Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-29
RUSSIAN PRIESTS.
Inelr Existence One of Misery, Want
Hardship and Toll.


Their Existence One of Misery, Want
Hardship and Toll.
The established religion of Russia i
formulated after the doctrines of tn,
Greek church. and the priesthood
the empire form n unique and entirely
separate class of the community in
which they reside.
Their education is somewhat abov,
that received in our public schools. bu
as the opportunity never occurs fol
entrance into university they are no
versed in classical lore. The Russian
priest, or pope. as the people call him
Is at all times ready for the discussion
OF public questions. but il he finds
himself on the wrong side of the argu
ment. he will simply smile and walk
away; he thus avoids all feeling
anger on either side. The income de
rived from weddings. christenings ant
funerals and even collections from
other sources proves entirely made
quate to his wants. He can not re
marry, as the law allows him but on,
wife, and should she die he must for
ever remain a widower, an unpleasant
contingency to contemplate. HI
therefore selects the healthiest woman
he can find, in the hope of long lif,
of domestic bliss.
1t often happens that on re aching
the village placed under his care he
finds an old. dilapidated dwelling un
hit for habitation, and thus the drain
on his pocket begins Immediately.
sometimes the appearance of the
priest is the signal for marriages which
have been delayed owing to the proper
functionary not being on the spot t.
perform the ceremony. In this latter
case the wife and eldest daughter are
expected to attend the wedding. and
it would give the gravest offense
should they decline the invitation.
They are also expected to appear in
better garb than any of the parish
toner's. This necessitates the pur-
chase of new sarafens (petticoats).
Thus the poor priest is forced some
times to deny himself even ncces-
saries that his women folks may pre-
sent respectable appearance at the
small and poor and the contributions
from the villagers very meager. One
peasant will. perhaps. give 5 kopekas
(23 cents). onother 10 kopekas, but
the merchant usually doubles the
peasants gift
If the priest and deacons of the
church are on friendly terms the latter
will influence the peasants to assist
the former in his labors. But while no
money is given in return for the as
sistance thus rendered. it yet entails
considerable expense for vodka
(whisky) and food. and the priest.
therefore, prefers to do his own work
if possible During harvest he is com.
peeled to accept assistance, as the
climate is very uncertain, but the
treatment ne receives from the peas
ants is indeed aggravating. Some
priests go into the business
of raising bees. and by this
means increase their income perhaps
40 or 80 rubles per year. Another
source of revenue is the collecting OF
eggs during the Easter season. and
the making of perogs Ga peculiar kind
of cake) and buckwheat cakes, fol
which they find ready sale. Happy
IS the priest II at the end of the year
he finds he can make both ends meet.
When old age overtakes him he be.
comes an object of charity.
The Russian peasant has but little
respect for his spiritual adviser; he is
also very superstitious, and believes
that should he meet his priest while
walking through the village some evil
will surely befall him. To disarm the
bad genius and turn aside the impend-
ing wrath he spits on the ground as
he passes the priest This is religious
ly believed to be a sure protection
against all evil influences. The life OF
a country priest in the great Russian
Empire is far from pleasant one.
1t represents every possibility between
the positive and superlative degrees OF
misfortune. Countess NorraiE00,
Jl Chicago Herald.
.