The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-19


he chooses, and If his religion dictates
that he shall conform to a vegetable
diet, such beliefs are respected. All
might have been we'll had this state OF
affairs been confined to vegetarianism.
but the Doukhoborsti religion does not
appear to be a finished product. 1t
has been constantly undergoing
changes. From the belief that ii was
sin to eat meat it seems a long jump
10 reach the conclusion that II is wrong
TO eat animal products. but these peo-
pie have now given up eating milk.
butter, cheese, eggs, etc, and the cows.
oxen. goats and fowl are increasing
and multiplying, and waxing fat while
the people are on the verge Of starva-
ton.
Having reached this absurd position,
It was but a step TO another and more
ridiculous one. If 1t were wrong to
eat the flesh of animals. the same line
of reasoning made il comparatively
easy to condemn the use of leather
harness made from the hides Of Gods
creatures. and then followed the con-
demnation of wooden clothing, because
wool grows on the bodies OF sheep,
which also belong to the Lord. The
next step was still more sweeping in
its effect on their economic condition. 1t
was wrong to make servants of any of
the lower animals, to use them for
beasts of burden or for any other pur-
pose.
They had the courage of their con-
victions, and at once turned out their
horses, cattle, and sheep, driving them
to Gods HILL" to forage for them
selves. placing all the burdens Of farm
life on their own shoulders. For all
drawing purposes, such as hauling
heavy loads on wagons, men take the
places of horses and oxen. Twelve or
m MI
fee for this purpose, and 1t is the only
method employed by them in the culti-
walton of the soil. Women, even, are
employed in this manner, though when
coming into town men only are seen
hauling the wagons and buggies. Ev-
cry day in the streets of Yorktown
dozens of men may be seen drawing
wagons, hauling what little produce
they may have for sale, and carrying
back to their farms flour and other
necessities.
The Doukhoborsti are clad exclusive
ly in cotton Clothes and wear rubber
boots or shoes knit or woven with bin
der Irvine, which they buy for the pur-
pose. Their food consists of bread and
water and such vegetables as they
grow, and wild berries and herbs
which they gather. Their farms are
neglected, and their stock, of which
they had much, Is running wild in the
hills, where it will all die during the
winter, or be appropriated by those
who are not. of their religious faith,
and who will at least give their stock
shelter.
With the advent of cold weather star
walton and disease must certainly fol-
low, and they appear to know this, for
they have been in correspondence with
authorities in Southern California, Ne
Vada, Arizona and Australia, with a
view to emigration to a warmer eli
mate where the conditions would en-
able them to subsist on the soil without
trespassing on the possessions of the
animal kingdom. 1t is needless to say
that no one wants them, so they are
still in Manitoba, an elephant on the
hands of the government that brought
them from Russia a few years ago to
develop the prairie land of the West.
The unsuccess of the Russian Douk-
hoborsti as farmers in the Canadian
colony is an entirely unlocked for re-
suit of the work of Count Leo Tolstoi
and hundreds of charitable persons,
particularly the Quakers. who sought
to better the condition of the peculiar
but seemingly sincere religious sect.
The Doukhoborsti were prosecuted
by the Russian government for more
than a century. The name means
| Champions of the Spirit" or Spirit
Wrestlers." The sect was first heard
of in 1850. Its adherents deny that
there is a personal God. They say
God lives in the soul of every man.
They reject Christ, and do not believe
in heaven or hell.
Their persecution began in 1899, whom
Paul l., on being informed that they
denied his authority gave orders that
they should be banished to the mines
for life, and should never have the
chains taken from their hands and feet.
About $4,000 were transported to ST.
IBERIA. In 1882 Alexander I. gave them
permission to coloniZe on a Siberian
farm, which, through their thrift and
industry, became very valuable. Their
| number increased to $4,000. In 1889
they were ordered to military duty.
They did not decline to fulfill the
| everyday duties of the soldier, but
when they came to face the enemy
they lay down, and no punishment
were constantly shifted about until
reduced to about 10000.
| In 1898 Lea Tolstoi published three
of his early stories which he never
| liked, and which he had laid aside
as worthless, and contributed the pro-
ceeds to bring the people to Canada.
| Contributions were also made by many
people in England and America. The
| Canadian British government gave
each family 160 acres of land, and each
| erigrant a bonus of IS and shelter
| through the first winter