Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-02-06
THE DOUKHOBOR EXODUS.

The movement of the DoukhObors
from Russia to America is a startling
occurrence for the closing years Of
the 10th century. If it had occurred
400 years ago or even 300 there would
be no occasion for surprise. But that
1O, 900 strong men should be be obliged
to abandon their birthplace for con-
science sake in 1899 is indeed occa-
siop for surprise. These quiet, un-
offensive people come to America not
in a movement for conquest or war,
but to escape the persecution and
cruelty which have relentlessly pur-
sued them in the land of their birth.
The first scene in the new worlds
drama was enacted in the harbor of
Halifax recently, when the first party
of Doukhobors, numbering l23oO men,
women and children, came into port
on the steamship Lake Huron.
These people are most desirable i'm
migrants and will make excellent cit
liens. They are a moral, peaceable,
clearly people, and the country that
has large percentage of such c1tl-
zens ought to find some way to guard
their rights and to keep them. But
under Russia's system the individual
has no rights except to labor and obey
the Gear. Therefore, they decided to
break away from their birthplace,
their homes and hearthstones, and
start in the world anew in a land of
Anglo Saxon freedom.
An observer who saw them says
that most of them are healthy, we'll
preserved, strongly built people, and
they were all apparently happy and
glad to reach port. Happiness beam
ed from the faces of the young and
many of the old, yet here and there
one saw face that bore traces on its
visage of the stern cru elites suffered
across the seas. But withal hope
full expression marked one and all,
and what seemed a determination to
carve out for themselves a new for
tune in this liberty loving Canada.
Conspicuous among the groups on
deck was Machortoff, an old man,
vino had borne the burden and heat
of the day in the Crimean war. He
fought as an-of-war sailor at the
battle of Inkerman before he joined
the Doukhobor sect. Then he fell in
ill-repute with the state officials, and
was banished to Siberia, where he re-
NAMED eight years. He was only
permitted to leave that barren and
cold land of exile when the emigra-
ton Of his people first began. He was
not, however, permitted to return to
his nome and say farewell to his rela-
tions. Now, in his 85th year, although
tottering to his grave, he has come to
Canada to make d new home. Such
is only one Of the many pathetic sto-
ries which cluster around the migra-
ton Of the Doukhobors.
The Doukhobors first appeared in
the neighborhood Of st. Petersburg in
the middle of last century. By the
beginning of the present century their
doctrine had become so clearly de-
fined, and the number OF their follow
ers had so greatly increased that the
government and the Greek church
considered this sect particularly OBJ
noxious, and so started a cruel per Sc
cution.
Marriage among them is not con-
sidered holy sacrament, and is ac-
complished merely by the mutual
consent Of the young couple. AS
among these esprit wrestlers," as
they have been called, no preference
is given to wealth and rank, the pa
rents do not at all interfere in the
marriages of their children. There
are also no marriage rites or cere-
monies; the mere consent Of the two
and promise to live together suffice.
Abstinence from marriage for the
sake Of purity is regarded among
them as high virtue. They are care
full as to the neatness of their houses,
and say that for a Christian it is prop
er to live Clearly and tidily-in this
they have always been distinguished
from the other peasa nts i'll the same
village.
The intense religious spirit Of the
people impresses one strongly. Hour
after hour they chant the same hymns
and raise their voices in supplication
and thanksgiving, congregating in
groups or "cantons.'' Now and then
a man or woman addresses the as
sembled brethren, uttering often
words of exhortation, but more fire.
quently Of praise and thanksgiving.
While that group is engaged in it's de-
votion, no Doukhobor will pass by