The sun., 1871-11-14
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN Russia.
Report OF the Deputation of tho American
Branch Of the Evnngelicai Alliance APP
pointed TO MemOrialtze the Emperor OF


The subject Of religious persecution in Russia
was FIRST brought to tie notice Of the American Al.
hrtcc by an appeal IRON Switzerland, dated March,
1870, uescri5ins the suiIerings long endured by
many thousand rrctestauts in the Russian provin-
ocs of Lyonia, Esthouia aud Courland and asking
for expression Of Christian sympathy and tor
active intcrcession in their bcnali Similar appeals
were received during the last year, from members
ard friends Of the Eyancelicai Alliances IN Holland,
France, Germany, and England as well as from
other pcr'cus. Finally. strorg petitions were sent
IN from American missionaries in Turkey complain
ing. with other missionaries in the East, OF the re-
hious intolerance Of Russian ofcsll IN the border
Ing PROVINCES Of Russia, and asking that we might
secure for them II possible the same freedom ia
missionary labor and the distribution OF the Scrip
lures. which they now ENJOY under MoLammeda n
rue.
PERSECUTION IN rng BALrfc PROVINCES.
The Baltic Provinces Of Russia, which originally
belonged to Swe len ana Poland, anJ are mostly In.
ha0ited by Germ1u,. Letts ana Estho' ian, profess
Ing the Lutheran creed, were ceded to Russia under
sOecia guarantees that their Protestant religion,
civil rights, and institutions SHOULD not be inter.
tered with But under tho reign OF the late Empe.
ror choas a system OF "Russi1cation" was be.
gun. which has Riyen rise to growing discomfort and
repeated femonsttances aud petitions. Since isA,
many thousands utis stated, nearly 100000 Let's
aud EsthoniIns, mostly ignorant peasants, we're by
false promises and under the pressure Of great pub
sian ChurCi, aud we're retained there against their
wisn nnd wi under threat Of numerous persecu-
uons. even uenal seivtude In Siberia.
Russia still mas on her statute book those intol-
c ant penal laws under wmch not only tnc Luther.
ans aud Morayians OF tho B1luc Provinces but all
VINO dissent IRON the Rus sian state ChuIch IN any
part OF the immense empire, must or less sui.
Ter 1t is well known how bitterly the Roman Cath.
olies o. Poland complain OF persecution under the
operation OF such laws. Similar laws once dis.
eraced the statute booSs Of Eolscopa England. Lu.
theran Sweden, Puritan New England, not to sneak
I
swept away oy the irresistible curfcnt OF modern
vfosiess ana. a genuine Chrsuan spint OF justice
1uE spur OF INTOLERANCE.
In Russia TO ore Can be legally converted except
TO he Orthodox EistetE or Greek Church. Hence.
nther confessions have no ught TO engage IN mis-
allowed 10 the Greek Cnur,h IS her exclusive right
IL denounced aud fufbiddcn, under tae uams oi
propa-1 1ldism, TO oil others. secession from tne
OlUc Iltu-siln Churcn is striCtlY rronIbitHd. AMI
ptush,d W c1uh~-auon 60 property. iuf eiture OF
e-i even transportation Tor hie 20 siberia, While
.uhs. rNon TO tnat cuGrcB is oIUa'y encouraged
lnd Ohen rewarded. Chllren ut niNci marriages
Nheu one patt.; belongs to TIE Greek church, must
ne uItuzcd nud brought Up IN that C.uscn,
oush II .shoCd 6eye to he GONE bS
'utce, as has been it'9ucuty the case.
urccuily. however, by order u The present I'm
prtur, TIE law about mlxan Marriages ms been sus-
padacd Yof the Bac Provinces ! fie l,u, .iii Gov.
,tumeni indeed, supports Protestant and E.''4n
CatLolc Churches. ant on that account claims to he
tolerant; and 1t Is Freely admited that the Greek
u0n aud bloody prosecutions when disgrace toe his.
tory OF some other countries. Nevertheless, accord
ing 10 the Russian code oflaWs II Is even to-day
punishable CRIME tor ANY Rl--i1n subject VINO is
mtm-er OF tue Greek ChureI " become PsO,estaut
Of RJmAn CATHOLIC.
APPOINTMENT OF A pEPUrArIoS TO nusYA
1t was Ut dst proposed TO trng ihe subject OF
Russian persecution be ore Toe General Conference
OF the ESlngeical Alliance which Was TO be held IN
TOE elty VI New lorS. 10 September und OCTOBER.
1870. A Atreparatory deputition Of Dr. q Monod
N. lrDsseueg, llTtstllu1
waited on the Emperor Of RutsIl. vi bile on visit
at stuttgart IN June, is70 and memoriaized him on
this uoJect. But tue great VAR between Frauce
aud Germany, which broke out 4 few weeks after.
wssd led TO an indefinite postpone Of tie Gen.
- nefors TIE f9y 1S13. Ire bFettEeB IRON ia
toue then ut>e ed the appointment Of deputation OF
indueuual American etlzens, VINO should JOIN with
similar deputat,ons ltom ,he various iore,gn
Oranches VI the Alliance, an Law the matter directly
before his Imperial MalesNy as soon as CONVENIENT
MEETINGS IN LONDON AND STUTTGART.
This was done and in June Most OF the American
depuues met at the Alliance ONCE 10 London, and
conferred with the British Councn on the subject oi
Iueir IN ssiou. Information beng received tnat the
Emperor OF Russia was IN Ems mud would soon
cave Tor Stuttgaft aud Frledrlchshaien, u vas
so,ved that the deputies % the different countries
should he invited to assemble AT stuttgart Instead
of Berlin, On Monday tte l0t1 Of july. On sunday
Tor pra,er anu atvouous excuses ln Tue Se,try of
he venerable suits kucHe. Ou tae following Mon.
Gay they met in tie sIms place, aud organ izei by
e. Clug DF ecNaA: ffltllehi, anl Ut Hchmeltiu
Of Eu Hand. B,rou Won GUler Of Germany. anJ Mr..
AsvuOr dc Bosslcr OF Oeusyi, Secretaries. Two
memorials 10 tie Gar, h'nisomeiy ,ensrossed on
parchment tne oue drawn up "a New lorS ana pre-
ylpusB siEue- o. 'li the members OF the American
deputatt0u; the other prepared 10 Loudju sad
signed IN stuttgart oY the Eu-ush and Continental
bret req present, were read discussed, ana ADOPT
ei. memorial ito.n deputauou Of the Society
o' Friends 10 oenai OF religious liberty, was also
.ij before tie meeting aud 10 vs. = commeulc
tuat the Fuenls s4oui1 present It separately to tue
Elftios.
IHs AUDIENCE AT TBIEnEcBsHAFES
Em.oi.r tlr ugh count sclI"4luu, q. lhs read.
ness 20 rSe a hearing TO tue unued deuGta Iors.
Accordingly, uy c1yfoss comm4nd OF has MgesU,
Prince GoTchafoh appol nted Friday, The lith vi
July, u ~ A. NJ iot an omcial interview.
On tulIy tAe deputies proc-eieIln BODY 10 the
appomiel place of the nterv CIV, ami we're most
eoar1uvuslT rvvciyed " tue PruB MINISTER vi Kus-
sll, Dr. Schau, alter presenting to His Hlgnness
1 memoors oi the depulasion oy name. nitoduced.
In tho course of debate whiei followed, tbs Rev.
Dr.. stcane OF Eu=iand emanuel tAe manner In
lnssfoo94 Us oaest ioa af - dsqS;i@ %a n' .
u.er advocated oy The Rev. DR. Cyuin the Roy. DR..
Adams, Blsuop Mcllynne, the Hon. W. T.. Dod e,
BirOu Won li-clen1og tie X ~. Or. van Oustgrz.
COL. Won Wur-lemOerser VOC blcn, AMI o.ncrs,
PRNcs GoErcnAkoFF's reilly.
~ r, r-Tiyo t--ur-u--- sTv--'I, a7Tdu the course
OF debate, Prince buIlchAAon W4s pleased fully
lud rsnkb to communicate hls opinions, whch ne
diI NltA courtesy aud ability becoming his hIgu
position aud long experience as statesman.
lie expressed NJ. gratihcauOn at the respectful
m.uner In Which ths delicate subject had been
brought before MS attention by the deputItiOn utd
has own "a well as MS MaJesty's sympathy with the
cause o. religious liberty lie had no doubt OF the
purity Of their intentions, ani their freedom isom
political AIMS. lie assured them that tne Emperor
desired that every one throughout his EmDirs should
have liberty ofwOrshlp IN the cnurch to wnlcA be be-
onged that Russia Was country In which all rell-
gous tolerated aud that gentlemen present "a
only to visit ST. Petersburg 10 see Lutheran. Reform
ed and other churches adOrning tue principal street
(Nswskl-FrospecD, in order to bs convinced tnat
reuClous NOerty was fully granted. But, whist
persecution was not allowed. nether was propaCand
sn. lie remarked that The policy OF tls Russian
Government aad been to put doSu the sects wGch
InCulc4ted Immoral tenets, aud . as lor the rest"
,u0 Prince GA tng his hand before his eyes aud
lOUA.n- tATVugn h.s nusegsl, I'VE Gc.a t.Gs wl.h
.Ee.a."
TuE PRINCES ADMISSION.
He H'ghuoss frankly admitted that there we're
laws Nuch toroait any ono IesYlug tAc Crock Rus
sian C.ur,h a.lcv once OecJa.asa McnJer ut a..
About the prJyUe.y Of ta.s ptotOluon tAere mlsut
20 dlNsren. opinions; he mad his own opinion hnt
sucu were tue laws OF the EmpLe, and tnet could
uuy uo changed b. the Emperor. The time aul