Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-11
Fz<SRESS IN RUSSIA
Greater Liberty is Allowed Subjects in
Natter Of Religion and Practices
ORTHODOX NO LONGER sOUNDTo cHURCt
Dissent gresds Have Legal Rights fSr
First Time in History,
PROMISE OF LAST SPRING IS REDEEMED
stOlypin Completes Act Set on Foot By
Premier Witts.
NEXT OUNA IS TO ASSEMBLE IN MARCH
Government Has Revolutionary Party
Under Control and VIII Turn Its
Attention TO other Important
Affairs.

Under Control and VIII Turn Its
Attention to other Important
Anairs.
ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. lO.-Litue by
little the new Russia is superseding the
old. As yet, perhaps, not very perceptibly'
for the process, though rapid, is huul, so
that the results have an air of PATCHWORK
about them. But the progress is being
surely made Take, for instance, the matter
Of creeds and churches. The hundred and
one rules and regulations which obliged the
cars subjects to save their souls by law
or else run the risk of damnation in the
next life and outlawry in this were solemnly
done away with at Easter last year. when
Count Witte was premier. 1t constituted
that statesman's Easter gift 10 the
churches. Yet strange to say the imperial
ukase which embodied it created but a
/ fleeting Impression. People were scepucaL
! To appreciate what is being done, how
ever one should have an idea OF the state
of things, which hitherto prevailed There
was but one religion professed by the state
| in Russia and all rights and privileges,
human and divine. were focused in that
| If you once belonged to it-no matter
whether you had Joined it deliberately or
! had been kidnapped or driven into the foid
you could never lawfully leave it again.
Out OF orthodoxy there was no redemption
except Through illegality. \ man who fell
away from the only true chuSch was liable
to be tried and punished; clergyman OF
another church, who admitted him into the
community was a criminal.
Eject on Children.
II the apostate's children were educated
not
and had to pass officially for members of
the Orthodox faith. while he himself could
be punished with imprisonment for sixteen
months According to law, every member
of a Christian church must take the sacra-
ment of communion at least once a year.
and obtain a written certificate that he
done so. without this curious document,
which was often bought for a triie a man
could not legally give evidence on oath or
exercise certain. other civic function
Again. sectarians who married according
to the rites of their own church, and had
children, forfeited all their civil rights.
Their wives were treated as concubines,
their children as illegitimate, and for gem
erations and generations millions Of the
czar's subject have thus been trying to
be loyal though outlawed. Then. as to their
churches and temples. With few exceptions
the Sectarians were at the mercy of greedy
bureaucrats who could authorize and for
bid the building of places of worship, and
welded their power to enrich themselves.
Foreigners visiting Odessa often ask why
the Roman Catholic cathedral there is still
unfinished, and are surprise to learn that it
was because the authorities refused to let
it be higher and more imposing than the
Orthodox cathedral Therefore the church
had 70 be left as IL is.
Plan of stOIypin.
NJ Stolypin has now elaborated a bill
which will realize, and in ono or two points
develop, the liberal principles laid down
in the imperial ukase Of Easter Sunday last
year. All that the founders of new reliyi-
Gus community are required to do is to pre-
sent a declaration to the provincial board,
to mention the sect 20 which they belong.
to determine the region in which that sect
intends to work and the place where its
church stands or is to be built The provin-
cial board having seen that the legal forms
are observed, shall have no choice but
comply with the demand of the petitioners.
The lines on which the mooted questions
of solemnizing marriages are solved are
more liberal even that those of England,
where none but members of the established
church are exempt from the obligation of
having a representative of the state present
r at their marriage The registering Of mar
riages. births and death will now be done
, by the religious community itself, instead
of the police as was hitherto the practice
Great importance is attached by the press
to an imperial ukase issued, dealing with
reforms for all peasant save Poles and
Jews The ukase abolishes-theOreticall
, at any rate-the authority Of the communes
over tho peasants, which followed thelI
emancipation from the landlords,
I EDocial courts law for the npa "a n h
are also abolished. as well a communal
responsibility for the payment of govern.
ment taxes. Peasants are permitted 10 gc
from one commune to another without hav,
70 ing to obtain permission Of the authorities
C They are also permitted to start various in,
z dustres.
Ukase Pacihes People.
NJ. Stolypin, the premier says that tn,
= | nlkasc viii eNercise a nacifrlna inannnc,