The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-08-08
MAD MONK ILIODOR
MAD ILIJDON
One of the Russian Saints" Who Unwittngly Caused
The Downfall of the Gar
By Il. Meyer, IN Reedy's Marror


MEMEMIY1IMzMHM MMIY1N1MMMY1Ml3M
was oftener the case-he became
the tool of some clique and for a
time would influence the affairs of
state.
The greatest and last of these
was Rasputin, who gained his
influence by foretelling the birth
of the czarewitch. When Iliodor
was a student, fame of a great
Siberian prophet, clairvoyant, mir
acle worker, ascetic, reached the
university and shortly afterward
this Gods man, Gregory as he
was called, appeared. Iliodor de-
scribes him as dressed in a cheap,
greasy gray coat, the skirts of
which bulged out in front like two
old leather mittens. His pockets
were inflated like those of beg
gar who deposits therein any eat
ables that are given to him. His
trousers, no less shabby than the
coat, hung down over the coarse
legs of his peasant boots, abun-
dantly blackened with tar, and the
seat of his trousers tapped like a
torn old hammock, The hair on
the saints head was roughly
combed in one direction; his beard
looked like a piece of sheepskin
pasted to his face to complete his
repulsive ugliness. His hands were
pockmarked and unclean, and there
was much dirt under his long and
somewhat turned-in nails. His
entire body emitted an indeter-
inmate disagreeable SMELL" AL
though his appearance was so un-
inviting niodor accepted him for
what he claimed to be and says
specifically ''in the beginning he
was an honest, earnest man, a
seeker after God" Iliodor was
very devout: all his life he had
studied in preparation for the
priesthood and this meeting with
Gregory Rasputin took place but
short while before his ordination
as pope. Therefore, his natural
inclination was to distrust Ras-
putin, the fact that his religious
superiors regarded the latter as a
saint was sufficient to cause him to
put aside his own doubts.
In the course of his travels Ras-
putin reached the court and i'm
mediately found favor with the
czar, more especially with the
czarina. His greasy, nondescript
garb was discarded for elegant
silks and velvets en-
broidered by the czarina's own
hands--and his influence and pow
er became unlimited. All the other
saints" we're banished. Rasputin
was prime minister, cabinet, pope.
The czar's rulings were but echoes
of Rasputin's desires and anyone
craving recognition of any sort
made his plea to Rasputin. He
was on terms of the closest init
macy with the royal family, by
whom he was regarded as God s
prophet, and his sanction was re-
quired on all their private and po-
litical acts. The courtiers in gen.
eral, men and women, shared this
high opinion of him. Did anyone
want money for worthy charity,
the request was made through
Rasputin and the government
treasury responded with thousands
of rubles. Did anyone seek politi-
cal Office, it was only to be had
through Rasputin. Did anyone
wish to escape Siberia, to Rasputin
the appeal was made-but not al
ways granted. Rasputin was cum
ming and clever and crafty. He
knew how to play upon the hopes
and fears of the czar and czarina to
his own advantage. And he was un-
scrupulous. Prosperity and pref
erence cost him his love of God
and he became hypocritical and
self seeking.
Iliodor asserts, and -substantiates
his assertions with examples. and