The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-03-02
RUSSIA'SPERSECUTION OF CATHOLICS

CONVERSIONS TO CATHOLICISM
NUMEROUS IN RUssIA-AN Ex-
cUsE FOR PERsEcUTIoN-THE
DAcHNAKTsUTIoM NOT A RE-
LIGioUs ETY-ANGLlcANs
AND THE HOLY sYNoo-THE
CHURCH IN NORWAY.
A short time ago we interested our
selves in the events which are taking
place ia Russia at the present time,
events which mark the desperate ef-
forts of the Russian Government to
overthrow the Catholic Faith. We may
recall how the Poles of Chelm, por-
ton of Russian Poland, had been
forced by persecution, Imprisonment
the knout, and other barbarities to
conform to the State religion, though
in their hearts they remained Cath
olics. It is the reconciliation of num-
bers of these to the true Faith which
has called forth fresh vigilance on the
part of the authorities, who appear to
be. racking their brains for means to
stem the tide of conversions to Cath
olicism. In the Duma last week the
project of the separation of Chelm
from the Government of Poland, and
it's inclusion in that of Russia, was
adopted by 154 votes against LOT. Po-
land is reused into something Of her
old patriotic fire by this act, directed
against her religion, for the discus
sion in the Duma revealed the fact
that the only argument for the separa-
tion was, that otherwise Chelm would
once more become entirely Catholic
Excuse for Persecution.
For long the desire of the Russian
Government has been to find the ex-
cuse of seditious conspiracy for the
persecution they have levelled against
Catholics. At length they have ar
ranged something which appears to
suit their purposes admirably. There
is now going forward in st. Peters
burg trial which has been pending
for two years. 1t was arranged on
the same lines as the recent Malta
trial in italy, that is to say, the mem
bers of secret society have been
hauled up, en- bloc, and accused Of
sedition against the Russian Govern
ment, but in Russia an endeavour has
also been made to identify this society
with the Armenian Church. Until this
idea presented itself to official heads,
the Dachnaktsutiom, as the society
is called, was allowed to continue it's
efforts to free the Northern Caucasus
and Trans-Caucasus without any mo-
lestatioR from the Russian Govern
ment The Decentralization, or ear
menian Revolutionary Committee" :"
was not formed yesterday. 1t works
particularly in the Northern Caucasus,
and unites the Russian Armenians of
this region with those of Turkey and
Persia. It was originally designed to
lfberate the Eastern Armenians from
the despotism of the Sultan and the
Shah of Persia, and the movements OF
Young Turks and Young Persians owe
their inception to the successful prop
aganda of this society. A couple OF
years ago the Russian Government ac-
cused the Armenian clergy of inau-
gurating a movement of separation
and following upon this all their prop
erty was confiscated. This was the
signal for open war upon the govern.
ment on the part of the Dachnaktsu'
tom. The possessed an organ in
Geneva, called "The Drochak" (Flag).
and in this they appealed to Europe
against the violence of the Russian
Government. But their appeal passed
unheeded, and a revolutionary syndi-
cate of workmen was formed, who re-
piled to the seventies of the govern
ment by acts of terrorism. Three Rus
sian Governors, an inspector, and num-
erous minor officials have fallen to the
bullets or daggers of the society's
members. The government bided its
time.
Armenian Church q Victim.
The Armenian Church had nothing
to do with the society, but the COM
mencement of its active career against
the Government having synchronised
with the persecution of that Church
was enough. For two years the secret
police have been collecting members
OF the society. Finally, they managed
to arrest priest of the Armenian rite
who was known to have acted as con-
fessor to one of the leading members
of the society. This was enough TO
condemn him as confederate. Two
weeks ago in st. Petersburg 164
members of the society were ar
raigned before the High Court. In the
front rank of the prisoners was placed
Professor Christoforo- TEX -Michaellan,
the priest before referred to. and be
side him stood the Armenian poet,
Aaronhian. These were flanked by a
number OF intellectual socialists and
reYolutionaries. While Europe is in.