George Matulaitis Journal

in the city, but not to sleep in their own rooms for a while to avoid being arrested, at least until the situation was clear. Father Petrovski, Father Muckermann’s assistant, was also there. I advised them to hold a meeting of the executive committee and to decide upon a course of action. I kept reassuring all the people who came to me telling them not to be afraid, not to go anywhere, and that nothing terrible was likely to happen. I had a certain amount of confidence in what Kapsukas had told Father Tumas. The executive committee had a meeting at Father Ellert’s place. It turned out that the funds of the Workers’ Association had not been lost. At the meeting it was decided to send a new delegation to the Bolshevik authorities to demand the release of those arrested. Thursday morning these representatives stopped in to see me before going to speak to the Bolsheviks. There were several people, both men and women. I reassured them and told them that on Sunday I would speak to the people myself. Also, I would give them another priest. They asked for Father Petrovski. I encouraged them to continue their efforts and not lose heart; I would help them as much as I could. I felt very sorry for these poor peo- ple who were being persecuted and harassed. Having finished the day’s work, in the evening I sat down to compose a letter to the Catholics of Vilnius. I wanted it to be read in all the churches of the city on Sunday. It was difficult to write. I had to say that the Catholic workers were being harassed and that they had the right to demand what was rightfully theirs. At the same time, I had to be careful that the Bolshevik government not find fault with anything or make it out to be counter-revolutionary. On the one hand, I had to reassure and calm the people so there would be no riots or bloodshed, and, on the other hand, I had to make an effort not to depress the people or make them lose hope. I could not make it seem as if I were simply telling them to give in and suffer, allowing everyone to ride roughshod over them. Somehow, with the help of God, I managed to compose the letter. Then I looked it over and decided that it still sounded depressing and so I changed a few things. 191