The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-24
RUSSIA REMOVES
. RELIGIOUS BAN
More Progressive Spirit
Shown by Council
Of Empire.
BILL THREE YEARS
IN COM NIT E E
Thousands Have Returned to
Mohammedanisnl and Other
Beliefs Since Manifesto Re-
moves Compulsory Mem
bership in State Church.
Religions Unrestricted.

more progressive attitude has been ex-
hihited by the Council of Empire at
It's present session by the passage of
the bill for religious freedom. which
II had kept in the committee stage for
over three years.
Though the measure issues from
the Council of Empire in a shane
greatly differing from the version
passed By tho DUNN. and with amend
ments limiting somewhat the opera
ton Of the principle OF equality OF re-
ngions, II Is generally recognized that
that principle has been satisfactorily
sustained by the upper chamber. The
bill! embodies III fit legislative form
this principle of equality OF religions
or of liberty Of conscience. as pro-
claimed b. imperial manifesto on
April 80. 1905. which was the fore
runner Of the October manifesto.
The object OF the manifesto was TO
remove the administrative ban upon
conversions from Orthodoxy-the state
religion OF ftussia-to other Christian
or non Christian sects. Thirty 10 forty
thousand non Russians in the provinces
OF kaZan, Simbirsk and PcnZa re-
turned from Christianity 10 Mona NINE
dantGm and other beliefs in virtue Of
The right granted by the manifesto.
Nearly 100000 ex-Cetholics and cx-
Joined the state church under compul-
sion. at various periods of violent
classification. returned to the fold of
the Catholic Church in virtue OF the
same right and liberty of passing
from one denomination TO another was
taken advantage of by all who had
felt oppressed i'll their religious con
rictions
The bill deals only with the passage
from one Christian confession to an
other, or from q non-Christian confess
sion TO n Christian one. 1t Ignores the
possibility OF back sliding from Christi
anity. tacitly leaving in force. how
ever. the paragraph of the manifesto
giving such unwilling Christians a
chance to escape from It. AS the
paragraphs of the criminal code i'm
posing a penalty for defections from
, Orthodoxy were repealed in 1906. the
situation leaves any Russian subject
/ free TO follow his religious ideas,
though the state takes cognizancc
/ only OF declarations OF adherence to
any one of the constituted Cnristian
! congregations
| Hut Ono Requirement.
! These include practically any form
of Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant
non conformity. the only requirement
]
a congregation regularly organized and
| duly registered BY the provincial au-
thorities. and thus empowered 10 keep
mctrical books (reEisters of births
| marriages and deaths>. Amendments
providing that the state shall register
| conversions from Christianity 10 one OF
the non-Christian religions were re-
iected by the Council. The view which
obtained support was the one holdins
which can tolerate OBJECTIONS from the
| ranks of Christianity. but cannot ac-
knowledge them.
The bill recognizes the unrestricted
right of religious adherence only for
Persons Of age. Forty days must elapse
after the formal declaration OF n
change OF adherence from one church
TO another before 1t can 1aKe effect.
hut this term may be disrcgarded in
the case of persons stricken with scri-
GUS Illness. Article of tho measure
expressly declares that u person pass
| ing from one religion, confession or
creed TO another does not suffer on
| that account any restriction or limita-
! ton of his or her personal or civil ana
| political rights before the law 4 rc
dictionary amendment tending TO de-
privc deserters from Christianity of the
right OF holding state Office. acquired
! or inherited rank, and OF exercising
| the right of jury. as we'll az active
| and passive electoral right. was re-
! jected by an overwhelming majority
| of the Council.
| May Follow Parents.
| The most important provisions of the
| bill deal with the religious adherence
| Of persons under age. Children under
fourteen remain In the church where
| they We're baptized unless both paretS
or the single living parent pass from
one sect to another. In that case they
may follow their parents or parent IN
the new sect, If the elders desire il.
Children over fourteen remain in their
former faith. but may join their
former faith. but may join their Parents
or single living parents church, with
their consent. In case only one of
/, the parents changes their faith, chill
dren under twenty one remain in the
! faith protested by the other parent
Three important amendments pro-
posed by p. n. Durnovo, ex-Minister
of the Interior, and adopted by the
. council provide first that children over
! fourteen whose parents belong to a
non Christian or heather sect or creed
may be converted to Christianity be-
fore they are of age; second. the
children Of such parents may BIO CON
verted to Orthodox Christianity even
II they are younger than fourteen,
with the consent OF their parents, and
third, that the consent of the parents
may be dispensed with. for important
F.. reasons. with the permission of the
Holy Synod In each case.