Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-23
Meetings Significant, Though Under
Police Surveillance,
EAR ACCEPTS LOYAL GREETING
Russian Baptists Greatly Encouraged
by Late Events,
STORY FROM CONVENT
Count TOIstoi Refuses for Second Time
n Tender of the Nobel Peace
PriHe--Rusaian AerOnauts
Make n Great Record.
RY GNoRGn FRAsrR.

ST. PETERSBURG. Oct. 22.-(specisl 20
The Bee )-Events are happening In Russia
that are OF more than usual interest to the
world beyond its borders. While Finland
Is compelled to acquiesce I'm the practical
obliteradon OF its political independence,
and there Is no relation In the laws that
prohibit active propaganda in the interest
Of religious liberty as 1t is understood by
the bureaucracy OF RUSSIA, the assembly
of delegates from five different Baptist
unions in ST. Petersburg, and the public
discussion by these delegates of a proposal
for their federaton-and all this with the
approval OF the government and, what Is
more suggestive. the police-consttutes one
OF those paradoxes that compels one to be-
lieve that even in Russia the DoWars OF
reaction are not mighty enough to stop the
wheels OF progress.
1t is true that the assembly referred to
is guarded within and without by police
men, notebook in hand, and ready, II any
words should fall from the speakers lips
that savors OF doctrine dangerous to the
safety and well-being Of the state, to forth
with close the deliberations.
Tenor of the Meetings.
But, nevertheless, the meetings are being
held; that is the significant fact, and the
car has accepted a resolution OF loyal
greeting from the men who have again
and again suffered imprisonment for the
cause Of religious liberty. ana many OF
them. for the same reason. have had their
property confiscated and their homes
broken up, enduring imprisonmentn. exile,
and constant police surveillance. Men and
women, stricken with age and with the
evidence of the bonds Of persecution
printed, as It WERE on their bedias. were
among the delegates who signed the parch-
ment shat conveyed sentiments of loyalty
to the throne and devotion TO the father
land. They uttered no word OF reproach
against their adversaries, vented no threat
enings. and even abstained from mention-
ing the price that they or their forefathera
have paid for the measure of liberty that
they now enjoy. On the contrary, thav
rather dwelt upon the advantages OF THAR
position, extolled the government where
they thought they had acted In what they
believed TO DO In the general intereSts OF
the state, end then they sang songs OF
peace and hreathed prayers OF hope ana
! confidence for the blessing and progress Of
their country.
Extraordinary story from Convent.
M. Alexander stolypin, brother Of the
prime minister. relates in the 'lIovos
Vremya" an extraordinary story Of
20 years old. says M stolypin was COM
manded by the abbess TO release a fierce
bull, which no one dared to approach, the
animal having become entangled In its
! chains. The bull was roaring with rage az
Ats powelNeasness, and the terrified girl
implored the abbess not TO insist. The
reply was; God commands His servants
to obey Him. This will be one of your great
deeds, though the ancient Christians had to
suffer much more"
The novice, accordingly approached the
bull, which almost Immediately knocked her
down and, trampling her with ita hoofs,
began to gore her. Her terrible screama
for a time aroused no remorse in the abb
bess. who declared that the girl was only
feigning pain. but eventually she was
snatched away out Of the animals reach
and removed In an unconscious condition to
a hospital The physicians state that in
view Of her shocking injuries it Is doubtful
whether she will recover. NJ. stolypin de-
m9nds that the authorities shall make a
full inquiry in order that the abbess may
be suitably punished.
TOIstOi Releases Nobel Prise.
Count Tolstoi has a second time refused
the offer OF the Nobel peace prize, but has
recommended that the prize, which amounts
TO about $500, be handed over to the Rus
sian sect Of Doukhobors. as the most pro-
nounced adversares OF war.
Colonel Odinstoff and Prof Kousnelsoff
} have just made remarkable balloon jour
ney from st. Petersburg 10 Koutelnikovo.
near the Sea OF Axoff, distance OF some
! 1000 miles.
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