The Washington times., 1902-12-10
THE DUKHOBORS.
Their Appeal to the Sultan Of Turkey
and Other Rulers.


London Times.
The "St. Petersburg Viedomosti" pub
fishes some interesting information con
cerning the DUkhobors i'm Canada re-
oeived from Russian living In that col
ony. He states that the members Of the
sect, who had been welcomed with open
arms by the Canadian government. were
materially in a very good position aud
could live happily and prosperously haa
they not adopted an even more extreme
form OF vegetarianism than that which
they formerly held. Not content with
abstaininE from meat. they now regard
IL as a sin 10 use milk or keep any do
nestle animals for any purpose. Thev
refuse, moreover, 10 obey any laws but
those given them by God. and therefore
refuse 10 register their property or even
their births. marriages. and deaths. aE
required by the Canadian law. The
writer further gives the text OF an
extraordinary petition which the elders
OF the sect have addressed 10 the Sultan
OF Turkey and probably to other soy
ereigns. This document throws such a
light on the fanaticisim OF the Dukho-
bOrs that I venture 10 reproduce it in
fun. II reads as follows:
Your majesty. before appealing TO
your kindness we must tell you in a few
words about ourselves. We emigrated
from Russia 10 Canada TO the number o.
7,0O0 iu the years 1883. We had heard
OF Canada as a land Of religious free
dom, but that appears to have been q
misunderstanding. Freedom OF con
science does prevail in Canada. but not
the freedom Of conscience we desired.
We believe that God rules our lives and
leads us 70 eternity by his own holy
ways. We obey only the commands or
the Lord in our hearts. and can obey
no other commands or laws We cannot
submit ourselves % the laws or regula
tiOns Of any State, or be the subjects Of
any other ruler except God Our oXpec-
JatiOn that we should be allowed 20 live
according 20 our belief in Canada has
not been fulfilled II is true that we are
exempted from military service because
We cannot bear arms OF Kill living be
ing beings but they demand that we
should become the subjects Of Great
Britain and not OF the Lord. They re-
fuse 20 give MS any land unless we
promise 20 obey an the laws OF Canada
We declare before God that this is i'm
possible. and that we would sooner bear
any oppression than be false 10 Him. We
only beg that compassion should be
shown 20 us. and especially 20 our chill
dren, and That We should not De need
lessly iiltreated. for We are IN the
Lords power. and viii be true TO Him
unto the end.
Now We turn 10 your majesty and
beg you 20 show grace TO us and 20 our
families. not only as a monarch, but also
as a fellow being. AS pilgrims Of God
In this world we beg you TO give us hos
pitaltty and shelter In your wide d0min-
ions. We beg for some tiny corner in
your land where we can live by the la
Dor Of our hands and follow the law Of
God where we shall not be compelled 10
obey laws made by man. and where it
will not be demanded OF ID 10 be the
subjects Of any monarch except the
Lord. We venture 20 add thar we rat
neither meat nor milk foods. hut only
vegetables and fruits. As We give free
dom 20 every living being we cannot
bring ourselves 10 use force either
toward men or even toward animals We
keep no domestic animals, but do all our
work With our own hands We there
fore beg your majesty 10 give US a pa~-
eel Of land such as we can cuItiyate
without employing beasts Of burden ana
such as we can use for vegetable auC
fruit gardens in order 20 maintain our
selves. We pray God 10 move vo.r
heart 10 have compassion upon US. and
We declare before Him that our petition
Is not dictated by selfish motives. bur
solely by the wish 10 be true 10 The
Lord"