The San Francisco call., 1905-02-12
STORY
Of Strange People

n FAILED by enthusiastic disciples
E Of Tolstoy as the first real and
n II authentic tribe of primitive
Christians, lauded by Socialists
as the most perfect exemplars of COM
munistic practice, and execrated in
generous measure by the Canadian
Government as fools and religious ir-
responsibles, the Doukhobors arrogate
10 themselves q considerable degree of
the worlds attention. When they mi
grated from Russia in 1899 and 1900
and took up their homes on lands al
lotted by the Canadian Government
theorists followed their every move and
hung upon their success with gloating
satisfaction. When in the summer
and early fall Of 1900 a numerous COM
psny Of this sect drove off all its
fiOcks, deserted its homes and set out
10 meet Jesus Christ in some sunny
land where fruit could be had for the
asking and clothes would be super
fiuous, the theorists began to feel a
marked fall in the temperature Of
their enthusiasm and the vulgarian
world at large commenced to take
notice. The interest aroused then has
continued and q reading of AyImer
Maude's book, "A Peculiar People; The
Doukhobors." viii probably be very
general.
The impulse behind the writing of
this book is not uninstructive for a
general comprehension. of its contents.
Many years residence in Russia, COM
bined with a.strong prediction for the
doctrines Of Leo Tolstoy, had reused
the interest Of Mr.. Maude in the perse-
cutions being INDUCED in by the Rus
sian Government against the Douk-
hobors, then resident in the distant
provinces of the Caucasus. Animated
by his TolstOyan tenets, this English
man conferred with some of his con-
freres in the new philosophy and went
personally and at his own expense to
Canada with the purpose Of finding
there safe harbor for the distraught
peoples. Largely upon the representa-
tions Of Maude, himself. the authori-
ties sthen in power in the northern
province made liberal offers to the
Doulzhobors, which were accepted. The
Russian colonists came and settled in
the districts allotted them. Then
troubles began-troubles which the
author reviews in his book The
DoukhobOrs proved more than an un-
mixed blessing to the Canadian au-
thorities and il is presumed that Mr..
Maude had occasion to revise some Of
his opinions concerning them, formed
in the first heat of theoretical quixotic-
ism, Tor he says at the end of his book,
Personally my only regret is TO have
lead the Canadian Government or any
one else. BY this book in which ] do
public penance, 1 try 10 atone for that
blunder."
In an effort to trace the origin of
this peculiar people the author
acknowledges his inability to fix def
nitelx upon any one man at any stated
period cf time who evolved out of his
own lively iUaginings the tenets of
their faith. 1t is popularity believed
that the Quakers were largely instru-
mental in giving this Russian sect its
birth. b1t to this the author takes ex-
ception. basing the cause Of the mis-
conception upon the superficial SINH
larity between the two faiths. It was
during the reign of Peter the Great
that the Doukhobors. as a distinct sect
which was in rebellion against the doc
trines Of church and state then obtain
ing, first gained the recognition that
comes with persecution. Like the
Quakers they then believed. as they do
now. in the inward presence of the Son
Of God. and it was their adhesion to
the principle Of passive resistance"
with It's concomitant horror of war,
that brought down on them the wrath
of every Gar since the great Peter.
The authors further analysis of the
fundamentals Of their religion is barred
from critical consideration by its theo-
logical profundities.
One persistent component of the
DoukhObor creed, an element which
cements the whole sect together into
the strongest clan organization, is the
blind submission to a leader that char
acterizes it. This leader, who is al
ways referred 70 by the mysterious and
indefinite pronoun. they by the
faithful, is elected in a manner no Cen
tile knows and holds sway by virtue of
a power no outsider can fathom. The
present head of the Doukhobor sect,
Peter Vefigin. a man Of infinite auto
cratic ability and genius for organiza-
tion, according TO the author, is really
a dictator within the Canadian domain
as Brigham Young was once un-
crowned king and absolute ruler under
the titular sway of this country.
Though held in exile for long years by
Russia and only being permitted to
1oir the Canadian cofouiSts = ffer thew