Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-25
RUSSIA NOW WAKING UP
Bill Recognizing Religious Freedom
is Passed in Council.
CONVERSIONS MAY BE MADE
New Measure Held "a he quite Pro-
Eressive, Though HedEcd About
with Provisions that Limit
Its scope.

ST. PETERSBURG. Dec. H-A more
progressive attitude has been exhibited
by the Council OF Empire at it's present
session by tho passage OF the bill for
religious freedom, which Il had kept In
the committee stage for over three years,
Though the measure issues from the
Council OF Empire In shape greatly
differing from the version passed by the
Duma, and with amendments limiting
somewhat the operation of the principle
Of equality OF religions. II IL generally
recognized that that principle has been
satisfactorily sustained by the upper
chamber The bill embodeS in fit legis-
lative form this principle OF equality OF
religions. or OF liberty OF conscience, as
proclaimed by imperial manifesto on
April 30. 1905 which was the forerunner
OF the October manifesto.
The object OF the manifesto WIS to
remove the administrative ban upon con-
versions from OrthodoNy--the state re-
ligion OF Russa-to other Christian or
non-Chrstian sects. Thirty to forty thou
sand non-Russians In tho provinces OF
Kazan, simblrsk and Penza returned
from Christianity to Accommodation
and other beliefs in virtue OF the right
granted by the manifesto. Nearly half
million cN-Catholics and ex-Uniates
Omitted Creeks who had Joined the
state church under compulsion, at vari-
Gus periods OF violent classification, re-
turned to the fold of the Catholic church
I'm virtue OF the same right, and liberty
OF passing from one denomination to an
other was taken advantage OF by all who
had felt oppressed In their religious con-
victions.
Ground Covered by Bill.
The bill deals only with the passage
from one Christian confession 20 an
other. or from non-Christian confess
sion TO a Christian one. 1t ignores the
possibility Of baok-sldlng from Chris
tianity. taoitly leaving In force. how
ever, the paragraph OF the manifesto CIV
! ing such unwilling Christians chance
TO escape from Il. As the paragraphs OF
the criminal code imposing penalty for
defections from Orthodoxy we're repealed
in 1905, the situation leaves any Russian
subject free to follow his religious ideas
though the state takes cogniEance onlS
OF declarations OF adherence to any on,
OF the constituted Christian congrega.
| lions.
These include practically any fornr o.
Orthodox. Catholic or Protestant non-eon
formity, the only requirement being thai
the believers shall compose congrega
tlon regularly organized and duly regis
tered by the provincial authorities, ant
thus empowered to keep metrlcal book,
(registers OF births, marriages an,
deaths). Amendments providing that tn
state shall register conversions from
Christianity 10 one OF the on-Christiai
religions were rejected by the council
The view which obtained support was tn
one holding that Russia Is a Christian
country which can tolerate detection
from the ranks OF Christianity, but cal
not acknowledge them,
The bill recognizes the unrestricte
right OF religious adherence only for per
sons of age, Forty days must elaps
after the formal declaration OF a chang
of adherence from one church to an
other before II can take effect. but thi
term may be dlsregarded In the case o
persons stricken with serious Illness Ar
ticle OF the measure expressly declare
that a person passing from one religion
confession or creed to another does no
suffer on that account any restrlctlo
or Limitation OF his or her personal o
civil and political rights before the Law
A reactonary amendment tending TO dc
prive deserters from Christianity Of tn
right OF holding state office, acquired