User:Rooster7d5/Sons And Daughters Club

Sons And Daughters Club, formerly the Sons and Daughters of Lithuania Aid Society of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was was organized by uniting two existing organizations.

One of them “The Sons of Lithuania Aid Society” established Dec 27, 1907, was restricted to men between the ages of 18 and 45. This date is regarded as the authorization to form the Society and its’ constitution. Their rules were called their Constitution.

From the beginning they held onto strong nationalistic tendencies. Its purposes were to purposes were to organize local Lithuanians into a fraternal organization to promote national culture, give mutual aid in case of need, and to educate its members to become responsible citizens. This society was to be independent and free from religious or political domination.

The second organization was the “Simano Daukanto Historical Aid Society” established January 22, 1911, for the purpose of rendering mutual aid to its members, educating them along national and cultural lines and keeping free from the influence of any religious sect. It accepted men and women to a certain age limit, of sound mind and body.

NOTE: The building (1057 Hamilton Ave) was established in 1912 by the “Sons of Lithuania Aid Society” as a hall (LYCEUM) in which lectures, concerts, and the like may be presented. This identification is engraved on the outside front wall of the building.

The purposes of both organizations were similar. Why not merge? Both organizations were advocates of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment principle guaranteeing freedom of worship, of speech, and the press; and the rights of peaceable assembly, association, and petition. The U.S. government requires the separation of church and state. The Club simply wanted to keep the church and society free of each other. FREEDOM/CHOICE was the foundation upon which this Club was formed. One large organization, they reasoned, could better serve their mutual interests and afford a common hall. Both organizations met separately and decided to merge on the following dates:

Feb 18, 1921 – Sons of Lithuania Aid Society.

Feb 25, 1921 – Simano Daukanto Historical Aid Society.

April 28, 1921: Both groups met to work out the details and the new organization became the “SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF LITHUANIA AID SOCIETY OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.”  All assets and debts were absorbed by the new organization, a new charter drafted, and the “Articles of Association” as a non-profit corporation was submitted July 11, 1921, and approved by the state effective July 15, 1921. At this time the incorporating charter took the place of the earlier Constitution. The Constitution and Bylaws were amended, however, the first published booklet in the English language was March 21, 1946. Previous to this date, everything was written in Lithuanian.