The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-27
TALKS Of RUSSIA
AND ITS RELIGION
c. 0. Harris Occupies Pulpit at
the First Baptist
Church.
GREAT NATION IS STILL
LIVING in DARK AGES
So Called Religion Merely Form
of Worship, and Purely
Mechanical.

C., 0. Harris occupied the pulpit Of
the First Baptist church Sunday morn
ing in place of the pastor, Rev. d. A.
Brown, who is out of the city. The
subject of Mr., Harris's discourse was
'Russia and Its Religion The sub
much as Russia is before the eyes of
the entire world at this time as she
never has been before, and also az the
speaker has travelled extensively In that
country aud has made study of the
country and its people. Mr.. Harris
spoke IN part as follows:
''lt is customary to speak of Russia
as a Christian nation, inasmuch as it is
not pagan one, possessing az it does
a form of worship that serves as a re-
hgion to its people and through devious
channels recognizes the existence of
Supreme Being, and His Son, Jesus
Christ.
'FIn order TO form any sort of an
idea regarding Russia and its so-called
religion, one must recognize the unde-
nlable fact that as compared with the
living in the dark ages of super
stition and mysticism, with blind ad
herence to the strange customs and
practices of the early centuries.
What Religion Lacks.
Lacking as it does the essential
and refining influences of education
and enlightenment from the standpoint
of the recognized standards, as inter
preted by other more civilized nations,
its growth spiritually. as we'll as in
tellectually, has been slow towards that
high goal that has characterized many
of the great nations of the world.
Its people, except for certain pro.
portion, which may perhaps be called
an educated class, inasmuch as they
have attended some educational institu-,
tion. are largely uneducated.
"The muJick, or peasant class, which
comprises the larger proportion OF Rus
STA, is llliterate and dense to greater
degree than that of any other nation.
excepting, perhaps, the far-distant Fiji
islander or some equally savage nation.
Reared as they are in an atmos-
pbere Of illiteracy and lacking as they
do the fundamental refining influences
that contribute largely to one s condi.
ton, both spiritually and mentally,
namely cleanliness, pleasant surround
lngs, social intercourse, temperance.
education and refinement, is it any
wonder that, deprived as they are OF all
of these blessings OF modern civiliza-
ton. that their worship is a mere mat
ter Of form. n mere mechanical action
on their part'
Pertinent Question.
'fThe question often comes 10 ones
mind; Are the Russians really Chris
tlans2' in the general accordance of
the term. Are the superstitions. be
lIets and almost pagan-like rites of
the mighty army of worshlpers among
the peasant class. which constitutes the
so-calJed religious class of Russia, really
deserving of the name of Christianity? /? |
Many Russians hold that Russia is |
neither Christian or religious. and glory !
in that fact on behalf of their nation. !
They are not disposed TO attach any |
value to the question of beng known |
as Christian nation. AS one writer |
puts it: There have been churches in
Russia. but no religion. unless we un-
derstand under this name the original |
polytbeism. The church gradually did |
away with that, but never substituted |
anything in its place The people, left |
without anything 70 supply their needs. |
we're ready TO grasp any superstition
or any wild freak
residence in Russia for a few
years Will convince the most unbiased
believer III the religion of Russia that
as a fact there is no religion worthy
OF the name so far as the Orthodox
church is concerned. While it is called
religion, 1T is merely form of wor-
ship, purely mechanical in its observ-
ances, pagan-like in its rites and cere,
monies, relying upon the ignorance of
the lower classes for its vitality, and
contrary to the blessed teachings of the
Holy Scriptures. Its churches and
ceremonies are in direct violation of
the Holy Writ, as taught in the Ten
Commandments.