The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-11
NINE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
The Anniversary of Russia's Reclamation
from Pagsnism.

The Anniversary OF Russtas Reciamat1ou
from Pagsnism.
Pail Mall Gazette, July 20.
Tomorrow moro than 100, 0O0, 900 Russians
will celebrate the nine hundredth anniversary
OF the conversion OF their ancestors to Chris
tianity and civilization, and do honor to the
memory Of ST. Vladimir, the Prince or Grand
Duke who was mainly instrumental Ia reclaim
ing them from paganism. In most Western
countries the commemoration of . peaceful
revolution of this knd-for it was effected en-
tirely withouA bloodehed-would assume the
form Of a religious rather than political or ma
tional festival. In Eastern countries however.
religion and politics are the wool and warp Of
one texture, and they have be so closely in
.erwoven at all periods of Oriental history that
il would be absolutely impossible 10 separate
them, and no easy matter to say whore the one
begins and the other ends. And in this resnect,
among others, Russia 10 emphatically IN East
ern nation, whose earliest literary monument is
a fragment of q Bible translation. whose most
cherished traditions are Of the emaciating fasts,
the innumerabls genufexions, and the other
self inflicted torments of sustere monks aud
self-denyipg anchoriies, and whose greatest men
aspired to be utilities on earth and saints in
heaven.
Carlyle was never tired of repeating that the
gospel Of Jean Jacques Rousseau and of his
numerous followers, whose names are inscribed
in large letters in the history Of the French
revolution, was a poor. cherries doctrine and
very unwholesome spiritual food for these who
nourished their souls Herewith; and there are
many, no doubt, who. with q certain show OF
reason. will say the same Of that form OF Chris
tianity which ST. vladimir imposed upon his
subjects But those who are ready to cast
stones are not always the people who look the
most carefully TO the materials Of which their
own dwellings are constr ucted, and many Of
them belong to that class of religious men who.
as Cotton said, will wrsnele for religion. write
for IT, fight for it, die for it, anything but live
for it. st. Vladimir was, ia the fullest sense of
the term. q man OF the time as much as Igna-
thus Loyols, and he succeeded in rendering his
soul as foul an Augean stable before be
turned on the stream Of Christianity by which
he hoped to wash away the accumulated guilt OF
years.
ST. Vladimir, Prince of Kiev, might with
truth have pleaded guilty to most of the crimes
known and practiced in his day, and in most 70
spects he beat the record. Polygamy, il is true
was not even peccadillo in those rude times; but
Brigham Young and his most jealous disciple.
would turn pale to hear OF the heroic virtuel
St Vladimir practced in this direction. Solo.
mon alone of earthly princes eelipsed him
Once converted, however. his reformation wat
thorough and lasting. It may be reasonably
doubted whether his preparation for baptism
was OF a kind which would meet the approba-
ton Of a devout Roman Catholic or commend
itself to a sober Anglican of our own times
Sacrifice, it is said 10 the first element Of re
lieion. aud Vladimir began by sacrificing those
| whom he deliberately destined 70 be the evsugel
izers OF Russia: he declared war agains
Greece a. the only wax OF obtaining from The