The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-24
GAP0N'S AMERICAN VISIT.
Russian Leader az Strikers Attended Y. VI.
&. 4. Convention In boston in 1901.


BosToN, Jan. 2s.--Thc priest who figures
in the st Petersburg dispatches as Father
Gapon and who headed the procession OF
strikers as they marched toward the Neva
Gate yesterday was in Boston in 1901 10 at
tend the celebration OF the iftieth ami
verpary OF the foundation of the Boston
Young Mems Christian Association,
According to the Rev, j. r. Ross of the
American board. Father Gapon's name at
that time was Nicholas V Vassiieff, and
some Of the newspapers here printed pict-
IIres of him over that name. He attended
the receptionsat the state House and with
the other two Russian delegates shook
hands with COY Crane. Az the trio turned
away frcu the, Governor they engaged in
conversation with Melrose man a Russian
by birth, hut. 9, fugitive from his native
land for yearh. on account of his radical
political beliefs In default Of introduction
she visitors asked the mans name
John Baker. be replied, and as II the
name had been Breath Of poison the hree
Russians turned and made their way out
of the building. That is what Mr. Baker
himself told TO reporter to-day. Tho
visitors recognized in the name the desig-
nation Of man ont Of favor with the Rus
sian Government. and were in haste to get
away from him.
"But ! sought ont Father Gapon at his
hotel later said Mr. Baker and for six
hour ! talked with him in private telling
him how they manage public affairs in
This country. explaining that the name
Governor Is only n title and hat the real
Governors Of the Common wealth are the
Iciti7ens who make up its population. de-
scribnE the police system the system Of
free government and all the popular priv
ileges enjoyed under IT, He listened to
me; he was Interested. and believe seed
i'wss sown then whch has now borne fruit
The Young priest. for he was then only
~ or IS wears old, was intensely Interested
an ell that | said and was able TO verify the
more important part Of the matters called
20 his attention He seemed scarcely able
ITO comprehend such wonderful liberty after
his intimate knowledge of how matters are
REGULATED in the land Of the Gar
"was the organization he represented
here the same AZ our Young Mems Christian
Associations"
by good stretch Of the imagination II
could be called the same. When the New
York philanthropist Arson Phelps Stokes,
was in Russia several years ago he left per-
haps $4,000 for the establishment Of a
Young Mems Christian Association in st.
Petersburg, An association was estab-
lshed priest was placed in charge. and
they do work somewhat similar 10 the work
done in this country. But the association
has no branches. 1t is like a little club
-Is Father Gapon a priest in regular
standing in Russia
"No, no IL more like what we know az
EMISSION priests, more like the members
of the Order Of st. John the Evangelist
He was originally a Socialist and appar-
emily his advanced views in this direction
have given him great hold with the PEG
pie. He has been kept informed Of the
popular freedom enjoyed in America also
Mr.. Baker gave the impression that Father
Gapons American ideas had done much
TO educate the thought of his followers in
the last year or two. The speaker, de
scribed Father Gapon as about 3s years old
and said that his name was properly Aga
thon no. Gapon.
John Baker il well kownn IA a writer
under the nom de plume Of w. C-Ky"
He II lecturer and has delivered courses
at Harvard and before various societies
OF Boston. He is Of Polish birth, but b9ft
his native country in the '0Os. If asked
10 give his re al name and 10 tell why he
left Poland he will reply with emphasis:
That is none OF your business | I'm
generally supposed 10 be Sihihst and
at the head OF the branch Of the Russian
revolutionary party in this country, but
that is not so. ! am an American citizen,
~Rnd would do nothing to embrol my