The San Francisco call., 1897-04-24
ANGRY At
THE CAR
Greeks Will Not Attend
the Russian Church
To-Day.
LOYALTY TO MOTHER
COUNTRY.
The Great White Fathers Ac.
tions Have Made Hellenes
ReSenttul.
ANOTHER CHURCH MAY BE
FORMED.
Twenty-Five Greeks Have Gone to
Join the Army and Few More
Will FJllow Them
ANOTHER CHURCH MAY BE
FORMED.

The bitter and unrelenting war that is
now being waged between Greece and
Turkey has caused serious breach in one
church of this City and will result in the
formation of another within q short time.
The loyal Greeks of this City have
always attended the Russian cathedral,
presided over by the Right Rev. Bish p
Nicholas, and which is under the control
OF the Russian orthodox church.
This church is supported the world over
by the Russian Government, and the
Great White Gear is its head and main.
stay.
Therein lies the trouble in this City.
The Pan Hellenic Society of San Fran
cisco. of which Mitchell Vanvales, the
Washington-street commission merchant.
is the president, numbe about 15O men,
bers, and 1t has been the custom for them
to attend Easter services in body. The
recent actions of the Gear, however, in the
trouble between their country and the
land OF the Sultan have decided the ma
lority to remain away from the annual
services that take place tonight.
They think that the ruler of the Russias
has shown decidedly anti-Greek spirit
and they cannot consistently show re.
opSSt All hlui ny ul5 nuTCQ.
The Easter services of the Greek Cath
olic church are peculiar and have a par
ticular significance. Shortly after mid
night of the Saturday preceding Easter
Sunday the Bishop mounts the pul pit and
kisses the cross. Then The priests follow
him kissing the cross and then the Bishop
and the congregation brings the ceremo-
then the Bishop, third the priests an d
lastly hold general kissing bee all
around.
THIS signifies ''peace on earth, good will
to men," and local Greeks think 1t would
be farcical in view of the present condition
of affairs. They have nothing against the
Bishop, in fact he is very popular with
most of the Greeks, but they have a griev-
ance against the mainspring of the church
and will remain away from the institution
under his control.
Mitchell Vanvales said yesterday that
the Hellenic Mutual Benevolent Society,
of which he is president, as body
would not attend the Easter services at
the cathedral.
Some OF tie members may feel like
going" he said, .and no one will
object if they do, but it would not be
fitting in view of the Cars actions to-
ward our mother country to 60 as So
cietv.
1--WE do not recognize the Russian
cathedral as our church and have merely
attended there because we have no church
of our own.
II know one thing, however, and that
is that the Greeks of San Francisco will
have a Church of their own as soon as the
society is in financial condition to
build one and can get priest out from
Greece"
Loyalty for the cause of Greece in its
struggle with Turkey still remains at an
enthusiastic pitch among the Greeks
living in this City and vicinity. Many OF
them would be only too glad TO journey
to their native country and take up arms
for her, and would doubtless do so could
they raise sufficient funds to make the
trip.
"AlI who could afford the long and
costly journey" said Mr.. Vanvales, s'have
started for Greece already. I think about
twenty-five have gone to join the army.
The difficulty is that most of the Greeks
located out here are Woodworking people
who have no bank accounts. If sufficie
funds could be raised We would send
about 200 more ab!e-bodied young men to
fight the Turks, and they would prove ia
be dashing soldiers, too. Our society has
but little money in its treasury, and thi.
is being drawn upon for sick benefits and
burial expenses; so you see We cannot do
| as we would like to in the way of assisting
some of the patriotic ones TO the scene Of
the WALL