The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-04-27

service in the world more impressive
Unan that or the Gleek cnurcn. The
russians delight IN snowy things; III
rich effects and magnificent displays.
lney nave no seats IN their churches,
the people either stand or kneel or
prostrate themselves, according to
their religious zeal. They raise mon
ey by the sale of candles at the door.
lney have no instrumental music, all
being purely vocal and composed of
male voices only. But the building
Is so constructed that the voice rever-
Derates and echoes from gallery to
gallery until it reaches the top of
the dome.
The Kremlin is a group of cathe-
drals in the centre of the city of
Moscow. Here we find the very es-
sence Of Russia, both religious and
political. Here is the cathedral of
the assumption where the Cars are
crowned, the cathedral of the An
nunciation, where the imperial mar
riage ceremony is performed and the
catherial of the Archangel Michael
where the Cars are buried. One of
the most imposing spectacles of the
Greek church takes place at the
Kremlin on Easter night when the
midnight mass is celebrated instead
of on Christmas as in the Romish
church. The multitude assemble in
the great tower over St. Johns chap
ell. The tower is filled with bells of
different grades. The officials are
robed with beautiful garments, bear
ing banners of gold and tinsel, and
each one carrying candle. The
bells are muffed and toll slowly un-
til midnight, when they break out
with their iron music. Then the sur
pliced throng below, light their can
dies and sing "Christ is Risen.' The
keynote of the religious feeling of
Russia is struck in the triple device
given by the Car, "Autocracy, Or
thodoxy, Nationality" which carries
with it this neutrality-suspicious. to
the Gar, to God and to the country.
There is scarcely a country in the
world where superstition, sorcery. and
belief in omens is more abundant, or
where Christianity is more mixed up
with magic and every other phase OF
pagan religions, than in Russia.
The priests 90 out once year lin
the spring. and baptise the cattle,
and even their tools with holy water.
The peasants really believe they can
not succeed unless this ceremony is
performed.
The Greek Religion in Russia has
produced two evil effects. First it
is responsible for most of Russian
poverty. through its communistic doc
trine of patcrnalism; and second it
is banishing all dissentcrG because of
its intolerance.
When we think of the great wealth
of Russia, her vast extent of fertile
land. and their ability to thrive where
others would not survive; we Won
der that the people are on the brink
of starvation and general ruin. EX-
treme paternaliSm is undoubtedly the
cauee of the most of the trouble.
W Russia the head of the family is
thp father of all its members: the
Mir (which is a communist" orgam-
zation in every villagc) is the father
Of the residents of village; and
the Gar is the father of them all,
Wherever the spirit of paternalism
nrpdominates. individual action can
not thrive, it dies, and political lib
ortv and progress die with it. Will
LING hands are becominr weary OF
heing compelled to do the work of
law brothers; and there is growing
disposition in young men. to leave. the
Maternal roof and live with their
wives. The banishment Of all who
do not adopt the Russian form OF re-