The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-08
RUSSIA.
The Skoptsy Sect-Who Compose Its Princi.
pal Observation-Disclosures Reforms Through
out the Empire.

The Skoptsy Sect-Who Compose Its Prince
pal Observation-Disclosures Reforms burroughs
out the Empire.
ST.. PETERSBURG, July IA, 1862
In a previous letter, not Wishing 10 delay any
longer my report OF the famous Potitzlne trial. for
once departed from my general rule Of not comnu-
nicat,ng to YOU any facts from mere newspaper To-
formation bat waiting either for official for prl
vate authentic sources-and have repented It. The
sentence which communicated to you proved mex
act; as Tor the rest OF the account you may depend
on its correctness. l now transcribe the sentence
for sou, with some aobreyat0ns from the govern
ment paper or M0stcur {PyaptetS' Jon10y PteStpc.
The principal prisoner. Maksim PottzIne merchant
Of the first guild and honorary citizen OF the town OF
Morshansk convicted OF belonging TO tue Casrate
sect, afiording protection TO members OF the same
sect and actively propagating It's doctrines" SEN
fenced to the deportation Of all the rights and prv-
e2es belonging to his condition, to be stripped OF
three medals and che Order OF ST. Anna, oanshed to
some distant part of Siberia, ana there committed
to the sirctes surveillance OF the local civil author
tIcs though not deprived OF personal uDerty. The
same sentence, under the same heads OF accusation
with Tie exception Of the stripping OF honorable
signs OF distinction, for the want OF any such,
Is passed on tae other prisoners TO the number OF
twenty seven, both men and women exclusively be-
longing 10 the peasant and lower merchant classes
but, considering that some OF the prisoners OF
high old age aud must have entered the sect very
u
clause enjoining The court to solicit the pardon Of
suca prisoners The moneys found IN the possession
Of fouzine are to be transferred according TO tue
law in such cases, to his rsat-law. AS for the
missing moneys noasearch or Investigation s to be
instituted about then. THUS what formed the chief
and, Indeed, The only motive Of the ACCUSE zion is
lett quite ont OF view by the COURTS ultimate de.
clson, and the poor people severely punished for
fact OF which many thousands are known to be
! guilty, nor ever have public accusation directed
| against them. In Petersburg alone hundreds OF
Skoptzy openly walk the streets and freely attend TO
professions.
ceallnent ana IL Is notorious that the money
changers are Castrates. almost every mothers son
OF them. on the whole, IL cannot be said that this
trial mas iet any very favorable Impression on the
puDlic mind.
tant Church reforms, OF Which spoke to you in my
previous letter as being contemplated and partly
the 2sth OF May t7tn OF June). fats law. entitled
"Of the opening TO the children OF the orthodox
clergy OF ways towards earning their livelihood IN
ginning OF complete revolution vi the whole
ten Hencetcrth the Russian orthodox clergy Is
no longer caste. HencefOrth no person Will belong
nation Will be comprised exclusively the persons on
acuve Church service. Clergymen's families will
longer be attached TO churches IN order secure
constant supply OF Officiating priests as whole
In order that there should be want Of work peo-
pie. The bishops principal care VIII no longer be
the Church for sustenance as The seris fastened
on the andholders, which order or things gave rise
to actually monstrous abuses. Not the least among
monopoly for tho setting Up IN life Of ''born
| clergymen," IN consequence OF the absolute
cesslty oil providing Tor crowds OF human beings,
with no path open to them but that OF the Church.
| This anomaly gradually reached such dimensions
given away as dowries of priests daughters wnere
there was no son TO inherit them. This one false
and irregular starting point, In course OF time aud
things, naturally gave rise to whole world OF IN
| wholesome, indecor0us and biamable practices,
| which threatened to desecrate the holy ground OF
| the national Church. In consequence OF the neces-
Sty pf0Yliing Tor people born In the Clergy