The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-09-12
Some Russian Protestant Sects.

In 1868 new set arose, who felt called
by Christ to teach, to suffer, and TO build
a church. In the midst of winter they
broke the thick ice in the Volga, baptized
each other in the chilling flood, changed
their names and then held a solemn feast.
From that day they have called them
selves Little Christians" They have no
priests, and but slight form OF prayer.
They reject images, waters ana sacred
oil. The government became alarmed
aud commenced an active persecution,
under which, of course, the sect is rapid
lv Increasing. Soon after another body
sprang up-rejectipg the established
church and forming their own rules OF
life, which seem to be Of high order.
They call themselves "Helpers:' and the
government spies sent to watch them
confessed that they never drank, swore,
lied, or got into debt. But they preferred
family worship to that of the parish
priest and they would not go to confes-
sion. Consequently they suffered perse-
cution; which, however, was short, as
they are now left unmolested Still later
sect has appeared in the province of
Niatka, where more than twenty different
heresies exist. The distinctive article of
their creed gave them the unenviable
name of "Non Payers of Rent" Of
course it was impossible that they could
be kept hidden. When rents became
due, they refused to pay. The leaders
were arrested, and yet remain in custody;
but the governments perplexed to know
how to manage an increasing body of
men, who make it the first principle of
life not to pay their rent-charges.
Another new body are the "Chislenni-
XII" or Counters. The founder is still
living and is the high priest. He was
met one night in the woods by a venera-
BILE man, who offered him a book to read.
Opening it, Taras Maxim found the mes
sage of salvation written in the Slavonic
tongue. 1t commanded the people OF God
to count themselves and be set apart from
the world. 1t called the National Church
the Devils Church; it declared Thursday
to be the true Sabbath; it spoke con-
temptuOusly Of saints and angels, and
abolished the seven sacraments and the
priesthood. Maxim returned to Semenof
and preached the new doctrine. He
speedily made converts, who counted
tutIllSCINtS WI anu luct NV J~NlSt
Semeuof Church." They showed the Bit
teres, contempt for the Council and the
State. While the Orthodox pass by to
church on Sunday morning, they shut
themselves in their houses and manifest
their despite in true Oriental style. Their
chief tenet is that man must sin in order
to be saved from sin. This doctrine, of
course, leads to wild excuses, and the
sect is looked upon, perhaps justly, as
very immoral.
But the strangest of all the hercsies is
held by the "Napoleonists." Their spir-
itual strength, also, is spent in hating the
church and the government And as
Napoleon was the chief enemy of Russia
in recent times, they look upon him as
the true Messiah and worship him as God.
Placing his bust on an altar, they fall
before it in prayer. The worship has to
be maintained privately, but they are
said to be numerous even in Moscow.
They believe that Napoleon is still alive;
that he fed from st. Helena to Central
Asia; that he is now dwelling in lrkutsk,
near Lake Baikal, on the tronticrss of
Chinese Tartary; and that he will come
forth at the appointed time, leading a
great army of the overthrow of Russia
and to the uplifting of his church to
glory and power. Busts of Napoleon,
indeed, are common in Russian houses,
among all sccts and ranks. Even the
royal family show great partiality to the
likeness of their giant foe.-SUnddy "
terH0On.