Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1905-03-02
RUSSIAN CATECHIsM.
How Muscovite Children Are
Taught to Revere Their Ruler.
THE GEAR GODS vIoEGERENT.

Rebellion Against the Emperor In
Rebellion Against God and VIII Ne
EternalIy Punished, According TO
the Russian Creed-servIce to the
Car Considered Absolutely Obli-
gatOry.
The Rev. ]. Stewart Smith, pastor of
St Mary's Episcopal church in Kansas
City, No., has copy of the catechism
taught in all the schools of Russia and
Poland, and after reading what the
cars subjects learn as children their
temerity 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 the
representative of God on earth, for
which they shall suffer dire and eternal
punishment
Father Smith secured the copy OF the
catechism from a Polish priest who
had escaped from Siberia, and Father
Smith was enjoined to the strictest Sc
crecy as to the source of his informa-
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 an
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 OF
things7
1t is the will of God that men live In
society; hence the various relations that
constitute society, which for Its better Sc
curity is divided into parts called nations.
The government OF these is intrusted to q
prince king or emperor, or, In other
words, to a supreme ruler. We see, then,
that as man exists In conformity to the
will of God society emanates from the
divine will, and more especially the SUI
preme power and authority Of cur lord
and master, the car.
The trainers OF the catechism seem to
have had in mind the prevention of
some such uprising as that now In
progress in St Petersburg when they
wrote these passages for the youth Of
the nation to learn:
How are irreverence and iniidelity to
the emperor to be considered in reference
to God?
AS the most heinous sin, the most
frightful eriminality.
ali A. aR~~I
and overthrow the government of the en-
peror?
We are tnterdicted from doing SO at all
times and under all circumstances.
The absolute subservience expected
of his subjects by the car is shown in
the answer to question as to whether
or not the service of the emperor is
obligatory. The answer 1t:
Absolutely so. We should, X required,
sacrifice ourselves in compliance with his
will, both in a civil and military capacity,
and In whatever manner he deems ox-
pedient
The supposed divine nature OF the
car Is emphasized in the answer to q
question concerning the Supernatural
revealed motives" for the worship Of
SAO C2hPOiVAs AAC 0uSWCI W IuC 4uCS-
ton is
The supernatural revealed motives are
that the emperor is the vicegerent and
minister of God. to execute the divine
commands; and, consequently, disobedi-
ence to the emperor is disobedience to
God himself; that God win reward us
In the world to come for the worship and
obedience we render the emperor and
punish as severely to all eternity should
we disobey and neglect to worship him.
Moreover, God commands us to love and
obey from the Utmost recesses of the
heart every authority, and particularly
the emperor. not from worldly considera-
tons, but from apprehension of the final
judgment
The final paragraph of the catechism
reads:
Such is the doctrine Of the church. con-
hrmed by practice, as to the worship
ana fidelity due to the omnipotent en-
peror OF Russia, the minister and vicege-
rent Of God.