Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-05
Al&xanorija 0axetttte
FRIDAY EVENING, JULY s. 1878.

RELIGION IN RUss1A.-The Russians arc
nation Of ohuroh.goers, early and late; and
one-third of the days in the year arc least
DAYS. They havo not yet learned that all Gays
ara holy to the good man, and that to MIN
lifa r. one beautiful Sabbath. They would
be richer could they learn this. Their NULL
piled church festivals sre serious ara"DaeA
70 the industrial wealth Of the State and 10
the income of the laboring classes. But super
stition is stronger than the love OF money.
They neglect home and business to keep. q
feast. Tho feast of Elias is high day with
the Russians, who entertain the belief that on
that day Elijah rides in bis chariot, the thun-
der of whose wheels is heard on earth, hence
the saving, "It always rains on EilJahs gay.
When the thunder is not heard the supposltlon
is the old prophet failed to take his accustoni'
ed ride. >''...., -. ..
The Greek service is exceedingly imposing.
The officiating priests are robcd in gold, and
the bishops wear jeweled tiaras. The church
service consists Of hymns, prayers, Scriptural
readings, and sermon. The Old Testament
ia resd only during evening service which is
intended to be prophetic Of the morning ser
vice when the New Testament is read. On
great festivals there are imposing prccessionDs
with banners, ana pictured saints with clouds
of incense and sweetest music. There Is 10
all this more devotion than godliness There
is the form without the power. Yet TINS Is
not universal; there are within the Russian
Church many living Christians whose lives are
replete with deeds Of charity and acts OF true
worship. l met one Russian lady who is
active in Night Refugees, or homes for the poor
Magdalens, and two princcsscs who are build.
ing homes for the working classes Not a few
of the nobility attended the ministry of Lord
Radstock. ip the British and American chapel,
and there heard his earnest discourEcs on the
"higher life." Count Schuyaloff, now minis.
ter to the court of ST. James, invited Lord
Radstock to hold services in bis palace, and
there the count related bis personal experience.
And the beautiful Dsgmar, the crown princess
Of all the Russias, requested the English
evangelist to visit her for religious converse.
Unconstitutional Repository.
Ex-Governor Curtin is publishing some
papers on Russia in the Christian Union, Of
which the following is an extract: 1.-THE Bible
is an open book in Russia. You sec 1t every:
where; there is no restraint. All, religious
worship is free. When the Emperor Joseph
II, of Austria, Visited ST. Petersburg he
was asked by Catharine, who was then the
sovereign, what struck him as being the mosl
remarkable thing in ST. Petersburg. lie said
the Nefska Prcspec, which IS the great street;
the broadway Of the city. Because, salo
he, Eat every fifty yards man can worship doo
according to the dictates Of hisown conscience.
Swedish, Armenian, Roman Catholic, Luther
an, German Reformed, English Episcopal
Church, the latter regularly connected with
the Bishoprio Of London, and Greek Cathe,
dral and churches arc all in that street, and
protected by the government in the full en-
ioyment of their faith and belief. In the Eng
Iish Episcopal church, during the entire
Crimean war, the Emperor Nicholas never IN
terdicted the prayer tor the Queen, and thf
British people resident in that city, who are
generally very prosperous, were never inter
rupted In their business or. limited In thell
rights of person or property. How long
Greek priest could have remained in London
snd prayed for the success of.tho Gar over
the Queen at that time, isl question easy to
be answered. In Bense, an Oriental sense
the Russians are very religious people
Whatever may be the defects Of their religion
the Russians believe it thoroughly. It is
very crude kind Of, religion, and the worship
is attended with great deal OF parade, music
aud chanting; but the worshippers are very
sincere. The priest has very little influence
indeed, almost no influence at oil. The kus
sian takes his religion, he does not care
whether the priest is sober or drunk. 1t IL
the religion he respects. The priests do moi
influence public sentiment, nor do they at
tempt it. Many of them, it is true. are
learned, highly cultivated men, devoted tt
their duties, and command the highest meas
ure of veneration and respect. But there arc
others who are unlettered, Of gross habits and
bad morals, who do not deserve or receive such
consideration.
Conservative Ward Meetings.
The Conservstiye voters of the city of Alex