The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-12-02
IS THE MOST POWER
Full NAN IN RUSSIA
An Adviser of the Gar Who Has Ex-
traOrdinary Influence.

BERLIN, Nov 26.-Perhaps the
most powerful man in Russia at
the present moment is Rector The
ophan, of the Ecclesiastical Acad-
envy in St. Petersburg, known pop
ularly as the monk of the Car. "
Theophan, a professor Of theology,
IS, comparatively speaking, a
young man, tall of stature with
piercing black eyes. whose Charac-
ter is strongly impregnated with
mysticism. Up to the present he
has not come prominently before
the public, but owing to the extra
ordinary influence that he yields
over the Gar, he has become the
centre of a circle of fawning cour-
tiers and syCophants
About a year ago Theophan was
surprised to receive an invitation
from Grand Duke Peter NicChala-
witch, with whom he was aCquaint-
ed through Prince Putiatkin, to be
presented to the Gar, From that
moment a new lite commenced for
the monk, who found in the weak
Gar an enthusiastic disciple.
The Gar was charmed with the
quiet and decided manner of the
young man and the conversation
turned, during the course of many
subsequent visits, from religion to
belief, from belief to miracles, and
rom miracles to mysticism, a sub
jeCt for which the Gar has shown
penchant of late years.
At first Theophan only visited
the Gar when he was summoned,
but he soon received the permis-
sion to 60 in and out of the I'M
perial Palaces when ever he desir-
ed. The encourage of the Car
soon discovered that Theophan
had developed into a parsonage in
whom the Gar placed implicit
confidence, and with whom he fire.
quently discussed matters, towards
which he manifested great reserve
when with his ministers.
At first only private matters
formed the gist of their conversa-
tions but>Itstc CT -si4~-thc monk was
Consulted concerning political af-
fairs and was able to obtain favors
that the Gar even refused his
own mother.
Thus, some time ago the Gar
dismissed Prince Obolenski,
youthful playmate, from the post
as chief Of his Cabinet. This
spelled ruined to the Prince, who
possesses no means. Owing to the
intervention of the monk the Car
arranged that his salary of 10000
rubles be paid till the prince dies,
although he had refused the re-
quest of his mother to pension the
Prince. The Gar has further
made prinCely gifts, lately for &c
clesiastical and charitable pur-
poses, solely at the instigation of
Monk Theophan
The closest bond existing be
tween the Monk and the Gar is
that OF mysticism That the Gar
is extremely accessible to such in
huence can be amply proved by
the case Of Monseigneur Philippe
who played such an important role
at Zaraskoie Selo at the beginning
of the century, and who was dis
missed from the court, laden with
n dllNI ICllllCl / SIN Z lldu
severely demonstrated with the
Gar concerning the influence that
the Monseigneur exerted in poll
tics.
Grand Duke Peter and Princess
Militia Nikolajevna are RESPONSE
bic for the introduction of this
gentleman with his seances and
apparitions to the Russian court.
The extraordinary power that
the Gear Monk" has gained over
Emperor Nicholas has just been
evidenced anew by the fact that,
whereas all ecclesiastics were de-
barred from being present at the
laying of the foundation stone of
the new regimental chapel at Ear
aSkOie Selo. two DAYS before the