many of the founders felt that existing Slovene organizations were too closely tied to the church. Organization The local chapters of the Society are called "Lodges" and the supreme authority is the "National Legislative Body", which meets quadrennially. Between conventions the Society is run by a "National Board". In 1979 it was headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois, but now appears to have its central office in Imperial, Pennsylvania. The Lodges appear to be organized into numbered regions as well as local federations. Benefits Originally the Society offered a death benefit of $500 to males, with a $1 flat rate assessment. However, by the 1970s, the Society was a legal reserve fund insurance group. The Society sponsors scholarships and operates a recreation center for its members, among other activities. Ritual The Society has a ritual, but is not secret about it. The ritual included initiation rites, installation ceremonies for officers, an organizational pledge and burial rites. A prospective member must promise to be faithful to the Society's constitution, defend the reputation of the lodges, and bring no harm to the organization. See also S.N.P.J., Pennsylvania KSKJ Slovenian Americans References Further reading Sedmak, J. An Inspired Journey. The SNPJ Story: The First One Hundred Years of the Slovene National Benefit Society. Slovene National Benefit Society, Imperial, PA. 2004 . External links SNPJ Homepage Slovenian Americans SNPJ Recreation Center, Pennsylvania SNPJ Farm, Kirtland, Ohio Slovene-American history Organizations established in 1904 Ethnic fraternal orders in the United States