George Matulaitis Journal

188 of Father Petrovski. The executive committee of the Workers’ Association would take charge of the church and of the work already begun there under the supervision of Canon Ellert. When the people got wind of the Bolsheviks’ intention to exile Father Muckermann from Vilnius, they started to gather in St. Casimir’s Church. Father Muckermann also went in to say good-bye to the people and to give a short sermon. As he was about to leave the church, the people would not let him go, saying that they would never allow him to be deported. There was a crowd of people outside the church as well as inside. Trying to break up the crowd, some Jewish militiamen fired a few shots into the air. It is said that one of the bullets struck a church window. The crowd became enraged, got hold of the militiamen, disarmed them, and handed them over to the Red Army. The people considered this shooting incident to be a provocation on the part of the Jews. Besides, on Saturday and Sunday some Jewish girls had already been seen scattering leaflets about and even posting them on the church doors. These leaf1ets were directed against Father Muckermann. When the Bolshevik authorities became aware of the people’s increasing resentment against the Jews, they removed the Jewish militia from the streets around the church and replaced them with Red Army men. The Bolsheviks declared that they would punish those who fired the shots. But it turned out that not all of the Red Army men were loyal to the government. Some of them were saying that they would not let the people be harmed, nor would they allow the Jews to take advantage of the Christians. Apparently, the Bolshevik leaders heard about this and sent the disloyal groups of soldiers out of the city. The church was surrounded by Polish soldiers, considered more trustworthy. They allowed people to leave the church, but would not let anyone go in. The people kept sending delegations to the Bolshevik authorities asking them to let Father Muckermann go free and remain in the city. The railroad workers as well as the electricians were determined to go on strike. Both individuals and workers’ delegations kept coming to see me about Father Muckermann. All the Catholics of the city were up in arms. I did what I could to save Father Muckermann. That