Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-27
ON RUSSIA AND
ITS RELIGION
Subject Treated on Yesterday at
The First Baptist
Church.
AN INTERESTING ADDRESS,
{, %. Harris says That Nation Com.
pared With OTHERS I, sull Living
In the DARK Ages

c. o. Harris. formerly general mama
ger OF the Independent Telephone COM
pany OF this city read an able paper
yesterday morning. IN tAe First Bay
list church on Russia and Its Reh-
gion." The speaker said iu pant.
1T is customary TO speak OF Russia
as Christian nation, inasmuch as ii is
not pagan one, possessing as 1t does
a form OF worship that serves as a re-
ligion to It's people and through devious
channels recognizes the existence OF a
Supreme Being, and His Son, Jesus
Christ. In Order TO form any sort Of
an idea regarding Russia and It's So
called religion, one must recognize the
undeniable fact that as compared with
the other nations Of the world IL is still
living I'm the dark ages of superstition
ana mysticism, with blind adherenc.
To the strange customs and practises Of
tho early centuries.
Lacking az II does the essential and
refining influences Of education and en-
lightenment from the standpoint OF the
recognized standards, as Interpreted by
other more civilized nations. its growth
spiritually. as well as intellectually,
has been slow towards that high goal
that has characterized many OF the ma
tiops uf the world. Its people, except
fC certain proportion, which may
perhaps be- called an educated class, in
dsmuch as they have attended some
educational institution, are largely un-
educated. The mujik, OF peasant class,
which comprises the larger proportion
of Russia, Is illIterate and dense TO a
greater degree than that OF any other
nation. excepting perhaps the iar-dis-
tant FIJI islanders OF some equally saw
age nation. Reared as they are In an
atmosphere OF nliteracy and lacking as
they do the fundamental refining in
huences that contribute largely to ones
condition both spiritually and mental
~. namely cleanliness, pleasant sur
roundings. social intercourse temper
sncc, education and refinement is It
any wonder that, deprived as they are
OF an Of these blessings Of modern civ
ilization. that their worship Is a mere
matter Of form. a mere mechanical ac-
ton on their part?
THE question often comes 10 ones
mind Are the Russians really Chris
tiane On ,he general acceptance Of
the term. Are the superstitions, be-
iefs and almost pagau-like rites OF
the mighty army Of worshipers among
the peasant class, which constitutes the
so-calltd religious class Of Russia,
really deserving Of the name Of Chris
tians? Many Russians hold that RUS
sia Is neither Christian or religious,
aud glory IN that fact ON behalf OF
their nation. They are not disposed
g. attach any value to the question OF
being known as a Christian nation. As
one writer puts Il. There have been
churches I'm Russia but no religion,
unless We understand under this name
the original po'ytheism. The church
gradually ala away with that, but
never Substltut "a anything IN lis place.
The people. left without anything 10
supply their needs were ready 10 grasp
any superstition or any Wild freak. \
residence in Russia for a few years
viii convince the most unbiased believe
on IN the religion Of Russia, that as a
fact there H. no religion worthy Of the
name 50 far as the orthodox church Is
concerned While Il is called religion.
II Is merely a CORN 81 worship purely
mechanical On Us obseryanceS, pagan
like In IT'S rites and ceremonies, rely
ing upon the ignorance Of the lower
classes for ifs vitality. and contrary
TO the blessed teachings of the Holy
Scriptures It's churches and ceremonies
are IN direct violation OF the Holy
Writ. as taught in the Ten Command
mcntS