Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-30
The Social and Religious Life
Touched Upon In Strong Sun
day Night Lecture
cHURcH's CAPACITY TAXED
erinneIl College Professor Speaks
Most Interestingly at Congregational
church-Mob Uprsinss in Russia,
He Says, Are NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Undergone by Peasantry.

An audience SO large that every pew
in the Congregational church was filled
and chairs were placed in the aisles,
assembled Sunday night to hear most
interesting address, given by DIR. E. A.
Steiner, of Grinnell College, on the So
cial and religious problems in Russia
today. Owing to his having lived and
studied the conditions in Russia, Rev.
DR.. Steiner is AN authority on that sub
ject and this fact, added to the firmly
established popularity and intensely
earnest manner of speaking upon any
subject, drew the closest attention of
his hearers. And in spite of all, as the
speaker said, while we strive to main-
tain a neutral attitude, there is a
strong human love of fight, and en-
thusiasm must break loose, especially
when the little dog whips the larger
one, as the Japs seem to be doing with
the great bear. His remarks touched
only slightly upon the war, however.
Taking as his text the Bible verse.
And We shall know the truth and the
truth shall make you free" John 1892,
he gave clear and convincing word
picture Of why revolution in Russia
among the peasants and lower classes
lis inevitable. Tracing Russian history
from the eleventh century, when it
really began, he illustrated how the
power of the little father" or car over
his people became the same practically
that the father has over his family in
that country. Just as the children in
the family are completely in the power
and disposal of their parent, whose
word is law, SO the peasant class be-
came related, thru years of ignorance
and toll, in the same way to their
country's rulers. He described the ter
rible privations in Russia, almost be-
yond the comprehension of people USED
to the prosperity of this country, and
described their life as being nothing
less than slavery. The vast wealth of
the country, he said, was in the hands
Of the few, and hunger is an irresist-
ible motive for mob uprisings, also
that the millions are now actually SUI
fering hunger.
DIR. Steiner traced the first effects of
the Christian religion upon the peas
ants. OF one mans conviction and OF
wonderful endurance to take UP the
new faith, which means all in all TO
their darkened minds. DR.. Steiner told
of how these men, upon learning that
they must love their enemies, refused
to go into the army to fight and Kill,
of how they were drafted into 1t and
even sent into Siberia, all without
effect. He praised the efforts OF the
young religious enthusiast Father Gou-
pom, a prominent figure iHthe present
uprising, and thought it a pity there
were not more leaders like him TO en-
tighten the people, who have been kept
purposely ignorant, intellectually, re-
ligiously and every other way, by the
INSCRIPTIONS, grasping priests, ana the
authorities over them. He contrasted
their dark ignorance and bondage with
our own fair America, leader among
nations, and said that never until she
threw off the the dark blight could
Russia become truly great. But there
Is danger in our own republic, the
speaker said, and scored severely the
political corruption which Is debasing
our government. He made a powerful
plea for cleaner, freer life, that we
might prove how a government run by
the people themselves can be a sue
cess DR.. Steiner said that those upon
whom the present war falls the heav-
lest were the lower classes, who want
peace, and gave pitiable illustrations
of the suffering which results. He
asked the question of what was the
value of commercial supremacy or
worldly power, compared with the in
finite value Of human souls He con-
siders a revolution against the pre-
vailing intolerable conditions in Rus
STA as inevitable but says it may not
be successful for twenty-five years or
more, mainly because of the uneven
balance between the classes pitted
against one another
DR.. Steiner also preached a strong
sermon to a large audience at the
Congregational church in the morning.
At that time he made a most eloquent
plea for the simple life, showing how
our lives are llampered by the unneces-
sary litter with which we cucumber
them.