Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-19
MONKS life like
T0LSTOY ROMANCE
Born a Prince, Bishop of Ufa
Leads Hermit Existence in
Desolate Cell.
HIGH DEMOCRATIC IDEALS.
Demands Universal Application
of Electoral Principle to
Church Appointments.

Correspondence of Associated Press.1
pETRoGRAD, July s1.-Andrew.
man. An exception in; the reactionary
Greek Orthodox Church.. he is promi-
nent democrat and a daring ecclesiasti-G
cal reformer. He is candidate for tho
exalted post of Metropolitan OF Petro-
grad. and were 1t not for his reform
ing zeal he would be Metropolitan al
ready. Since the revolution Bishop
Andrew has resided in the Athos Nom
astcry. in South Petrograd. where he
works for the regeneration OF his
church. t~.
Andrews career is a chapter from
Tolstoy. or Turgenieff. romance. He
was born Prince Andrew Uchtomsky,
member of princely and once mil
llonaire family famous in Russian his
tory. His best-known living kinsman
is Prince Hesper Uchtomsky, who ac-
companed the late Emperor Nicholas.
the heir apparent. on his journey round
the world. published history OF tho
journey, founded the Russo-Chinese
Bank, gave Emperor Wilhelm the idea
of the Yellow Peril. and for twenty
years edited the Petrograd Viedomosti.
Bishop Andrew began his career as
Il wealthy guards officer. After four
years of worldly living. he gave away
his riches and underwent the process OF
"simpliication" described by Turgenier
in the novel. Virgin Soil" prince
Uchtomsky" died. and 1.-THE Monk An
drew" was born.
Unlike many Russian monks, Andrew
lived in genuine asceticism, In es-
arrangement from the world. in mid
night viGils and prayer. He tenanted
siS-foot square cabin In remote
forest, ate bread and drank spring
water and added good works to morris
ication and prayer. @
ANDREW MADE FAMOUS
BY CHARITY PRACTICES
|, Andrews charity made him famous.
Peasants fiocked to his CELL, and ho
was begged to Join the richest, most
aristocratic monastic communities. He
refused. He preferred to wander along
the VolGa- preaching to the Moslem
Tartars. Kalmuks. Bashhlrs and gTche-
remises, and to heather Shaman tribes.
descendants of the Asiatic hordes which
devastated East Europe in the early
Middle Ages.
Even the PetroSrad reacttonaries
dared not ignore Andrews fame. In
the hope that he would go over to their
camp they made him bishop. Dis
appointed In this, they treated him as
zoe and seditionary. They suspected
MS democratic ways. his straight talk
ing 10 soldiers and peasants and the
simplicity of life. which was mute
reouke to his ostentatious colleagues.
The reactionary Plehve and the re-
actionary Procuror of the Holy Synod,
Sabler. surrounded him with spies.
sendarncs and agents provocateurs
In 1910 he practically was imprisoned
In his house. He kept his courage ard
Independence
Alone OF the higher prelates he re-
fused to bow the knee to the Infamous
monk. Rasputin. Thereby he earned
the ehmity of Emperor Nicholas and
empress Alexandra, and just before
inc revolution he was In danger Of
pe'hS unfrocked or informed as a here
tic In Souzdal Monastery
AFTER the revolution the monks NJ thA
fetroErad Athos Monastery offered An,
drew their finest rooms for residence
ana "hen no arrived n dozen lackevs
ana lay monks met him at the railroad
oepot. lie refused to occupy the rooms
though in bad health-he is little.
fraii, almost transparent man-ha
sleeps In tiny cell. lying on the iron
iaths OF bed. sleeps three hours
night. and spends the other twenty-one
In PRAYER. charitable works and pro.
1ectS OF church reform.
PRoMUIGATING PLANS FOR
PURIFICATION OF ORTHODOxy
io-day free man. Andrew is pro-
mitigating plans for the democratiza-
ton and publication Of orthodoxy. HaN
demands the convocation Of an Ecu
menical Council OF the whole Russo
Greek Church: the delivery to the RUS
sian state and people of the church's
wasted treasures. and the universal
apphcation OF the electoral principle to
church appointments.
To the provisional governments In
vitation to accept the metropofttancy.
he answered that only the priests and
the people had RICH. to choose or
reject him.
He stands for the immediate and
complete equalization OF tho secular
White Clergy with the monastic Black
clergy Al Present perferment Is
granted only to monks. Membera of
the White Clergy, however pious and
learned. are kept in the position OF
parish priest. ar,d paid on tho average
$50 year. The secular pope" has
no stimulus TO work.
Andrew - trying to eradicate the
church's tradition of reaction in polt-
ties and Its anti-Semitism and servility
to the state; and he is. preaching with
apostolic zeal and eloqusnce the uni-
.yersal brotherhood which he practices.
~ bishop Andrew Is a friend OF War
Minister Kerensky (since made Pre-
mier). He describes Kerensky as IAN
exceptionally s.rons and homogeneod4
personality" Also Thoughts man OF Il