NOTE: Translation of a text from a Serbian newspaper. Scroll down for the original news.

 

The biggest and the most beautiful Serbian celebration in America 

RESOLUTION
adopted at the gathering held on December 1 1918 in Pittsburgh

Serbs at the United States of America and Canada, gathered at the great national meeting in Pittsburgh at which the representatives of all Serbian organizations and institutions in America participate, which have since 1908 consciously and eagerly taken part in an irreconcilable fight against Austro-Hungarian oppressors of their old motherland, consider it their duty at the solemn hour, when all the ideals of that fight have been achieved, to publish the following statement: 

In the name of their hearths, devastated even before our national enemy declared war, Serbs in America, the victims of pre-war events express their profound gratitude to the rescuer of the Serbian Nationalism and other Yugoslavism – the eternal and immortal Serbia and its allies and protectors which it gained with its heroic fight, unswerving loyalty and great political wisdom. 

Considering the fact that this terrific historical act of our liberating Serbia is in danger owing to conquering aspirations of our neighbors from the West, Serbs in America solemnly declare: 

That they will stand together with Serbia with all their moral and material means in its future fights as long as our lofty ideal is achieved, i.e. the liberation and unity of all Serbs, all Croats and all Slovenes. 

Bearing in mind that lately in public there have been statements and movements, which cast doubt on the real spirit of our people toward a particular solution of our general national issue, Serbs in America, who suffered morally and materially for this current fateful fight more than any other parts of Yugoslav people altogether, consider it their duty to state the following: 

  1. That they are still standing on the ground marked by the Corfu Declaration.
  2. That they dispute the right that anyone who moves away from the ground of our national unity as foreseen by the Corfu Declaration which postulates the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes under the heroic Karadjordjevic dynasty can speak in their name.

In the name of that we acclaim: 
Long live the liberation of all Serbs!
Long live the liberation of all Croats!
Long live the liberation of all Slovenes!
Glory to eternal Serbia!
Honor to the immortal liberating house of Karadjordjevic!
Praise to Great America, its distinguished leader, its heroic people!

The course of the Serbian meeting in Pittsburgh

On Sunday December 1 1918 more than 200 delegates from Serbian societies and settlements in the United States of America and Canada swarmed in the city of Pittsburgh.

The holy service started in St. George’s church at a scheduled time. The church was packed with people and the attendance of that many people gave a more ceremonious appearance to such a nicely decorated church in Pittsburgh. The service was held by the father Aleksije Savić who was assisted by the father Danilo Bukorović, father Nikodim and a gorgeous miss Olga Savić, a Serbian teacher from Pittsburgh accompanied by schoolchildren. 
After the service at the Serbian church the delegates from the colonies from the west, east, south and north and from Canada met each other.
Lyceum Theater on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh was decorated and ready for the guests who would hold a great national meeting in the afternoon. 

Rise, Serb, Rise
The meeting began at 2 o’clock. Serbian schoolchildren sang American, then Serbian hymns and the music was playing “Rise, Serb, Rise” when Mr. M. I. Pupin, a professor at Columbia University entered the stage. 
The meeting commenced with a harmonious speech delivered by Mr. Pupin who asked the gathering to select a president of the meeting. By common consent the delegates voted Mr. M. I. Pupin the president of the meeting. In his speech Mr. Pupin thanked the Serbs for the large attendance and the magnificent gathering and presented the mayor of Pittsburgh who pointed out the virtues of the Serbian people and expressed sympathy of American people toward Serbian people in his speech. 

An American and Serbian children 

Then Mr. Pupin introduced Mr. Jan Breshire, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education. In his speech, Mr. Breshire pointed out the importance of educating children in the spirit of patriotism and expressed his admiration for the Serbian people who could be proud with what they had, especially with the great honor among the educated people who are on their side. 
Mr. J. Laflin, a renowned lawyer and law professor at the Western University of Pennsylvania delightedly addressed the gathering of the Serbs whose activity and solidarity he knew from the experience and admired them, wishing that all the immigrants in America would follow their example. 
Mr. M. Matej, the President and Mr. Daxner, the Secretary of the Slovak League of America y, the largest Slavic organization in the world greeted the gathering in the name of Czechoslovakians. 
Commissioner of Public Safety, Mr. Ch. Pritchard greeted the gathering and mainly pointed out the moderation of the Serbian colony in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area which could serve as an example to other immigrants.