Show RUSSIA'S S 'S LIKE PAGANISM P f So Says One Who Has Studied Conditions in Czars Czar's Domain OBSERVANCE MECHANICAL Hull Killing lowers o Hel Rely Itchy Upon I Ignorance of Ma as cs Who ho have IIa Inc Just JIt Begun to Think V Religion lon In Russia RusIn or to be more correct the absence of or religion in Russia Rusia was the tho subject of tho address address ad nd- dress of or C. C O. O Harris at the First Baptist Bap flap that church yesterday mor morning Ins Mr 11 Harris Harrs lived in nus Russia la two years ers learning the thc customs and conditions of or tho the people and anc since that time has lias hn kept In close touch with wih the tho developments developments develop clop ments ment In the empire Coming at a atme time tinie when whelm th ha Russian situation Is proving of 01 universal 1 Interest tho ho address ad- ad ac- ac dress Iress of ot Mr 1 Harris will wH be bo widely rca read In part It I is as follows lulu mid UN It It I It 1 Is customary to speak of oC Russia V Vas as a Christian Christan nation naton Inasmuch as li liIs It V Vis Is not a pagan one possessing as It J does docs a form of worship that serves as BS a religion toes to Lo Its is people and through devious devious de do- channels recognizes the existence of ot at a Supreme Being and Ills Ils son Jesus Jesus Jesus Je Je- Je- Je sus Christ Christ In In ord order r to form Corm an any sort or of an Idea Idea regarding Russia Russia and Its Is so called so-caled so re religion re- re 1 ligion lol one mu must t recognize tho the undeniable unde undo fact that a as compared with wih the theother theother theother other nations of oC time the world It Is still sti ln J living In the dark darle a ages es of or superstition and mysticism with wih a blind adherence to 0 the time strange customs un aim practices of oC the early centuries Reared neared as aIm are arc the lie Russian people In Inan Inan inan an atmosphere of Illiteracy and lacking as us the they do o those fundamental 1 refining I Influences that contribute so larg largely ly to the tIme betterment of oC ones one's condition both spiritually and mentally namely mentally namely cleanliness clean clean- cean- cean liness hiness pleasant surroundings social In Intercourse In- In temperance education and refinement Is t is Is It an any wonder that their thel worship Is a mere matter of form amere a n mere mero mechanical action acton on out their part Tart It I Is a pleasant dut duty to perform to worship at on ones one's s 's religion under the refined surroundings arid and luxuries that characterize the tue mol modern ern church and es especially es- es so In iii our own good land Jand Contrast these conditions under which the tho of Russia Hussla Is 18 fated to tor r reside and see sec If IC you would not do likewise e. e hen one takes talce into consideration con con- the vastness of or the empire Its is inaccessibility except In certain portions its M climatic conditions as well as sis Us its is curious customs some of oC th them m handed down for ages ases one often oHen wonders won won- tiers ders that thal even so much progress has been made Are Aro Tile he enl Christian t The often oren comes comas to onos ono's mind Are o the tho Russian people real really Christians Christans In iii the general acceptation of the lie term Are Arc tho the superstitions be beliefs be- be and almost paran-ilke paran pann-Ike pann rites of or the mighty arm army of worshippers among tho the peasant class class which which constitute tho hue called so-called o religious class of or Russia Russia- real really deserving destT of oC the name of or Christianity Chris Chris- The Russian orthodox church or more commonly called caled the Greek Catholic Cath Cath- olic church differs In many respects re re- from Crom the lie Roman noman Catholic Cath Cath- specs olic church It I does not recognize the tIme pope as Us its Is head but Invests the reigning reign reign- in tug ing emperor or czar of oC tho time with wih the time sacred title basing Us Its Is authority upon the words found in Romans 13 Vcr Ver 5 5 u C G and 7 Upon his Imis accession to the throne and having ha been crowned czar he is an- an with wih the hol holy oil oi Is the recipient recipient reci reel of the holy communion and ant re receives receives re- re tho the title tile of his holy of office from Crol the Metropolitan or hl high h priest lie lieIs lieis le leI I Is made the tho head hea of or the church the tile defender of the faith but hut his duties as us such arc are mere merely perfunctory the thereal real leal work of oC the church administration heing being done by the S Synod no which Is composed of or the high dignitaries of or the church Arc tre Religion be it of oC tho tIme purest or the huu humblest origin Is purified or debased by Us Its Is surroundings s. s When it i cannot spiritualize It materialistic those who are powerless pow to raise ralso It I debase debase de do- base It i b by their own standards Religion Religion Re Re- Ie- Ie ligion takes hold of or men inca from rom within or without according to the lie grade or of culture Education teaches the tIme In Influence In- In fluence of oC pure and un religion illiteracy teaches If I It teaches any any- thing timing tho the outward form of or mechanical or Imitative worship Here often oren arises a confusion of oC Ideas which h Is vcr very Important to avoid Because Q a religion lon Is outwardly grossly grossl materialistic aI and full Cul of or pomp and ceremony It does not necessarily follow rollow fol rol- oh- oh low how that It I Is all nI mere form Corm No doubt there arc are thousands of oC members of oC the orthodox church In Pu Russia sla today tOllay who are arc ns as 18 In their love of or Christ Christas I as you yu and I are following Ills His Ils precepts pro pro- antI and living as best they can as asHe asHe aslie He lie would have us all al live lve Every re ro- ro ligion and living 1 has Us its Is followers who arc are the time very ery ery acme of or sincerity Itself Who Vho will SC say that the they arc are not worthy of or commendation for Cor their perfect faith ml misguided though they ma may seem to those o of different bel belief cr Three Stories of ur the lie Bible What hat one of r us I Is there lucre who docs not nol look bolt back upon his childhood da days s 's sand and re recall l with wih pleasure tho time Sunday Sunda school where In iii simple simpie language e wo we were taught the tho story of oC Christs Christ's lowly birth time the sad Mud fearful story ot of the time tragedy on C Calvary l ary the tIme glorious story of oC the time resurrection tIme resurrection the the three stories of oC the Bible that have o ha come como to 0 toUs tous us as throe beautiful melodies or as us one melody composed of three separate separ separ- ute ate harmonies but hut all al uniting In hum one grand anthem of or praise and adora adora- t iou ton Tho rumo children of or Russia like the time chIl- chIl of oC ninny many other othel called no-called so-caled so Christian nations nations have have ha e no Sunday schools No Nor 01 do lo they learn the tho sweet stories of oC tin th hue Bible Dible nt ut la that impressionable age the age the age of oC childhood While children are ue permitted to enter the churches In Rus Rus- la Ij and anul thus learn the first rudiments rudiment of oC Imitative worship they must bo be uc- uc companied by their parents or some older person er on Chr Christianity has succeeded Yer very lar largely 1 In o obliterating paganism and Us its Is rites ries front from nearly every called bo-called so-caled so civilized country country- countr It I has not done eone It tt to cv- cv a avery avery avery very great extent In Russia Its religion roll reli Is rel- rel gion Ion so called so coming coming- as HS It i does docs from tho the early arly centuries brought with wih It I au all al of or the pagan like rites ries an and ceremonies core cere mont monies BO so IO dear lour to In the tIme eastern castern mind at that lULL time Their very cry mysteriousness servos to attract and amid hold tho people even aa as It I would perhaps hold us Ul Lines LO the lie Deprived a as ho IK is of or time the refining In In- In of or the true tue Christian Christan religion and of or education and being to a largo laro extent direct descendants of oC the half half- s eastern cattern races race the love 10 of or the mystical Is strong within the Russian Ho 10 does doca not seek to fathom their origin or their meaning but hut he ho loves lovos to observe ob oh- serve them and perhaps finds pleasure In the satisfaction accruing from Crom n a duty we well vel and faithfully performed Unless he lives within tho hue Baltic provinces province pro or 01 along the German frontier fron Cron ron tier ter he knows nothing nothinG of or the reformation reforma reforma- tion ton never perhaps heard of oC Martin Luther and as 08 for tor John Knox nox Wesley or an any of or the gre grout great it reformers they might us as lS well urell wel never ne er had existed tl lit Ift knows known nothing of oC thorn them thor and anti ear ears carti less and while he hue knows nothing of oC the lie questions Involved on the time of or and predestination ton he Is Isa Isa isU a U strong fatalist What hat 1 la Is to be he will wi be with wih him Ills hits religion teaches him that HUH certain forms torms arc are to be observed and with wih a blind Implicit faith in time the words of or the priest lie he does docs as he la is J told tolt and lets the time other othel man do the tim thinking I n k Ins J Education Is push pushing Ins Us its Is Influences throughout Russia and Is doing doing more to 0 assist in lit the ultimate awakening ol of the people to the time principles of oC tr true Christianity than thon an any other contributing ing factor but It will wi take lake talt decades before before be be- fore Core the tho nUBS Russian Ian peasant can hope hOJe to compare favorably with wih tho tIme peasant of other r nations The rime orthodox fears ears edt edu etu- etu V en cn cation ton ion Mi lives CM on 01 Pe Ignorance The entire entre construction from keel to masthead Is dependent upon the I Ig Ignorance norance superstition and fear tear of or I Us its members for Cor Us its Is vcr very power to keep Us its Is head above water Remove that lint and e aIo It will wil tithe take a more powerful pilot piot than any czar or metropolitan to bring It IL I In Into to harbor The or peasant Is as much mucha a slave shw toda today as he ito was when Nicholas great grandfather of the time present czar made a grandstand play pia to tho time other nations by se seemingly taking steps to free the serfs It I Is true that man many Improvements were made In iii their condition con con- Ilton which served to a n large larS extent In opening their e eyes to th tIme the former Conner abuses of or the bureaucracy but one has only to live l e In iii Russia to see tee the time deplorable de de- condition of the people and form Corm his own conclusions as to the time merits meris of oC the so called so-caled so freedom Slavery Sla still tl exists In RUt Russia la In Inmany Inmany inmany many cases even more severe so ere se than luau In Informer informer former years enn Slavery to the time church 1 H is compulsory even en a as It is to the time government government gov gov- and the tho aristocracy le Hedged lCd about as ns the they are arc with wih all al the time lack luck of ot refining Influences compelled as th they arc are to remain within the borders of tho time empire and subject to military duty In spite spie of oC their personal wishes the they arc practically slaves sla to a system of oC oppression oppression op op- than can on only 1 bo be seen to be appreciated Middle Cuts ChiNN Arc Are Thinker The Time middle clas classes es of Russia Hussla which are arc really the time peasant class to whom has lias como conic an opportunity of or ln J living In Inthe Inthe the tIme cities cites eagerly embrace education What is the re result Their eyes ees are arc opened Seeing teaches them to think think When hen a downtrodden race commences to think It I Is the mene mene of oC that nation naton wonder onder what whit tho ho causa raUe a A of or all the trouble o f In I Russia is The answer Is easy to 0 J lind Ind The rIme people arc are thinking and Instead of having other people to do the tIme thinking the they are doing It I themselves He lie who visits h ls lu Russia sla for Cor tho the first lino tinie Is much Impressed b by the lie seemIng seem seem- lug Ing ng deep religious attitude of oC the time masses From Irom time the moment you ou cross the he frontier you see the sacred or metal pictures of the tho Vh Virgin ln Mary Vo No o railroad depot would be bo complete one or more morl prominently dis- dis ls- ls played It I is iR doubtful If Ie nn any railroad would be bo permitted to open In Rus Russia la without having 1 Its stations properly quipped with wih cHens everywhere you ou go you ou see sec them They arc are of or all al sizes izes shapes and tind colors according to the time desires desires de- de sires Ires of or the owner or the time measure of his ils faith They are arc never bought but arc re exchanged for or money or other valuable valuable able ble consideration Buying them Is con con- desecration The Thc g hangs his over the lie door of oC his Imis t store the he saloonkeeper his over the bar th the black his over oyer the forge orge all tl rOt for or time the he one purpose that of oC having havins something some some- timing thing handy hauty to worship n l and and- with wih 11 n ingrown belief that the tile tarnished and ald blackened Image of oC Josephs Joseph's humble wife has hns the tho sacred power to bless and preserve forgive gin In and act as m a spec spec- al ll protector Irrespective cl c of oC V the time power or r object prayed for lor V Arc tre On All 1 Sides Mile The amount of or energy that Is consumed con- con In iii 11 one day In saluting or 01 worshipping wor- wor V shipping the sacred b by the av- av Russian would move the world if IC pl applied to o time the lever of oC education ion tion and enlightenment to tho the right Ight of or them to the left IC of hem keep them bUs busy making the sl sign I ra raf of oC f the tue cross and repeating repealing to themSelves them hem Selves the short prayer of or Bosch fn j combining as It I does docs both a i L plea pica to for Coa protection un and u a t blessing In 0 OI ii ne C. C V V Unlike the hue sign of the tho cross as made madey by y the the devout Roman noman Catholic it I Is made with wih the first two fingers of oC the right Ight hand tho the full rul figure of or the cross being made across the time chest chest It I is done donen lone V Vin In n a mechanical wa way due to con constant repetition and ant is made on tho tIme slightest revocation provocation Your driver proceeding at full ull speed through the crowded streets or of f St St. Petersburg or Moscow will wi upon catching sight of an elkon shift shir tho the reins to his loft lor hand remove his imis cap with the time same annie hand and ant make mal c the tho Ign of oC the with his cross wih right only too oo often ofen to hurl In the next instant a string o of profanity at his patient patent horse V The untutored bulldogs of orthe the czar the he cossack will wil sock seek the lie blessing Imparted Imparted Im in- parted by ever every ho imo sees while on his way to acts ot or rapine and mur mur- d der cr Religion it n Hj i After ACer living in Russia and seeing Cor or himself the time Ignorance and ind superstition that Is met with on ever every hand and masquerading under ho tIme guise and name caine of oC religion ono Is apt to become Impressed with the Idea that hat as compared with other religions It t Is a delusion and a u snare It I offers no rio attractions to the enlightened man |