Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-04-18


~ q memnn,I e,'t Only. They sr'
[ d,ligent studen sDf tue Bible aud ar.
noted Tor cleanliness, bon,s'y and
temperance.
As thsy have no common orsei, they
have no fixed organization. At the head
Of their congregations are rrssbytsr'
aud elders, and for these ,flicos oldV,
and experienced men gensfally are
selected. These lead the public inset.
ings and nj late At marriages and
funerals. Tncy are oKpsotsd To BE-
we'll vetssd In the Scriptures aud to
visit the membsrs Of their conRtsga.
tlon for their Instruction, encourage.
ment and guidance. They labor vita
their own hands aud serve the con.
srogati1n without remuneration.
There are also deacons, generally
younger msp, whose duty II is 10 LOOK
to this SICK aud poor, 10 kSsp records
and occasionally take the place Of the
elders when required.
AZ to the public services, they
have no regular churches. but wor.
snip In some large hail or IN private
houses. When the members enter,
they salute each other with a iraietual
hiss. Women and men ut apart. The
service opens with a hynin. Then the
elder reads AchApiet Of the Biblo ans
oommsnis on II, aud each one present
IL allowed to make remarks. womsa
are not permitted to preach, although
they may pray In public.
The order Of marriage as observed
among tho Btunlisls Il peculiar. The
parents OF the bride ami Bridegroom
present the couple to the elder. lie
sskB them II they Wish to enter
the matrimonial state, ~ they love
one another ana 10 there IL
any oomlultion IN the matter. Th0so
questions being satisfactorily 40.
swefed, the union IL sealed by singing
sud prayer. Tue bridegroom embraces
his bride, aud tho ceremony Ia ended.
From this It IL apparent that the
S'und,sls Of Russia represent In that
cUunify the great religious undet.
current that obtained renewed force
oy the reformation o Luther and pen.
e1fatrd vafiOu, countries, ss,uming
different uamss-AuSuapiists, Memo
nltes, Baptisls. etc. Tney seen to
pave pfVtefved the spirit Of the
Information with great cousorvatlsm.
The reason why they have suffered %
much 60 Russia 10 probably not m 40.
COUNT u their psculiar feligi "a, tsnets,
but because they are looked upon ~
dangerous 70 the state. Their marriage
ceremony, for instance, IL looked upon
ne violation Of the law, which gives
10 tho established church tue authority
TO eolomuiEs tuoh unions. EudIe.,
complications are sure 10 snsue, the
children being fosArded as illegiIi.
mate, Just Ne was tho case In the
Scandinavian countries before tho
Equalization OF civil marriage
contracts. Then they positively
refuse to carry arms, though how they
can escape military duty In Russia, sx.
cep! by spending their life la prison,
10 not easily understood. They have
other peculiar Views. They regard
ihe taking Of interest on money q sin,
and believe the AgrariAn property
laws OF RIssls arc wrong. Allthls, Of
course, furnishes the civil authorities
with a cause VI persecution which
has bson freely INDUCED In since 1870. |
There are numerous seols anu Teligi. |
Gus factions In Russia, but most OF them
presenI only different Sides anu shades
OF the great orthodox church. The
5lnndlsls' isitn IL n foreign element to |
I'ussla, anu Il 10 not improbable that
the principles II embodies will prove
tho precursor Of tho Gispol, As similar
principles have been In other countries
VI the European continent. A people
FREQ from elagnant cTeeds aud al
arrogant clergy, bent on tho invesliEa
ton Of the Scriptures and Inspired
With heroic faith, cannot be- wholly |
lnptopAred for the testimony Of the
lon OF GOd.