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

remedy for religious error At the same
time, Alexander did not intend TO allow
the sectarians 20 proselytiae, and he con-
seauently appro we'd OF a plan for the migra-
ton Of part OF them to the Milky Waters
a fertile district named after the river that
flows through it and runs into the Sea OF
A8of. In 1901 thirty Doukhobor families
we're transported thither az an experiment
and their settlement proving very sue
cessful, other Doukhobors from divers
governments pettioned to be allowed TO
Join them considerable addition was
made 10 the numbers OF the settlers in 1900,
when many Tambof Doukhobors migrated
to the Milky Waters, and Kapoustin was
invited TO become the leader of the colony.
By 1919 there were In this district nine
villages numbering ii59 souls that IN
TO say, male inhabitants. much greater
number Of Doukhobors remained scattered
over Russia but the group at the Milky
Water represented the largest compact
body; and as the members of it took
cutie peculiar line and development or
their own, and are the ancestors OF the
Doukhobors now in Canada, our author
confines his attention to them. He thus
avoids the confusion resulting from the
Use OF the same name "Doukhobor, both
byrationalst sectarians dispersed through
out Russia and Siberia and by the coherent
group that under Kapoustn's domination
lost the freedom of thought that had been
originally characteristic OF the sect ana
became a clan yielding blind obedience 10
his hereditary leaders.
1t might have been expected that the
Doukhobors. who had been critical ana
denunciatory OF all government would get
into trouble when they came TO form an
administration of their own in the district
known as the Milky Waters. No diihculty,
however. seems to have been encountered
in the organization Of the community
From the very start order reigned In the
new settlement which advanced rapiuIy
in prosperity. gave the Russian authorities
for many years little trouble, and extorted
high praise for good order and success in
agriculture from those who visited IT.
What really happened was that kapoustin
esta blished himself as absolute ruler ana
instiled into the people habits OF secrecy
with reference to all that concerned the
sect and OF unquestioning obedience 10
/ himself. Mr. Maude accepts as correct
/ in the main the account give of the Duokho-
bors under Kapoustin by Baron Won haxt-
| hansen. in his book On the internal con-
dition of Russia. published in lsE-52 Ac-
! oording to HaItha,lsen, all subjected
themselves willingly to Rapoustin, and
| he ruled like king or rather, prophet
| He expounded the tenets of the Doukho-
! bors in manner to turn them to his per-
sonal advantage. He attached peculiar
| importance to the doctrine Of the trans
migration of souls. which was already
known among the DoulShobors He also
taught that Christ is born again in every
believer: that God is in every one; for when
| the Word became flesh, 1t became this a..
| e.. man in the world, for all time like every
/ thing divine. But each human soul. at
least as long as the created world exists,
| remains a distinct individual Proceed
ing with his exposition of Doukhobor be-
/ liefs, as these were formulated by Kapoustin,
the German historian says that. when
God descended into the individuality OF
Christ, He sought out the purest and most
4, perfect man that ever existed, the soul
4 of Jesus being the purest and most perfect
of all human souls. Since the time when
| he first revealed himself in Jesus, God has
! always remained in the human race, and
reveals Himself in every believer But
| the individual soul Of Jesus-where has II
been since the execution OF the body of
1 the NaZarene2 Kapoustin's answer was:
by virtue of the law of the transmigration
of souls, it must necessarily have trans
ferred itself to another human body. Jesus
Himself said I am with you always.
until the end OF the world Thus the soul
of Jesus, favored by God above all human
souls has from generation to generation
continually animated new bodies; and. by
virtue OF it's higher qualities and by the
peculiar and absolute command Of God,
it has invariably retained a remembrance
Of its previous condition. Every man,
therefore, in whom II has resided, has
known that the soul OF Jesus was in him.
Kapoustin went on TO develop his creed
as follows: in the first centuries after
Christ the transmgration Of his soul was
so universally acknowledged among be-
levers that every one recognized the new
Jesus who from time 20 time became the
guide and ruler OF Chnstendom and de-
cided all disputes respecting the faith
The Jesus thus born again periodically
was called Pope False Popes, however
presently obtained possession of the throne
Of Jesus; and the true Jesus only retained
a small band of believers about him, as
he predicted in the New Testament many
are called. but few are chosen These
believers are the Doukhobors, among
whom Jesus constantly dwells, his sou
anirnating one OF them, Thus, concluded
Kapoustin. Sylvan Kolesnikof of Nikolsk
whom the older among you knew, waf
Jesus; but now. as truly IA the HEAVIER
is above me and the earth under my feet
| am the true Jesus Christ, your Lord
Kapoustin introduced for a while in
the district Of the Milky Waters community
Of goods The fields we're titled in com
mon and the harvest divided among all
Storehouses we're built TO provide agains
) years Of dearth. various industries were
started and the colony made visible prog
! ress. There was Of course nothing
anomalous in such an application Of thu
. communal principle, 1t appears. however
that though some attempt was at one tim
: made 10 introduce community OF womer
among the Doukhobors and though nov
and then one hears reports of some dis
3 order. or, more often, Of some license al
I lowed to the leaders, yet on the whole
2 il they be compared With other sects, an'
If one short period Of their history be ex
t cepted. the sex question appears 70 hav
. occasioned but little trouble among them.