Evening star., 1924-12-22
In TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

which assumes to protect nations
from encroachment. What will Eng
land do when the league ceases to
act, if it fails to stop the unrest?
x
II is estimated that there are more
than 10000 Albanians now In the
United States, though many immi-
grants returned to their fatherland
: during the struggle for Independence
ending in nominal success In 1912
Many others returned during the
World War, but thousands of refu-
gees arrived here during that period
for Albania saw much fighting an6
was occupied throughout the war BY
Italian forces. All Albanians now
here have come since 1900.
Most of these immigrants are in New
England, there being not less thar
10000 in Massa chusetts.
X Z X
In the early years of the irnmigra-
ton but few Albanians could read even
their own language, for it had bee,s
the policy of their Turkish rulers to
forbid schools. In 1906 a graduate OF
the University OF Athens, who, owing
to his inability TO speak English, was
working as a factory hand in Massa-
chusetts. started weekly newspaper
in Boston, printed in the Albanian
language. He was Mr.. Sotir Petsi, au
orthodox Christian. His purpose was
to crystallize patriotism among his
fellow Albanians. on behalf of the
fatherland. He published at his owl
expense, and distributed his paper, az
first gratuitously, but not more than %
out of the 5000 Albanians then In
America could read il. These literate
Albanians read it to their neighbors,
who never before had seen an Albanian
paper. Not long thereafter there ar
rived in jamestown, n. Y, group OF
Albanians from Rumania who were
more enlightened and with Mr.. PetsIs
paper as inspiration. they soon formed
the first Albanian society in America
named "Motherland.'
When the Greek patriarch of Con
stantinople heard OF this dangerous &C
tivity Of the Albanians in America, he
threatened to excommunicate from the
orthodox church all relatives of the
American AlbanianS who were stu IL
Albania. This threat resulted in a con
vention in Boston in 1908, at which the
American Albanians proclaimed their
independence from the church under
the patriarchate of Constantinople, and
they established in Boston an tnde-
pendent Albanian orthodox church, IN
der the headship Of Rev. Fan s. Noli.
d NATIVE VI hyL6Zd, near SAuElauVDAS
He was duly invested at the hanGr ca
the Russian Bishop of New York. and il
Is this new American made Bishop Noli
who is now the premier of Albanis anc
who is appealing to the League of Ma
tions to save his country.
u n X
A most remarkable demonstration
of the artificial division of Albanians
according to their religions, rather
than upon lines OF race, is found in
the fact that the Boston Orthodox
Christian Church Is receiving liberal
contributions of support from AL
banian Moslems in America, who. in
their enthusiasm over the independence
from European or Turkish dominance
have separated themselves from the
ISheikh-ul-Islam. of Constantinop1e.
and, although not accepting Chris
tianity, are glad to encourage the
Christian Independents, for patriotic
motives.
50 strong is the ambition of the
Albanians in America to gain educa-
tion that 1T is authoritatively stated
that, while in 1906 not more than 20
could read and write, today not less
than 5000 can do so. They support
nine weekly papers. six monthlies and
one daily. Ten are published in the
Albanian language. (fnclJdsng the
daily of Boston) and the others In
both Albanian and English.
scepyxtghk 1a2A ny Pau1 Es cazzssasA