Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-01-11
Russian Superstition and Despotisn|

Russian Superstition and Dsspotisn
What the Pope is in Rome the
Gear is IL Russia mot merely the
fte.nposal sovereign, but also the spir-
titual bead -the Delf.appointed vice
gerent Of God. The Believing ex
tracts from the Russian Oatechisn'
Iare given, in 4 London Magazine, =
Ii specimen Of the idolatrous aud
blasphemous teachings imposed BY
despotic authority on the ignorant
aud supsrstitious population Of the
Russian Empire;
Question. How is the authority Of
1.-THE Emperor to be considered in ref
erenoe to the spirit Of Christianity
! .answer. As proceeding immedi-
ately from God.
@. What duties does religion
teach Us, the humble subjects Of his
Majesty the Emperor Of Russia, to
practice towards him?
A. Worship, obedience, fidelity,
the payment of taxes, service, love,
aud prayer; the whole being COM
prised in the words worship anc fidsl-
1ity.
/ @. Wherein does this worship
consist, and how should ii be mani
tested?
: A. By the most unqualified rev.
erencs in words, gestures, demeanor,
thoughts, aud actions.
G. What kind Of obedience do
we owe hint
A.. An entire, passive, and un-
bounded obedience in every point Of
view.
| @ In what consists the fidelity
we owe to the emperor!
A. In executing his commands
most vigorously, without examine
ton; in performing the duties be re-
quires from us; and in doing every
thing willingly, without murmuring.
G. What are the supernaturally
revealed motives for this worship!
(of the Emperor.
A. The systematically revealed
motives are, that the Emperor is the
vicegerent and minister Of God, to
execute tho divine commands; and,
consequently, disobedience to the
Emperor is identified with disobedi-
snce to God himself; that God will
reward us in the world to come, for
the worship and obedience we render
the Emperor, and punish Va severely
to ali eternity should We disobey or
neglect to worship him. Moreover,
God commands Us to love and obey,
from the Utmost recesses Of the heart,
every authority, and particularly the
Emperor, not from worldly conside-
ration. but from apprehension Of the
final Judgment.
/ Q. What books prescribe these
duties3
A. The New and Old TestameDts,
and particularly the Psalms, Gospels,
and Apostolic Epistlss.
Q. What examples confirm this
tdoctrine7
! A. The example VI Jesus Christ
himself, who lived and died in ale
glance to the Emperor Of Rome, and
respectfully submitted to the judg-
ment which condemned him to death.
"In The printing Of the Ca.echism,
the words "God' and emperor are
printed in large letters; the name Of
Christ in small.
We publish the foregoing. remark
ing that there is good deal Of truth
/ in it, but as it comes from an Eng
lish source, and as the English are
sIjust nov on very bad terms With tbs
Gar, it is necessary on some ccca-
sions to make liberal allowances fol
their hostile feelings, which are GER
tain everywhere to lead men into OK.
aggeration and Misrepresentation
1T is undoubtedly true, though, that
| the Russians are taught to regard
and to yenerate the Gar as the vice
gersnt Of the Almighty, and he is a
spiritual a. well as . political auto
|crat. He is like Louis the XIV,
and Napoleon "the State and is
moreover what they we're not the
Church, too, as far as doctrine, dis
cipline, and government are con-
cerned, and.is at least omnipotent
guoad, as the Pope himself and as a
temporal prince may be estimated to
be equal to at least fifty such as the
potentate who reigns over the Seven