New-York tribune., 1909-01-03

dropsy and intestinal trouble. and MS death oc-
casioned little surprise. He was in his otshtieth
year.
Ivan Ilyitch Sergier-that was his true name
archpriest Of the Cathedral Of 81 Andrew il C~ou-
stadt- fled place in the hearts and iraaEnations
of the Russian people that has no counterpart in
the modern civilized world Throughout the
pire. from peasant to Emperor, and even beyond
It's borders, he was regarded as a saint Mracu-
lous powers were attributed TO him Many even
cid not balk at giving him credit for being able
raise the dead.
Startling indeed the tales of his alleged power
OF prophecy. It is said that he made custom Of
writing 10 the Gar, predicting national events
The Russo-Jspanese War is believed TO have been
foreshadowed by Father John when he said the
Russian people would walk blood their pos
sessions The revolutionary railroad strike in
1904 he also predicted in fgurative language. and
the boodshed and disturbances that followed IN
Russia during the war In Asia.
Countless pilgrims focked TO Cronstadt he
cured by the archprtest and to be absolved from
their sins. In thousands Of churches his picture
displayed with those Of Christ and OF the Vir-
gin Mary. He often travelled to distant Parts of
the country al the request of needy suppllants.
In 1881 he founded an industrial home in Cron-
stadt which became noted for its good works He
personally superintendent the application Of the
thank offerings which poured in -ast into his
hands, frequently with a tendency to spontaneous
and unreasoring benevolenCe. And all this vas but
the Towering Of the spirit manifested In MS first
sermon the burden of which that love and
prayer together conquered all things.
( Father Johns life followed a course OF golden
mean unusual IN leaders Of his type He COM
manded untold wealth. Yet was nothing of the
voluptuary. On the other hand there was in his
veins no trace Of the fanatic He secularzed re-
igion, took wife, and mingled freely in the
common life Of the people. Yet he was inno-
vator or founder Of sect. On the contrary.
while opposing the Russian Church organ
iZation at times. he orthodox Of the orthodox,
a religious and political reaCtionary. approaching
bigotry n his attitude toward his ChUrch's cere-
monies, He the author Of six volumes Of ser
and religious works OF controversial
nature. His best known controversy was with
Count ToIstoy. whom he hated cordially and
fought consistently The followers Of To.stoy he
characterized as good od-for-nothlng people and
goddess anarchists"
His faith. he says. was founded on an incident
of his childhood. He was the son Of a poor sexton
of little church OF Sursk, north of Archangei,
the northerrnost city OF Russia. In this atmos-
phere he developed sucn religious precocity that
the age Of nine years he sent to the Theo-
logical Seminary. where he seemed 10 have en-
countered period Of intellectual duIuess. Finally
he determined to pray a mind. He spent
entire night his knees Suddenly. he de-
cIared. there fell upon him astonishing mental
/ Illumination and theuceforth he led his class lie
completed his studies At the seminary AT St Peters
burg the age Of twenty-s.X years, and went I'M
mediate!y Croustadt, married the daughter Of
life
IN spite or perhaps because ot his reputation foI
/ holiness he critics. He accused
OF dverting 10 his own funds given him FOR
charity and allowing himself TO Re exploited fOI
the gain Of others The sect Of Johsnnires claimed
him as q founder. and many false leaders arose
whom he denounced in the later years ~ his ln4
/ Weird stories were told OF his patronage 4 Ma
trona who was greeted ~ the poQulace the
/ mother Of God" Father John. hovverc-, en-
phatically denied that she herself made any such
claim.
He was often summoned ny the late Car. In
1891 when called 10 pray st the dcataheL % tho
Grand Duchess Paul, Il was reported that he
anEered the Gar by asking the Grand Duchess
Ilizaheh whether her conversion 70 the Creek faith
/ was sincere. The Gar toId him mind his uUn
! business. That IS what I am doing retoEted
J Father John undaunted. God. whose humble
servant am, demands that this question be an
. swered."
Nevertheless. when the Car himself lay dying
in the Crimea. Father John called across the
empire in an imperial express. Father John later
/ had a newspaper squabbIe 10 who had admin
stered the last sacrament 70 Alexander. At any
rate Father John asserted that the monarch whom
he had so long advised and deAed, dice In his
arms.
4 pilgrimage Of the present Empress 70 the
shrine Of St Seraphin which among DigIs Rus
SLAMS was believed 10 have been responsible for
the bIrtn OF the desired heir 10 the throne, was
! undertaken on Father Johns advice