New-York tribune., 1905-05-07

tradiction between the representation and the
reality. At any rate, soon afterward, he had
the monastery prison Of Solovetsk abolished
In the heart OF Russia is Suzdal, almost ex-
actly in the centre, in the government Of Vlad-
inir. Here IS a prison monastery. The Rus
sian priest who, without leaving his Church,
preached sobriety, truthfulness. honesty and
clean living, and otherwise was too active in
helping his fellow men to suit his lazy fellow
clergy, was not dropped into "stone sack" or
subjected to the tortures of the olden time, but
he could be cast into a bare, cell with
shiny stone walls in the Suzdal monastery He
was permitted to have paper, ink or pen, and
forfeited his name, being known only by num-
Der. The buttressed walls Of the monastery give
1T the appearance Of a mediaeval fortress. No
one can enter it without the abbot's blessing"
This is equivalent to saying that no one except
a government official can penetrate its precincts.
Sixteen arohbishops and abbots, sixty-fve
monks Of various ranks and many noblemen and
others have been incarcerated there Some have
gone mad; some have died. Between 1875
and 1902 it is said that 116 persons
were shut up in the Suzdal monastery.
Women as we'll punished there for
their independence Of conscience Among the
women imprisoned there was Nastassia Kuz-
.rninichna Shoovina. 'In her native place she en-
deavored to help her neighbors. and founded
convent for nuns. This was supported cheer
fully by the gifts of the peasants. Her irnpris-
onment was said to be due TO a complaint made
by the local clergy. They became jealous Of her
influence and denounced her to the diocesan
authorities. She was condemned to a cell at
Suzdal.
Peter zolotnitsky, having joined noncon-
formist sect was sent to Suzdal in 1855. He
lost his health and his reason. At last, on April
Is, 1884, thirty-two years after, he was released,
contrary to custom
Podgorny, Of Kharkof member Of the Or
thodox Church, preached and practised truth
and clean living, and showed sympathy vita
suffering and sorrow. His magnetic personality
was instrumental in inspiring many TO bet
ter living The clergy were alarmed at his
cess in accomplishing the work they had left
undone, and he was condemned to Suzdal. 1t
was officially announced that he was convicted
of extremely reprehensible deeds under the
mask of outward piety he propagated among
ignorant and credulous people a false doctrine,
which undermines the very roots OF family life,
respect for Holy Church, for her sacred func
tions and sacraments, and for the orthodox
pastors who administer them. And at the same
time he led immoral life, wallowing In coarse,
sensual pleasures
NJ Pobiedon nostseT reported that this man
showed signs Of repentance, as he had al
ways maintained that he was innocent Ihe
abbot of the monastery established the fact that
he was entirely innocent OF the crimes charged
by the ecclesiastical authorities OF KharkoT-
For nearly years he had been buried alive
in the prison cell, and he had not been tried at
all IL was declared
Now that the rescript permits persons 10
leave the Orthodox fold without penalty, large
numbers Of desertions are expected