In 1913 the Russian Orthodox Catholic Mutual Aid Society made available a small publication (11.3 x 15.2 centimeters) containing the text of the ROCMA charter, the by-laws of the Mutual Aid Society, the by-laws of the society's constituent local organizations, the "Russian Brotherhoods" as well as several other related documents. The charter along with the sets of by-laws were printed both in Rusyn (or as it is referred to in the text, the "Little Russian" dialect) and English. The documents printed in both languages had the Rusyn version printed on the left-hand side of a page with the equivalent English text on the right. It is undoubtedly so that these parallel texts could be used as a language study aid.
Below is the ROCMA charter dating from 1912. It briefly describes the purpose of the organization.
The copy of the publication available for study here was found in a trunk owned by Michael Pawlak. Unfortunately, the first page was missing. If any reader is able to supply the missing text, this author would be most thankful.
... stated and according to the provisions of the Act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, entitled, ''An Act Regulating the Organization and Incorporation of Secret Fraternal Beneficial Societies, Orders or Associations and Protecting the Rights of Members therein," approved the sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety three:
The name of the corporation is "THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC MUTUAL AID SOCIETY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
The purposes for which this corporation is formed are to provide means of relief for members distressed either by illness, personal injuries or other physical disability, and, in the event of death, to pay death benefits and claims to families, heirs, blood relatives, affianced husband or affianced wife or to persons dependent upon the member, and for these purposes to provide and maintain a fund or funds from dues and assessments levied upon and collected from the members of the Society, such levy to be made at rates limited and adjusted by the Society's members in general convention, provided, however, that the rates levied and paid for the purposes of providing death benefit funds shall in no instance be lower than the rates. established upon the Table of Mortality of the National Fraternal Congress:
The business of the Corporation is to be transacted in the City of Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
The Corporation shall have perpetual succession by its corporate name:
There shall be neither capital stock nor shares of stock:
The Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant, to Secretary and the members of the Board of Directors of the Society, whose names and places of residence are hereinafter written, are the subscribers to- this Certificate of incorporation:
The Honorary Presidency shall invariably belong to the Bishop of the Aleutian. and North American Russian Diocese. (Society By-Laws, Section 119).
The Spiritual Adviser and Honorary President of the 'Society is The Right Reverend Archbishop Platon, 15 East 97th Street, New York City.
The following named officers have been chosen to serve until their successors shall have been elected by a proposed General Convention of the Society, appointed to be held in the City of Philadelphia during the month of April, 1912:
President,
Reverend P. Kohanik,
66 Mercer Street, Jersey City, New Jersey
Treasurer,
John Repa,
Coal & Grant Streets, Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Secretary,
John Pivovarnick,
62 Maple Street, Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Assistant to Secretary,
Peter Kasenchak,
585 Poplar Street, Edwardsville, Pa.
The number of Directors of the Society is fixed at nine. Those elected to serve with the President as the Society's Board of Directors until their successors shall have been elected by the said General Convention, appointed to be held as aforesaid, are as follows:
John Repa,
Coal & Grant Streets, Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Luke Tchir (Stchur),
118 Spruce Street, Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Michael Boblack,
840 Main Street, Edwardsville, Pa.
Mathew Evans,
609 Main Street, Edwardsville, Pa.
Michael Glowach (Glowatch),
Cleveland Street, Hudson, Plains Township, Pa.
John Smayda,
120 Arch Street, Catasauqua, Pa.
John Stavisky,
Lopez, Sullivan County, Pa.
Mitrofan Gambal,
Rendham, Lackawann County, Pa.
Peter Kichart,
Mayfield, Lackawanna County, Pa.
Your petitioners therefore pray your Honorable Court to order and decree that their certificate of incorporation be approved, that, upon the recording of the same, they and their associates shall thenceforth be a corporation for the purpose and by the name herein above stated.
M. E. Glowach
John Smayda
Luke Tchir (Stchur)
John Repa
John Pivovarnik
Peter Kasenchak
Mathew Evans
Michael Hoblack
Mitrofan Gambal
Peter Kichart
Joseph Stavisky,
Luzerne County, SS.
(OFFICIAL SEAL)
Before me, Notary Public of the state of Pennsylvania and County of Luzerne, personally appeared bn the 12th day of April, 1912, the above named M. E. Glowach, Michael Hoblack, Luke Tchir, John Repa, John Pivovarnick and Peter Kasenchak, subscribed to the above certificate of incorporation, and in due form of law acknowledged the, same to be their act and deed.
My Commission Expires January 27, 1913
J. FRANK NUSS,
Notary Public
In the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania:
In the matter of the Incorporation of "The Russian Orthodox Catholic Mutual Aid Society in the United States of America."
Now, 19 day of April, 1912, it appearing to the Court that the within Certificate of Incorporation, in its original form, has been on file in the office of the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, since the 28th day of December, 1911, (and, as amended by leave of Court, since the 19th day of April, 1912) it also appearing, by attested proofs of publication, that due and proper notice of this application for incorporation has been given in the manner prescribed by law, I do certify that I have examined said Certificate of Incorporation and find the same, as amended, is in proper form and within the purposes named in the Act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, approved the sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety three; entitled, "An Act Regulating the Organization and Incorporation of Secret Fraternal Beneficial Societies, Orders or Associations, and Protecting the Rights of Members Therein."
It is, therefore, ordered and decreed that the said Charter be, and the same is hereby approved, and that upon the recording of the said Charter, together with this order, in the Office for the Recording of Deeds in and for Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, the subscribers to this Certificate of Incorporation for the purposes and upon the terms therein stated.
By the Court
S. J. STRAUSS,
Judge
Recorded in the office for Recording of Deeds &c. in and for Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in Charter Book No 7, Page 347, &s. Witness my hand and seal of office, this 19 day of April A. D. 1912.
S. C. HARTMAN, Recorder
E. Ellsworth