George Matulaitis Journal

them. He named the new organization St. Casimir’s Association of Christian Workers. 1 People began to sign up in droves. To assist Father Muckermann, I assigned Father Petrovski, 2 a Belorussian capable of speaking to the masses and familiar with social action. The very poorest people, regardless of nationality, started to join the association. In a short time over nine thousand men and women had signed up. Father Olsza<ski was not happy with all this and came to see me several times complaining that his own work was being disrupted. After looking into the matter and consulting with a few knowledgeable priests, I called in Fathers Olsza<ski , Muckermann, and Canon Lubianiec, Director of Social Action in the diocese. I asked both of them to present their case. I decided that both could continue their work and that their different fields of endeavor do not interfere with one another. Father Olsza<ski could continue his present work of organizing and directing the professional associations and his cultural work, while Father Muckermann could go on with his religious, cultural, and economic work, supporting Father Olsza<ski ’s professional associations. And so the dispute was settled. Father Muckermann had come up with the idea of publishing a small newspaper and had begun to organize a cooperative. The Bolsheviks did not like this. When the first issue of the newspaper appeared, they immediately confiscated it. As for Father Muckermann himself, they sent two militiamen at midnight and told him to get out of Vilnius within twenty-four hours. This occurred Sunday night, February 9th. I got news of it very early next morning. Father Muckermann himself arrived soon afterwards with Canon Ellert, 3 pastor of St. John’s Church, the parish in which St. Casimir’s is located, and also the Duchess Grudzinska.We discussed what was to be done. Father Muckermann wanted to remain in hiding in Vilnius for a while until he could put his affairs in order. We agreed that the Workers’ Association should continue as before with the assistance 187 1 Fr. Muchermann started this workers’ union with the Polish title “Liga Robo tnicza >w . Kazimierza” with Bishop Matulaitis’ approval. It improved the workers’ living conditions by organizing cooperatives giv- ing them access to food and other necessities. Msgr. I. Olsza < ski’s workers’ union called “Z wi'zk i Robotników Chrzesc ija<s kich” had become too political. 2 Fr. Michael Pjatrovski (Petrovski in Lithuanian, Piotrowski in Polish) was actually Belorussian, ordained in 1912 and then working in social action ministry. 3 Juliusz Alojzy Ellert (1966-1925, ordained 1889) was an honorary canon and pastor of St. John’s Church in Vilnius from 1913.