NEWS – Annual General Meeting February 23, 1902
– Size of Lots for Dwellings
– New Settlers Not Encouraged Unless Can Pay Half Share
– 26’ Sailboat Purchased Kurikka in Massachusetts
The annual general meeting of the KKCC was held last Sunday on the 23rd. Since the required amount of shareholders entitled to vote (30) was not present, the official annual general meeting was postponed to be held at Malcolm Island on Juhannus day. Until then it was decided that the temporary officials would stay the same, ie. Matti Kurikka as president, Gustav Hermansson as vice president, Austin McKela as secretary, August Oberg as treasurer, and Matti Halminen, Herman Tanttari, John Pelto, Pekka Hakulin, Heikki Kilpeläinen and John Klemola as other members.
There are now 72 members in the company, from which newly accepted are Antti Kustaa Ahonen, Josef Ihalainen, Johan Numminen (Chicago, Ill.), John Malm (Australia), Alex Kolehmainen (New York, N.Y.), William Oksanen (Fitchburg, Mass), Matti Liiha (?) (Elimäki, Finland), J.A. Hoikka (Estelline, S. Dak.) and John Koski (Carbonado, Wash).
The board was immediately given the task to get a sawmill for Malcolm Island.
It was decided that the lots for the dwellings on the island would measure 1 acre each, the width half of the length and facing the main streets. Corner lots would measure 1 acre with even-length sides. Four extra lots on each block will be left for the company for future needs. In addition approx. ten acres of spare land will be left in a suitable place in the middle for common use. The width of the main streets were ordered to be 10 fathoms wide, the cross streets 7 fathoms. The parcelling will be done by M. Halminen and J.E. Jerrman. The issue of place-names was left to be solved in the meeting to be held on Malcolm Island.
It was decided to be pointed out to those intending to travel to Malcolm Island, that they should not do so without the invitation of the board, since there aren’t any jobs available at the moment, and will not be until the logging-deal is closed. Considering the funds of the company, new men cannot be sent [to the island] if they are not able to pay in money at least half of their shares, i.e. $100.
The Kalevan Kansa has bought a 26 ft long sailboat. It is somewhat larger than the boat from J. Mickelson that the company owns. Our congenial spirits Halminen, Jerrman, Ahonen, Wilander, Malm, Hoffren and Karttunen are to sail on this boat to Malcolm Island in the days to come.
Journalist Matti Kurikka, who has recently held several lectures in Massachusetts, with Fitchburg as the centre, is now traveling westward. On his way he will stop in every town he had received an invitation from before leaving on his tour. His success has been greater than expected. The truth has an irresistible power no matter who takes to serve it.
The newspapers of the east are full of the stomach pains caused by Kurikka’s lectures. Totuus [the Truth] writes that in Fitchburg, Mass. Rev. K.F. Henrikson has in one week held altogether seven lectures on socialism and Matti Kurikka.
Our congenial spirits in New York arranged an event on the 15th of this month in support of the KK. Journalist Kurikka held a lecture, proving that the reason for the desperate situation mankind is currently in, is the materialistic viewpoint that European culture has been misled to. It has made people forget that the only real and lasting substance in us humans is our eternal spirit, which has existed before our birth and stays after we die. Mr Williams’ speech awoke a storm of applause. The receipts from the event were altogether $18.75 net.
We spread the word that on Thursday evening, whoever wanted, would have the chance to come and listen to Mr. Kurikka speak. And people did come, as much as the hall would fit in. First Mr. Taiminen briefly explained the meaning of the evening and after him Mr. Kurikka took the stage to explain the workers’ movement. He spoke very clearly, like an experienced speaker. The audience listened to him in dead silence. When this speech was done, it was time for a break, during which Matti was criticized from every angle. There were whispers saying that this was indeed a wise and educated man, and how good of me to have come to listen to him. But then there were also some, who seemed to be sweating with agony.
After the break the more important speech begun, namely the one about religion. Even some, who hardly ever step out of their house, had come to listen to it. This was, after all, the speech of a man, who was supposedly wiping religion off the face of the earth. You were obliged to come and here this and oppose it, even if you hadn’t had a pair of legs. This is what was thought. But what happened? “But he isn’t denying God!”, it was whispered, “instead he is explaining the Bible so clearly that anyone can understand it, even though he doesn’t accept the priests that preach to get their gold coins and have the attitude that it’s no use telling the people the truth, because they wouldn’t understand it anyway”. Mr. Kurikka doesn’t think this way. He speaks out the truth without fear, even urging everyone to examine things by themselves, if they are not willing to trust his words. He certainly doesn’t lack experience and enthusiasm. That is the impression that a listener was bound to get. After finishing his speech based on the Bible, he explained in detail the cause of the KK. His way of speaking was very much appreciated by the audience. With a round of applause the audience rewarded the speaker.
I cannot say, how much this speaker that the KK sent, will further their cause in this town, but he did win over many people here. Many a hater of Kurikka and the Aika-newspaper got assurance, that the paper is neither denying God nor religion, but instead wants to tear the shackles that are stopping human beings from reaching the truth.
Finally a big thank you to Mr. Kurikka, that he came to greet us wretched sinners here in Worcester. Good luck to your cause and for the rest of the journey, from your congenial spirits.
About the Articles
Friday, February 28, 1902 Issue 9 (43). p 1
Author Unknown