The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-09-29


Two facts must necessarily be stated in
regard to the movement among Lithuanians
in Europe and America First the discord
among the people and clergy; second, ten.
dency toward bettering of moral and social
conditions by one party, and approval of
tyranny, even terrorism, on the other side.
Causes which provoke the discrepancies
among people and priesthood are many, and
not all of recent origin. If we survey the
history Of Lithuania we find that our mother
country was a prosperous one and distin-
guished itself by many heroic deeds in the
wars against Tartars, Poles and the German
Order; but gloomy times succeeded when
Catholicism got sway over the minds Of our
nation. Catholicism with its tolerance Of
other confessions, schools of Jesuits, dissent.
mating hatred toward other nations and
seryitude which has been introduced at the
fountain of the fall and perdtiOn Of lithu
ania. True, our nation at last became aware
of the fact, and hanged two conspicuous
bishops, Rt Rev.. Massalsl1i, of Vilno, and
Kossakovski of Livland; but it was too late;
the fate brought the country under the
Russian knout Since that time our clergy
continues to hinder the progress of enlight-
enment, it accumulates wealth by robbinE
the poor classes of society, it helps the
Russian despot to enchain our nations lib
critics every one remembers the reverend
gentlemen like Zylinskas, Medeksza, Kop-
&. .,
highest degree. The same ways and means
are used by the Lithuanian clergy even in
this Republic. Our clergy conducts itself
like the renowned Rinaldo Rinaldini.
No wonder if opposition arises against this
enemy of liberty and progress, not only in
Europe, but the more in this Republic where
our people enjoy the rights of independence
Papers have been founded disregarding the
protestations OF priests and their ceRSure
which they were not ashamed to introduce in
this country! A society for enlightenment
of the people hss been established in 1890,
the Society Of Science whose aim is to print
scientific and other useful books to help along
the youth frequenting colleges, etc. This
was a terrible blow for our clergy its prestige
began to fade away. Recommendations,
curses and inceusions from the pulpit and
other meanness has brought in bad results
upon their own heads Then they began to
publish pamphlets full of virus and malice
against the leading men among Lithuanians
| At last they began to make arrests among
their own parishioners-as Rev. Abromaitis, Of
] ILtI. u II e 4 mill
the purpose to teIrorize people and to subdut
their revolving spirit against the catholicism
But in vain The conduct of our clergy, the
bands of organized soldiers (Karaviai) in
Plymouth, the robberies committed on limo
cent people, open the eyes to the blindes
adorators of their own and the army o
protesting people is increasing every hour
As to the question of immortality of tn,
opposition it is refined nsinuation) if yot
consider the cases coming up in the courts 0
Pottsville, Sunbury, Wilkes. Barre etc, yol
will find that the most devout people and tn,
best customers OF the clergy are alway
quarreling, splitting each others heads, ever
they commit many foul murders, as has beel
! "a
If members of the Society of Science fill tn
court rooms, please give us the instances aut
then make comparison a statistical one
mean, with the frequency of the case
brought in by the good Catholics. Our priest
teach the poor people to go to courts by thei
own example, as well as the priests, who ar
J usually heavily drinking men (some parson
ages smell like saloOns) are teachers in tn
consumption of beer and whiskey! In on
instance, Rev. Polujanski established a salOo
downstairs and church upstairs, so that hi
flock could refresh themselves after tn
: service and sermon of the godly man.
As to the question of anarchy, our worn
ing people are liberty loving people not onl
in politics, but in their convictions, eithe
and they would not tolerate interference
, questions of liberty of thought, speech, a
sociation, etc. But it is a question whethC
this means anarchy. We think that
I means anarchy if Rev. Pea claims that v
should support Nihilists in order sooner
overthrow the Russian government whic
at present makes some restrictions to IL
Catholic church. We consider it anarchy
Rev, Burba sustsins an organized band
soldiers who insult and assault in every wa
the law-abiding people, and themselves e
cape the hands of justice, We consider
anarchism if our clergy advocates forcib
means for the determination not only of OIL
Society of Science, but even for the perditiC
of our prominent men,
We sec clearly that there is a great dang
for the human society imminent from o.
clergy at present. Our nation has suffered
centuries gone by. We are eager to avoid o
past mistakes and look forward to pro
porous and elghtened future where the cla'
of our clergy will be unable to reach peoE
adhering to ideas of liberty, progre
brotherhood, well-being
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF the Society Of Science.