Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-08-20
ANDREW RUSSIA'S
LATEST HOLYMAN
Started Life as NoblemaR and Hem
Der Of Wealthy Family; Then Be
came Monks Now Prominent

Petrograd. dc Correspondence Of the
Associated Press -Andrew. Bishop
Of Ufa. is Russia's latest holy man An
exception in the reacuonary Greek
Orthodox church. he is a prominent
democrat and a daring ecclesiastical
reformer He is candidate for the eE-
allied post OF Metropolitan of Perro-
grad: and we're il not for his reform
ing zeal he would be metropolitan all
ready. Since the revolution, Bishop
Andrew has resided in the AtGos mon
astarv in south Petrograd. where he
works for the regeneration OF his
church.
Andrews career is q chapter from a
Tolstov or TurgeuieH romance. He
was born Prince Andrew DCht0mskr,
member of q princeIy and once mil
Io1aira family famous in Russian his
t0rv Ills best known living kiusman
fs Prince Hesper JChf0mskE, who aC-
couuanfed the late Emperor Nicholas,
then heir apparent, on his Journey
round the world, published history
Of the journey founded the Russo
Chinese bank. gave Emperor Wilhelm
the idea of the Yellow Peril, and for
20 years edited the PetroErad Eledo-
uosti.
Bishop Andrew began mis- career as
a wealthy guard officer. After four
years OF worldly living he ave away
his riches and underwent the process
OF 'simpIfcat50u described by Turgc-
nief in the novel Virgin Soil"
prince Uchtomsky7 died and 1.-THE
Monk Andrew was born.
Unlike many Russian Monks, And
rev lived in genuine ascotIclsu, tn
estTauEement from tbe world, i'm mid
nights v5sils and prayer. He tenanted
q siE-fool square cabin in re- ote
forest. ate bread and drank spring wa
ter. and added good works 10 morJiG-
cation and prayer
Andrews charity made him famous
Peasants focEled 70 his cell. and ne
was begged TO join the richest, most
ar.stocratic monastic communities. He
preferred to wander along the NolGa
preaching to the EosIcm EarFars..
kalmuks. Bashhirs and Teheremlsesr
and to heather Shaman tribes, de-
zceudants Of the Asiatic hordes which
devastated East Europe III the early
middle ages.
Even the PetroErad reacttonartes
dared not ignore Andrews fame. In
the hope that he would go over to their
camp they made him "a bishop Disap-
pointed in this. they treated him as
foe and seditEouary- They suspected
his democratic ways. his straight talk
ing to soldiers and peasants, and the
simplicity Of which which was q mute
rebuke 60 his osteutarious colleagues
The reacti0nary PIehve and the re-
dictionary Procuror of the the Holy
Synod. Sabier, surrounded him with
spies Eendarmes and agents provo
cateurs In 1910 ne practically was
imprisoned in his house. He kept his
courage and Independence
Alone of the higher preIates he re-
fused 10 bow the knee to the infamous
monk. Rasputin Thereby he earned
the enmity Of Emperor Nicholas and
Empress Alexandra. and just before
the revolution he was in danger OF be-
ing uufrocked or informed as q hereto
in Souzdal monastery.
After the revolution the monks of
the Petr0grad Arh0s monastery offered
Andrew their finest rooms for resi-
dence and when he arrived "a dozen
laCkevs and lay monks met him al the
railroad depot He refused TO occupy
the rooms Though in bad health
he is q little. trail. almost transparent
mamie sleeps in q. tiny cell, living on
the iron iatbs Of bed sleeps three
hours night. and spends the other q
in prayer charitable works and pro
jecrs of church reform.
Today free man. Andrew lis prom
ulgaUuE plans for the characterization
and publication of orthodoxy. He de-
mands the couvocation of an eoumen-
zeal council Of the whole Russ0-Greek
church. the delivery to the Russian
state and people of the ch8rch's
wasted tTeasurers, and the universal
application Of the electoral principle
TO church appointments.