The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-23
FATHER JOHN, OF RUSSIA.
The Greatest Man In That Country
Next to tho Czar.
Hc Is Regarded by tho People as n Truo
Physician of tho Gospel and Do
Iieved to Possess Wonderful
Healing Powers.

Two jubilee celebrations have re-
Gently attracted attention in Russia-
one the centennial anniversary of tho
storming ind capture of the Turkish
fortress of Ismal on tho Danube under
Souvaroff, and the other the thirty-fifth
anniversary of the entry into the ortho-
dox ministry of Father John Scrgeyeff,
one Of the most remarkable and popu-
lar men in the Russian empire. Itnccds
no comments, says the London Times,
to explain the patriotic outpourings of
the Russians over the historic siege and
savage reduction Of Ismail, but of tho
celebration in honor of Father John of
Cronstadt, there Is much to relate that
is strange and interesting.
Father Ivan, or John, of Cronstadt,
known and revercd in every nook and
corner of Russia, has hitherto been al
most entirely unknown to English
readers; but circumstance just re-
ported by the British chaplain ut Cron-
stadt seems to Indicate that the Chris
tan influence of this remarkable priest
of the Russian church has Mt last found
its way even into the United Kingdom
short time ago n letter reached the
British clergyman at Cronstadt adj
dressed in English to the parish priest
Of that port. 1t came from corrc-
spondent in county Kerry. Ireland, and
earnestly begged for the prayers Of
Father John on behalf of the writer,
who appeared to be in great distress of
mind and body.
This is curious proof of the in
huencc and reputation of this wonder
full man, who, in the midst of his Rus
sian surroundings, seems to approach
as nearly as anyone perhaps could APP
proach in these days to the first apos-
ties. He is, indeed, true physician of
the Gospel. His extraordinary healing
powers, and the spiritual and bodily
cures effected by the faithful accept
ancc of his earnest consultations, are at
tested on all sides by many sorts and
conditions of men. To those who be-
licvc in Father John-and their name
is lcgion-the age of miracles is not yet
over. Crowds press round him when
ever he leaves his humble abode, and
are happy If they can only touch the
hem of his modest garb. Father Johns
life is one of uninterrupted and self
sacrificing charity and Christian minis
tration among the poor, the sick and
needy, not however refusing his pres
ence and prayers to the we'll to do and
rich, who send for him when all other
help fails, and never In vain, from all
parts of the country. lie has no vast
business organization of charity and no
corybantic Christianity like Gen"
Booth, and no religious politics like
Archbishop Nicanor. of Odessa. AL
though enormous sums of money have
passed through his hands to the Rus
sian poor in all directions, he is still a
poor man, living in the humblest pos
sible way. Steamboats, and trains in
which he journeys to and fro on his
truly Christian work are bcsiegcd with
such crowds that the police have to
protect him from their pressure.
The report of his appearance in any
house in St Petersburg-nnd the news
spreads like wildfire-brings throngs Of
poor people running madly from all the
surrounding streets to get within the
range of his healing presence, to re-
ceive his blessing, or to implore his
attendance ct the sick bed of relatives
or friends
He advocates no impracticable Chris
tian theories like Tolstoi; his life is one
entirely of good works, and his in
fluence for good among the Russian
masses, who have not yet reached the
state of cynical unbelicf of the lower
orders in other countries, is greater,
perhaps, than any other Russian under
the czar.
The festival in his honor at Cron-
stadt, on island most difficult and in
convenient Of access in winter, was ut
tended by great crowds of people, rich
and poor, who made their way across
the ice Of the gulf to the isolated port.
from st. Petersburg and other places.
Thirty priests ofiiciatcd at the church
service on the occasion, and populations
from various benevolent and other So
cictics, including even the bcggars, pre-
sentcd the reverend father with gifts Of
silver-bound Bibles and holy pictures
The most touching sight OF all was the
gift OF a small bunch of flowers by a
poor siclSly woman with child in her
arms An eyewitness states that the
crowd and Father John were moved to
tears. At banquet in the evening, at
which the governor and admiral of the
port presided, paupcrs, mendcants and
lnoujicks sat check by jowl with ladies,
officials and naval officers, to drink to
the health and long life of Father John.
An Automatic Cashier.
An ingenious system of registration
is said to have been applied for the pur-