Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-28
BISHOP AND CZAR.
A STALWART PRELATE WHO WOULD
NOT OBEY HIS MAJESTY.

blSnOp AMBROSE was an extraordinary
man, renowned for the firmness of his
character, the depth of his erudition
and the narrowness of his views The
son OF simple deacon, he owed his ele-
Walton to his oratorical talent, his his
torical works, and especially his ascetic
virtues. He lived in his episcopal palace
with the austere habits that had en-
deared him to the people. He dressed
like simple peasant, lived in a cell in
his palace, and his principal diet con-
sisted of cabbage and radishes. In fact
he Jared like the poorest mouiik; but
for all that he had the strength of a
giant His salary of 5000 or 10000
roubles he distributed among the poor,
giving right and left, and never refusing
charity to the hosts of beggars that al
ways swarmed around him.
In 1891, Alexander | announced that
he intended to visit Pensa; but if he
knew the reception that was in store for
him he would have tried some other
town. The governor sent the chief of
police to the bishop to request him to
clean his palace before the arrival of the
czar
"All right" the bishop said, 81 can
get the mud in front of the place cleared
away, but where can hide your head
and the governors head? 1t would be
useless to bury them in the ground the
odor of your actions would still perme-
ate the whole place."
Of course the two officials were furious
but there was no help for them; Ambrose
was too powerful When the car ar
rived the governor gave orders to the
archbishop to come with all his clergy
and receive the emperor at the front en-
trance to the cathedral; but that was
just what he would not do. He massed
his clergy with all their banners at side
door on the southern side. To the re-
monstrances of the governor he replied,
II am the archbishop, and l alone give
orders here"
YANKING THE CzAR UPSTAIRS.
The civil authorities were grouped at
the front entrance. The czar, naturally
enough, went to the place where the
banners were. There were some rather
steep steps in front of the side door and
the czar complained that his legs were
weak and that he would prefer to enter
the church through some other door,
"Nonsensew the bishop exclaimed.
The weakness of your legs doesn't pre-
vent you from dancing. Comet"
Selling him by the arm the powerful
bishop yanked his majesty up the steps.
At the threshold the czar bent down to
kiss the image that the priest presented
to him, but to the utter astonishment of
the crowd, the bishop, still holding him
by the arm, forced him to bow down al
most to the ground. The czar thought
that was enough, so he again attempted
to kiss the image. mo! three timesw
said the bishop. The czar had to obey
and bow twice more before he was per-
mitted to kiss the holy image.
That. however, was only the beginning
of his troubles. After having heard the
TIE Deum in the cathedral, the czar re-
tired to the apartments that had been
carefully prepared for him by the COVER
nor, and was about to enjoy his first nap
when all the bells of the churches burst
out with terrific clangor. The arch
bishop, accompanied by his chapter and
an immense crowd, all chanting loud
enough to take the roof off, presented
himself before the governors residence
and announced his intention to purify
the rooms occupied by the czar by
sprinkling them with holy water. Alex
ander sent his adjutant to the terrible
prelate to tell him that his majesty was
fatigued and was unable to receive him.
"You are the adjutant Of the czar of
this earth," the bishop said, "but l am
the adjutant of the czar of heaven"
sPRINKLING THE CZAR.
The young man refused to admit him,
and the mighty bishop grabbed him by
the collar, tossed him back thirty feet in
the rear and walked majestically into
the czar's room.
II will have you arrested" the gov
ernor shouted, in furious rage.
There is not power enough in the
whole world" the bishop responded, ito
arrest the cross of Cod"
Alexander had to submit. His rooms
were thoroughly sprinkled, after which
he was compelled to listen to an inter-
minable sermon on the evils of self love
and the passion for luxury. On leaving
the emperor the archbishop proceeded
once more to the cathedral for the even
ing office. At 10 o'clock the bells rang
out second time. Then the czar sent
word to the archbishop to stop the ring
ing of the bells for the third time, which
was the old Russian custom; but Am
broise would not yield an inch. He was
the adjutant of the czar of heaven, and
he would take no orders from lesser
potentate. So an hour later the bells be-
gan dreadful racket for the third time.
The next morning his majesty had to
review his troops, and, as he wished to
hear mass first, he dispatched his ad-
jutant to the bishop with an order to
celebrate mass at 6 o'clock and make
the services as brief as possible.
Tell the czar," Ambrose said to the
adjutant, ''that service will be at
o'clock, as usual, and that it will be
neither longer nor shorter than usual,
but strictly according to the laws of the
church"
He kept his word. The czar and his
troops had to wait OF course his ma
jesty had his revenge. Ambrose was
dismissed from his Office and retired to
monastery, but that did not trouble
him, for he had lived while archbishop
like the poorest monk in all Russia