New-York tribune., 1901-10-13
STUNDISTS.
! SECT OF RUSSIAN PROTESTANTS IN
FREQUENT STRIFE WITH THE
ORTHODOX CFIT-RrH

ORTHODOX CHURCH.
Reports came from London last week to the
effect that bloody conflicts had taken place in
Russia between members of the Orthodox
Church and Stundists. The fight took place
IN little town of four thousand Inhabitants,
eight hundred of whom We're Stundists The
victory was claimed by the smaller body who
If the report was correct, wrecked the Orthodox
church and put the priests TO flight In the
bloody battle eighty lives were reported to have
been lost The account was probably exag-
gerated as far the death list was concerned,
put that such battle took place and that
similar disturbances occur daily in the districts
where the Stundists live are well known
The people who known by that name are
members Of a religious organization which has
existed about fifty years.
L Nabokoff, of the Russian consular depart
1nent in speaking of them said:
They are Protestants, and follow in a modified
way the precepts laid down by Tolstoy. They
not extremists. like him, and if attacked
VIII not submit without resistance, Tostoy
would have men do. but fight back. They do
not practise the Orthodox ikon worship; they
90 not go TO confession or take the sacrament
None Of the ancient forms and ceremonies
practsed by them, and, although they believe
in Christ and the Bible, they have nothing else
In common with their Orthodox neighborS, as
far as religious worship is concerned. When
the sect first became known the police had
instructions TO exterminate the Protestants. but
not known where to find them. They had no
meeting houses churches, and have none now
Their meetings and religious services take place
in the homes Of prominent members and these
services are conducted by any one who may
desire to take the place, there being no priests
or ministers among the Stundists The sect
has about one hundred thousand followers and
these are all in the provinces OF Poltawa, hhar-
kow and kherSon in the southern part OF the
empire. They are mostly Of the lower or middle
class, and can be compared to nothing IN your
country except the Salvation Army, which they
rival in enthusiasm. The government is less
severe in its persecution OF these people now
than it was some years ago, because severe
measures were found to be unayailing in check
ing the growth. They honest, industrious
and good standing cause jealousy on the part
of their Orthodox neighbors. and this often
leads TO strife But the chief cause or troubie
among the Orthodox Russians and the Stund-
lists is the discussion OF the question now 10
reach Heaven The Orthodox can see saliva
ton only by way of his belief, and the reformed
neighbor the Stundist, laughs at the images,
burning tapers affairs and Yestments and uses
irreyerent names in connection with the clergy
men and then comes the fight These hghts'
or riots often result in broken noses ana pioooy
heads but one seldom hears OF any one Delhs
killed The religious discussions are looked
upon as pleasures and the fights Whch result
from them the price.
The sect is growing. and, despite the fact that
20 be a member means to be in danger OF at
fac, and annoyance. converts are being maze
and the leaders are reaching out for new Ter
rifOr,