The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-21
THE DOUKHOBORTSI.
Reasons Why the Russian Sect Should
Not BE Called Quakers.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
In your issue of Nov 10 last you copy
from the New York Sun an article entitled
"Quakers from Russia" referring to the
emigration of Russian sect of singular
people known as THE Doukhobortsi," a
word stated by some to mean spirit wres-
tiers by others champions of the spirits"
Prominent persons in England, known as
the Society of Friends, also men in PhiladeI-
phia, and Mr.. Maude, of England, are
making efforts to raise money to assist this
almost unknown sect to come to North
America and settle. 1 am a member of the
Friends Church, and my ancestry for three
generations was of the same faith. On MAX
ing efforts to discover what this Russian
sect believe and practice, find plain and
strong objections to calling them "Quak-
ers," because their belief against all war and
against taking oaths does not make them
Friends, or "Quakers" The Friends, ever
since their organization, about $50 years
ago, have been opposed to war and oaths,
and hold the same opinions to-day, no doubt
similar to the Doukhobortsi but it is not
right to compare the Friends Church with
these odd and strange spirit wrestlers,"
for we do not shut our eyes to their many
foolish and fantastic doctrines and unde-
sirable practices. No matter if Count Leo
Iolstol mas espouSed their cause, his doc
trlneS Will not do Tor Protestant Christians.
1t is difhcult to find full and correct facts
as to this Russian sect The Encyciopedia
britannica has no information about them,
nor has the American Cyclopedia one word
about them under that name but ] found
in the international Cyclopedia a short ac-
count in Volume 5, Page l47, as follows:
"A russian religious sect, holding that
human souls existed before the creation of
the world, and ascribing hidden mysterious
meal ings to all parts of the Bible. They are
extreme lQySIlCS ana are R6nerallV il
nterate and ignorant The Emperor Alex
ander gave them most complete liberation,
anu allowed them to settle on the banks of
the Molochna, in the south of Russia. Here,
however, an lmpoStor named 'KapuStin'
came, about 1910, amongst them and pre-
vailed on them to receive him as a prophet;
that he was animated by the soul of Jesus
Christ, and taught them to believe in the
tranSmigration of souls. Disputes arising
among them &C lcerning this impostor some
of their members were buried alive and
others put to death by the rest. In conse-
quence of this they were transferred be-
yond the Caucasus, where they now are"
There is no doubt but they were cruelty
prosecuted years ago by the Russian gov
eminent. simply because they would not
bear arms or serve in the Russian army,
and for this they deserve some sympathy
but if their disbelief in Christianity on other
important lines makes them infidels and
fanatics We do not want them in the United
States We have enough of low, ignorant
infidels from the lower classes of Europe
now.
The article in the New York Sun states
that their origin can be traced to an Eng
lishman who went to Russia about 1850 and
founded the sect. That paper also states as
to their belief as follows:
They do not believe in a personal God;
they do not believe in Jesus Christ as a
Savior; they do not believe in Jesus only as
good man; they do not believe in the fall
of man; they do not believe in the resurrec-
ton; they consider themselves the only true
worshipers and the rest of mankind idol
ators"
They are said to number about 10000
Whether the above items are true | do not
know. but there must be some cause or else
such ideas about them would not be pub
lished.
1t has also been stated that if this sect
emigrates to this country a place will be
made for them i'm Idaho Later advices
show this to be incorrect and that Canada
may be their location. learn from another
source, the American Friend, of Philadel-
phia, that several months ago attempt
was made to secure permission for them to
settle on the Island of Cypress, in the north
east part of the Mediterranean sea. a. place
much nearer to their present abode than
America, but the authorities there q think
1t is now under British controD would not
allow them to land unless a large sum of
money was pledged to guarantee that they
shouIu not become chargeabe for the sup
port of the immigrants. This money the
Russian sect was not able to raise, so other
efforts in England and the United States
for that purpose are being made. That pa
per calls them 1.-The Christian martyrs of
the Caucasus" and they have been martyrs
for their belief against war; but not Chris
tian martyrs.
people, why does not England as a nation
allow them to settle on one of ner numerous
islands? Why do not the Protestant
churches of continental Europe attend to
their wants? The proposition is now being
made for this sect to move to a section west
of Manitoba, or north Of our Montana. and
subject to the Canadian authorities To this
there is no objection. but why citizens of
the United States should be requested to do
nate money to aid Canada in her immigra-
ton / cannot very we'll See If this Russian
sect should come to any section of the
United States it would take its adult MEM
bers a generation to learn our language,
and more than that time to learn our re-
publican laws. principles and practices. In
an editorial in this paper a few days ago
the statement was mace that our foreign
immigration laws should be changed so as
to have further restrictions against foreign
immigrants. who cannot read write in
any language. Probably this would apply
to this Russian sect, the Doukhobortsi. The
undersigned is open to confinement on
this subject or any other in which he may
be wrong and If any one can prove other
wise about this strange sect he would glad
IN hear from them.
NEWTON 4. TRUEBLOOD.
KnightstOWn Ind Nov 49,