The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-11-01
LOSE OUTDOORS
Peculiar Sect in. Canada Going
Back to Russia.
Their Departure q Few Years Ago
Would Have Been Hailed With
Delight, but Sentiment Has
Undergone Change.

Would Have Been Hailed With
Delight, but Sentiment Has
Undergone Change.
The announcement that Peter Veri-
gin, the leader of the 10000 to II, 600
Russian Dukhobors, or Dukhobortsy,
to Russia with his followers has caused
mild sensation in Canada. Fifteen
years ago a similar announcement
would have been received by the pe0-
pie Of western Canada with express
sions of devout gratitude. The IL
literate peasant "spirit-wrestlers," as
their name implies, were disliked as
religious fanatics, who herded to-
gether in community houses, and
though peaceable and Industrious
peasants, refused to conform to Cana
clan laws and regulations or to ac-
cept nationality. But now everywhere
In western Canada they are recognized
as remarkable colonists, even IL bad
citizens, while Peter Verigin is ac-
knowledged to be genuine leader of
men.
The Dukhobor has never been wan
derer of his own free will. He has
moved from place TO place in Europe
as the result of consistent persecution.
Church and state went for him "ham-
mer and tongs," the one telling him
that all religious sects must be brought
Tito conformity with established Greek
Catholicism, the other that he must
become a soldier under the cOnscrip-
ton act of 1887. At first he complied
with the military law and went off to
battle, but with the distinct under
standing between him and the elders
that if he were compelled to discharge
his rifle he would fire it in the air.
For he has always been consistent
nonresistant, and so consistent an OPP
ponent of war Of all kinds that, in exile
in the Caucasus, the community threw
away the weapons that had been con-
sidered necessary to protect Its MEM
bers from wild animals.
In the first year of their settlement
In Canada, the men scattered in order
to earn wages on farms, on railways,
and sawmills. Meanwhile, the women
built the future residences and, lack
ing horses, plowed the land by har-
Messing themselves, IL pairs of wom-
en- to a pillow with one plowman to
drive them!
Brilliant, in British Columbia, is one
of the great Dukhobor centers and the
socialists Utopia. Here the commu-
nifty is wholly self-contained and has
realized something of that equality Of
its component citizens for which there
is so much striving in the world to-
Cay. In contrast to the modern city,
there are no anxieties concerning the
source of the next days needs. There
are evidently no divisions between
"mine" and ''thine" no jealousies or en-
yies over the possessions of another, for
20 man is richer than his fellow. Mo
money is in circulation. One member
of the executive does all the outside
selling and buying, and all moneys
received are turned over to the
treasury. Money, in fact, has no
purchasing value within the commu-
nifty. All the necessaries of life are
doled out without it by the various
departments in charge. Everybody
has the whereNfthal, which is not Of
silver and gold, and there is no theft,
any more than there is visible machin-
cry of government. The govern
lnent is the people. Once week they
crowd into the large assembly hall and
discuss the affairs Of the comn1u-
nifty, and the managers of the sew
eral departments are given their in
structions according to popular sem
timent. The Dukhobors possess the
system of initiative, referendum and
recall in an admirably simplified
form; their officials and tempo
raj representatives hold office as
long as they do their work well.
What is the explanation of these
peculiar people who live so simply
on a farm or ranch which may
stretch for miles along the road and
stately Columbia river? And can
Canada afford to lose the sisters"
and "brothers" of community who
have builded better than they knew,
who have created unique state In
the midst of the wild?-Christian
Science Monitor.