The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-18
'PRELATE ACCUSED
OF AIDING SLACKERS
Bishop Namelovsky Alleged to
Have Ordained Men Seeking
to Escape Draft.
PRIESTS MAKE CHARGES
Receiver for Church Property
in New York City Also Is
Demanded.

The Rev. Peter X. Solovey. q priest
Of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic
Church of North America, filed an am
davit yesterday with the Supreme Court
in which he accused Bishop Alexander
Namelovsky OF the same church of or
daining men who have never been semi
narians Of the church in order TO enable
them to evade the military service law.
Father Solovey charged his superior
with several other misdemeanors and
asked that a receiver be appointed TO
assume control Of the church property.
In support of his motion for the ap-
pointment Of a receiver Father Solovey
said: ITO save these men from army
service Bishop Namelovsky accepts Into
the church and ordains men who did not
and do not serve the church. one MT.
Lick, who was never in an ecclesiastical
school, but who served as an agent on
East Third street, said. according to the
information and belief of deponent, that
he had been ordained two months be-
fore and a John Bodnik, who formerly
served as clerk In the Austrian Consult
ate, of draft age and in splendid health,
was ordained in Philadelphia six months
ago in st. Michaers Russian Church"
The affidavits of several other priests
were placed before Justice Barlow y.
Weeks yesterday.
The Rev. Father Paul Bezkishkin,
pastor OF the Russian Greek Church OF
Bayonne, n. j.. stated that he found
letters from three women among the
seized papers and effects OF Bishop
Namelovsky. These women, It is charged.
complained that they had not enough
money" One woman, says the affidavit,
wrote that she would make certain
widower. who receives 800 month, her
Victim In order that she might save the
reputation of Namelovsky She Is al
legged to have said that after her mar
rage letters should not be addressed to
her, but in care OF a certain girl The
affidavit states further that another one
Of these women asked Namelovsky to
spend a week at a certain hotel with her.
Encouragement of the church store.
Is East Ninety-seventh street. is alleged
in the affidavit of the Rev. Mr.. Bezkish-
kin. He said:
THE receipts of this store have
amounted to from $4,000 to 100000. as
deponent believes from his connection
with II as described IN the papers. ~
was for many years in charge of Nicho-
las Metfopolsky. whose superior is the
defendant, Alexander Namelovsky.
"ln October. 1917. deponent was APP
pointed by a meeting Of forty-five pas
tors OF the church to assist In the con-
duct OF the store. Deponent was at
once requested by the said Metropolsky
TO sign an affidavit for the customs off,
GERS to the effect that certain goods
were imported for free distribution.
1T has been the practice for such
goods to be imported free OF duty on affi-
davits that they were intended for free
distribution, and then to be sold at
profits running up TO 1000 per cent.
Now, however. the customs authorities
have seized the goods being imported
and the United States District Attorney
has the papers and documents relating
to this store Deponent refused to sign
the affidavit and reported tho matter TO
the customs officials"
Other affidavits allege that Red Cross
funds were handled carelessly. and that
q large sum of money given the church
TO pay the salaries of poor priests was
not put to its intended use.