Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-18

Empire Is more wholly one than 1t ever
was in the Kingdom of Israel. The
King OF Israel was not an ecclesiastical
ruler, but was simply the head of the
civil authority, while the Car Is both
the head OF the church and the country.
Rivers take their color from the beds In
which they flow, so religions assume the
forms and customs of the people who
use them. For instance, Romanism is
not so full of idolatry and superstition
In enlightened America and France as
it is in ignorant Spain and the darkened
States of South America. The converse
of this proposition is just as true. Re
lieions have their influence on the peo-
pie who adopt them. They are the
molds in which the people receive their
cast. So, If we wish to know about the
Russians, we cannot learn it better than
by studying their religion. In Chris
tianiZing Russia more force was used
than persuasion. As with Mahomet,
the sword was the most effective In
strument. Although the Christian re-
ligion was propagated in the empire as
early as sec, A. d., yet it was left till
the reign of Vladimir 70 select the form
and establish it in the nation. lie sent
emissaries east and west TO select some
form of divine worship. These embas-
sailors examined the Latin, MOhamme-
dan and Greek rites and doctrines, aud
the Emperor selected the Greek because
it was the most imposing. This was
prior to the great Schism which separa-
ted the Eastern (or Creek church and
I ifl ph
Car was established as the head OF the
church in 1867.
The creed Of the Greek or Russian
church is like that of the Roman Cath
Ollie with few exceptions. The first and
most important difference, and that
which caused the division was the re-
lection by the Greek Church OF the su-
premacy of the Pope OF Rome.
The Greek Church also rejects image
worship, which is so prevalent in the
Romish Church; and they reject the
doctrine Of the procession OF the Holy
Spirit from the Son of God. The Greek
Church does not believe that baptism by
sprinkling is valid.
The Church and State in Russia is one
in a manner directly opposite TO the
teachings of ROmaniSm. Rome teaches
that the Church is ruler OF the State.
As Hildebrand puts It, "the relations be-
tween the Church and State are like
those of the sun and moon" In Russia
the State is the sun and the Church is
the moon, the State having complete
control over the Church. Rome says,
LET every soul be subject unto the
higher powers" and the higher pow
err she defines to be the Pope. Russia
carries out the same teachings, but with
her the higher power" is the Emperor.
His coronation is religious event
more like the browning Of Pope than
of a civil ruler. He crowns himself
with his own hands, to show that there
are none exalted or sacred enough to
perform that rite.
The Russian form of worship is very
imposing. There is, perhaps, no service
in the world more impressive than that
of the Greek Church. The Russians
delight in snowy things, in rich effects
and magnificent displays. They have
no seats in their churches. The people
either stand or kneel, or PROSTATE them
selves, according to their religious zeal.
OF course this does away with pew rents,
but they raise money by the sale OF
candles at the door. They have no in
strumental music, all being purely vo-
cal, and composed OF male voices only.
But the building is so constructed that
the voice reverates and echoes from
gallery to gallery until it reaches the
top of the dome.
The Kremlin is group Of cathedrals
in the centre Of the city Of Moscow.
Here we have the very essence Of all
that is Russian, both religious and po-
litical. Here is the Cathedral of the
ASSUMPTION, where the Cars are
crowned the Cathedral of the Annunci-
alton, where the imperial marriage GER
emory is performed, and the Cathedral
OF the Archangel Michael, where the
Cars are buried.
One of the most imposing spectacles
of the Greek Church takes place at the
Kremlin on Easter night, when the
midnight mass is celebrated instead OF
on Christmas as in the Romish Church.
The multitudes assemble in the great
tower over ST. Johns Chapel. The
tower to it's very summit is filled with
bells of different grades. The officials
are robed with beautiful garments.
bearing banners Of gold and tinsel, and
each one carrying candle. The bells
are muffled and toll slowly until mid
night, when they break out with their
iron music. Then the Surpliced throng
below light their candles and sing
"Christ is Risen" The keynote OF the
religious feeling of Russia is struck in
the triple device given by the Gar,
"Autocracy. Orthodoxy, Nationality"
which carries with it the meaning
obedience to the Gar, to God and to the
country. There is scarcely country in
the world where superstition, sorcery
and belief in omens is more abundant,
or where Christianity is more mixed up
with magic and every other phase OF
pagan religions than in Russia.
The priests go out once year lin the
spring. and bsptise the cattle and even
their tools with the holy water, and the
peasants really believe they cannot sue
coed unless this ceremony is performed.
The Greek religion in Russia has pro-
duced two evil effects.
First-It is responsible for most Of
Russian proverty through its COM
munistic doctrine Of Paternaiism; and,
second, it is banisbing all dissenteTs