Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16
THE CAR AND THE BISHOP.
stalwar Frelate Who Would Not Obey the
Orders of His Majesty.

stalwart Frelate Who Would Not Obey the
Orders of His Majesty.
From the New York Sun
Linked to the recent trial Of the archbishop
OF AK, whose name, with all due respect for
the good and pious prelate, is a staggerer FOL
PLAIN people on this side Of the ocean. is al
interesting bit of history which is travelling
rapidly and extensively in French type. Mgr
Gouthe -Soulard is now no longer the ecclesi-
asticai hero Of the hour. The Russian Bishop
Ambrose OF Pensa has taken his place, although
he fourIshed seventy years ago.
Bishop Ambrose was an extraordinary man,
renowned for the frmness of his character. the
depth of his erudition and the narrowness OF
his views. The son of a simple deacon, he
owed his elevation to his oratorical talent his
historical works and especially his ascetic
virtues. He lived in his episcopal palace with
the austere habits that had enGeared him 10
the people. He dressed like simple peasant
lived in a cell in his palace and his principal
diet consisted OF cabbage and radishes. In
fact he Jared like the poorest moujik, but for
all that he had the strength of giant. His
salary of 5000 or IL, 600 Vcubles he distributed
among the poor giving right and left and
never refusing charity to the hosts Of beggars
that always swarmed around him.
In 1921 Alexander announced that he in
tended to visit Pensa, but if he knew the re-
ceptlon that was in store for him he would
lave tried some other town. The governor
sent the chief OF police to the bishop to re quest
car.
"All right" the bishop said Il can get the
mud IN front Of the place cleared away but
where can hide your head and the governor 9
head? 1t would be useless TO bury them in the
ground; the odoI of your actions would still
permeate the whole place"
OF course the two officials we're furious, but
there wis no help for them; Ambrose was too
powerful. When the car arrived the governor
gave orders to the archbishop 20 come with all
his clergy and receive the emperor at the front
entrance to the cathedral, but that was Just
what he would not do He massed his clergy
with all their banners at a side door on the
southern side. To the remonstrances of the
governor he replied: Il am the archbishop,
and l alone give orders here" The civil au-
thorities were grouped at the front entrance
The car, naturally enough. went to the place
where the banners were. There were some
rather steep steps in front of the side door.
and the car complained that his legs were
weak and that he would prefer to enter the
church through some other door.
''Nonsenee!' the bishop exclaimed. 1.-THE
weakness of youI legs doesn't prevent you
from dancing. Co2ie!"
Selling him by the arm the powerful bishop
yanked his majesty up the steps At the
thu Ghold the car 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 almos- to the ground The car
thought that was enough, so he again at
tempted tc kiss the image mo- three timesI"
said the bishop The car had to obey and bow
twice more before he was permitted to kiss the
holy image.
That. however, was only the beginning of his
troubles. After having heard the lie Deum in
the cathedral the car ret:rei TO the apart
ments that lad be;n carefully prepared for
MN by the governor, and was about 20 enjoy
his first nap when al re bells of tie ca lrcnes
burst out with a terrific cIangor. The arch
BISHOP. accompanied By his chapter and an inn
mense crowd, all chanting louG enough to take
the roof of. presented himself before tue gov
ernor residence and announced his intention
to purify the rooms occupied by the car by
sprinkling them with holy water. Alexander /
sent his adjutant to the terrible prelate to tell
INN that ms majesty was fatlSued and was I'M
able to receive him.
''You are the adjutant of the czar of this
earth, the bishop said, but am the adjutant
OF the Car OF heaven"
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 maiestically into the czar's room.
Il will have you arrested" the governor
shouted, in a furious rage.
luefe Is Iiot power enough In The whole
world, the bishop responded, ito arrest the
cross of God"
Alexander had to submit His rooms were
thoroughly sprinkled, after which he was COM
PEELED to listen to an interminable sermon ON
the evils of seIf-love and the passion for lux
ury. On leaving the emperor the archbishop
proceeded once more to the cathedral for the
evening Office. At 10 o'clock the bells rang
out a second time. Then the car sent word to
the archbishop to stop the ringing of the bells
for the third time, which was the old Russian
custom, but Ambrose would not yield an inch
He was the ad utant of the Car of heaven and
he would take no orders from lesser poten-
tate. So an hour later the bells began a dread
full 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 adjutant to the bishop with
an order to celebrate mass at o'clock and
make the services as brief as possible
Tell the czar,' Ambrose said to the adiu-
tant. that service viii be al Z 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 car and his troops
had to wait. OF course his majesty had his re-
venge. Ambrose was dismissed from his Office
and retired TO a monastery; but that did not
trouble him, for he had lived while archbishop
like the poorest monk in all Russia.