The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-14
Minneapolis
IYANOFF HAS FAITH
IN DOUKHOBOURS
Says Younger Generation Will
Make as Good Citizens as
Canada Possesses.

Alexander Ivanoff, a Doukhobour
from the Yorktown region of Assini-
boia, accompanied by his wife, were in
Minneapolis yesterday on their way to
Houghton, Mich, where the brother of
Ivanoff is employed. These people
belong to the younger set of the
Doukhobour colony which IvanoM as
serts to be much more liberal in its
ideas than the older generation.
I'VE have not asserted our faith be-
cause we are going to live apart from
the colony" said Ivanoff last night.
ION the contrary. my wife and 1 are
more firmly than ever convinced that
the essential teachings of the Doukho-
bours make for all that is best in mod
ern Christianity, but we are agreed
that there is no merit in the effort to
conduct a religious propaganda after
the methods of centuries ago. because
the methods of today are much more
intelligent and effective.
so far as our teaching is concerned.
do not think we shall have anything
to unlearn among the Christian people
of whatever locality. Christ has
taught to all alike that they must love
one another, and to Him also we owe
the example of bearing abuse with hui
mility. Our doctrine is Do unto Others
ETC., and l believe this, too, is a part of
the doctrine of the Christian church,
no matter what the denomination.
THAT we do not believe in war is
becoming less and less cauSuS bell
against us, for the leading general Of
the United States army, who has just
retired, took occasion as one of his last
words to the nation to emphasize the
necessity for making war impossible
as soon as possible.
"Of course we are only visitors to
the United States at this time. Can
ada has given US all the advantages
We could ask for and has done much
to control ill-judged demonstrations of
religious enthusiasm. The recent out
break among the older women Of the
colony was not nearly so bad as pic
tured in the newspapers. for the wom-
en- on the march were not naked, but
clad in sacking and other coarse cloths.
Nor were they beaten by the men, as
stated. Some of them had to be taken
back to their homes by force, but there
was no necessity for beating them.
There has been good deal too
much made of the Doukhobour trou-
bles since the outbreak of religious
mania had possession of the people, a
year ago. Every month the Doukho-
bours are becoming more and more
amenable to the rules of that civiliza-
ton to which they owe their present
freedom from religious persecution.
The children of tho DoukhoboUrs. who
are being bred in Canada. will differ in
but very slight degree from other chill
dren of alien parents bred in that
country. They will be aw-abiding,
sternly religious, but they will con-
form always to the laws of the eoun-
try in their practice of religious rites.
Il was educated in the Institute Of
Agriculture at Moscow, at the expense
of the Russian government. My origi-
nal principles were not changed by the
teachings I received in school or col
1ege, but, on the contrary, my aversion
for war and all that goes with militar-
ism was greatly increased. When
returned to my own people I had the
Russian point of view pretty well mas
tered, and it simply amounts to an I'M
alterable belief in the right of might.
I found nothing in it that could re-
place my own early teachings and now
at the age of thirty-five l am con-
WINGED that the Doukhobours are on
the right road to salvation. There is
quite too little Doukhobour simplicity
in this world"