George Matulaitis Journal

322 deteriorating and would fall apart completely unless I helped them. It was true that the Pow >ci'gliwo>: i Praca orphanage was in a deplorable state. There was almost no food and very few children since many had scattered. The workshops were inactive. And so I appointed Father Zienkiewicz to take charge. He managed to do so very quickly and organized the institution very well. He gave permission for a school to be housed in the building. The parents, workers, and teachers had constantly complained about Father Dyakowski, and I had a great deal of trouble on that account. There was even an investigation and trial. Now everything has quieted down, and everyone is content. Gradually, the other members of the executive committee who had fled started coming back: Mrs. Romer, the Marshal’s wife, Mr. Leon Perkowski, Dr. Moraczewski, and finally Father Songin, pastor of All Saints’ Church. These people were not happy with Father Zienkiewicz’s nationality nor with his socialist views: osten- sibly he believes in the class struggle. They were also very much against Father To = oczko, who had been teaching the children religion in the schools conducted by the association at the request of Father Dyakowski. The former officers decided to dismiss Father Zienkiewicz and told him so. Then they came and informed me of this decision and asked me to appoint Father Jal e<s ki rector of St. Stephen’s and director of the association and its institutions. They made it quite clear that I have no right to interfere in these matters and voiced their complaints against Father Zienkiewicz. I assured them that I do not intend to interfere in the internal affairs of their association, but that the church and the appointment of priests is within my jurisdiction. I have nothing against Father Zienkiewicz’s leaving the association, but just now it is difficult for to me to appoint Father Jal e<s ki because he is teaching religion in the schools. It is now the middle of the school year, and there is a shortage of priests. Father Songin can supervise the institution for the time being. My policy is not to interfere with the national loyalties of the priests. If there is a question about Father Zienkiewicz’s loyalty to Catholic doctrine as a priest, then it should be pointed out, and I can empower an ecclesiastical court to investigate the matter. That is how we parted. After that Father Songin came in. He was very excited and agitated, threatening that the organization will close down rather than