The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-22
APOSTOLIC CONTROL
MAY AGAIN REIGN
Emperor Nicholas Has Taken
important Step
MEANS SECULAR DOWNFALL
Holy Synod Reports on Reform Meas
ures Necessary and Emperor Now
Awaits Propltious Time for
Calling Council.

ST. Petersburg, January 2.-(Corre-
spondence of the Associated Press.)-The
invitation of Emperor Nicholas to the
Metropolitan Antonius. president of the
Holy Synod, to convene an extraordinary
council to consider reforms in the organ
ization of the original church, the first
conference of the kind being the patri-
archaic of Nixon in 1915, and the en-
peror's determination to call 1t, may sig
nifty the restoration of the apostolic con-
troll of the Russian Greek church. and
the downfall of the secular authority
and bureaucratic restrictions brought
about by NJ. Pobiedonestseff.
The discussion of the desirability of
changes in the church government of
Russia was originally begun in a special
meeting of the committee of ministers
and department presidents of the council
OF state. But having been informed of
It, his majesty decided that this par
ticular question did not belong to the
category of affairs to be discussed by an
especial committee, but should be de-
cided exclusively by the Holy Synod.
Therefore the resolution written in the
emperors own hand was.
Erase the question from the list of
the council. and submit it to the con-
sideration of the Holy Synod"
Report on Church Reform.
In accordance with the emperor's wishes
the Holy Synod then, during its sessions
last March, prepared a report concern
ing church reform which was submitted
for the emperor's consideration.
This report recites the reforms which
are first necessary in the local councils of
the bishops of the various church dis
tricts According to this plan. the pa
triarch, or metropolitan, should be the
controlling head of the council of bish-
ops, and should be responsible for them,
while they in turn accept responsibility
for the districts from which they are
appointed, and this council of bishops,
beaded by tile Metropolitan. invested
with certain governing powers. should
be the basic form of church rule.
According to this report the Holy Synod
proposes:
Holy Synod Has Proposition.
To have the synod consist Of permanent
members, together with the members in
vited by turn from among the prelates of
the Russian church, and to have 1t head
ed by a patriarch for the glory of the
country, granting to him all the canon
ical rights of a local metropolitan, to
call in Moscow by order of your Inn
perial majesty local council of all
the parochial bishops of the orthodox
church in Russia, or of their representa-
tives for the discussion of the following
questions:
The division of Russian divisions to
be governed by metropolitans; the re-ex-
animation of the existing organs of pa
rochial government and their reform In
accordance with the basis of the general
councils; the introduction of better order
In the parishes with regard to moral and
religious conditions; the better administra-
tion of charities and places of instruc-
ton; the perfeeting of ecclesiastical
schools; the examination of laws under
which the church has acquired property:
the granting to the higher representatives
of the church hierarchy of the right to
take part in the sessions of the council
of state, and the committee of ministers
in all the cases which concern the inter
ests of the church and the granting to
the priests of the right to take part In
the local city and village councils.
Emperor Nicholas returned this report
to the holy synod on March 81, with the
following In his own hand;
Il deem IL unwise to accomplish at the
present restless time such an important
work as the calling of local council.
Comfortable to the ancient examples
of the orthodox Emperors. 1 propose at
a propitious time to set this great work
In motion and to call council of the
church of all the Russias for the purpose
of canonical discussion of the objects
of faith and of the church rule"
-. Awaiting the Propitious Time. -.
Awaiting this ''propitious time" which
reports now say win be in the autumn,
the then chief procurator, M. Pobiedonest-
self sent a communication to the holy
synod setting forth the matter In detail
and expressing by implication his well
known antagonistic views.
This recalls the fact that when the
venerable procurator found be could not
command a majority of the synod, much
less church council, he retired from the
field beaten. His aide, Stabler. tried to
create the impression that M. Pobiedonest-
self himself favored the council, but the
procurator was really so chagrined that
at the time 1t was reported he would re-
sign. which he actually did on October 81,
being succeeded by Prince Alexis Obolen-
sky on November 8.