George Matulaitis Journal

306 were com ing out to attend a political meeting. Then I saw a group of people, mostly women but a good number of men as well, gathered in front of the Cathedral. One of the men had climbed onto a monument and was addressing and organizing the gathering. The crowd was not very large. It turned out that this was a meeting of women protesting against Colonel Chardigny 1 for not allowing the women to vote during the plebiscite. 2 The meeting did not appear very successful. During the afternoon services at the Cathedral I preached on the Passion of Jesus. The Cathedral was full of people, just as it had been during all the sermons on the Passion. The people must like these sermons. It seems that this is what they want to hear, since they have had enough sermons on political and ethnic topics. Whoever wants politics can go to a political meeting. The people are happy to get a respite, in church at least, to hear the Word of God, to calm down and turn inward to meditate on their eternal salvation. Major Uzquiano came at seven in the evening and brought Monsignor Ratti’s letter. I spoke with him for more than an hour. It turned out that he had discussed my position here and the situation in the diocese with Monsignor Ratti. I learned a few things from Mr. Uzquiano. The “endeks” are conducting a campaign against me on all fronts. Mr. Szymon Meysztowicz, a landowner from Paneve ys, had approached Uzquiano to ask his help in removing me from Vilnius through the Spanish Embassy at the Vatican. Naturally, Uzquiano did not agree to this. Mr. Meysztowicz had also gone to Warsaw several times to see the Nuncio. He is also preparing to go to Rome. I responded: “Then he is my friend, and what he is doing is really for my good. I was very reluctant to come to Vilnius. I did what I could not to be appointed here, but my efforts were unsuccessful. I came because the Holy Father ordered and pressed me to do so, and I will gladly leave as soon as the Holy Father gives the word.” Uzquiano affirmed: “I 1 Auguste Chardigny was head of the Military Control Commission. 2 Probably a reference to the proposed plebiscite in Vilnius and the surrounding area. Poland and Lithuania could not agree about it, so it never took place.