The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-02-06
GLIMPSES
OF GOPON
Russian Priest, Leader Of the
Strikers in St. Petersburg
A STUDENT OF SOCIALISM
Herder Of Pigs and Geese in His Youth,
He Has Become Leader Of Men
by Sheer Force Of
Character.
A STUDENT OF SOCIALISM

Father George Gopon, leader OF the
st. Petersburg strikers, visited the
United States IN 1901 and toured New
York In company with A guide and
then went on to Boston as a delegate
to the fifEeth anniversary celebration
OF tie Young Mems Christian associa-
ton. says the New York American.
Those who met him in Boston de-
scribe him as a very energetic person,
who did not look more than forty years
old. whereas be is nearly sixty-fve.
His family name is Agathon. but for
political reasons he has changed that
to Gopon.
In both New York and in Boston the
priest took a lively interest in police,
educational and political methods. He
visited and examined every institution
of a public character that he could,
and since his return to Russia lie has
based much Of his writings on what he
| observed here
The man who has perhaps come into
closest contact with Father Gopon Il
| Christian Brinton, an art critic of New
York, who has spent many years IN
Russia and has known Father Gopon
| for more than ten years.
"The priest is a peasant" said MIR.
Brinton. HE comes from the peas
antry Of Poltaya, and in his thoughts
and feelings he is at one with the
workingmen who are now lighting for
their liberties.
Like Witte he was herder OF pigs
| and geese when he was a child, and,
like White, he has become leader OF
men by sheer force of character. His
origin is obscure His people were poor
plain peasants. who gave their all 70
l give him good education, and In re
| turn he has given his mighty intellec
tual powers to the people Of his class
| The workingmen worship him. His
word is law among them.
aFrom his earliest youth he has beer
a student of the social and economic
conditions surrounding the poorer class
es Of the Russian empire. He went t
good schools in poltava and finally Oh
tanned bis entrance at one Of the semi
naries, where he studied for the priest
hood. But by that tiihe his strong an
liberal views had taken root, and hi
utterances We're Of such liberal char
aeter that be was compelled to leay'
the seminary before graduation. B,
clever diplomacy, Of which he is d mas
ter, by the way, he managed TO Obtain
priestly orders, though the Russian
church would never. grant him pas
torate.
$50 be has gone from town to tow
and from province to province preach
ing to congregations that always wei
come him with delight and reverence
In this manner he has been able +
reach far larger audience than b
could have done had he been paste
in simple country community.
sThe result has been that PRACTICAL
all Russia knows the man and believe
in him. or course the official class hat
and fear him, but they do not despis
him, for they know his power with th
people. That is why he has never bee
I arrested and exiIed. But for his powe
with the peasantry md the workin
! people he would have Tong since rotte
e in Siberia
Il have never seen more impressiy
figure III the pulpit than this Russia
priest He is not tall. but he is a pow
2 erfully built. deep chested massiv
: man. His voice is very deep, and whe
lie Is wrought 20 fervos il rings wit