New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-19
TIE RUSSL4N CLRRGR.
pom MaemlItan's Maoaane.

Russian society. sceptcal to the core. has unfor-
tunately O parochial clergy utterly incapable OF
putting itself INTO relation with the thinking pOr-
ton of the community, o clergy among whom men OF
Literature and Of the world alike have ceased 70
look for learning or moral elevation Neither IN
their writings in their ministratOnS, still less IN
social intercourse. are the Russian clergy rs body
able or apparently willing, TO enter into the discus
sion of those problems of life and mind which border
on religion. But the negation OF the INFINITE
leads inevitably TO Nihism and philosophical Nj
hllisn in its practical application ends IN the disin-
tegration of the social and moral life Of the nation
In fact the influence Of the clergy at this moment
crisis is most unwholesome, II Is that OF the salt
which has lost its SAVIOR.
lIliterate themselves, furnished with scanty in
formation picked up in lorganzed semiuaries they
fail entirely pioneers of culture among one of the
most back ward peasantries Of modern Europe.
God be thanked deyOut Russian laynan IA
reported TO have said, " the Eastern Church has
never ruled that religious light and instruction are
confined to the clergy~ IL is pity that what light
there is is almost entirely confined To the aty, who
themselves are only in the possession Of refract'd
light from German and French sources But an
ignorant priesthood VIII OF necessity put imRedl-
we find the reading of the Bible not forbidden in
deed yet at the sane time not encouraged fTies'
and people kiss the book revefentiaiiy but otDer-
wise neglect il. Cases have come under the notlce
of the present writer of copies Of thu Bible having
been carefully wrapped up and put by III the houses
of peasants with the rcIarki No"' htll' Inotn'I,
the good God cannot he hard on u when We nave
such a sacred treasure III the house Religious
ignorance accordingly reigns supreme An Instance,
related by an fng1Sn uuFtilci' VI lu7,'h P'hNA't
who being asSed if he could name the three persons
of the Trnit7 replied without hesitation W
course il is th- Savior, the Mother OF Ood ana ~
Nicholas the Miracle wOrker,"-is by no means
very unusual exhibition of ignorance.
Religion amounts In many cases - more Gar Wof-
shin - What kind Of obedience do We owe o. the
Car o. inouires the Catechisin. Answer. 80 An ru-
tine passive and uubOunded obedience IN every
point of view" The Gar. IN short j. the IMAM
bic vicegerent OF God Almighty" The deNouons ol
the people are reduced 10 meghanica iounua, there
no seryiQp hooks winch 10 Hollow lut lFhf
of the Church and sermons are seldom preac hed To-
appeal 10 their minds and cOnscences The sight "i
a small prayer-bOok In the hand Of lady al h.'~-
causes much concern 10 an old-fashloncd church
eoer in one of TOurgenctfs novels W bat ~ she
about r. he exelaims. Cod forgive me! She must
be q witch-Or what
In the report on ecclesiastical matters by Count
Tolstoi already referred tO-a rather Porty volume
two pages only are occupied with preaching
where il says however, very properly, that the
lgious and moral education Ut the people depend,
Church schools and preaching IN the first instance
Religious acts are regarded more in the hight OF
magic incantatiOns and religious belief degenerntes
into debating superstition. Faith IN tho wonder
working power Of ICONS and sacred relics Is
bounded.
classes half-cultured themselves, blasos, and morally
vitiated is most pernicious whilst students OF
science and the Modern Russian party, with it's
strong leanngs toward realistic views OF life turn
away disguised from the teaobing of a clergy whom
they consider only as ignorant Doors The Nihilist
consprators mostly belong 10 this advanced section
and II is a notable Hlct that not Of them when
condemned in former State TRIALS, would have any
thing TO do with the comforts of religion but
scomfully rejected the Offices Of the Church in the
extreme moment.