The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-10
ALASKA AND THE CAR.
Residents OF the Territory Swearing Ale.
glance to the Hu.sinn Autocrat.

SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. 2j--In 1867 the Gov
eminent Of the United States bought from
Russia the territory Of Alaska. and according
to the treaty ratified 10y the Car and signed by
his representative. all the residents of that Ter
ritory who did not return to Russia by 1870
were ipso fncto to become citizens OF the United
States. Fifteen years have passed since then.
and still the residents Of Alaska OF tho Greek
Eastern faith are commanded to abide by the
ukascs Of his Imperial Majesty the sovereign
and autocrat Of all the Russias."
Last year. when the new Car was rroclamed
In Russia. a ukase was read in all the Russian
churches OF tho Alaska diocese. the church Of
this city included. informing all his beloved
andloyal subjects" that God had been pleased to
recall to heaven the Car Alexander H.. and that
he, the Car Alexander Ill. had assembled the
imperial ancestra! throne. The Practitioners
were commanded to take an oath Of allegiance
to the new Russian autocrat. and to sign their
names to the onth. The orthodox people OF
Alaska did not know what to do under the cir
cum-tances hut their priests told them to kiss
the cross and the Bible and to sign. and So
simp" souls they did.
In tho Alaska diocese there are ten churches
all told. with dozen priests as many church
readers and "A few dcacons. Before being or
daned they are commanded. according to the
aiegiaice TO the Gar, the head of that Church.
nromiis,ing, 70 serve him to the last drop Of
Such practice is, Of course in direct viola
ton oi the treaty Of 1851 between the United
states and Russia: The holy fathers OF tho
do not mind that treaty, and so make no differ
enec whatever between the orthodox people Of
Russia and those residing in Alaska. In the
name of the Car they send ukascs to the
Bishop ~ Alaska. who lives in this city. ilcn-
tical with those sent to tho Bishops Mt home.
- an IN nf ingls Il Of ,A
most curious Of institutions. When Alaska
was under the Cars scentre there wass'a rea-
then directeh the Russian missionaries to Rus
sianz" Alas ka and to bring the natives into the
Church Mter Alaska was sold the Russian
the souls OF the Alaskans: yet instead Of re-
turning home they settled in this city and
Transferred to it the Epis,,op.il seat. Three or
four years ago, while under the eye of Bishop
John the Russian missionaries used to send
boSe mere marked x nrse Of nuee %, bS
Church" Once United States Custom House
officer OPENED some Of those boxes, and found
affair caused tho Cars Government n good
deal Of trouble and expense. Bishop John was
sionaries quarrolled among themselves. and
finally Archprle-t k"drolivansky was found IN
the street with broken skull. It was not fully
ascertainei who the murderer was.
Next We had her" new set of Russian mis-
sion,aries. with the late Bishop Nestor at heir
were made by these holy men. but II is said they
were ,Irst-c.ass experts in furs. In short they
found out that the fur business was far more
profitable than the propagating Of Christianity.
Bishop Nestor tried to demonstrate. One day
on entering his church tho Bishop was startled
by the explosion NJ his feet OF u dynamite bomb
thrown by some unknown person. He suffered
no bodily injury; but it MAS believed that his
on his life. Soon after he went 70 Alaska TO
look over his diocese. He found that every
where the fur business WIS prospcring. and
the parl-hion-r, were numerous only on the
lists. lilo asked the synod to relieve him from
his Office hut the Synni would not listen to his
request: But the Bishop could not be persuaded
to hook further after the fur business Thus il
came about that during temporary aierra-
ton Of mind" ia the reports ran. Nestor
plunged himself into the sea-" Russian mis-
comii not c.cape his ia;"." They hnt"d at the
early calling 81 their Bishop. who WAS ut first
navy officer. He aitrrwari renowned the
world and became m, monk. and at length was
At present the administration Of the Alaska
diocese IS IN the hands of single Archpriest,
thai :irchimandrisi Anatoy. the head of the
Russian missionaries, in japan, is to be APP
pointed to the AinsNn Episcopal Esst IT,, can.
been transferred from Alaska to san Fran.
cisco? ?" asked II Eussian deacon here.
faith among the Americans" he answered;
has been established in New York city
But learn that the official lists Of the con-
yerten are so far quite blank, though we have
had Hnssian missionaries among, us for ten
years. But this Is TO, be expected. suppose
their own tongue, would they make converts
Yet the Russian MISSIONARIES do Just that thing.
They perform their services in old Slavonian,
and when they preach they usually do it in
Russian. Living III this country they disre-
gard our tongue. our institutions. and our
and -int: loud II i,s'uns on the occasion Of the
birthday the tccthinc and the weaving OF the
least of the Grand Dukes.