Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-11


Of course, disposed to recommend sys-
tenn which had an imposing ritual, and
appealed very much to the senses. They
went to Mecca, but soon left; for Ma
then made too great de-
mands upon the powers of self-eontrol,
prohibited many things to which the Rus
slams were addicted. They then visited
the East, but were no better pleased with
the Manichan system, then so prevalent,
for it was too much occupied with abstract
ideas about matter and spirit, good and
evil, &c. They disliked Romanism on
account of the arrogant claims Of the
pope. Judaism was spurned because it
had no country, and its professors were
wanderers in the world. But the lofty
miranets of the Church of St. Sophia,
and the magnificent ceremonial of the
Greek Church filled the royal commits
sioners with admiration, and they recon-
mendedto vladimir that which ever since
has been the national religion of Russia.
For though, in the thirteenth century,
Russia, after long resistance, became the
prey of the Mongol hordes, and her
princes were the vassals Of the descend
ants of Genghis Khan, yet even the
Mongol rule was favorable to the Church,
and greatly increased its wealth and in
fuence.
For some time the metropolitan bish-
ops of Moscow were consecrated by the
Patriarch of Constantinople. But, after
the capture of that city by the Turks,
they were consecrated by the assembled
bishops of the Russian Church. In 1888
the Russian dominions were constituted
separate patriarchate; but in 1721 Pc
ter the Great abolished the Office of pa
triarch, the dignity and lustre of which
approached so near the prerogatives ot
majesty as to be offensive to the emperol
and burdensome to the people; and, ac
cording to the present constitution of the
Church, the Car is its head, as the sove
reign of England is the head Of the es
| tablished Church in the British d0miD
ions. Operating gupon his subjects through
their religion, as well as their loyalty, hi
influence must be immense. The gov
ernment of the Church is professedl,
vested in "Holy Synod" composed 0
the higher ecclesiastics but none of it
DEGREES are of any force without the ap
proval of the imperial procurator-usual
ly lay-member of the synod.
The Russian clergy form a distinJ
caste; supported not by law, but by tn
strictest rules of tradition. A priest MAJ
ries the daughter of priest, and the sam
families commonly remain in holy order;
The priests are alto,1ed to marry BAT onct
and this provision makes them uery care
ful of their wives, and hence one of tn
most expressive sayings of the people il
Gas happy as the wife of a priest p'
E Priests (or @pappas," as they are cal
ed) of merit are very rare IN the rurs
districts. Most of them are ignorant,
course, and exclusively occupied wit
their own affairs. In solemnizing th
: ceremonies, or dispensing the sacrament
they frequently think of nothing but the
own gains. They care little or nothin
for the cure Of souls, and spread arour
but little of either instruction or consol
ton. Dr. Baird; in his "Lectures {
Europe" represents them as often admi
istering the sacraments when intoxicatt
and states that they frequently drown
child when baptizing it, and then, wi
the utmost nonchalence, turn round to Il
assembly, and say, 'It has pleased G.
to take that child to himself-hand I
another p'
A recent French traveller produc
some very thrilling statistics, taken frc
u the reports of the holy synod, with ref
L ence to the capacity and morals of t
Is Russian clergy. From these statistics
ID appears that, during theyear 1886, no h
rs than two hundred and eight ecclesiast
is were deposed for infamous crimes, a
he nineteen hundred and eighty-fve convi
y ed Of ofenses of less gravity. As I
ne whole number of clergy at that time '
IN one hundred and two thousand four hl
dred and ifty-six, it appears that abb
ne two per cent were judicially condemn
ly in one year. In 1889 this proporti
ek was as high as five per cent; and in
re period of three years, from 1886 to 18
ed more than fifteen thousand ecclesiast
ly passed before the courts Of justice.
= In the early part of this century,
ne British and Foreign Bible Society
gagged in extensive efforts for the dis
button of the Bible in Russia, and, 70
'se time, the scheme met with the apprc
le- ua H.. t,;ot.o. ola,