
 
 88 
 
estimate. After a lengthy debate the motion was 
 carried, by 28 votes against 14, to reconsider the de- 
 cision by which the price of the crematory had been 
 fixed at $35,000.00, whereupon it was resolved, by 
 41 votes against 14, "to build the crematory and com- 
 bine it with the present chapel, because this is an 
 ideal location and in view of our pioneer-freethink- 
 ers and founders of the cemetery." To the question 
 of J. Jurka and E. Frydl as to whether it was possible 
 to take Mr. Randak's plan into consideration, an 
 affirmative answer was given, and the whole matter 
 referred to the building committee. 
 
 Before adjournment the president announced the 
 death of the prominent freethinker, Leo J. Palda. 
 His memory was honored by the delegates rising from 
 their chairs and a committee (Jos. W. Egermayer, 
 Chas. Kopecky and Alb. Machacek) was elected to 
 draft a resolution of sympathy. 
 
 On July 2, the building committee recommended 
 making an appropriation of $65,000 for the crema- 
 torium which was approved by 33 votes against 11. 
 By this decision the erection of the first Bohemian 
 crematorium in the world was secured. 
 
 It was resolved to pay out the following prizes 
 to the architects who had entered the competition: 
 $100.00 to Mr. Busy nd $75.00 to Mr. Charvat. 
 
 A resolution of sympathy was voted to the fam- 
 ily of the deceased delegate Vac. Straka. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was set for the 
 last Sunday in August. 
 
 On August 6, Jos. Novak was appointed dele- 
 gate to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani Convention on 
 September 20 and 21. 
 
 Chas. Kopecky, member of the Board of Trus- 
 tees, submitted the suggestion of erecting a John Hus 
 Monument in the new 60 acres in order to celebrate 
 the 500th anniversary of his martyrdom on July 6, 
 1915. It was resolved that the delegates discuss this 
 matter in their societies. 
 
 On October 1 the Bohemian Sharpshooters sent 
 a letter of protest against a Hus Monument and Jifi 
 Washington Lodge C. S. P. S. a letter of approval of 
 the monument idea. 
 
 89 
 
The contract with the architect Randak was sub- 
 mitted. He bound himself to build the crematorium 
 for $65,000.00, completing it before November 1,. 
 1914. 
 
 On November 5 further protests against the Hus 
 monument were read, from Vernost Lodge C. S. P. S., 
 Cesky Lev Court C. A. L. a L. and Otakar Lodge K. 
 of P. 
 
 On December 3 the architect Randak reported 
 the basement of the crematorium finished. The cele- 
 bration of laying of the foundation-stone was held on 
 December 7. 
 
 The following donations were voted : $2,500.00 ta 
 the Bohemian Freethought Schools, $500.00 to the Old 
 Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum, $25.00 to the 
 Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani and $25.00 to the Singings 
 school of the Bohemian Work. Singing Society. 
 
 Rip Lodge and Svobodomyslnost Lodge sent pro- 
 tests against the Hus monument. 
 
 Delegate F. J. Benes submitted a protest against 
 religious ceremonies in the cemetery. The majority 
 of the delegates, however, declared that the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery was not so partisan as to 
 prohibit decent ceremonies. 
 
 1914 
 
 On January 7, the nominations for offices were 
 made. 
 
 A donation of $10.00 was voted to the Nat. Slo- 
 vak School at Will St. where 70 children were taught 
 the Slovak language. Both freethinkers and Catho- 
 lic parents sent their children to this school. 
 
 At the annual meeting on February 4 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr. 
 Masek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. M. Kra- 
 lovec (for one year) and Jos. A. Smejkal (for twa 
 years), members of the Board of Trustees, and John 
 Klaus, Th. David and Jos. Ringl, members of the 
 Auditing Committee. Longin Tuma was reappointed 
 cemetery superintendent; Fr. Husak, bookkeeper, and 
 Boh. Velisek, assistant bookkeeper. 
 
 90 
 
John Pecha was appointed delegate to the Bohe- 
 mian American Press Association. The annual dues, 
 $25.00, were voted. Fr. Masek Sr. was appointed 
 delegate to the John Hus Celebration committee. The 
 latter was also appointed delegate to the Straz Osvo- 
 jenych with $10.00 annual dues. 
 
 On March 4 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 the Jarvis Engineering Co. would deliver the crema- 
 tion furnaces for $6,500.00. 
 
 Upon motion of delegate Suchan a congratula- 
 tory letter was voted upon the 60th Anniversary of 
 the C. S. P. S. Upon motion of Fr. Masek Sr. the 
 memory of all members of C. S. P. S. who had con- 
 tributed to the welfare of the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery was honored by members rising from their 
 chairs and upon motion of Chas. Kopecky it was re- 
 solved that Bro. Rud. Janda who would take part at 
 the celebration in St. Louis, Mo., should deliver a 
 bouquet of flowers in the name of the Association 
 and congratulate the C. S. P. Society upon such a 
 significant jubilee. 
 
 On April 1 J. M. Kralovec, as member of the 
 Board of Trustees, called the attention of the meet- 
 ing to the fact that another member of the same 
 board, J. A. Smejkal, had just reached 30 years of 
 his indefatigable work for the welfare of the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery. Upon motion of delegate 
 Egermayer sincere thanks were expressed to this 
 zealous delegate and a bouquet of 30 roses was sent 
 to his home. 
 
 On May 6 the Bohemian Old Peoples' Home and 
 Orphan Asylum Association submitted a request that 
 a special space be donated for burials of the deceased 
 inmates of this institution. The demand was not 
 granted. It was, however, resolved that a free grave 
 be given whenever the above Association should ask 
 far it. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that Mr. Mekota 
 of Cedar Rapids, la., would deliver the Bohemian 
 speech at the Memorial Day celebration. 
 
 On July 1 the attorneys, Jones, Kerner and Pos- 
 vic, offered to settle the claim of the architects. Char- 
 vat and Zidek, for the crematorium plans for $500.00. 
 
 91 
 
The offer was rejected, because the Association was 
 not under any legal obligation to pay for plans which 
 were not accepted. 
 
 On August 5 a resolution of sympathy, drafted 
 by a committee, consisting of Boh. Wacek, Fr. Petru 
 and Jos. Novak, on account of the death of the dele* 
 gate, Fr. J. Benes, was adopted. 
 
 On September 2 the same committee was in- 
 structed to draft a resolution of sympathy for the 
 family of the deceased delegate J. Komorous. 
 
 The request of the surface lines company to sign 
 a petition for the extension of Crawford Avenue 
 tracks north of the cemetery was granted, because it 
 would be a convenience to the visitors coming to the 
 Bohemian National Cemetery. 
 
 On November 4 the building committee reported 
 that the crematorium would be finished soon and that 
 the first body would be cremated the following Thurs- 
 day at 2 P. M. The first body to be cremated in the 
 crematorium was that of the Bohemian-American 
 journalist and poet, Joseph Bezdeka. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that a new see* 
 tion would be opened in the 60 acre tract. 
 
 Attorneys Kroupa and Smejkal were intrusted 
 with the defense of the Association which was sued 
 by the architects Charvat and Zidek for $1,000.00 
 as indemnity for the non-accepted crematory plans. 
 
 At the December meeting the Board of Trustees 
 reported that already five bodies were cremated in 
 the crematorium. The fee was fixed at $25.00 if the 
 small hall was used and $5.00 more if the large hall 
 was used. 
 
 A donation of $500.00 to the John Hus Memo- 
 rial Home was voted upon recommendation of J. 
 Rada, J. W. Egermayer and V. Dobias. 
 
 New Year's donations were voted as follows: 
 $2,500.00 to the Freethought Schools; $50.00 to the 
 Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani; $25.00 to the Bohemian 
 American Press Association and $25.00 to the Boh. 
 Work. Singing Society. 
 
 92 
 
1915 
 
 After nominations the January meeting voted a 
 donation of $10.00 to the Nat. Slovak School. 
 
 J. M. Kralovec, member of the Board of Trustees, 
 reported that the cost of the crematorium would be 
 about $83,000.00, the columbarium not included. 
 
 Fr. Masek Sr. v^as appointed delegate to the 
 Hus Memorial Home Association. 
 
 At the annual meeting on February 3, Jos. Hla- 
 dovec v^as elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-Presi- 
 dent; St. J. Hallk, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; 
 John Pecha (for tv^o years) and E. Frydl (for one 
 year), members of the Board of Trustees, and Th. 
 David, J. Klaus and Alb. Machacek, members of the 
 Auditing Committee. 
 
 Upon request of the Board of Trustees a commit- 
 tee of five (B. Wacek, Jos. Bfezina, Fr. Masek, V. H. 
 Cerny and J. Rothbauer) was elected to audit all con- 
 tracts and bills, paid in connection with the crema- 
 torium and to report to the Association, as the crema- 
 torium was to be finished in a few weeks and dedi- 
 cated to its purpose. 
 
 A new section in the 60-acre tract was reported 
 opened. 
 
 Upon remai^ks of John Pecha and V. Dobias, con- 
 cerning the splendid services of Messrs. Mencl and 
 Kralovec in the building of the crematorium, the spe- 
 cial thanks of the Association were voted to these 
 two delegates. 
 
 At the March meeting J. A. Smejkal was appoint- 
 ed delegate to the Sokol Slavsky jubilee celebration. 
 
 On April 7 upon motion of Chas. Kopecky it was 
 resolved that anybody who wanted to erect a monu- 
 ment in the cemetery had to submit a sketch of it to 
 the Board of Trustees who would decide whether or 
 not it should be erected. 
 
 On May 5 the invitation of the Old Peoples' 
 Home and Orphan Asylum Association to the cele- 
 bration of the laying of the foundation-stone for a 
 new building of the Orphan Asylum was accepted and 
 a donation of $100.00 approved. Jos. Hladovec was 
 appointed delegate for the celebration. 
 
 93 
 
Messrs. Shanahan and Dr. A. Mueller were in- 
 vited as speakers for the Memorial Day celebration. 
 
 On June 2 a committee of three (J. W. Eger- 
 mayer, Fr. Mencl and R. Kapsa) was elected to per- 
 sonally call upon those owners of lots who would not 
 sell or exchange their lots in front of the crema- 
 torium. 
 
 On July 7 the contract for the erection of the 
 columbarium with porcelain walls was given to the 
 Pilsen Foundry for $4,500.00. 
 
 On August 4 in view of several demands for 
 loans it was resolved that the Association would grant 
 no loans upon buildings belonging to Associations, 
 because the charter did not allow it. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that on account 
 of the Eastland disaster almost the entire 16th sec- 
 tion was sold. A letter of thanks was voted to the 
 Chief Bailiff, Mr. Ant. Cermak, and to the Bohemian 
 Relief Committee for automobiles furnished to the 
 survivors and for the transportation of flowers to 
 the cemetery. 
 
 The motion of Jos. Jurka to erect a monument 
 to the victims of the Eastland disaster, the majority 
 of whom were interred in the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery, was referred to the Board of Trustees. 
 (At that disaster, which occured on July 24, 850 per- 
 sons died, and a great part of the victims were Bohe- 
 mians.) 
 
 On September 1 the salaries of both bookkeep- 
 ers and of the superintendent were raised (the super- 
 intendent was to receive $10.00 more a month and 
 the bookkeepers each $5.00 more). 
 
 On recommendation of the Board of Trustees it 
 was decided to tear down the stair-case, which had 
 not been correctly built, and to replace it with a 
 stone stair-case. 
 
 The John Hus Memorial Home Association sent 
 an invitation to the foundation-stone celebration on 
 October 17, 1915. Fr. Mencl was appointed to sub- 
 stitute at this celebration for the delegate Hladovec 
 who was ill, and a donation of $100.00 was voted, 
 as well as the drafting of a memorial document to 
 be sealed into the foundation-stone. 
 
 94 
 
On December 1, the following New Year's dona- 
 tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Freethought 
 Schools and $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani. 
 
 1916 
 
 On January 5 a donation of $500.00 was voted 
 to the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum Asso- 
 ciation, but the secretary was instructed to inform the 
 Old Peoples' Home Association that the Bohemian 
 National Cemetery Association was opposed to Mr. 
 Charvat being a member of the Board of Trustees 
 of the Old Peoples' Home Association. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that the colum- 
 barium would be finished by the end of February 
 and that the stair-case in front of the crematorium 
 was finished and paid for. — An amount of $200.00 
 was voted for repairs to the Veterans' Monument. 
 
 At the annual meeting on February 2 John Pecha 
 was elected President; F. Mencl, Vice-President; B. J. 
 Wacek, Secretary; J. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A. Smej- 
 kal (for two years) and E. Frydl (for one year) and 
 Th. David (for the rest of the one year term), mem- 
 bers of the Board of Trustees; John Klaus, Albert 
 Machacek and John Rothbauer, members of the Au- 
 diting Committee. 
 
 Vac. Illich and Ferd. Svoboda were appointed 
 delegates to the Freethought Schools Association and 
 John Pecha and V. J. Matejka to the Old Peoples' 
 Home and Orphan Asylum Association (upon request 
 of the same). 
 
 A donation of $50.00 was voted to the build- 
 ing fund of the Morton Par'k Freethought School. 
 
 On March 1 the request of the Bohemian Na- 
 tional Alliance that its Memorial Day celebration in 
 honor of Bohemian soldiers who died in Europe be 
 united with the Cemetery Memorial Day celebration 
 was granted. 
 
 Following the report of Mr. Masek that the Na- 
 tional Slovak School is conducted in the spirit of the 
 Free Thought, a donation of $10.00 was voted to this 
 school. 
 
 95 
 
The delegates honored the memory of the de- 
 ceased delegate, M. Kolaf, by rising from their chairs. 
 
 On April 5 J. A. Smejkal submitted the sugges- 
 tion that the walls of the crematorium be adorned 
 with paintings and presented a sketch of such a deco- 
 ration. The Board of Trustees was instructed to ob- 
 tain some more sketches and to ascertain the expense. 
 
 A letter of sympathy was voted for the family 
 of Jos. Plotz, who had been an employee of the ceme- 
 tery for the past 25 years. 
 
 A special meeting was held on April 16 with 
 the purpose of discussing the columbarium decoration. 
 It was resolved that the columbarium and the adjoin- 
 ing smaller rooms only be painted and that in the 
 smaller ceremony hall and in the rest of the lower 
 rooms the walls be enameled and the ceilings white- 
 washed. 
 
 On May 3 V. Dobias was appointed delegate to 
 the Hus Memorial Home Association. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that the total 
 cost of the redeeming of lots in front of the crema- 
 torium was $5,721.80. 
 
 The superintendent, Longin Tuma, reported the 
 death of Vincent Jefabek, one of the oldest employ- 
 ees of the cemetery. A letter of sympathy was voted, 
 and the Board of Trustees instructed to investigate 
 whether the Plotz and Jefabek families needed any 
 assistance. 
 
 On June 7 delegate, Dr. Mueller, sent a letter 
 recommending the erection of a bust of the co-found- 
 er of the cemetery, F. B. Zdrubek. The matter was 
 tabled until Dr. Mueller should be present at a meet- 
 ing. 
 
 The John Hus Memorial Home Association sent 
 an invitation to the celebration of the opening of its 
 building on July 7. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that it would be 
 necessary to change the charter in consequence of 
 the erection of the crematorium. 
 
 On September 6 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that on September 17, the urn with the ashes of F. B. 
 Zdrubek and his wife would be transferred to an 
 honorary place near KlaceFs Monument. 
 
 96 
 

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On December 6 the New Year's donations were 
 voted as follows: $3,000.00 to the Freethought 
 schools; $500.00 to the Hus Memorial Home; and 
 $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani. 
 
 1917 
 
 On January 3 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that the negotiations which had been conducted with 
 the purpose of the dropping of Mr. Charvat's law 
 suit had been successful. After that a donation of 
 $1,000.00 was voted to the Old Peoples' Home and 
 Orphan Asylum Association, which amount was to be 
 paid out as soon as Mr. Charvat's affairs would be 
 settled. 
 
 A donation of $500.00 was voted to the Bohe- 
 mian National Alliance. 
 
 At the annual meeting of February 7 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Jos. Ringl, Vive-President; 
 B. J. Wacek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Th. 
 David (for two years) and F. Boucek (for one year), 
 members of the Board of Trustees, and John Klaus, 
 Alb. Machacek and Jos. Bfezina, members of the 
 Auditing Committee. 
 
 The Board of Trustees submitted two plans for 
 the new office building, one for a two story building 
 ($8,500) and the other for a one story building 
 ($4,500). The latter was approved. 
 
 On March 6 the erection of green-houses to cost 
 $6,000.00 was approved. 
 
 The motion of J. A. Smejkal to order an organ 
 for the crematorium was approved, but the action 
 on it was postponed. 
 
 On April 4 upon recommendation of the Board 
 of Trustees the wages of cemetery employees were 
 increased and a new plan for the erection of a floral 
 department office was approved. 
 
 On May 2 the new wage scale was approved 
 (there were five classes of labor at from 24 to 38 
 cents an hour and a 9-hour working day) . 
 
 It was resolved to buy war bonds for $10,000.00. 
 
 At the Memorial Day celebration Judge Harry 
 Olson and Prof. Boh. Simek from the University of 
 
 97 
 
Iowa were speakers and Fr. Stejskal, a Civil War 
 veteran, was the chief marshall. 
 
 On June 6 it was reported that about 50 bids 
 were submitted for the office building. A commit- 
 tee of five, Jos. Kfiz, Fr. Masek, St. Simeceik, Ant. 
 Zrust and Fr. J. Petru, was elected to examine the 
 bids and to report on them. 
 
 The motion of Jos. Kfiz that the Association be- 
 come a life member of the Red Cross with a fee of 
 $25.00 was approved. 
 
 On June 13, at a special meeting, it was decided 
 to postpone the erection of the new office building, 
 because the lowest bid was for $63,500.00, and with 
 inner equipment $70,000.00, and to wait till prices 
 would decline. 
 
 The Board of Trustees also reported that the 
 contract with Mr. Scheiner was signed. His property 
 adjoining the cemetery was purchased for $50,000.00, 
 with the provision that he would be permitted to rent 
 it for two years and would pay a rent of $1,000.00 
 for the second year. 
 
 On July 11 the assistant bookkeeper, B. Velisek, 
 resigned. 
 
 At the annual tour of inspection, on July 29, the 
 property purchased from Mr. Scheiner was also in- 
 spected. After the inspection a meeting was held at 
 the small ceremony hall where the president, John 
 Pecha, reminded the delegates present that forty 
 years had elapsed since the founding of the cemetery 
 and that 76 delegates had entered the Realm of the 
 Unknown. Two delegates, Fr. Mencl and V. Topinka, 
 Avho for forty years were zealously active as dele- 
 gates, were presented with beautiful watch-fobs. 
 
 On August 1 the questions of the organ and the 
 decoration of the large ceremony hall in the crema- 
 torium were revived bj^ A. J. Smejkal and Chas. Ko- 
 pecky. The Board of Trustees was instructed to take 
 both matters under consideration. 
 
 Jos. Kfiz was elected a member of the Audit- 
 ing Committee to fill the vacancy, caused by the 
 resignation of J. Bfezina. 
 
 On September 5 J. Gregor was appointed assis- 
 tant bookkeeper. 
 
 98 
 
On October 3 it was reported that several artists 
 were willing to send estimates for the decoration of 
 the large hall of the crematorium. It was resolved 
 to ask the Bohemian Arts Club for advisory services. 
 
 On December 5 the following New Year's dona- 
 tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Freethought 
 Schools; $500.00 to the Old Peoples Home and 
 Orphan Asylum Association; $500.00 to the John 
 Hus Memorial Home and $50.00 to the Matice Vyssi- 
 ho Vzdelani. 
 
 1918 
 
 On January 2 the memory of the former dele- 
 gate, Rud. Kapsa, and of the two delegates, Fr. Mencl 
 and Jos. Hladovec, who had died while in office last 
 year, was honored and the president and secretary 
 were instructed to send resolutions of sympathy to 
 the families of Fr. Mencl and Jos. Hladovec. 
 
 Upon complaint of the Board of Trustees that 
 the ceremony halls in the crematorium were rarely 
 used (during December the large hall was used only 
 three times, the small not at all), for which the under- 
 takers were often to blame, because they hurried 
 with the funeral and insinuated to the survivors that 
 the hall was too expensive, it was resolved to inform 
 the public what the conditions for the use of the 
 large hall were and that the small hall could be used 
 free of charge. 
 
 At the annual meeting of February 6 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Jos. Ringl, Vice-President; 
 B. J. Wacek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A. 
 Smejkal (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one 
 year), members of the Board of Trustees, and John 
 Klaus, Jos. Kfiz and Alb. Machacek, members of the 
 Auditing Committee. 
 
 The salary of the superintendent was increased 
 to $150.00 a month and that of the assistant book- 
 keeper to $100.00, from March 1, 1918. Mr. John 
 Kozak was appointed bookkeeper during the sickness 
 of Mr. Husak. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that a pamphlet 
 would be issued which would foster the idea of crema- 
 tion and the use of the ceremony halls for funerals. 
 
 99 
 
On March 6 a donation of $100.00 was voted to 
 the Vcelky Society for its fund for purchases of neces- 
 sities for Czechoslovak volunteers. 
 
 On May 1 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 the Scheiner restaurant was rented to Mr. Bezvoda 
 for $100.00 a month, that Liberty bonds were bought 
 for $15,000.00 and that the wages of employees were 
 increased 2 cents an hour. 
 
 J. Kozak was appointed bookkeeper with a sal- 
 ary of $100.00 a month and free quarters. 
 
 At the Memorial Day celebrations. Governor 
 Frank O. Lowden and attorney J. J. Vlach from Mil- 
 waukee, Wis., were speakers. 
 
 On June 5 the Bohemian Arts Club submitted a 
 written opinion regarding the decoration of the Crem- 
 atorium hall. 
 
 A donation of $3,000.00 was voted to the Amer- 
 ican Red Cross. Also a purchase of War Savings 
 Stamps for $1,000.00 was approved. 
 
 The lowest bid for an organ for the crematorium 
 hall, submitted by Coburn Organ Co. ($3,000.00 and 
 $550.00 for the automatic player), was approved. 
 
 On July 3 a donation of $300.00 was voted for 
 the Czechoslovak Relief Committee. 
 
 The offer .of J. A. Malin for the paintings in the 
 crematorium ($3,000.00, while Mr. Petrtyl's estimate 
 was for $9,500.00) was approved. 
 
 The fee for cremation was increased to $30.00. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on July 
 28. The delegates approved the resolution submit- 
 ted by J. A. Smejkal and recommending that the 
 memory of 82 former delegates buried in the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery be honored by placing an 
 American flag on their graves for three days. 
 
 On August 7 the Board of Trustees submitted a 
 proposition that the rest of the rooms and stair-cases 
 in the crematorium be decorated for an additional 
 sum of $690.00. The proposition was approved. 
 
 On September 4 the request of the Grand Com- 
 mittee of J. C. D. for membership in the Association 
 was rejected by 23 votes against 21. The motion of 
 M. Nosek that the membership fee be increased to 
 $500.00 was carried by 51 votes against 9 with the 
 
 100 
 
provision that this increase would not be valid for 
 the Grand Committee J. C. D. should it renew its re- 
 quest. 
 
 A resolution submitted by the Board of Trustees 
 proposed that a loan of not more than $5,000.00 be 
 granted to the Bohemian English School which was 
 destroyed by fire on March 29, 1918 as a token of 
 gratitude to the C. S. P. S. lodges which in the first 
 days of the Bohemian National Cemetery gave to the 
 Cemetery Association the greatest financial help. The 
 president and the Board of Trustees were authorized 
 to make this loan if the building should be rebuilt. 
 
 The motion of St. Simecek to vote a worthy dona- 
 tion to the Bohemian National Alliance and the mo- 
 tion of J. Ringl that the donation be $25,000.00 were 
 postponed to the next meeting. 
 
 On October 2 a donation of $5,000.00 to the Bo- 
 hemian National Alliance was voted unanimously. 
 
 The Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum As- 
 sociation sent a written declaration that it would com- 
 ply with the request of the Cemetery Association 
 not to rent its gardens for any picnics which disturb- 
 ed the funeral ceremonies by the blare of bands. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that the model 
 order prevailing in the cemetery during the influenza 
 epidemic was lauded by the City Board of Health. 
 The increase of wages of employees, 25 cents a day 
 more, on account of the strenuous work during the 
 epidemic, and a 10 per cent increase in the price of 
 lots were approved. 
 
 On December 4 the Board of Trustees recom- 
 mended that work begin on the history of the second 
 quarter of a century of the Cemetery Association and 
 that the editor, Vac. J. Petrzelka, be intrusted with 
 this work. 
 
 The New Year's donations were voted as fol- 
 lows: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Freethought Schools 
 Association; $500.00 to the Old Peoples' Home and 
 Orphan Asylum ; $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzd^- 
 lanf. 
 
 101 
 
1919 
 
 On January 8 the motion was carried that the 
 salary of the president be increased to $150.00 and 
 that of the treasurer to $300.00. 
 
 On Sunday, January 26, the dedication of the 
 crematorium with the new decorations was held. 
 Sixty delegates were present. Jos. A. Smejkal deline- 
 ated a short history of the first Bohemian crema- 
 torium in the world; the president, John Pecha, de- 
 scribed the obstacles which were to be overcome; 
 the orator of the Svobodna Obec, V. J. Petrzelka, 
 delivered a speech about the cremation of the dead, 
 from the remotest days to the present time; and the 
 organ virtuoso, Mr. Stephen Erst, played several mus- 
 ical compositions on the new organ. 
 
 At the annual meeting of February 5 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Jos. Ringl, Vice-President; 
 V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Th 
 David (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one year), 
 members of the Board of Trustees, and John Klaus, 
 Jos. Kfiz and Jos. Lang, members of the Auditing 
 Committee. 
 
 A resolution refuting an unjust and offensive 
 criticism published in the "Kvety Americke" was ap- 
 proved. 
 
 Superintendent, Longin Tuma, and bookkeepers, 
 Kozak and Gregor, were reappointed for the next 
 year, and the salaries of both bookkeepers were raised 
 ($10.00 more a month). 
 
 On May 5 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 Liberty Bonds (of the fifth loan) for $25,000.00 had 
 been purchased. 
 
 The memory of the deceased delegate, Fr. Ciha, 
 was honored by rising to attention and the officers 
 were instructed to attend the funeral. 
 
 At the Memorial Day celebration Judge S. H. 
 Trude and editor J. J. Jelmek were speakers. 
 
 On account of a big cash balance it was resolved 
 to buy Liberty Bonds for $22,500.00 and, if possible, 
 some other bonds. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on July 
 27. Among other things it was resolved to hire an 
 
 102 
 
expert who would devise a new plan for the entire 
 cemetery, showing how everything should be arranged 
 in the future, because the barn, green-houses, etc., 
 were soon to be rebuilt. 
 
 On August 6 J. A. Smejkal reported that the 
 Board of Trustees visited several Chicago cemeteries 
 and studied the work systems and the arrangement 
 of the cemeteries. It was especially noted that for 
 the roads tar and sand were used instead of oil, and 
 it was therefore resolved to try this road treatment. 
 As to the cemetery plan it was reported that the plan 
 was being worked upon by the architect, Mr. Rus^, 
 together with the Board of Trustees. 
 
 On September 3 it was resolved to lend the large 
 ceremony hall to the Svobodna Obec for the memorial 
 celebration in honor of Fr. B. Zdrubek, on Sunday, 
 September 14, and to place a wreath at his urn. 
 
 Upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees 
 based on the conditions in other Chicago cemeteries 
 it was resolved to raise the wages of workingmen 
 3 to 4 cents an hour and to increase the salaries of 
 the superintendent and both bookkeepers $10.00 a 
 month each. 
 
 On October 1 the Board of Trustees submitted 
 a resolution that the memorial celebration, held by 
 the Svobodna Obec in honor of Fr. B. Zdrubek, be 
 attended by the Cemetery Association every year on 
 account of the fact that Zdrubek gave the impulse 
 to the founding of the cemetery and remained its true 
 adviser and defender all his life. The resolution was 
 adopted unanimously. 
 
 It was resolved to allow a three year contract to 
 Mr, Bezvoda, restaurant lessee, on cemetery property. 
 
 On December 3 the following New Year's dona- 
 tions were voted : $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free- 
 thought Schools; $1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home 
 and Orphan Asylum; $500.00 to the John Hus Mem- 
 orial Home; $500,00 to the Bohemian English School 
 on 18th St,; $100.00 to the F. B, Zdrubek School; 
 $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani. 
 
 A resolution of sympathy was voted on account 
 of the death of Vac. Topinka, a delegate of 40 years 
 
 103 
 
standing, former Vice-President, former Treasurer 
 and member of the Board of Trustees. 
 
 1920 
 
 On January 7, before nominations were made, 
 it was resolved that the Vice-President receive $25.00 
 a year. 
 
 A donation of $25.00 was voted to the Bohemian 
 American Cremation Society. 
 
 Mr. J. Gregor, bookkeeper in the floral depart- 
 ment, having resigned, Mr. Otto Scheiner was ap- 
 pointed in his stead. The Board of Trustees was in- 
 structed to submit plans for the rebuilding of the 
 office of the floral department and of the floral shop, 
 because the floral business was increasing rapidly. 
 
 At the annual meeting on February 4, John Pe- 
 cha was elected President; J. Ringl, Vice-President; 
 V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A. 
 Smejkal (for two years) and Jos. Siman (for one 
 year) , members of the Board of Trustees, and J. Klaus, 
 J. Kfiz and V. Waska, members of the Auditing Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 A contract was signed with the Cobum Organ 
 Co., which undertooik to tune the organ, keep it in 
 order and make necessary repairs for $100.00 a year. 
 
 The Board of Trustees recommended that the 
 wages of workingmen be increased about 5 cents an 
 hour on the average, and that the salaries of office 
 employees be as follows: the superintendent, $2,000; 
 the bookkeeper in the main office, $1^560, and the 
 bookkeeper in the loral department, $1,560 a year. 
 The recommendation was approved. 
 
 The plans for the new floral department office 
 submitted by the architect, Busy, were approved. 
 
 On April 7 the purchase of Franklin County 
 (111.) bonds or $10,000.00 v/as reported. 
 
 At a special meeting of April 28 the program 
 for the Memorial Day celebration was decided upon. 
 Judge R. S. Crowe and editor J. V. Petrzelka were 
 invited as speakers. Captain F. R. Lewis reported 
 that the U. S. Government would donate head-stones 
 for the graves of all soldiers buried in Chicago ceme- 
 
 104 
 
teries, and the secretary was therefore instructed to 
 urge the relatives of soldiers to send their applica- 
 tions for head-stones to Capt. Lewis. 
 
 On May 5 Messrs. J. Placek and Ant. T. Dole- 
 zal appeared before the meeting and reported that 
 the Bohemian American Sokol Federation was in- 
 vited to the Sokol Mass Meet in Prague and was re- 
 quested to bring a loan of $50,000 in the form of 
 Hoover's Food Certificates which could be exchanged 
 for food in the American food warehouses in Europe. 
 It was resolved to lend such an amount to this loan 
 which would be covered by a bond guarantee of the 
 Sokol Federation. 
 
 A donation of $17.50 or 1,000 crowns was voted 
 to the Slovak Branch of the Socialist party for a one 
 million crown fund to fight the ultra-montane move- 
 ment. 
 
 Two donations of $50.00 each were voted to the 
 Chicago Relief Committee for the tornado sufferers 
 and to the Opocensky family, one of the tornado 
 victims. 
 
 On June 2 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 the loan to the American Sokol Federation of $10,000 
 was guaranteed by $11,000 in Liberty bonds and a 
 $10,000 note for six months at 41/2 per cent interest. 
 
 Sincere sympathy was extended by president 
 Pecha to the delegate, John Klaus, on account of the 
 death of his wife, Clara, a rare woman, who deserved 
 extraordinary credit for her activities in our societies 
 and in the national life in general. 
 
 At a special meeting, held on June 9, it was de- 
 cided after a lengthy debate, to postpone the erection 
 of a new administration building on account of the 
 high prices of material (the lowest bid was for 
 $58,322.00.) On the other hand the necessity for a 
 new boiler building with a new 150 HP boiler and of 
 new green-houses was acknowledged and the erection 
 approved, for a total cost of $42,122.00. 
 
 On July 7 Dr. J. E. S. Vojan, editor of "Vek 
 Rozumu," and V. K. Soukup, secretary of the Na- 
 tional Executive Committee of the Bohemian Free- 
 thought Federation of America, appeared before the 
 meeting and submitted a request for voting a larger 
 
 105 
 
support to the Freethought Federation. Upon the 
 recommendation of delegates Kroc, Nose'k, Masek, 
 Klaus and Frydl a donation of $1,000.00 was voted. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that new bonds 
 for $25,000.00 had been purchased. 
 
 On August 4 the purchase of Liberty bonds for 
 $10,000.00 was reprted. 
 
 On September 27 the annual tour of inspection 
 was held. The Board of Trustees was instructed to 
 adorn the place where the urn with the ashes of F. B. 
 Zdrubek was deposited with a memorial tablet. The 
 president remembered also two deceased delegates, 
 V. Topinka and V. Vopata, in his speech. 
 
 On October 6 a donation of $100.00 was voted 
 to the building fund of the Cicero Freethought School. 
 
 On December 1 the delegates honored the mem- 
 ory of the deceased delegate, Fr. Florian, in the cus- 
 tomary way. 
 
 The Board of Trustees recommended the erec- 
 tion of a special building where the workingmen 
 could change their clothes and spend the noon recess. 
 According to a plan drafted by the architect Rusy, 
 the cost was to be about $3,000.00. It was resolved 
 to get bids. 
 
 The following New Year's donations were voted: 
 $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Freethought schools; 
 $1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asy- 
 lum; $500.00 to the Bohemian English School on 18th 
 St.; $500.00 to the John Hus Memorial Home; $100.00 
 to the F. B. Zdrubek School and $50.00 to the Matice 
 Vyssiho Vzdelani. 
 
 1921 
 
 On January 5 a donation of $500.00 was voted, 
 upon recommendation of Fr. Boucek, to the Hoover 
 Eelief fund for suffering children in Europe. 
 
 The salaries of officers were increased as follows: 
 the president was to receive $250.00; the vice-presi- 
 dent, $50.00; the secretary, $200.00; the treasurer, 
 $500.00; each member of the Board of Trustees, 
 $250.00, and each member of the Auditing Commit- 
 tee, $16.00, for every audit. The salary of the super- 
 
 106 
 
intendent was increased to $2,400.00 a year and free 
 quarters; the first bookkeeper, $150.00 a month, and 
 free quarters, the second bookkeeper, $150.00 a month 
 without living quarters. 
 
 The cash balance having been $17,097.72, the 
 Board of Trustees was instructed to buy bonds for 
 $12,000.00. 
 
 At the annual meeting of February 2 John Pecha 
 was elected President; Jos. Ringl, Vice-President; 
 V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. 
 Siman (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one year), 
 members of the Board of Trustees, and Jos. Kflz, 
 John Klaus and Vac. Waska, members of the Audit- 
 ing Committee. Longin Tuma was reappointed super- 
 intendent and J. Kozak, first, and O. Scheiner, sec- 
 ond bookkeeper. 
 
 The request of the Gymnastic Sokol Society, Roz- 
 voj, and of the United Societies in Irving Park that 
 in the future the Memorial Day procession be formed 
 in front of the F. B. Zdrubek School in honor of the 
 memory of this great Free Thought leader and co- 
 founder of the Bohemian National Cemetery, was 
 granted. 
 
 The Board of Trustees was instructed to order 
 the Zdrubek memorial tablet in the form of a book 
 in order that it be in harmony with Vicker*s tablet. 
 
 On March 3 delegate Jos. Lang reminded the 
 meeting that the Svobodna Obec would celebrate its 
 50th anniversary on 27th to 29th of March. The 
 president requested the delegates to attend, and a 
 donation of $100.00 was voted. 
 
 On April 6 a donation of $500.00 was voted to 
 the building fund of the Bohemian Freethought School 
 in Cicero and $500.00 to the Bohemian Freethought 
 Schools Association in Chicago. 
 
 It was resolved to draft detailed rules for funer- 
 als in order to avoid crowding at the same hour and 
 needless errors, due to lack of knowledge on the part 
 of the undertakers as to where the graves were lo- 
 cated. 
 
 At the Memorial Day celebration Circuit Court 
 Judge A. T. Zeman and Otto T. Pergler, president 
 of the C. S. P. S. National Supreme Lodge, were 
 speakers. 
 
 107 
 
On July 6 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 the Bohemian American Sokol Federation sent a check 
 for $10,000 to pay its loan, requesting the remission 
 of interest. The request was granted. 
 
 On August 3 a letter from the Svobodna Obec 
 was read. This letter asked for assistance at the 
 celebration of the unveiling of Zdrubek's memorial 
 tablet on September 11 and for free use of the large 
 ceremony hall. The request was granted in full. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that the lowest 
 bid for the planned erection of a garage and a build- 
 ing for workingmen was ?10,675.00. Authorization 
 was given to sign the contracts. 
 
 On August 7 fifty-seven delegates took part in 
 the annual tour of inspection. The graves of 92 dele- 
 gates buried in the National Cemetery were decorat- 
 ed with American flags. A flower column with Tyrs's 
 bust and Sokol slogans in floral letterings, the work 
 of superintendent, Longin Tuma, were gratefully ap- 
 preciated by the Sokols who held a mass meet in Chi- 
 cago in that month. After the inspection the 62nd 
 birthday of the delegate Jos. A. Smejkal, who at that 
 time had been active in the Association for 37 years, 
 was remembered by the president. A bouquet of 62 
 roses was given to this oldest member of the Board 
 of Trustees. 
 
 On September 7 the Slovak Evangelical Society 
 sent an inquiry as to whether it could become a mem- 
 ber of the Association. The secretary was instructed 
 to reply that only societies fully adhering to Free 
 Thought could be members of the Bohemial National 
 Cemetery Association. 
 
 The memory of the deceased former delegate, 
 Jos. Hora, was honored in the customary way. 
 
 On November 2 the Board of Trustees reported 
 that an 8 hour work day had been introduced in the 
 cemetery, on account of shorter hours of daylight and 
 also to avoid the necessity of laying off several em- 
 ployees. 
 
 On December 7 the following New Year's dona- 
 tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free- 
 thought Schools; $1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home 
 and Orphan Asylum; $500.00 to the John Hus Mem- 
 
 108 
 
orial Home; $500.00 to the Bohemian Freethought 
 Federation of America; $100.00 to the Masaryk 
 School in Cicero and the same amount to the Zdrubelc 
 School in Irving Park; $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho 
 Vzdelani, and the loan of $5,000.00 to the C. S. P. S. 
 Building on 18th St. was remitted with interest for 
 the past year. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that the roll of 
 employees (besides clerks) was as follows: 15 men in 
 the gardening division, 1 man in the crematorium, 1 
 policeman, 4 grave-diggers, 6 chauffeurs, 6 teams- 
 ters, 3 firemen, 3 carpenters and 14 men for general 
 work in the cemetery. 
 
 1922 
 
 At the annual meeting of February 1 John Pecha 
 was elected President; St. Simecek, Vice-President; 
 V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A. 
 Smejkal (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one 
 year), members of the Board of Trustees, and Jos. 
 Kfiz, John Klaus and Vac. Waska, members of the 
 Auditing Committee. 
 
 The Board of Trustees was instructed to buy 
 bonds for $10,000.00. 
 
 On March 1 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 the fund for permanent decoration of the graves was, 
 on February 15, 1922, $145,032.05. The total crema- 
 torium receipts 1914-1921 were $38,511.79 or 
 $5,501.70 a year as an average, but because the aver- 
 age crematorium expenses including interest of 4 
 per cent on $107,730.00, the cost of building the 
 crematorium, were $6,348.00 a year, the crematorium 
 was still being operated with a deficit. Therefore 
 it was a favorable event when the receipts in 1921 
 rose to $7,256.95. 
 
 The Association owned Liberty bonds for 
 $50,000.00 Upon motion of J. A. Smejkal it was re- 
 solved to sell them with a profit of 28c on every one 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 It was also resolved to buy a tower clock for the 
 crematorium with dial-plates on three sides and a 
 500-pound bell for $1,628.50. 
 
 109 
 
On April 5 a donation of $50.00 was voted for 
 Prof. DeyFs Institute for the Blind in Prague and 
 sent to Mr. Fr. Zajicek, who collected contributions 
 for that institution. 
 
 The request of the State Committee of the Bohe- 
 mian Freethought Federation for free use of the 
 large ceremony hall of the crematorium for Sunday 
 educational lectures during the summer jwas granted. 
 
 Upon motion of E. Frydl bonds of the Czecho- 
 slovak Republic were purchased for $10,000.00, 
 whereby the Cemetery Association again had proved 
 that it was willing to take part in every patriotic 
 action for the welfare of the old country. 
 
 On April 13 the Bohemian Sharpshooters' Society 
 which had disbanded asked for permission to trans- 
 fer its membership to the Old Peoples' Home and 
 Orphan Asylum Association. The Board of Trustees 
 was instructed to investigate whether the statutes 
 allowed it. 
 
 John Pecha, president, reported that he was go- 
 ing to visit the old country and that the vice-presi- 
 dent, St. Simecek, was to substitute for him during 
 his absence. Mr. Pecha remarked that during 25 
 years of his service in holding the president's office 
 he was absent from only three meetings. 
 
 Upon motion of J. Ringl a donation of $500.00 
 was voted to be distributed by the president among 
 worthy institutions in Czechoslovakia. 
 
 At the Memorial Day celebration County Judge 
 F. S. Righeimer and editor Alb. J. Havranek were 
 speakers. 
 
 On June 7 the request of the Czechoslovak 
 Legionaries for the placing of free monuments on the 
 graves of two legionaries who had no survivors here 
 to take care of their graves was granted. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that no provi- 
 sion for allowing transfers of membership was found 
 in the statutes. 
 
 Cash on hand having been $39,258.16 on May 
 31, it was resolved to purchase bonds of the Czecho- 
 slovak Republic for $25,000.00. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep- 
 tember 17. Fifty-four delegates were present, among 
 
 110 
 
them the president, John Pecha, who had just re- 
 turned from Czechoslovakia. He remembered 98 for- 
 mer deleg-ates who were already buried in the Na- 
 tional Cemetery and whose graves were decorated 
 with American flags. 
 
 On August 4 the president's report about his dis- 
 tribution of the $500.00 donation was accepted with 
 thanks. 
 
 Delegate Jos. Kroc called attention to an offense 
 perpetrated by a reverend who in his speech in the 
 crematorium declared that anybody who did not be- 
 lieve in God was a scoundrel. It was resolved not 
 to permit such remarks in the cemetery. 
 
 On December 6 the following New Year's dona- 
 tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free- 
 thought Schools; $500.00 to the John Hus Memorial 
 Home; $300.00 to the Bohemian Freethought Federa- 
 tion of America; $100.00 to the F. B. Zdrubek School 
 in Irving Park; $100.00 to the T. G. Masaryk School 
 in Cicero; $100.00 to the Bohemian Benevolent So- 
 ciety; $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani, and 
 $50.00 to the Invalid Soldier fund of the Czecho- 
 slovak Legionnaires. 
 
 The bid of the Garden City Iron Works on an 
 airtight brass columbarium for $7,542.00 was ap- 
 proved. 
 
 1923 
 
 On January 3 a resolution of sympathy to the 
 family of the deceased cemetery superintendent, 
 Longin Tuma, was adopted. 
 
 At the annual meeting of February 7 John Pecha 
 was elected President; St. Simecek, Vice-President; 
 V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. 
 Siman (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one year), 
 members of the Board of Trustees; John Klaus, Vac. 
 Waska and Jos. Kfiz, members of the Auditing Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 The recommendation of the Board of Trustees 
 that Charles Bastyf be appointed manager of the 
 outdoor work and Henry Paryzek, manager of the 
 indoor work of the cemetery, was approved. The 
 
 111 
 
salary of the former was fixed at $2,400.00, that of 
 the latter at $2,200.00 and free quarters. 
 
 A committee of five. Vac. F. Cipra, Mart. Nosek, 
 Rud. Janda, J. J. Jelinek and Jos. Ringl, was elected 
 to revise the statutes to conform to the present de- 
 mands. 
 
 At a special meeting, held on March 28, all stat- 
 ute amendments were adopted as well as rules for 
 the new cemetery managers. One of the important 
 amendments was that only a Czechoslovak fraternal 
 benevolent society might become a member of the 
 Bohemian National Cemetery Association, after pay- 
 ment of the admission fee of $500.00. 
 
 On April 4 the wages of workingmen were in- 
 creased and the salaries of the booikkeepers, J. Ko- 
 zak and O. Scheiner, fixed at $1,800.00 a year each. 
 
 At the Memorial Day celebration which met with 
 remarkable success Assistant State's Attorney Ed. A. 
 Jonas and Jos. Placek, member of the State legisla- 
 ture and prominent Sokol leader, were speakers. 
 
 On account of higher prices of all material and 
 increase of wages in the iron industry an additional 
 amount of $2,000.00 was approved for the Garden 
 City Iron Works, which brought the total cost of the 
 columbarium to $9,542.00. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on Au- 
 gust 12. Fifty-three delegates were present. The 
 speeches which were made on this occasion resound- 
 ed with glad satisfaction that the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery was now the most justly pride of the Bohe- 
 mian Americans, not only in Chicago, but in the 
 whole United States. President Pecha recalled the 
 great work of F. B. Zdrubek. J .A. Smejkal who had 
 become a member of the Cemetery Association as a 
 youth of 24 years and at this time had served in the 
 Board of Trustees for 38 years, talked of the days 
 when the finances of the cemetery were discourag- 
 ingly weak, while now the cemetery owned bonds al- 
 most for one million dollars. He mentioned the long 
 services of the president, Pecha, and of the treasurer, 
 Jurka, who had already passed his twenty-fifth year 
 as treasurer. 
 
 112 
 
Two inspections of other cemeteries, one made on 
 July 27, the other on September 18, under the aus- 
 pices of the Cemetery Associations of the South Side 
 and North Side of Chicago, showed that the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery had little to learn. All par- 
 ticipants in these inspections — Smejkal, Boucek, Ko- 
 zak, Bastyf and Paryzek — found that no Chicago 
 cemetery could rival the Bohemian cemetery in floral 
 decorations and in model management. 
 
 At the meeting of November 7 John Pecha and 
 Jos. Wolf were appointed delegates to the Bohemian 
 Freethinker's Convention. 
 
 In December New Year's donations were voted 
 as follows: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Freethought 
 Schools; $1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home and 
 Orphan Asylum; $500.00 to the Music fund of the 
 Orphan Asylum; $2,000.00 to the Bohemian English 
 School on ItSh St.; $500.00 to the John Hus mem- 
 orial Home; $300.00 to the Bohemian Freethought 
 Federation; $100.00 each to the Zdrubek School, Ma- 
 saryk School and Bohemian Benevolent Society; 
 $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani. 
 
 1924 
 
 On January 2 the president welcomed the new 
 delegates and exhorted them to work zealously for 
 the cemetery. 
 
 This meeting was the annual meeting. John Pe- 
 cha was elected President; St. Simecek, Vice-Presi- 
 dent; V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; 
 J. A. Smejkal (for three years) and Fr. Boucek (for 
 two years), members of the Board of Trustees, Jos. 
 Kfiz, John Klaus and Vac. Waska, members of the 
 Auditing Committee. 
 
 Upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees 
 the following executive employees were appointed: 
 J. Kozak, first bookkeeper; Otto Scheiner, second 
 bookkeeper; Jar. Gregor, assistant bookkeeper; K. 
 Ba§tyf, outdoor work manager, and Henry Paryzek, 
 manager of green-houses and floral department. 
 
 B. J. Wacek, delegate and public accountant, re- 
 ported that from January 1 to December 31, 1923, 
 
 113 
 
the receipts in the floral department were $135,651.00 
 and disbursements, $83,740.50, net profit, $51,910.50. 
 
 Mr. Vales, representing the Spanish War Vet- 
 erans, reported that the U. S. government had donated 
 three markers for graves of three comrades buried in 
 the Bohemian cemetery and asked that they be erect- 
 ed free of charge. The request v^as granted. 
 
 On March 5 the delegates honored the memory 
 of two deceased delegates, Jos. Kovafik and J. A. 
 Smejkal, by rising from their chairs. 
 
 The president reminded the meeting that J. A. 
 Smej'kal had been a member of Trustees for 38 years 
 and appointed a committee of three, J. J. Jelinek, Fr. 
 Masek and Jos. W. Egermayer, to draft resolutions 
 of sympathy to the families of both lamented dele- 
 gates. 
 
 Jaroslav Bartos was elected a member of the 
 Board of Trustees for three years. 
 
 For the welfare of the cemetery the president 
 called the attention of the meeting to the fact that 
 all Chicago cemeteries had an official automobile for 
 use on business occasions which now became more 
 and more frequent. On his recommendation the pur- 
 chase of a seven passenger car was voted (the price 
 of the Buick car purchased was $2,599.60). 
 
 On April 2 Bohemian American Camp No. 30 of 
 the Spanish War Veterans informed the Association 
 of its decision to erect a monument to the heroes of 
 that war and asked for an appropriate place. The 
 request was granted and the matter referred to the 
 Board of Trustees. 
 
 A statute amendment giving to the vice-president 
 the right to vote in meetings of the Board of Trus- 
 tees was submitted and upon motion of delegate Illich, 
 seconded by delegates Fort and Kfiz, was adopted 
 unanimously. 
 
 On May 7 the Board of Trustees reported that 
 bonds had been purchased for $60,000.00 and at the 
 next meeting, when a larger cash balance was re- 
 ported, it was resolved to purchase more bonds for 
 $20,000.00. 
 
 At the Memorial Day celebration Judge Fred- 
 erick B. R. De Young and City Treasurer, J. A. Cer- 
 venka were speakers. 
 
 114 
 
On June 4 a large panorama of all delegates, 
 which had been ordered from the Pleschner Photo- 
 graphic studio, was submitted. It was resolved to 
 hang it up in the cemetery office and to distribute 
 smaller copies among the delegates. 
 
 On July 2 the vice-president, Simecek, who pre- 
 sided at this meeting reported that president Pecha 
 was seriously ill and had been taken to an Evanston 
 hospital. 
 
 A letter of thanks was submitted from John Ciz- 
 kovsky who had been a delegate for many years and 
 to whom a floral remembrance had been sent on the 
 occasion of his 70th birthday. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was postponed to 
 September as a token of honor to president Pecha 
 when — as it was hoped — he would leave the hospital 
 and could be present at the inspection. A commit- 
 tee of five, Zahrobsky, Klaus, Kfiz, Budilovsky and 
 Ign. Cerny, was appointed upon motion of the dele- 
 gate Zahrobsky to make an official visit to the hos- 
 pital. 
 
 The meeting of August 6 was called to order by 
 the president, John Pecha, who had recovered from 
 his grave illness. 
 
 The financial statement from January 1 to June 
 30, 1924, submitted by the bookkeeper, John Koza'k, 
 showed an increase of $111,743.19 in the assets of 
 the cemetery which now owned bonds for more than 
 $1,000,000.00. 
 
 Delegates Siman, Pecha and Boucek, who had 
 visited one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the 
 United States, in Milwaukee, Wis., reported that it 
 excelled in natural beauty. Its rolling area of 200 
 acres contained about 50,000 graves, but they were 
 not so well adorned as those in the Bohemian Na- 
 tional Cemetery, the annual receipts of the Milwau- 
 kee cemetery for flowers being only about $2,000.00 
 a year. One thing impressed the delegates : the ideal- 
 ly equipped offices and administration building. 
 
 On September 3 a donation of $50.00 was voted 
 to the building fund of the Oak Park Sokol Gymnas- 
 tic Association. 
 
 A committee of three, St. Simecek, Chas. J. Ko- 
 
 115 
 
pecky and J. J. Jelinek, was appointed by the pres- 
 ident to peruse the history of the cemetery, written 
 by editor Petrzelka and to submit a report. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep- 
 tember 21. Fifty-nine delegates participated as well 
 as the representatives of Bohemian newspapers. The 
 veterans, Fara, Mach, Tittel and fiezny, were shown 
 where a location for the monument of Spanish War 
 Veterans had been reserved. The president remind- 
 ed the delegates of the urgent necessity to purchase 
 a new tract of land which would allow a better in- 
 come than the 4 per cent interest yielded by bonds. 
 
 On November 5 a donation of $50.00 was voted 
 to the building fund of the Berwyn Sokol Gymnastic 
 Society. 
 
 The Board of Trustees submitted plans of the 
 architect Rusy for a new administration building, 
 green-houses and managers' home. The estimate was 
 for $32,000.00 to $35,000.00. By 37 votes to 1 it was 
 resolved to erect those buildings according to the 
 submitted sketches. 
 
 On November 9, the day of the tenth anniver- 
 sary of the opening of the crematorium, a celebration 
 was held with the purpose of furthering the idea of 
 cremation. Editors, Psenka, Petrzelka and Jelinek 
 were speakers. 
 
 On December 3 the following New Year's dona- 
 tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free- 
 thought Schools; $1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home 
 and Orphan Asylum and $500.00 to the Music fund 
 of the Orphan Asylum inmates; $500.00 to the John 
 Hus Memorial Home; $500.00 to the Bohemian Free- 
 thought Federation; $100.00 each to F. B. Zdrubek 
 School, Thomas G. Masaryk School and Bohemian 
 Benevolent Society; $1,000.00. to the Agitation com- 
 mittee of the C. S. P. S. Grand Lodge of the State of 
 Illinois for its camp at Algonquin, 111., and $50.00 to 
 the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani. 
 
 A special meeting, held on December 21, was 
 devoted to the question of the erection of a building 
 for managers. By 42 votes against 2 it was resolved 
 to start the erection and the Board of Trustees was 
 
 116 
 
instructed to do so at the least expenses. (The low- 
 est bid was for $30,445.00.) 
 
 It was resolved to buy 90 turkeys and distri- 
 bute them among employes as Christmas gifts. — Mr. 
 Scheiner, floral department bookkeeper, resigned and 
 Fr. Boucek, Jr., was appointed in his stead. 
 
 1925 
 
 At the annual meeting of January 7 the free 
 cremation of the deceased Bohemian newspaperman 
 Stradal was approved. New delegates were wel- 
 comed by the president. A donation of $10.00 was 
 Toted to the Slovak Workingmen's School at Irving 
 Park. 
 
 The salaries of officers were increased as fol- 
 lows: the president was to receive $400.00; each 
 member of the Board of Trustees, $400.00; the vice- 
 president, $100.00; the secretary, $400.00; the treas- 
 urer, $600.00, and each of the Auditing Committee 
 members, $40.00 a year. 
 
 John Pecha was then unanimously elected Pres- 
 ident; St. Simecek, Vice-President; V. H. Filip, Sec- 
 retary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. Siman (for three 
 years) a member of the Board of Trustees, and John 
 Klaus, Vac. Waska and Jos. Ringl, members of the 
 Auditing Committee. 
 
 A special meeting on January 21 was devoted to 
 the question of the erection of a new administration 
 iDuilding and green-houses. The estimates were from 
 $100,000 to $150,000. The vice-president, Simecek, 
 explained that the green-houses were about to fall 
 down and the administration building was insufficient 
 for present day demands. After a lengthy debate the 
 recommendation of the Board of Trustees was ap- 
 proved and they were instructed to erect all these 
 l)uildings. 
 
 On February 4 the delegates honored the mem- 
 ory of the deceased delegate, Ant. Kubes, by rising 
 from their chairs and a committee of three, Jos. Lang, 
 F. Knizek and Fr. Zahrobsky, was appointed to draft 
 a resolution of sympathy to be sent to the family. 
 
 117 
 
The Bohemian American Cremation Society sent 
 its delegates, F. Strunc, V. Soukenik and V. Karnik, 
 to this meeting to ask for financial support for a 
 lecture campaign in favor of cremation. The president 
 explained to them that the Cemetery Association had 
 published a pamphlet at the expense of $500.00 and 
 intended to publish colored postal cards of the crema- 
 torium in order to arouse the interest of the general 
 public. In the following debate J. Kfiz put stress on 
 the necessity of energetic campaigning in ladies' so- 
 cieties which were still very much prejudiced against 
 cremation; finally the whole mater was referred to 
 the Board of Trustees which was instructed to pre- 
 pare a plan for efficient agitation in co-operation with 
 the Cremation Society. 
 
 On March 4 the recommendation of the Board 
 of Trustees that the salaries of the cemetery man- 
 agers, Mssrs. Bastyf and Paryzek, be increased to 
 $2,600.00 a year was approved. 
 
 On April 1 the Board of Trustees was directed 
 to pay the bill for $29,261.72 for the pavement of 
 Crawford Avenue along the cemetery property. 
 
 At the Memorial Day celebration the Attorney 
 General of the State of Illinois, Oscar C. Carlstrom, 
 and Mr. Charles Pergler, of Washington, D. C, were 
 speakers. 
 
 At a special meeting of May 23 the lowest bids 
 for the administration building and green-houses were 
 submitted. The total was $137,610.00, but the pres- 
 ident mentioned that with various additional items 
 the total could be expected to near $150,000.00. Fin- 
 ally the Board of Trustees was instructed to continue 
 with letting of contracts. 
 
 On August 5 the president reported that Mr. Stef- 
 fek, who had been employed in the cemetery for 36 
 years, had died and the Board of Trustees was in- 
 structed to see what could be done for the family of 
 the deceased. 
 
 The bookkeeper, Mr. Kozak, reported that the 
 increase of the cemetery assets in the first six months 
 of this year was $112,243.43. 
 
 Upon motion of the delegate Peter Jelinek the 
 busts of John Hus and John Zizka were donated to 
 
 118 
 
the Hus Memorial Home, with provision that they 
 would be lent to the cemetery in case of need. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep- 
 tember 27. Fifty six delegates were present. Upon 
 motion of the delegate Ruzicka, seconded by dele- 
 gate Kofron, is was resolved to put a bronze tablet 
 with names of all delegates and officers on the new 
 administration building. Upon motion of delegate 
 Lang it was further resolved that a floral gift in the 
 form of 50 roses be sent to the daily **Svornost" 
 which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary at that time 
 and the officers be present at the celebration in the 
 offices of the daily "Svrnost". 
 
 On December 2 the following New Years* dona- 
 tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free- 
 thought Schools; §1,000.00 each to Old Peoples' Home 
 and Orphan Asylum and to the John Hus Memorial 
 Home and to the Bohemian Freethought Federation; 
 $100.00 each to the Zdrubek School, Masaryk School 
 and Bohemian Benevolent Society; $50.00 each to the 
 Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani and Palacky School; $25.00 
 each to the Slovak Irving Park School and to the 
 Besldka, and $15.00 to the Hanson Park School. 
 
 Upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees 
 it was resolved that all applicants for work in the 
 cemetery be examined by Dr. Mueller. 
 
 1926 
 
 At the annual meeting on January 6 it was re- 
 solved that the salary of the vice-president be in- 
 creased to $200.00 a year. 
 
 John Pecha was reelected President; St. Sime- 
 cek, Vice-President; Victor H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. 
 Jurka, Treasurer; Fr. Boucek, a member of the Board 
 of Trustees for three years; John Klaus, Jos. Kfiz 
 and Vac. Waska, members of the Auditing Committee. 
 
 A donation of $1,000.00 was voted to the build- 
 ing fund of Sokol Slavs'ky in Cicero. 
 
 The bookkeeper, J. Kozak, reported that the in- 
 crease of the cemetery assets in the last six months 
 of 1925 was $21,928.00, the total of assets being 
 $1,688,042.00. 
 
 119 
 
On April 7 a donation of $100.00 was voted ta 
 the Jubilee Bazaar of the daily ''Spravedlnost". 
 
 The delegates, Zrust and Lang, were appointed 
 to represent the Association in the Bohemian Free~ 
 thinkers' Convention. 
 
 The request of the American Camp No. 30 of 
 the Spanish War Veterans for the free erection of a 
 concrete foundation for the Spanish War Veterans 
 Monument was granted. 
 
 On May 5 Mrs. Lorenz and Mrs. Brasnicka ap- 
 peared before the meeting and explained the neces-^ 
 sity of a building for Bohemian societies, Sokol Asso- 
 ciation and Bohemian school, on the Northwest Side. 
 Such a building was planned on Cicero Avenue, be- 
 tween North and Wabansia Avenues, for $51,600.00. 
 A donation of $100.00 was voted to the building fund. 
 
 Upon report of the Board of Trustees that the 
 stair-case in front of the Crematorium was liable to 
 break down, it was resolved after a lengthy debate 
 that the board consult with architect Rusy and erect 
 a solid stair-case, either of stone or of concrete. 
 
 The official dedication of the new administra- 
 tion building, green-houses and Palm House to the 
 Bohemian public was held on May 22. It was gen- 
 erally acknowledged that the administration building^ 
 was the most beautiful in the United States, and the 
 Palm House with its tropical plants and goldfish im- 
 pressed the delegates and guests greatly. A collec- 
 tion for the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum 
 yielded $155.00. 
 
 On June 2 the delegates honored the memory 
 of the deceased delegate, Vac. Smid, by rising from 
 their chairs. 
 
 On July 7 a donation of $100.00 was voted for 
 the Woodrow Wilson Monument in Prague, Czecho- 
 slovakia. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that the cost of 
 the new crematorium stair-case would be $21,975.00. 
 
 It was resolved that the officers and the Mem- 
 orial committee were to form the committee for the 
 celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery in 1927. 
 
 120 
 
On August 4 the delegates honored the memory 
 of the deceased delegate, Ign. Cerny, and a resolution 
 of sympathy was sent to the family. The president 
 reported also the death of Mr. Balcar, who had been 
 ^n employee of the cemetery for many years. 
 
 A donation of $500.00 for the Spanish War Vet- 
 erans' Monument Committee was voted, this amount 
 being wanting should the celebration of the unveil- 
 ing of the monument be held on September 26. 
 
 Upon report that the upper stairs to the crema- 
 torium were also to be replaced by new ones, the 
 necessary additional amount of $487.00 was approved. 
 
 The fiftieth anniversary committee submitted a 
 report that the celebration be held toward the end 
 of June 1927, consisting of a great popular celebra- 
 tion the first day and a banquet the second day and 
 that a ^'Mother'' Monument be erected in the ceme- 
 tery as a permanent memento of this jubilee. This 
 statue of "Mother" was to remind us of our mothers 
 and of our debt to them which could only be repaid 
 in the true gold of daily affection and of which Mr. 
 Pazdral, the speaker at the Memorial Day celebra- 
 tion of that year, spoke in such heartfelt terms. The 
 committee asked for $50,000.00 to be used for the 
 celebration, for the publication of a Bohemian and 
 an English Memorial book and for the erection of the 
 statue which was to cost about $10,000.00. After a 
 lengthy debate the recommendation was adopted by 
 47 votes against 2. 
 
 The Auditing Committee reported an increase in 
 assets during the first six months of the year of 
 ^88,565.46, the total assets being $1,776,607.92. 
 
 The annual tour of inspection was held on Au- 
 gust 29. Sixty-one delegates and all executive officers 
 were present. Stops of piety were made at all graves 
 of prominent men and women buried in the ceme- 
 tery. The new stair-case in front of the crematorium 
 met with general approval. 
 
 On September 1 a donation of $300.00 was voted 
 to the building fund of Sokol Havlicek-Tyrs Gym- 
 nastic Society. 
 
 The unveiling of the Spanish War Veterans* 
 Monument was held on September 26. The massive 
 
 121 
 
pedestal, a one-piece block brought with great diffi- 
 culties from Wausau, Wis., was donated by Mr. 
 Albrecht, Jr. The monument itself was created by 
 Theo. A. R. Kitson, New York. Mr. Fr. Stejskal, the 
 last living Bohemian veteran of the Civil War, march- 
 ed at the head of the procession which started from 
 the Vojta Naprstek School and after a ride on Craw- 
 ford Avenue surface cars was formed again in front 
 of the Old Peoples' Home. The celebration was open- 
 ed by Alb. A. Fara, commander of the Camp No. 30, 
 who in his speech remembered 44 comrades buried 
 in the Bohemian National Cemetery. His daughter, 
 Miss Evelyn Fara, unveiled the monument. Mr. J. A. 
 Cervenka was the Bohemian speaker of the day, 
 O. E. Carlstrom, president of the United States War 
 Veterans' organization, delivered an English speech, 
 and after a dedication speech by the veteran, K. V. 
 Janovsky, and acceptance of the monument by the 
 president of the Cemetery, John Pecha, the celebra- 
 tion closed by "taps" blown by L. Hodik of New Lis- 
 bon, Wis. 
 
 On November 3 it was resolved that the picture 
 of the veteran, Fr. Stejskal, be inserted in the Mem- 
 orial book which was in preparation for the semi- 
 centenary celebration, because Mr. Stejskal had been 
 the marshall of the Memorial Day processions for 
 many past years. 
 
 Mr. Albin Polasek, head of the sculpture depart- 
 ment of the Chicago Art Institute, appeared at this 
 meeting and submitted a miniature model of the 
 "Mother" Monument. The bronze group was to be 
 eight feet high. Its idea is as follows: The mother, 
 holding a baby in her arms, bids farewell to her young 
 son who is about to set out the road of life. The 
 torch in his hand represents the education and good 
 advices which he has received from his mother and 
 his determination to spread the enlightenment in the 
 world. The monument was to be encircled by a hedge 
 and in front of it a water basin with flowers was to 
 be made. Mr. Polasek's explanatory words met with 
 sincere approval. President Pecha reminded the 
 delegates of a recent remark of Arthur Brisbane that 
 among the mass of monuments throughout the United 
 
 122 
 
states there was not one honoring Mother. Those 
 words were written some time after the decision of 
 the Bohemian National Cemetery to erect such a 
 monument, and so this cemetery would be the first in 
 America to realize this beautiful idea. The motion 
 of the delegate Cipra that the artist go ahead with 
 his work was adopted by all votes except one. 
 
 On December 1 the following New Year's dona- 
 tions were voted to the total amount of $8,100.00: 
 $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Freethought Schools; 
 $2,000.00 to the Bohemian Old Peoples' Home and 
 Orphan Asylum; $1,000.00 to the Algonquin Camp 
 of the C. S. P. S. Grand Lodge of Illinois; $500.00 
 each to the Music fund of the Orphan Asylum, to the 
 John Hus Memorial Home and to the Bohemian Free- 
 thought Federation; $100.00 each to the Zdrubek 
 School, to the Masaryk School, to the Bohemian Bene- 
 volent Society, to the United societies of the North- 
 west Side and to the Jan Neruda School; $50.00 to 
 the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelanl; $25.00 each to the Slo- 
 vak School at Irving Park and to the Besidka. $20.00 
 was donated to the Bohemian American Cremation 
 Society to cover the expense of the cremation of four 
 deceased members. 
 
 The customary New Years' poultry gifts to the 
 employees were approved and upon motion of the 
 delegate Svacha it was resolved to send similar gifts 
 also to the representatives of the daily newspapers 
 who attended the meetings of the Association and 
 wrote reports. 
 
 1927— THE SEMI-CENTENARY JUBILEE YEAR 
 
 The annual meeting of January 5 was very im- 
 pressive. 
 
 John Pecha was elected President unanimously 
 and vice-president Simecek, in the name of the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery Association, congratulated 
 him upon his thirtieth year of service in this body 
 and upon his seventieth birthday which he would 
 reach in this year. 
 
 St. Simecek was elected Vice-President; Victor 
 H. Filip, Secretary, and Jos. Jurka, Treasurer — all 
 
 123 
 
unanimously. Jaroslav Bartos was elected a mem-^ 
 ber of the Board of Trustees for three years, while 
 John Klaus, Jos. Kfiz and Vac. Waska were elected 
 members of the Auditing Committee. 
 
 Upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees, 
 the following executive employees were appointed: 
 Chas. Bastyf, outdoor superintendent; Henry Pary- 
 zek, indoor superintendent; John Kozak, first book- 
 keeper; Jaroslav Gregor, second bookkeeper; J^ 
 Hroch, assistant bookkeeper. 
 
 Upon motion of delegate Budilovsky a donation 
 of $25.00 was voted to the Slovak Benevolent Society^ 
 
 On February 2 delegate J. L. Bfezina renewed 
 his motion that the old age insurance for employees 
 be introduced as a part of the Golden Jubilee cele- 
 bration. After a lengthy debate it was stated that 
 the Board of Trustees was working up the plan of 
 this insurance which was a very complicated matter 
 and would submit a definite proposition as soon as it 
 would have completed its deliberations. 
 
 The Board of Trustees reported that the order 
 for 10,000 Memorial books was given to R. Mejdrich 
 & Co. for $5,550.00. The book of 320 pages was to 
 contain about 64 illustrations and be attractively 
 bound. 
 
 The Board of Trustees also recommended that 
 an English version of the Memorial book be published, 
 in a succint form, which could be given as a souvenir 
 to the guests who frequently were coming to see the 
 cemetery and to the English speakers at the Memorial 
 Day celebrations. It was resolved to publish 2,500 
 copies of this English Memorial book which was ta 
 contain about 120 pages exclusive of the illustra- 
 tions. Dr. Jar. E. S. Vojan was selected to write this 
 English version. 
 
 On March 2 the Board of Trustees recommended 
 Congressman Henry T. Rathbone and Dr. Jaroslav 
 Novak, Czechoslovak consul general in New York, 
 as speakers for the Memorial Dey celebration. The 
 recommendation was adopted after a lengthy debate. 
 
 The financial statement for the last six months 
 of 1926 showed an increase in assets of only $26,837, 
 although the receipts were considerable (for instance 
 
 124 
 
the interest from bonds alone was $24,050.) Dele- 
 gate Waska, member of the Auditing Committee, ex- 
 plained the small increase by the fact that new build- 
 ings, completed last year, had required considerable 
 sums, for instance one of these single items was 
 more than $31,000. President Pecha informed the 
 delegates that delegate Wacek, a public accountant, 
 had promised to draft a plan of bookkeeping which 
 would show clearly which branches of the cemetery 
 business were profitable and which perhaps were 
 unprofitable. 
 
 With this meeting the fifty year period of exis- 
 tence of the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa- 
 tion was completed, in view of the fact that the 
 foundations for the erection of the cemetery were 
 laid at the meeting of March 12, 1877. The first 
 fifty years were reached in honor — vivant sequentes! 
 
 125 
 
epilck; 
 
 An English proverb says: ''A good beginning 
 is half the battle." The words are poor if we try to 
 find a sufficiently eloquent expression for our grati- 
 tude to those pioneers who had made such a good 
 beginning at the end of the seventies of the last cen- 
 tury, whereby the battle for the present magnificent 
 Bohemian National Cemetery was half-won. May 
 the first pages of this book be a monument to these 
 valiant men who proved once more that Cicero was 
 right when he said two thousand years ago: **It is 
 the nature of a brave and resolute mind not to be dis- 
 quieted in difficult matters — Fortis et constantis ani- 
 mi est non perturbari in rebus asperis.'* Immense 
 seemed to be the difficulties which had to be over- 
 come in the first decades of the existence of the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery, but all those obstacles were 
 only incentives to greater courage and determination. 
 
 The present figures speak clearly. How modest 
 were the figures of the first five months! In the 
 period from August 1 to December 31, 1877, the re- 
 ceipts, including the loans from several societies, were 
 $4,685.36, the disbursements, $3,228.50. When the 
 first quarter of a century was reached, the assets of 
 the cemetery were $232,748.17 (bonds, $69,000.00; 
 inventory, $154,491.00, and various accounts receiv- 
 able, $5,008.50). 
 
 127 
 
The last semi-annual financial statement, from 
 July 1 to December 31, 1926, shows the following 
 assets : 
 
 Cash in treasury $ 9,927.16 
 
 Bonds of the Association 555,244.91 
 
 Bonds of the Reserve Fund 232,423.71 
 
 Bonds of the Permanent Decoration Fund 302,831.38 
 
 Inventory 695,514.27 
 
 Accounts receivable for lots 7,129.35 
 
 Accounts receivable for Columbarium.. 313.00 
 Accounts receivable for grave decora- 
 tion 62.00 
 
 Total assets $1,803,445.78 
 
 During the fifty years of existence of the Bohe- 
 mian National Cemetery, from August 1, 1877, to 
 December 31, 1926: 
 
 7,921 lots were sold. 
 
 50,334 bodies were buried (860 interments were 
 free of charge). 
 
 1,161 bodies were cremated. 
 
 The area of the cemetery is 130 acres, of which 
 49 acres are lots (37.7 per cent), 19.5 acres are roads 
 (15 percent), 18 acres are rows (14.3 per cent), 9 
 acres are covered with buildings or otherwise used 
 by the cemetery (7 per cent) and 34 acres remain 
 undivided (26 per cent). 
 
 There are 8,528 lots in the cemetery — 7,921 are 
 sold and only 607 remain for sale. 
 
 During these fifty years the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery Association donated $121,568.26 to the Bo- 
 hemian Freethought Schools and other educational 
 and benevolent purposes and therefore deserves to be 
 called the greatest Bohemian American Maecenas! 
 Of these donations $65,610.90 were to the Bohemian 
 Freethought Schools in Chicago and elsewhere and 
 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani (Association for 
 Higher Education), and $18,041.90 to the Bohemian 
 Old Peoples* Home and Orphan Asylum in Chicago. 
 
 128 
 
s 
 
^U^m^t 
 
 ipni. J 
 
a 
 
"The Resignation" 
 
 By Mario Korbel 
 
In these fifty years the Bohemian National Ceme^ 
 tery Asspciation had eight presidents: 
 
 M. Karasek, 
 Jos. Matousek, 
 Frank Tesaf, 
 Jos. Hladovec, 
 
 Jos. Hora, 
 Vac. Matas, 
 Frank Mencl, 
 John Pecha. 
 
 Thirteen vice-presidents 
 
 John Benes, 
 Vac. Matas, 
 Vac. Topinka, 
 Frank Mencl, 
 
 C. J. Kopecky, 
 F. Kaspar, 
 John Kfiz, 
 Ant. Chmelik, 
 Eugene Frydl, 
 
 Stan. Halik, 
 John Bouse, 
 Jos. Ringl, 
 Stan. Sime^ek. 
 
 Twelve secretaries: 
 
 Frank Fencl, 
 Frank Pech^ 
 E. A. Haase, 
 Frank Ring, 
 
 Jar. Lenoch, 
 Jos. Becvar, 
 Jos. Vaska, 
 Jos. Filip, 
 
 Frank MaSek, 
 Stan. Halik, 
 Theoph. Wacek, 
 Victor H. Filip. 
 
 Eleven treasurers 
 
 Jos. Dostal, 
 V6c. Slap^k, 
 Adalb. Silhdnek, 
 Vdc. Ksandr, 
 
 Ant. Kouba, 
 Jos. Ba§e, 
 Vdc. Topinka, 
 Jos. Kostner, 
 
 Vdc. Vi§a, 
 Jos. Babka, 
 Jos. Jurka. 
 
 Forty-three members of the Board of Trustees 
 
 Jos. MatouSek, 
 Jos. Novdk, 
 Steph. Sramek, 
 A. Bedlan, 
 Vac. Sejk, 
 V. Stehlik, 
 F. Mencl, 
 Vdc. Tejcek, 
 Fr. Rothbauer, 
 Fr. Kvapil, 
 John Kotek, 
 
 V. Tesaf, 
 J. Jakubka, 
 Fr. Fiser, 
 Thom. Kamis, 
 J. Vodicka, 
 Jos. Cinkl, 
 Fr. Hess, 
 Jos. Dostal, 
 E. A. Haase, 
 V. Topinka, 
 J. A. Smejkal, 
 
 Jos. Kostner, 
 Jos. Hora, 
 Vac. Nekola, 
 Jos. Nikodem, 
 Jos. Jurka, 
 Jos. Sindelaf, 
 Fr. Fucik, 
 V. Matas, 
 M. Wolf, 
 Fr. Vitla^il, 
 R. Pitte, 
 
 129 
 
C. J. Kopecky, Fr. Boucek, M. Kralovec, 
 
 V. Kolacek, John Pecha, Eugene Frydl, 
 
 M. Sikyta, Jos. Siman, Jaroslav Bartos. 
 
 Thorn. David, 
 
 The Association has 37 members. These socie- 
 ties are represented by 74 delegates. 
 
 While it is customary in many societies that 
 nobody wants to be appointed a delegate to other 
 societies, the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa- 
 tion soon became a rare exception. Anyone felt hon- 
 ored if he was appointed a delegate to the Cemetery 
 Association, and that is the explanation for the fact 
 that the delegates change so rarely today. Usually 
 the delegate retains his office till his death or his 
 own resignation for very urgent reasons. At the an- 
 nual meetings scarcely three or four really new dele- 
 gates are announced. 
 
 The meetings are a model to all other Bohemian 
 societies. Harmonious co-operation, friendly discus- 
 sions, moderation even in hot debates and wisdom 
 of opinions prevail in them. Only these excellent 
 qualities shown in all deliberations made it possible 
 that the executive officers remained in their places 
 for many years in succession. For instance, the Asso- 
 ciation had only eight presidents in fifty years, an 
 extraordinarily rare fact in the annals of fraternal 
 societies. 
 
 The Bohemian National Cemetery is one of the 
 most beautiful cemeteries in the United States, a real 
 Garden of the Dead. It excels in floral decorations, 
 as well as in general pleasing arrangement, its ad- 
 ministration building, green-houses and Palm house 
 are splendid, and by and by — as Polasek^s ^'Mother*' 
 foreshadows — it will also become a treasury of art 
 gems. 
 
 To every American fellow-citizen of other racial 
 descent the Bohemian National Cemetery is a surpris- 
 ing evidence of the high cultural level of the Bohe- 
 mian immigrants. 
 
 To our sons and daughters the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery is a proud legacy! 
 
 130 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Preface 3 
 
 Introductory 5 
 
 1877 ? 7 
 
 1878 18 
 
 1879 22 
 
 1880 25 
 
 1881 28 
 
 1882 31 
 
 1883 33 
 
 1884 34 
 
 1885 36 
 
 1886 39 
 
 1887 41 
 
 1888 43 
 
 1889 45 
 
 1890 47 
 
 1891 48 
 
 1892 50 
 
 1893 53 
 
 1894 55 
 
 1895 56 
 
 1896 58 
 
 131 
 
I'age 
 
 1897 60 
 
 1898 '. 62 
 
 1899 63 
 
 1900 65 
 
 1901 66 
 
 1902 — The Year of the Twenty-Fifth Anni- 
 versary , . . . . 68 
 
 1903 71 
 
 1904 72 
 
 1905 74 
 
 1906 76 
 
 1907 77 
 
 1908 78 
 
 1909 80 
 
 1910 81 
 
 1911 82 
 
 1912 84 
 
 1913 86 
 
 1914 90 
 
 1915 93 
 
 1916 95 
 
 1917 97 
 
 1918 99 
 
 1919 102 
 
 1920 104 
 
 1921 106 
 
 1922 109 
 
 1923 Ill 
 
 1924 113 
 
 1925 117 
 
 1926 119 
 
 1927 — The Semi-Centenary Jubilee Year 123 
 
 Epilog 127 
 
 132 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 "The Mother" by Albin Polasek. Erect- 
 ed in front of the Crematorium in 
 the Jubilee Year of 1927. 
 
 John Pecha, the present President of 
 the Bohemian National Cemetery As- 
 sociation, holding this office already 
 for 30 years . 
 
 Officers of the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery Association: Stan. Sime- 
 dek, Vice-President; Victor H. Filip, 
 Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer. 
 
 The Board of Trustees of the Bohemian 
 National Cemetery Association: Jar. 
 Bartos, Jos. Siman, Fr. Bou6ek. 
 
 Superintendents of the Bohemian Na- 
 tional Cemetery: Chas. BaSt;^, Henry 
 Par^zek . 
 
 Bookkeepers of the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery: John Kozak, Jar. Gregor, 
 Jos. Hroch. 
 
 Editorial Committee of the "History of 
 the Boh. Nat. Cemetery": Chas. Ko- 
 pecky, Stan. §ime6ek, J. J. Jelinek. 
 
 Dr. Jar. E. S. Vojan,author of the Eng- 
 lish version of the "History of the 
 Boh. Nat. Cemetery". 
 
 F. B. Zdrubek, co-founder of the Boh. 
 Nat. Cemetery and author of its first 
 "History." 
 
 Monument of Ladimir Klacel, philos- 
 opher and Free Thought pioneer. 
 
 Civil War Veterans' Monument. 
 
 The start of the Memorial Day pro- 
 cession .- 
 
 133 
 
American Veterans in the Memorial 
 Day procession . 
 
 Czechoslovak Legionnaires in the Mem- 
 orial Day procession. 
 
 President Pecha opens the Memorial 
 Day Celebration of the Jubilee year 
 
 Spanish War Veterans' Monument. 
 
 Prospective view of the Crematorium 
 and the "Mother" Monument. (From 
 a picture by the architect Rusy.) . 
 
 The large Ceremony Hall in the Crema- 
 torium . 
 
 The small Ceremony Hall in the Crema- 
 torium . 
 
 A section of the Columbarium with 
 urns in the Crematorium. 
 
 The new Administration Building in the 
 Boh. Nat. Cemetery. 
 
 The new Gate in the Bohemian Na- 
 tional Cemetery. 
 
 The permanent floral decoration in the 
 Boh. Nat. Cemetery . 
 
 Greenhouses in the Bohemian National 
 Cemetery . 
 
 Greenhouses and the Old Fountain from 
 the North . 
 
 Living Quarters of the executive em- 
 ployees . 
 
 The Interior of the Palm House. 
 
 The floral decoration in front of the 
 Administration Building., 
 
 The Interior of the Palm House. 
 
 The Salesrooms of the Floral Depart- 
 ment . 
 
 The Garage. 
 
 **The Resignation" by Mario Korbel. 
 
 134 
 

 
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