Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-05-02
POLISH AND
LIT H UANIAN
CELEBRATION
5O0th Anniversary of Battle
of GrunWaId Observed Yes-
terday--LarQe Parade
RECEPTION IN PULASKI
HALL MAYOR SPEAKS

To commemorate the 500th anni-
yersary of the battle of Grunwald. a
decisive battle which liberated the
Poles and Lithuanians from threat
ened invasion of their countries by
the knights OF the Cross, a monster
celebration was held In this city yes
terday afternoon, beginning with a
street parade and church services
and ending last night with an enter
tainment and banquet in Pulaski
hall. Addresses by Mayor Boll-
schweiler, Recorder Pickersgill and
several prominent Polish speakers;
a mimic battle representing the
struggle of 500 years ago; the rem
dition of national songs by St. Cece-
las Singing Society and sermon
on Patriotism, by Rev. Julian Zie-
linski, were some of the days fea-
lures.
Grunwald is to the Poles and Lith-
uanians what the battle of Bunker
Hill was to the Yankees or the bat
tie of Waterloo to the English. BY
defeating their adversaries, the Poles
and Lithuanians prevented the inva-
sion of their countries and saved
their nations.
History OF Strife.
To go back into history, the
knights of the Cross were remnant
body of the Crusaders, who unsuc-
cessfully attacked Palestine under
the leadership Of King Richard, of
England. Following the crusades,
those engaged in it disbanded, save
the Knights of the Cross, the Hos
pitaler Knights, the knights Tenn
plars and several smaller orders.
During the years following the cru
sades, the orders remained extant,
but corruption became dominant, and
eager for wealth and power, the
Knights of the Cross attempted to
secure Poland and Lithunia. Under
the leadership of the great Jungin-
gen, the invaders met the combined
forces OF the two countries, led by
King Jagiello of Poland, at Grun-
wald. That day $4,000 were slain,
but the knights were routed and
their order broken up.
A Mimic Battle.
One of the features of yesterdays
celebration was mimic battle, on
the stage of Pulaski hall, between
children Of st. Stephens Polish
school, representing the forces of the
Knights Of the Cross and the Polish
and Lithuanian army. With paste
board helmets, painted coats of mail,
and curiasses hanging at their sides,
the two mimic armies marched upon
the stage. The knights of the Cross
carried q banner inscribed with the
Maltese cross of their order. So re-
alistic was the battle that after the
last knight had fallen from the
sword point of an adversary, all
were obliged to revive and answer
several curtain calls.
Preceded BY Parade.
The celebration began at 2:30
o'clock, with parade from Pulaski
Park to St. Stephens Polish Catholic
church in State street, where Rev.
Julian Zielinski celebrated solemn
vespers In line in the parade were
the following societies; Polish Ca
diets and Polish Uhlans, of South
River; Polish Battery, No. 8; Ladies'
Sokol, No q; Polish Sokol, No. l.;
General ]. H. Dabrosski Society, St.
Stephens Society, King Sigmund
August Society, John Sobieski So
ciety, No. 8: Kosciusko Society, St.
Stanislaus' Society, st. Albert's- So
ciety, st. Casmir's Society. st. Marys
Society and st. Johns Society.
AT the church, following the ves-
per celebration, Father Zielinski
gave patriotic address. Special
music had been prepared for the oc-
casion, and under the leadership of
Director Rostkowsl1ie, the following
program was sung by mixed quar-
tet; Regina Coeli, Searn; o Saluta-
ris, Weingand; Tantum Ergo, Goeb.
Reception Followed.
After the church service, a recep-
tion was given at Pulaski hall. An
other address was delivered by Rev.
zielinski, followed by the rendition
of several songs by the children of
St. Stephens school. P. Ziemkie-
wicz, supreme president of the Polls
Krakus, next delivered an address,
Continued on page 81