Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-13

LANcAsTEE, PA, July l3, 1889.
Ihe Lutheran Church Suppressed In
RusSia.

Russia.
The announcement Is made from st.
Petersburg that the government has to-
tally suppressed the Lutheran church in
Russia. The issuing of such a ukase as
this will, without doubt, surprise the
Christian nations of the world. Par
ticularly at this time when the rapid
development of Russia is eliciting the
admiration of intelligent people will
such promulgation look like step
backward. II savors rather more of
Asintic tyranny than European 18th
century enlightenment. The light of
modern culture and advancement has
only recently entered the long-closed
door Of Russia, and that nation cannot
we'll sffbrd at this day to thus place its
imperial ban on religious liberation and
freedom. The door ought instead 10
swing wide open and that nation, al
ready too tardy in its development,
ought TO eagerly welcome the inflow Of
the enlightenment and culture of the
Christian world.
During the last hundred years Russia
has been beroically struggling between
two great forces. The Asiatic influence
on the east fraught with ignorance and
superstition has been with iron arms
drawing IL and owing To the natural
kinship Of the people of Russia with the
eastern tribes has held it with the grasp
of the octopus. On the other hand the
influence of the European nations on the
west, owing to the increasing intercourse
in politics and trade, has in recent years
made itself felt. The sunlight of the
west has been rapidly tbawing the frozen
prejudice and warming the CONCEALED
blood of Russia with a wisdom that is
commendable and political foresight
that is remarkable she has seemed TO
welcome everything that would tend to
develop her immense resources and eX-
tend her political power.
Religious liberation is the foundation
stone Of national freedom, as il is the in
herent birthright Of an enlightened peo-
pie. This has no doubt been diff
cult thing for an absolute monarchy
with an established national church to
recognize. In nation where the ruler
is the head of the church, hercsy would
almost seem to be disloyalty, and for
that reason perhaps the issuing of such
decree as the one suppressing an alien
church would not strike the loyal Rus
sian with anything like the horror with
which IL falls upon the enlightened
Christian nations of Europe and Amer
lea. No people can he truly civilized
that does not recognize freedom Of con
science. The right to worship God as
n 4 4
nal principle in the constitution of a
gover9ment as in the life of free
peoph.
The issuing Of such n decree strikes
not 70 much at the particular church
putthus under the ban as 1t does at the
principal ofreligiOus liberation and free
dom. 1t is more an interference with
-tAA Atrrty of speech and the press than
IL is forbidding the immigration of
L0t heran missionaries. a nation that
fears the teaching Of the doctrines of II
Christian church, and betrays its fear by
such political ukase, stands not on II
solid foundation. If the followers of
the heroic German priest hold in the
doctrines Of their religion that which
will jeopardize the welfare of nation,
then the quicker that nation fall the
better 1t does not deserve to stand and
the Christian world ought To welcome
its downfall
This decree, issuing from the imperial
government, will bitterly disappoint
the increasing number of the friends of
Russia-both in Europe and America.
The recent deliyerance ofa political con
stitution by the ear has led many to
suppose that Russia had placed herself
alongside with the other limited mon
arches of Europe. Can ii be possible
that the nation, which freed herself
while we in the United States were still
holding human beings in slavery, at this
late day is undertaking to suppress the
teachings of Christian church and
that church SO well established as 10 be
the predominant church of bordering
people 1t is blow aimed at the grow
ing influence ofGermany. If that be so,
In view Of the political jealousies of the
nations of Europe il can be understood.
But if IL be as we fear q declara-
tion to the Christian nations Of the
world that Russia is not yet ready To
receive the liberal ideas of enlightened
people, and will again close her doors
against the civilizing force which would
ameliorate her whole national life, then
both her moral and political condition
are pitiable. If this be SO Russia is
turning her face eastward towards the
darkness and gloom of Asia, and might
as well annul her boasted constitution
and re-enslaye her serfs. For with
out the principle of religious free
dom firmly imbedded in her body
polite, these mean nothing. She is
looking to Siberia and Asiatic despotism
and gloom instead of To Berlin, London
and European enlightenment and civil
iization. She is preferring slavery to
freedom. She is yielding TO the tighten
ing grasp Of Asia and closing herself to
the civilization forces of Europe and
America. This imperial ukase suppress
ing the Lutheran church is am arm of
the octopus and woe TO the nation and
the people that sinks into its fatal en-
brace.
Proposed Railroad Trust