George Matulaitis Journal

January 3 One of the Dolorist Brothers was sent to ask me whether it would be appropriate for the Brothers to join the Legionnaires so that the people would not look down on them saying—so many men, but they do not want to defend their country. I replied that they are absolutely forbidden to go to war because that is contrary to their religious vocation as well as against Canon Law and the spirit of the Church. As soon as hospitals are organized, they can go and minister to the sick and wounded if they want to. A hot-headed pastor came running in to me to ask if he should allow hoisting a heavy machine gun up into the church steeple (this was on the 2nd of January). It would be very easy to open fire on the Bolshevik Workers’ Council from that position and thus force them to surrender. I would not allow it. The House of God cannot be used for military purposes. A priest sent by General Wejtko 1 arrived to discuss the question of appointing chaplains for the Legionnaires. General Wejtko requests that he (the same priest who had been sent) be made dean and that other chap- lains be appointed only with his approval. I agreed, since we must be concerned with the salvation of every person, especially when he is in constant danger of death. I said that I would consent to appoint those chaplains who are willing to undertake this task. January 4 Several priests have arrived from areas occupied by the Bolsheviks. They report that the Bolsheviks are behaving with restraint, not harming anyone, punishing only thieves and robbers. They are paying well for whatever they receive or requisition from 169 1 General W=adys=a w Wejtko had been appointed to organize and command a defensive force made up of Lithuanians and Belorussians. Men were being recruited by the secret Polish Military Organization ( Polska Organizacja Wojskowa — POW).