The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-02-08
RUSSIAN cArEcHIsM.

How MuEcOvite Children Are laugnI 10
Revere the Car as Gods viceregent.
The Rev. J. Stewart Smith. pastor OF
ST. Mary's Episcopal church In Kansas
City, Mo-. has a copy Of the catechism
taught in all the schools Of Russia and
Poland, and after reading what the
cars subjects learn as children their
temerty in rebelling against Nicholas
may be the better understood says the
Kansas City Times. According TO this
creed, not only are they resisting the
head OF the Russian government but
they are taking up arms against tic
representative OF God OH earth, for
which they shall suffer dire and eternal
punishment.
Father Smith secured the copy Of the
catechism from Polish priest who
had escaped from Siberia. and Father
Smith was enjoined to the strlctest Sc
crecy as to the source Of his Informal
ton, the priest fearing the vengeance
Of the Russian government upon his
relatives in Poland.
The first question in the catechism
asks in what light the authority Of the
car is to be considered with reference
to the spirit Of Christianity The ar
swer Is as follows.
AS proceeding direct from God
The second question and answer
which bear upon the first, are:
How is this proved by the nature q
things2
| II il the win Of God that men live III
! society: hence the various relations thai
| constitute society. which for It's better Sc.
| curity is divided into parts called nations
I The government of these ts intrusted 70 q
| prince. king Or emperor. or, ~ Other
words, to d supreme ruler. We see, then
that as man exists In conformity to tbs
will Of God society emanates from tbs
divine viii, and more especially the 81
| preme power and authority Of our lore
and master. the czar
The trainers Of the catechism seem K
have had IN mind the prevention d
! some such uprising as that now Il
progress in st. Petersburg when the.
wrote these passages for the youth q
the nation to learn:
How are irreverence and inndelity 4
the emperor to be considered IN referene
to God2
AS the most heinous sin. the mos
ffightful crininaIity.
Does religion. then. forbid Us to rebe
ana overthrow the government Of the en-
peror?
We are interdicted from doing 50 at a.
times and under al circumstances.
The absolute subservience expectei
Of his subjects by the czar Is shown i
the answer to a question as to whethe
or not the service Of the emperor /
obligatory. The answer it:
Absolutely so. we should. II required
sacrifice ourselves IN compliance with al
will. both III civil and military capacity
and in whatever manner he deems ez
pedient
The supposed divine nature Of th
car Is emphasized IN the answer to
question concerning the "supernatura
revealed motives" for the worship 0
the emperor The answer to the qnes
ton ia:
The supernatural revealed motives ar
that the emperor is the vicegereft an
minister OF God. 20 execute the divin
commands; and. consequently, disobed
enee to the emperor is disobedienee
God himself that God win reward y
; In the world TO come for the worship an
Z obedience we render the emperor an
/ punish us severely TO all eternity shoul
: we disobey and neglect to worship hin
Moreover. God commands Us 70 love an
, obey from She in1nost recesses Of tn
heart every authority, and particular
: the emperor. not from worldly considers
lions. but from apprehension Of the fini
judgment.
The final paragraph Of the catechisl
! reads:
Such Is the doctrine Of the church, cor
irmed By practice as 70 the worshi
and fidelity due to the omnipotent en-
peror az Russia. the minister and vieeg'
rent OF God