George Matulaitis Journal

204 still he was able to draw people. Truly, it was God who sent me this Father Muckermann to show me how to oppose unhealthy nationalism. February 20 A nun came from Mi<sk to report on behalf of Bishop +ozi<s ki that Fr. Muckermann is in prison there and is provided with food. They were going to shoot him, but now he is still waiting for his trial, which is supposed to take place in Vilnius. The representatives of the Christian Workers must collect as many signatures as possible, and the workers should also defend the priest in court. I immediately sent the sister to the executive committee of the Christian Workers’Association to report all this. Then another messenger from Mi<sk arrived, who said roughly the same thing, but added that the trial would be in Mi<sk . In the evening the workers held a meeting and decided to send their own dele- gates to Mi<sk to look into the situation. February 23 It was the first anniversary of the recruitment and formation of the Red Army in Russia. The Bolsheviks organized a celebration to commemorate this event. According to local custom, the Bolshevik soldiers and some ordinary people as well paraded through the streets, then assembled in the Cathedral square. A number of speeches were made. Aside from the soldiers, there were very few people, mostly Jews. Hardly any Christians could be seen. In the afternoon, lectures were given in various places. Few Christians attended. In the building allotted to the Lithuanians, only some Jews and a few girls had gathered out of curiosity just to see what would happen. I received reports from various sources that whenever the Church or the Faith were mentioned, the people protested against the speakers. In the face of danger, the people defended as best they could what they valued most—their Faith.