The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-02-16
BISHOP AND CAR.
A sTALwART PRELATE WHO WOULD
NOT OBEY HIS MAJESTY.

The Russian Bishop Ambroise, OF Pensa,
Gave His Ruler n Terrific Reception
on the Occasion of a Distinguished
visit-He Made the Czar Obey.
Bishop Ambrose was an extraordinary
man, renowned for the firmness of his
character, the depth of his erudition
and the narro~ness of his views The
son of simple deacon, he owed his ele-
vation 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 "a simple peasant, lived in cell in
his palace, and his principal diet con-
sisted 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 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 1921, Alexander announced. that
he intended to visit Pensa; but il 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.
.'An right" the bishop said, Il 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"
but there was no help for them: Ambrose
was too powerful. When the czar ar
rived the governor give orders to the
arch bishop to come with all his clergy
and receive the emperor at the front en-
trance to the cathedral; but that was
inst what he would not do He massed
his clergy with all their banners at a side
door on the southern side. To the re-
monstrances of the governor he replied,
81 am the archbishop, and ] 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.
"Nonsenser' the bishop exclaimed.
The weakness of your legs doesn't pre-
vent you from dancing Comet"
Seizing 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, thesbishop, 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. No! three times,''
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 car 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 fake 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 | am
the adjutant of the car 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.
Il will have you arrested" the gov
ernor shouted. in furious rage
There is not power enough in the
whole world" the bishop responded, s'tc
arrest the-cross of God
4 Alexander had to submit His room:
were thoroughly sprinkled. after which
he was compelled to listen to an inter
minable sermon on the evils of self Low,
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 sen
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 wa
the adjutant of the czar of heaven, an,
he would take no orders from lesse
! potentate. Soan hour later the bells be
gan dreadful racket for the third time
The next morning his majesty had t
review his troops, and, as he wished t
hear mass first, he dispatched his ad
jutant to the bishop with an order t
celebrate mass at 6 o'clock and max
the services as brief as possible.
? Tell the car" Ambrose said to tn