The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-17

carries In herself the germs OF death, ana these
germs, the correspondent says. develop themselves
very rapidly. the sects count already ten or
twelve millions of adherents, and their number
augments every day. New sects arise every year
and md adherents In the population OF little Rus
sia whilsr the ancient sects have never been able
70 suppress them. The clergy and the government
are equally powerless To arrest their progress
and the majority OF the peasants, OF the traders
and OF the merchants Will end by withdraw
ing entirely from the dominant church in
Russia. A maladrot measure taken recently
BY the Synod VIII contribute mucn to-
ward that result. That body was per-
suaded that the depiorable state OF The Rus
sian clergy contributed TO It's poverty as well %
The little influence they have upon the minds
around them. From this cause they desired TO as
sure them OF more ABUNDANT means or existence
and reduced the numoer OF parishes never re-
Meeting that villages deprived OF churches would
natura{ S cs the 70 onT viii nrnisS
The different schools which the Russian govern
ment has multiplied over the surface ol the EN-
pre are nurseries OF Nihilsts-persons who reject,
with the existence OF God and the immortality OF
the SOUL marriage, property and all the bases OF
social order. Nhism makes progress with lear
full rapidIty. But the Russian semlnaries are.
perhaps, worse still than the gymnasinms
nave no e attraction aOG toward the religious lie
and they present themselves IN NUMBERS 10 enter
the army. the time can be easily ioreseen
when IL will be difficult TO find recruits Tor the
Russian clergy. The ecclesiastical academies,
where students go to be formed TO occupy posts OF
the most important nature, become more ana
more lost 10 orthodoxy. IL Is understood mat ne
priests being trained presently aud VINO are more
educated than tneir predecessors, all incline more
less toward rationalism. The reforms whlcn
the government makes in the ecclesiastical order
have for their object To sap canonlcal right ana 10
bear down with rough effort any little lnde-
pendence which the bishops possess. Iney are
more and more likely 10 become submissive
1uncriOnaries TO a bureaucracy OF whch tne
pr0catreur or the Synod, ayman, is likely
10 become the omnlpotent director. Another
thing Is, the advance OF modern IDEAS TENDS
90 strip more every day from the person OF the
Emperor that religious character which the
ancient Cars possessed. The lay world separates
Atself decidedly from the eccesastical world, ana
we see the time approach when the Emperor VIII
be obliged to adopt a neutral line OF conduct He
shall be forced 10 yielo TO the separation OF the
Church and state, and the DAY on which this
separation is consummated IL Will De asked on
what VIII DE the stay OF the Russian Church shall 1t
be the Rasko or Nihiiisn, when Will profit by the
fall the oicial Churchs Shall 1t be the Eastern
communions that VIII make the conquesCSr l
know not but mat which seems inevitable Is the
rum OF the Official Church the next morning to the
day when 1t shall lose the support OF the secular
arm, and this day cannot be very Tar distant.