The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-02
tBy W T Elnsl

sara,ov.-DoWn here anil the spires
q Lutheran and Roman Catholic
churches. In addition % the familiar
trigh; dornes and oampanles and three
armed cr1sses q the Orthodox church,
where the Nolsa unites Morogol anl
Slav. Il j. opporiure 70 take a look
AZ the general religious disposition %
this strangely tolerant. inio,rrani Jew
hating sec;.forning Russian people.
one comes across strange religious be
uefs ard practices ani organizations
which make him wonder whether De i
amid the mystics of Persia and India
or the strange cults - ancient Egypt.
4 study o, the present situation with
respect 90 sects IN this land leads 20 the
conclusion that the Russian j. primar-
ly a mystic and an Anarchist Tolstoi
really represented HIN .n his dreamy
theories and In h.s rebellion against
the est- b,ished order. The Russian who
shows initiative j. likely 20 be against
the government In art and letters and
the drama and in philosophy and In
economies and IN politics and .l at and
letters and the drama and On philosO-
any and ~ economies and IN politics
and in religion. some day a learned
book VIII b. written about the essen
tiaI anarchism Of the Russian tempera-
ment The moral laXity in the relation
between the sexes. especially after mar
rage. is possibly an outcropping Of
this same streak u rebellion against
conventions
Curious Cults in Christianity.
Holy Rollers" and Jumpers" hys-
terical sects which are a modern in
novation in North America. are by no
means an Isolated phenomenon. They
are brothers Of various strange sects
In Russia. and cousins Of the dervishes
of the Isalmic world. and Of the myster-
ious Druses and TeZidis and Masians
and other curious cults Of the middle
east. AL may trace their descent more
Or less directly 10 the gnostic cults
Of Asia Minor and Egypt IN the ear
liest Christian centuries EXtravagant
and weird az these bodies are. they are
no new phenomenon. The mystery cults
OF the east are a familiar subject 20
scholars
But here In Russia one finds more
forms % religious alteration than IL
any other Christian andi some Of
them. ike the klystys and the Skop-
stys. Of whom more later. are almost
incredible reversions 10 barbarism and
AAAArArs IN A4AN - H%AaH--7-N
and the Molokans and the DOukhobOrs.
are analogous 70 reputable American
denominations. II seems as II this ele-
mental Russian nature were more
strongly addicted TO religious emotion
alism than any other. and this spirit
seeks estrange outlets. Camp meetings
and Billy Sunday revivals would be pop
ular here. Especially apt have the peo-
pie been 10 follow any new teacher aris-
ing and protesting special illumination
or authority Despite the bitterness OF
the lot OF all dissenters. until the issu-
ance Of the Edict OF liberation in 1905.
the number Of sects and adherents grew
steadily. for there Is an abundance Of
martyr stuff in Russia. II remains % Be-
seen whether, under the complete relig-
ious liberty which has followed the rev.
olution. this sort Of religious devotion
will increase or diminish. The blood
OF the martyrs j the seed Of the
church and with no necessity for mar
tyrdom. viii religious dissent. which Is