INFORMATION BULLETIN

(First published in The New Pioneer, April, 1945)

Benevolent Societies

The oldest and most active Roma­nian organizations in New York City are the benevolent societies. The “Dorul” and “Farsarotul” Societies date back to 1903 and are still in existence. For the most part, they worked inde­pendently of each other, but on nu­merous occasions they cooperated for worthy causes.

During World War I, most of the existing Romanian societies cooper­ated in a drive for the Romanian Red Cross. The “Dorul” Society, together with the “Avram lancu,” “Farsarotul” and “Unirea” Societies, donated an am­bulance to the Red Cross. A standard for the sale of Liberty Bonds during the first World War was presented to the Romanian Societies. It is now in the custody of the “Dorul” Society.

All the Romanian organizations do­nated and worked together for the founding and building of the “St. Dumitru” Romanian Orthodox Church and cultural center. During the present war, they are cooperating on the War Bond Committee and in other patri­otic and charitable undertakings. Some of the organizations have found com­mon ground to work upon in the ranks of the Romanian-American Alliance for Democracy.

“Dorul” Society

The “Dorul” Society was organized on November 1, 1903, at a meeting held in Petru Glafirescu’s restaurant. Among those present were Leopold Figarofsky, president; A. Ionescu, sec­retary; Stanislau Topolschi, treasurer; Vasile Ionescu, Enache Cosma, Tascu Niculescu, Carol Petrovici and Vasile Gheorghe. Having no name, the club was known simply as the “Romanian Club,” after which they proposed to call it “Carmen Sylva,” but it was fi­nally decided to name the group “Societatea Română Creştină Dorul.”

The club is an independent group, benevolent, philanthropic, social and cultural. It was chartered in the State of New York on May 11, 1904; and the charter members were Constantin Dabija, Joseph Roth, Francis M.L. Radich, Victor Corjibsky, and Constantin Negoescu. During World War I, the club operated with other Romanian organizations in New York, receiving on their behalf a special flag for the sale of Liberty Bonds. Eleven members of the club served in the Armed Forces during that war. The club now meets monthly at 321 73rd Street and its officers are Hie G. Florescu, president; Theodor Figa-rovsky, vice-president; Constantin Gheorghiu, recording secretary; loan C. Caciulescu, financial secretary; Nicholas Popica, treasurer; Friderich Palievici, and Constantin Gheorghiu, auditors.

Mr. Theodor Figarovsky, son of the first president of the club, and Mr. Hie G. Florescu are among the oldest mem­bers of the group.

“Avram Iancu” Society

The “Avram Iancu” Society was founded on February 21, 1909 by Alexandru Bacila, who was also its first president; Ambrosie Neder, Vichente Bugariu, George Zamfir, Corneliu Trambitas, loan Viochita, Alexandru Mosoara, Teodor Morar, loan Stanciu and others. Its other of­ficers were Remus Georgevici, vice-president; George Zamfir, recording secretary; George Flusiu, financial sec­retary; Vichente Bugariu, treasurer; Vasile Popovici and Stefan Borlea, auditors.

The society’s standards were blessed on May 30, 1916. In a procession on Fifth Avenue, headed by 50 Roma­nian flags, they were taken to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where they were blessed by five Romanian Greek Catho­lic priests, led by Rev. Epaminonda Lucaciu.

During World War I, they contrib­uted over $500 to the Red Cross, gave $200 toward buying an ambulance for the Army and also donated to the Na­tional Fund, toward a National Fleet, for the University at Vălenii-de-Munte, and to the General Dragalina Lyceum in Romania.

On May 6, 1917, a committee of Romanian women under the direction of Mrs. Ambrosie Neder was formed under the auspices of the “Avram ancu” Society to work with the Red Cross to collect clothing and shoes for Romania. They collected $2,418 and bought thirty crates of bandages, cot­ton and medical instruments which they sent to Romania.

After the war, the society sponsored various social events, the proceeds of which went to orphans in Romania. In 1927, they contributed $100 toward a fund to help cover expenses of the Romanian professors who were guests of Columbia University.

The society observed its 25th anni­versary in 1932 with great pomp. Mr. Friderich Palievici was president at the time. When there was talk of building a church in New York City, they were ready to support the idea, donating $250 to the cause. Today, in its 37th year, the society meets regularly every first Saturday of the month in the social hall of the “St. Dumitru” Church. Its present officers are Alexandru Veres, president; Hie Barbu, vice-president; Emilian Ovesia, secretary; George Bukur, financial secretary and treasurer; John Raica, Vasile Jederan, Pompei Todor, Nicholas Chalamon, Avisalon Marian, George Salajan, Vasile Marincas, and Nick Jiga, members of the committee.

The Avram Iancu Society is a mem­ber of the Union and League of Roma-nian Societies in America. Rev. Ambrosie Neder is the oldest member of the society; he was one of the founders.

The “Farsarotul” Society

The “Farsarotul” Society is the larg­est and most active Macedo-Romanian society in America. With the home office in New York City, it had a total active membership of 168, with branches in Bridgeport, Connecticut; Woonsocket, Rhode Island; North Grovenersdale, Connecticut; and St. Louis, Missouri. At one time, it had branches in San Francisco, Central Falls and other cities.

The society was founded on Sep­tember 13, 1903, through the efforts and initiative of Nicolae Cican, who was among the first Macedo-Roma-nians to migrate to this country. He gave the society leadership through the first years of its organization. At the first meeting, among those present were Spirea Cican, Nasta Cican, Dina Cican, Hrista L. Carabina, Dumitru St. Carabine and Ilic Culetu as active members; and Stefan Zega and Mihail Atanase, as honorary members.

It was first named the “Speranţa” Society, but on December 10, 1906, the name was changed to the “Farsarotul” Society, because their forefathers were originally from Pharsala. Its members are called “farsarotsi,” most of them having emi­grated from Coritza, Pleasa and Disnitza, Albania. The society was incorporated on Dec. 22, 1909, in the State of New York.

It was founded primarily along pa­triotic and humanitarian lines, with the purpose of helping widows, orphans, and invalids, and building Romanian schools and churches in the villages from wh ich the members came. In 1918, with a fund of $6,025, it was decided to pay a death benefit to the family of any member who died. The society has since paid out almost $10,000.

Among its many patriotic deeds and benefactions are the following: help rendered-to widows, orphans and in­valids, $5,000; donation for construc­tion of a church in Coritza, Albania, $6,000; loan to that church, $2,000; donations toward remodeling schools in Coritza, Pleasa and Nevesca, $1,500; donations for construction of churches in Bridgeport, Woonsocket, Southbridge and New York City, $1,750; donation to church in Frasari, Romania, 50,000 lei; donations to those whose houses were burned in Frasari, 400,000 lei. These are only the most important benefactions, but there are numerous others.

The society has about 160 sons of its members and former members serv­ing in the American Armed Forces, and has invested $4,070 in War Bonds, with a motion now pending for $2,000 more.

The present officers are Hie Bici, president; George Gecca, vice-presi­dent; Nicolae S. Balamaci, recording secretary; Nicolae Gassey, assistant re­cording secretary; Hrista Cordista, trea­surer; Christy Batsu, assistant treasurer; Tasiu D. Tasi, auditor; Dimitrie Celea, Nicolae V. Balamaci and Nicolae Stambelu, members of the council; Louis N. Cipu and Atanase Barbu, members of the executive committee.

“Perivolea”

The “Perivolea” Society was founded on April 22, 1909, primarily through the efforts of Cristea Constantinescu, who was also its first president. It takes its name from the village of Perivolea, in Greece, from which all the members migrated. Perivolea is a village of about 2,000 inhabitants, all Romanian. They are a very patriotic group, deeply attached to their homeland. Many of them re­fused to go to Greek schools, and in­stead, attended the Romanian schools at Janina, Grebina or Salonika. A large number migrated to Romania proper, and a smaller number came to America, especially from 1909 to 1915. Very few left their homeland after the war.

Whereas their principal occupations in Greece were lumbering, sheep-rais­ing and small businesses, most of them went into the restaurant business in America. Many of them went to Perivolea to marry, then returned to America.

The greatest number of Perivoleats are residing in New York City, about fifty families in all, comprising ap­proximately 180 persons. There are also a number of them in Texas, espe­cially in Dallas and Galveston; and some of them may be found in Albu­querque, St. Louis, Chicago, Minne­apolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee and De­troit. In all there are about 100 fami­lies of them, or 400 individuals, in America.

The “Perivolea” Society is benevo­lent. A peculiar feature of the society is that it absolutely does not admit anyone to its membership who did not come from Perivolea. It does not meet regularly, but rather as the need arises, and its meetings are held in the social hall of the St. Dumitru Church.

The society formerly paid $250 death insurance, but that sum has lately been reduced to $150. A few years ago, it was voted that the wives of the mem­bers might also become members of the organization. The group has al­ways given its full support to Roma­nian matters. They helped orphans,built public facilities and made other im­provements in Perivolea. Mr. Eftimie Bay is president of the society, George Tegulani, is the secretary, and Cocea Economu is treasurer.

The “Unirea” Society

The “Unirea” Society was founded on January 1, 1909, by Macedo-Ro-manians from the villages of Gramaticova, Candruva, Patecina, and Horupani, electing the following of­ficers: George Popescu, president; Nicholas Dimaca, vice-president; Cocia D. Tasi, treasurer; Leon Zega, secre­tary; Laca Vangheli, auditors: Hirista lonescu, Ghita Juja and Tolea Gumeni, councilors.

In 1912, a group of Macedo-Roma-nians from the same village founded another society for identically the same purpose, in Indianapolis, naming it the “Picurar” Society. The “Unirea” Soci­ety immediately set out to merge these two groups and their aim was achieved on January 1, 1917, in Indianapolis. During the first World War, the soci­ety worked together with the other Ro­manian organizations in New York City to donate an ambulance to the Roma­nian Red Cross. Together with the “Farsarotul” and “Perivolea” societ ies, they fought for the liberty and in­dependence of the Macedo-Romanians in the Balkan Peninsula.

In 1917, the society had over 400 members, being one of the largest Macedo-Romanian societies in America. After the war, many of the members returned to their former homes in Europe and founded branches of the society there. They sent a del­egation to Romania, asking that they be colonized. Many of them were colo­nized in Caliacra (Dobrogea). Quite a few of the members transferred to the “Farsarotul” Society, and at present the “Unirea” Society is dormant.

“Vitolia” Society

Many of the members of the “Vitolia” Society, founded in April, 1944, are Macedo-Romanians. It gets its name from the town of Monastir (Bitolj) from which the members mi­grated. Even though it is a new orga­nization, it has made amazing progress. It held its first annual entertainment and ball on December 2, 1944. It is a member of the Monastriotans Benevo­lent Brotherhood.

The “l.C. Frimu” Society

The Romanian section of the Inter­national Workers Organization is the largest worker’s organization among Romanians in America, with headquar­ters in New York City. It hs societies in most of the cities in which Roma­nians reside, two of which are in New York City, the “l.C. Frimu” and “Ro­manian-American” Societies.

The “l.C. Frimu” Society, No. 4502 of the I.W.O. was founded in New York City in April, 1931, by the mem­bers of the Cultural Club of Romanian Workers in New York. In line with the program of the I.W.O., it worked to­ward a clarification and solution of the economic problems of the work­ers. On this basis, the society orga­nized the Romanian Committee for Social Insurance, with the help of two other organizations in New York. They also helped organize the Committee for the Aid of the Victims of Terror in Romania.

The members of the society partici­pated in the strikes for the benefit of the workers. It has helped to print and distribute literature for workers, it has supported the Workers’ Press and es­pecially the “Deşteptarea” newspaper and has protested against the persecu­tion of foreign-born workers.

When the Romanian-American Al­liance for Democracy was formed, they were one of the first organizations to take part in the New York Section. At present. Miss Sarah Popa is president of the society. Some of its members, such as George Vocila, George Pojar and Mrs. Margaret Pappas are very active in the ranks of the Romanian workers in America. In 1944, some of the members of the society formed the “Romanian-American” Society in the Bronx.

Political Clubs

The only attempt to organize the New York Romanians politically, was made by Dr. Julius I. Klepper, who organized the Romanian Democratic Club in 1936. The club has been ac­tive, mostly during political campaigns, and especially during presidential elec­tions. The Republican Party usually maintained a Romanian section at its headquarters during campaigns. Ro­manians belong to both the Democratic and Republican parties and in all prob ability, also to some of the minor po­litical groups.

The Romanian-American Alliance for Democracy

After the outbreak of the present war, the Romanians in America, de­sirous of doing their share in promot­ing the American war effort, organized the Romanian-American Alliance for Democracy. A call from the national organization to the different cities was sent out, and so it was that a meeting was called in the early part of 1942 in New York City. Delegates from the “Avram lancu” Society, “I.C. Frimu” Society and the Romanian Political Club formed the New York section of the Alliance and elected the following officers: Hie Barbu, president; Dr. Julius I. Klepper, vice-president; George Pojar, secretary; Margareta Papas, secretary-treasurer; Avisalon Marian,Minai Mărginean, Dr. Edward Herbert, Vasile Jederan, Harry Bloom, committee members. Mr. Carol Davila, of New York City, is the honorary president of the national organization.

The organization sent a number of telegrams to the President, reassuring him of the loyalty of the Romanians and sponsored public meetings, to clarify matters in regard to the politi­cal situation in Romania. On July 25, 1943, the New York Chapter of the Alliance presented an ambulance to the Army, together with the New Jer­sey Chapter. Mr. Nicholas Oprescu, by donating $150 toward the vehicle, was the sponsor.

Women’s Organizations

The Romanian women of New York have founded organizations at a much later date than the men have. At present there is only one organization in New York of which the membership is com­prised exclusively of women. It is the Saints Constantin and Helen Auxil­iary of me “St. Dumitru” Church. There were at one time two other women’s organizations, the “St. Papadina” So­ciety and the “Doamna Elena Cuza” Club.

The “St. Papadina” Ladies Aid

The “St. Papadina” Ladies Aid was founded on February 2, 1932, among the Macedo-Romanian women, prin­cipally through the efforts of Mrs. Sofia Cordista. The organization was dedi­cated to the memory of Romanian mothers. After the death of Mrs. Cordista in March, 1936, the organiza­tion ceased to function. When the S.S. Constantin and Helen Ladies Auxil­iary was founded in 1937, Mr. Atanase Cordiat turned the funds over to them with the understanding that an icon of the Purification of the Virgin Mary would be placed in the church. He aug­mented the fund with collections made in Bridgeport and New York, and the group gave a tea in November, 1944, to raise more funds. The icon, costing $100, was blessed on February 4,1945, and formally given over to the church. The sponsors were Mrs. Paraschiva Kisilencu and Mrs. Maria Cipu.

The “Doamna Elena Cuza” Club

Since all the Romanian organiza­tions were founded by men and prima­rily for men, a group of Romanian women founded the “Doamna Elena Cuza’^- Club in 1936, for social, cul­tural and philanthropic purposes. Among the founding members were Miss Mary Nedescu and Mesdames Catherine Nedescu, Elizabeth Vidican, C. Constantinescu and M. Stefanescu. They put themselves under the aus­pices of the International Center of the Y.W.C.A., where they also held their meetings. They have given many plays and arranged other affairs, so that Americans in general could appreciate our culture. They have helped to raise funds for the Red Cross and other worthy causes by giving teas and dances. The name of the club was changed to “Regina Maria” but it dis­continued its activities at the outbreak of the present war.

Youth Organizations

Proportionately, there are fewer young Romanians in New York than in other cities. There are also a number of bachelors living in New York. In­ter-marriage with other nationalities is higher in New York than in some of the cities because the young Romanian people do not have an occasion to know each other. Very few speak Romanian. The new generation coming up has a better chance to learn Romanian and to meet other Romanians, especially at the “St. Dumitru” Church, through the Cântul Romanesc” Choir and the Church Sunday School. Several at­tempts have been made to organize the youth along cultural and social lines.

“Mihail Eminescu” Club

The “Mihail Eminescu” Club was founded in 1923 by a group of men interested in Romanian culture and incoporated on May 23, 1923. Its first president was Mr. D. Simionescu. The group was very active until 1926 when it became temporarily stagnant. New life was brought into it when a group of young Romanians took over the lead­ership, under the presidency of Miss Helen Neder. Soon it had 60 members. The club put on plays and sponsored many cultural affairs. Its members formed a troup of Romanian dancers. In 1934, activities were discontinued.

The Young Romanian Social Club

The Young Macedo-Romanians or­ganized the Young Romanian School Club under the auspices of the “Farsarotul” Society. They sponsored many social and cultural affairs. The club is inactive at the present as most of the members are in the Armed Forces.

The Young Romanians of New York The organization, Young Romanians of New York, came into existence in February, 1940, as a cultural, social and athletic group under the auspices of the Church of “St. Dumitru.” It sought to foster harmony and frater­nity among young Romanians by pro­moting a better understanding of Ro­mania through the study of her litera­ture, history, and contributions to world culture and humanity. It provided an opportunity for wholesome recreation among the young people who comprised it. The officers of the club were W. Hie Florescu, president; Polly A. Lupie, secretary; and Leontina Wizi, treasurer. However, with the entrance of many of its members into the Armed Forces, it was decided to dissolve the group rather than continue it as a girls’ club, and the following year it ceased to function. The major part of its funds were turned over to the church, and in addition, a full set of the Twelve Menaion Service Books was purchased for the church. Its activities have been taken over by the “Cântul Romanesc” Choir.

Author’s Note:

“The author begs to be forgiven if he has omitted any important data or has made statements that ran he dis­puted; and would he grateful if his attention is called to any omission or errors so that the story can he prop­erly corrected.”

VASILE HATEGAN