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“THE 21” - Finnish Hall News

April 2017

Lodge #21 & Finlandia Foundation Berkeley Chapter

1970 Chestnut Street -- Berkeley, CA 94702

Phone: 510-845-5352 + Email: [email protected] - Website: finnishhall.org Facebook: facebook.com/finnishbhall + Yelp: yelp.com/biz/finnish-brotherhood-hall-berkeley

Editor: Kaj Rekola, [email protected]

This year, 2017 is the Centennial of Finland's Independence. The Finnish Government declared independence on December 6, 1917. To celebrate this important event there will be several events during the year, culminating in the Independence Gala at the Hall on December 3. Most events are in the planning stage. Meanwhile, our Traditional Vappu Spring Festival is scheduled for Saturday, April 29! Details inside.

Kalevan Kalenteri 2017

Monthly Trustees and member meetings @Finnish Hall Helsinki Cafe Wednesday, May 10 Trustees @5pm, members @7pm; refreshments Wednesday, June 15 Trustees @5pm, members @7pm; refreshments

Saturday April 29 Vappu celebration and concert, 3pm @ Finnish Hall (details inside)

Friday, June 9 Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki conducting SF Symphony: Stravinsky's Sunday June 11 The Rite of Spring @Davies Symphony Hall

Selected Fall events Saturday, September 3 Viipurin Lauluveikot matinee concert and reception 3pm @Finnish Hall Sunday Oct 22 Calperfomances: Olli Mustonen, piano Sunday Oct 229 Calperfomances: Anssi Karttunen, cello & Nicolas Hodges , piano Saturday, November 11 Finnish Genealogy workshop (genealogist Greg Isola, MN) Sunday, December 3 Finnish Independence Centennial Gala @ Finnish Hall

Antinpojan Blogi Our Blogger, Harry Siitonen is still at SHIELDS NURSING CENTER, 3230 Carlson Blvd, El Cerrito, Ca 94530, (510) 525-3212.. He would certainly appreciate visitors to cheer him up. However, please check with the Center before visiting. The 21, April 2017 2

The Path to Finland's Declaration of Independence on December 6, 1917 Part 2. Passive and active resistance during the first Russification attempt The first Russification attempt by Russia triggered both passive and active resistance movements in Finland. Governor General Bobrikoff, whom Tsar Nicholas II had given dictatorial powers in Finland, was assassinated in June 1904. Eliel Soisalon- Soininen, the Procurator (Minister of Justice) in the Finnish Senate, was assassinated in February 1905. The policy of the constitutionalists, comprising mostly civil leaders from the educated class, was to hold on to the Finnish constitution, recognized by oaths by each successive Grand Duke of Finland since Alexander I in 1809. (i.e. the tsars of Russia) until 1890. This would be done by non- violent resistance of the Russian policy to integrate Finland more closely to Russia.

Another faction was the one advocating Bobrikoff's assasination acquiescence towards the Russians, hoping that it would prevent the total destruction of the Finnish identity. Their motto was "Bend but do not break". However, over time when their policy did not seem to go anywhere, and the faction lost support. The third faction, supporting active, even armed resistance, gained support especially with the younger generation. Expatriates conspired with the enemies of Russia, especially the Japanese, who funded purchases of arms. In 1901 Russia tried to alter the nature of the Finnish army with the new conscription law, which demanded that Finns not only defend Finland but fight for Russia on any front. Finnish resistance grew into a mass movement, an only half of eligible men reported for duty. This triggered a sharp peak in draft-age male immigration to the United States to avoid being drafted to the Russian Army to fight in the Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905). A The Russo-Japanese war 1904-1905 The Russo-Japanese war (Feb 1904 - Sep 1905) which was fought in the Far East, Manchuria had profound consequences for Russia and Finland as well. From the reign of Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, Russia had demonstrated an expansionist policy in the Siberian Far East towards the Pacific.

To thwart the threat of Russian expansion, Japan offered to recognize Russian dominance in Manchuria in exchange for recognition of Korea as being within the Japanese sphere of influence. Russia refused and demanded that Korea north of the 39th parallel be a neutral buffer zone between Russia and Japan. After negotiations broke down in 1904, the Japanese Navy opened hostilities by attacking the Russian Eastern Fleet at Port Arthur, China, in a surprise attack.

Russia suffered numerous defeats, including the total destruction of its Baltic fleet at Tsusima by Japan. Tsar Nicholas II was convinced that Russia would win and chose to remain engaged in the war; at first, to await the outcomes of certain naval battles, and later to preserve the dignity of Russia by averting a "humiliating peace." The war concluded with the Treaty of Portsmouth, mediated by US President Theodore Roosevelt. The complete victory of the Japanese military surprised world observers. Treaty of Portsmouth

Bloody Sunday in St Petersburg in January 1905 and the Russian revolution of 1905 The 21, April 2017 3

An Orthodox priest Georgy Gapon, led a huge workers' procession to the to deliver a petition[35] to the Tsar on Sunday, 22 January [O.S. 9 January] 1905. The troops guarding the Palace opened fire on the demonstrators, causing up to 1000 deaths. The event became known as , and is considered by many scholars as the start of the active phase of the revolution. The event resulted in grave consequences for the Tsarist autocracy governing Imperial Russia: the events in St. Petersburg provoked public outrage and a series of massive strikes that spread quickly throughout the industrial centers of the . The Bloody Sunday in St Petersburg massacre on Bloody Sunday is considered to be the start of the in 1905 active phase of the Revolution of 1905. The humiliating military defeat of Russia to Japan in 1905, caused extensive social unrest in Russia and a general strike in Finland. Finally the Tsar gave up dictatorship in favor of the Russian parliament (Duma) and the first parliament in Finland.

Armed resistance plans in Finland and the S/S John Grafton affair during the Russo-Japanese war The SS John Grafton was a steamship that was used in an unsuccessful attempt to smuggle large quantities of arms for the Finnish resistance to the Imperial Russian regime. After the Russification in Finland increased, the resistance activist Konni Zilliacus organized the smuggling of weapons to the Finnish and the Russian resistance movements. With Japanese financing, S/S John Grafton was bought. The ship was loaded with 15,500 Swiss Vetterli rifles, 2.5 million bullets, 2,500 high-class English officer's revolvers, and 3 tons of explosives. According to the original plan, the S/S John Grafton weapons were to be transported to a meeting place in the Gulf of Finland, from where the journey would continue to St Petersburg. On arrival, a part of the cargo would be offloaded and given to Russian revolutionaries. However, due to some mishaps, the route was changed, and the ship set course towards the Gulf of Bothnia and the town of Kemi, where part of the cargo was offloaded. The journey continued to Jakobstad which, like Kemi, was a center of the Finnish resistance. The ship was piloted into the rocky archipelago north of Jakobstad and the offloading of the weapons was conducted without any serious problems. When the ship continued her journey south, she ran aground. The crew started to salvage what remained of the weapons. It quickly became clear that the whole cargo could not be salvaged. The captain, J.W. Nylander, made the decision to blow up the ship to avoid it ending up in the hands of the Russian authorities. On the afternoon of 8 September 1905 the ship was blown up with three powerful charges. The sound of the explosion was heard some 50 kilometers away.

The Tsar’s October Manifesto in 1905 Issued on 17 October 1905, the Manifesto stated that the government would grant the population reforms such as the right to vote and to convene in assemblies. Its main provisions were:

1. The granting of the population "inviolable personal rights" Nicholas II The 21, April 2017 4

including freedom of conscience, speech, and assemblage. 2. Giving the population who were previously cut off from doing so participation in the newly formed Duma 3. Ensuring that no law would be passed without the consent of the Imperial Duma. However, the manifesto was written only to get the pressure off the monarch's back, that it was not a "voluntary act".[55] In fact, the writers hoped that the Manifesto would sow discord into "the camp of the autocracy’s enemies" and bring order back to Russia.

Finland in the aftermath of the revolution of 1905 The unrest during the Russo-Japanese War resulted in a general strike in Finland in October 1905. The most immediate result was the Emperor's October manifesto that cancelled all illegal regulations. A parliament based on universal and equal suffrage was also promised.

An extraordinary session of the diet in December 1905 was General strike in Tampere in 1905 called to implement the parliamentary reforms. The proposal was presented to Nicholas II on 15 March 15 1906 and after his approval it was submitted to the Finnish Diet on May 9. The reforms came to force on 1 October 1906. The Finnish Diet was reformed from a legislative assembly of four Estates into a unicameral parliament of 200 members. At the same time, universal suffrage was introduced, which gave all men and women 24 years or older the right to vote and stand for election. The electorate increased almost tenfold, from 120,000 during the Diet to 1.2 million. Acts on the right of parliament to monitor members of the government, on the Freedom of Speech, Assembly and Association, and Freedom of the Press were also introduced. These reforms established the hallmarks of today's Parliament of Finland. The first election to the new parliament was arranged in 1907. Finnish Parliament in session This ended the first oppression period in Finland (1899–1905). in 1906 Adapted from Wikipedia April 2017 events

Saturday, April 29, Spring "Vappu" Festival and Evening Concert, Finnish Kaleva Hall 1970 Chestnut Street Berkeley, CA Celebrate the springtime tradition of Vappu with the Finnish American community!!

Doors open at 3:00 pm

Fun for the whole Family! Kids Crafts Tables, Finnish Pop, Rock, and Hip Hop Music with DJ Renttu, Food, Drink, and Balloons

4.30 Spring Sing-along with Kati & Rami

5:00 pm Kaleva Dance Ensemble plays live contemporary and traditional music of Finland Heikki Koskinen - piano, e-trumpet & tenor recorder, Jari Suomalainen, violin, Kati The 21, April 2017 5

Pienimäki Schenker - vocals, Marja Mutru - piano Noah Schenker - bass, Raimo Hirvonen - vocals & drums

Free Admission, Street parking available

7:00 pm Evening Concert "Otherworld Finland" with the Life's Blood Ensemble performing a musical odyssey from Rent Romus' Otherworld Cycle for small ensemble in honor of 100 years of Finnish Independence and ten thousand years of spirit.

“The other world is a place we all carry with us. Deep inside it manifests as unknown melodies while walking down the street, a feeling of Déjà Vu for people and places we’ve never been before, and a kinship with people we’ve never known.” - Rent Romus

Rent Romus - alto saxophone, flute; Joshua Marshall - tenor saxophone; Heikki "Mike" Koskinen - e- trumpet/tenor recorder; Safa Shokrai - double bass; Max Judelson - double bass; Timothy Orr - drums

$15 general / $10 students & seniors

Sunday April 30 Silicon Valley Suomi-kirkko, Sunnyvale: Easter Thoughts (Confirmation meets 1- 2:30 pm)

Bay Area Finnish-American Community Resources

Bay Area Finn News (Kirsti Maki’s Calendar), Contact: Kirsti Mäki - (415) 383-6115 - [email protected]

Finlandia Foundation - San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, Palo Alto. Contact: www.finlandiasf.org

Finnish American Home Association (FAHA), located in Sonoma, Contact: (707) 935-0200 - www.fahausa.org HA Library is open on Saturdays 12.00pm-2.00pm and there are twenty brand new books just received as donation from Suomi Seura. FAHA sauna is open on Saturdays and Sundays 1.00pm-6.00pm. Please check with the office for details (707) 935-0200.

Finnish Church Services

Berkeley: Finnish Church service at Lutheran Church of the Cross the first Sunday of each month at 12 noon. 1744 University Ave. Contact: Anja-Leena Laitakari-Pyykkö, Finnish Deaconess. [email protected]

San Francisco: Finnish Church service at St. Francis Lutheran Church 152 Church St. the last Sunday of each month at 3 pm. Contact: Anja-Leena Laitakari-Pyykkö, Finnish Deaconess. [email protected]

Sunnyvale: Silicon Valley Finnish Lutheran Church (Piilaakson Suomikirkko) St. Luke Lutheran Church, 1025 The Dalles Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94043 Contact: Anita Finifrock, [email protected]

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Paid Membership dues by April 25 2017 (Please notify us if you paid and your name is not listed)

Aguirre Taija, Alter Trudy (life), Autio Kari, Baker Maarit, Basarich Ronald, Becker Erik (paid thru 2020), Bellows Kirsti, Carlson Kristina, Clar Raija, Curran Carolyn, Duda Jerry, Due Linnea, Dugger Leena, Estrada Ulla, Fellman Pamela, Goffin Glenn, Hagelberg Tauno ( life), Hirvonen Peitsa, Hytönen Jari, Johnson Ronald, Johnson Mary J, Kalliomäki Mikko, Karne Mary, Koski Bill, Koskinen Heikki, Kouvonen Ellie, Kouvonen Mika, Leikas Mauno, Leikas Lourdes, Martin Marita, Mattson Signe, McDermott Kerry, Miller Anja, Mork Gretchen, Mork Fred, Mork Melissa, Mäki Kirsti, Mäkiharju Simo, Niemi Betsy, Niemi Gunnar, Rekola Kaj, Rusnak Diana, Salonen Kenneth, Saarni Richard, Simonen Tom, Stewart Anita, Sumelius Fredrika, Suominen Liisa, Talvi Tuula, Taylor Clyde, Taylor Dona,Toivonen Saara S, Tosaris Eric, Tossavainen Aini, Tuomainen Sirpa, Valkonen Mikko, Valli Jayne, Valli Joyce, Weeks Seija, Will Auli A, Wyman Diana, Ylinen Sinikka. (59 of 98 who paid their dues in 2016)

2017 MEMBERSHIP FORM (Please print and use as a payment slip for the dues)

Lodge#21/Finlandia Foundation Berkeley Lodge @Finnish Hall Annual Membership Renewal for 2017 NAME ADDRESS TELEPHONE CELL PHONE (We could send text messages) EMAIL (PLEASE, SPELL LEGIBLY) I want a printed copy of "The 21" mailed to me: YES NO Regular $ 25.00 Retired 65+ $ 15.00 Lifetime membership $ 1000.00 4 year membership regular $ 100.00 4 year membership retired $ 60.00 In Memory of $

In Honor of $

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $ Please send your check to: Lodge #21, Attn: Financial Secretary 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA 94702 This newsletter issue is only sent by email. If you have friends or family who are members but don't have email, please print out a copy for them, or let Miriam (see contact info above) know, so we can mail a hard copy to them.

The 21, April 2017