The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12


dispose Of the person or property OF any
member of the sect, The student of this
period Of their history comes here ana
there across illusions to the LEADERS,
miraculous powers, but these references
are rather vague. The final result oil
Kapoustin's influence was TO convert what
had been an ultra democratic, anti-govern-
mental sect into society In which he was
an autoorat, controlling not only the per
sons and property. but even the very
thoughts OF its subjects.
The Doukhobors were trained by hapous-
finland the traces Of the training are
still evident to-day-to conceal their rea'
beliefs from outsiders and to DE NUS.
careful not to involve their Leader in any
difficulty by admitting that he dic'a'eu
their actions Any course decided uPo"
by the Doukhobors il. even lo-u"y
justified to outsiders by the use OF leN.'
from the Bible, not because such teN'e
are authoritative to those who quote the'i',
but because they furnish saie way VI
expressing their decisions. Among ,ie
exclusive regulations adopted by hapouStni
was one to the effect that the DoukhoooIS
should not apply to the Russian courts
of Justice All their disputes were 10 pe
settled among themselves. IL was on
viously a counsel Of prudence that 'heir
behavior to such Russian officials az shoulu
visit the colony was 10 be MODEST anu
respectful. In contradistincton TO the
attitude sometimes assumed by Doukho-
bors in earlier times, they were TO iiit their
hats as they approached those ofhcials'
TO bow low and to reply TO inquiries III set
terms learned by heart in advance. Their
duty was to work hard all their lives AT
agriculture, cattle breeding and cartng'
We note finally that after some years
Kapoustin growing old, abandoned the
communal system and allowed property
to be held in severalty. II is alleged that
when the communal property was divided
no the share allotted by him to his own
family was very large, but no protest seems
| to have been made by his subjects.
Kapoustin, having been arrested on
the charge of propagating heresy' died
officially on Nov I. 1917 though he seems
| to have lived in hiding for some years after
ward. We now approach the darkest
DAYS Of Doukhobor history. In Kolesh-
! NOT they had had teacher OF unusually
high character. In Pobirohin and kapous-
tin they bad had leaders Of ability; but
| the evils inseparable from one man power
the impossibility OF securing n success
| sion of good and capable men-had now
overtaken them. No doubt the danger OF
the situation was increased by the spirit
| ua impoverishment that must have re-
| suited from the gross superstitions intro
| duced to crafty the vanity or consolidate
| the authority of their leaders Accord
| ing to Haxthausep, after the death OF
Kapoustin the office of Christ passed to
his SON He (Kapoustinl is said TO have
assured his people that the soul of Christ
had the power of uniting itself with any
human body it pleased and that it would
establish itsef in the body Of his (Kapous-
tin SON. The son and heir of Savely
Kapoustin was Vastly Kalmikof U792-
1892. and the latter's son and heir was
Ilarion Kalmikof usl8-4D. Neither of them
inherited Kapoustin's genius. They fell
into evil ways and became drunkards.
Presently the twelve Apostles and the
thirty elders assumed power, ruling in
Vastly Kalmikof's name. Haxthausen
saws that the Council Of Elders constituted
itself terrible nquisitienal tribunal. The
principle. Whose denies his God shall
perish by the sword was interpreted ac-
cording to their caprice; the building known
] 0S the HOUSE OIL JuHlltf " dN lpN NolVN
Paradise and Torture; the place Of eIeou-
ton was at the mouth Of the Milky Waters
A mere suspicion of treachery was punished
with torture and death. Within few
years some i0G people lin the English edi
ton OF HaIthausen's book the numera
is altered to 20o disappeared leaving
scarcely trace behind. An investigation
by the Russian authorities made too late
to prevent the mischief, revealed fright
full state OF things; bodies were found buried
alive and many mutilated,' Novitsky
a Russian authority, says: If one doubts
the number OF Doukhobors reported tC
have been murdered by their leaders, on'
cannot, at any rate, reject the results o.
the judicial inquiry. In spite Of all thu
obstinaoy and capacity to conceal secre
crimes evinced by the leaders, twenty
one murders were disclosed. Corpses wer'
found that had been buried alive, other
that had been decapitated and mutilated.
The official investigation, which was begun
in 1894. terminated five years later. Tit
Emperor (Nioholas ~, decided that thu
whole body OF the Doukhobors-exoe
those who were willing TO join the Ortho
dox Church should be transported to tn,
Caucasus, there to be paroelled out and Z
be paoed under strict surveillance. Ii
is4i. those Doukhobors who were mos
implicated In the atrocities we're nao-e'
70 the Caucasus together with their families
comprising in all 800 individuals Tn
next year 800 more were transported. anC
in 1s4s another 900. In ALL the com
pulsory exodus from the Milky Water
comprehended more than 1000 people
At first, only twenty-seven preferred &
remain in their former homes. at the COS
OF conversion to the Orthodox Church
but others returned later on, when life il
the Caucasus proved difficult.
, Ilarion Kalmikof died soon after tn
enforced mi grafton. He left two young sons
on one OF whom, at the age of 30, the Douk
, hobors thought the soul of Jesus woul
descend Meanwhile. after the death O
, Ilarion. an elder called Lyovoshka directe
affairs for time, He also however. &c
, into trouble with the Russian authorize!
and was banished to Siberia. Eventual
Peter Kalmikof one OF Ilarion's sons. be
came Leader. and appears to have reigne
peacefully, the community regaining pros
perity under his rule. He died in 1880
: when still young man In reply to tn
appeal OF those around him. In who's
charge are you leaving us?" he indicate
bia wife Toukeriya and replied Il leaye yo