Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

for the end of the world, In these pro-
ductions. written in gutter-press language
/ interspersed with scriptural texts. Father
Johns name is freely used. He is the
oniy- person who can save sinners from
hell fire. The orthodox clergy who dis
liked John even in his best days, are de-
scribed and rallied at as frauds. thieves
and heretics who will surely perish. Fa
Their John is to leave the earth in cloud
of glory. He will take only 144,O 600 OF
the blessed with him. because st. Peter
| says there is no room in heaven for
more. All who wish to belong to this
number must therefore be quick, sell all
they have and give their money to the
Johannites SO that they may be enrolled.
| Though their leaders prophecy that the
end of the world would come in May
| 1909 turned out to be false this new
declaration. which fixed the date as Jan.
uary l., 1908 new style). for the terrible
event. resulted in golden harvest for
the "Johannites.' Thousands OF poor
people have sold all they had and given
them>the proceeds. Doubtless. though the
awful date has passed without misbap.
the number of dupes will only increase
The Johannites have always an explana-
ton ready. Father John OF Cronstadt.
seeing the sinners were not ready inter-
ceded for them and obtained a prolonga-
ton OF the world that more might repent
There is no easier dupe than the Rus
sian peasant or artisan. Unless the So
lieve anything. and the socialists have by
no means penetrated throughout the vast
Russian empire. The Johannites, there
fore. increase and grow richer every day.
Their proceedings have grown so scan
dalous that the police have been obliged
to interfere and close their refugees"
as their places of worship are called, in
many towns They celebrate their rites
by all kinds of orgies They abduct young
girls and boys for immoral purposes. 1t
g Sai hai &c wi M
supposed to be converts for men and
women. are nothing less than hotbeds OF
immortality. where the 'Johannites"
tempt the young people of the neighbor-
ence pay for the introduction to these
places and for initiation in the BLACK
magic" that is pract.ced there.
To understand the mixture Of religious
fanaticism and viciousness that is rife
among the "Johannites'' one must bear
in mind that Russian peasants are a very
mystically inclined we'll a very
sensuous people. This is why. under the
pretense Of religion. the post terrible
abuses are practiced not only among
the "Johannites." but among many other
sects. which. having been formed with
the purest possible intentions, rapidly de-
cline into bands of visionary and vicious
fanatics.
have adopted is that of telling the peas
ants that all children who are born now
are little devils. anti-Christs, who must
be stamped out Immediately after birth.
1t is easy to see how such a theory en-
courages looseness of morals among their
followers. and it was doubtless invented
as an excuse for the orgies which take
place in the refugees" Added to this.
obscene literature of the worst kind is
scattered broadcast by them. Several
cases have lately occurred in which chill
dreh born delicate and developing slowly
have been taken out into the fields or
forests at the instigaton of the "Johan-
mites and stoned to death among the
wild shrieks and dances of the murderers
Anti-Semitism, always an easy passion
to infiame Russian hearts. is encouraged
by them to an alarming extent. This 10
why the author of THE Black Ravens"
brought the Union of the Russian Peo-
Pile" into his play. in which he plainly
hints that they and the orthodox clergy
tacirly encourage the "Johannites.
In the province of Perm the sect has be-
come so strong and numerous and demon
allied the people TO such an extent that
the Bishop of Perm telegraphed TO Father
John to demonstrate with them. The
ancient seer replied by vehemently re-
pudiating any connection with the ''Jo-
hannites'' of the Perm province. There
is no doubt that he knows little of these
orgies. and even II he did he Is powerless
to stop them. The police. hand in glove
with the Union of the Russian People"
whose object seems to be the utter de-
mora lizaton of the masses. are loath to
interfere. The orthodox clergy are too
lazy to do so. Therefore. the Johann
ties" in spite of the prophecies which do
not come true, gather force and infiu
ence daily while the duma Is too busy
discussing the details of a mythical con-
stitution to pay attention to the wide.
spread decentralization which results from
their pernicious activity.