New-York tribune., 1922-11-09
Russian Church
Here Near Split
Over Finances
Opinion Divides Two Million
Into Divergent Secss and
Charges Bishops With
NIissappropriating Funds
Alleges PropertyW as Sold
Ex-Leader Abdicates, Names
Successor and Gives Him
Documents and Deeds

n dluefence OF opinion over the
legitimate headship of the Russian
Orthodox Church in America is not
only threatening to split its member
ship of nearly 100000 into divergent
seets, but also to result in charges of
misappropriating church funds and
property against some of the bishops
and higher officers of the church here,
81 was learned yesterday by The Trib-
srae.
Tie dispute arises first from the
feet chat when Bishop Alexander,
head OF the church in this country by
appointment Of the Patriarch Tikhon,
left the United States six weeks ago
while an investigation Of his charge
was under way by order Of the
Patriarch, he turned over his office,
with all its documents and deeds to
the church structures in this country,
30 the Metropolitan Platon, Bishop OF
Odessa.
Platon Called Ursurper
Platon, an intimate friend of Alex
ander, and o refugee who arrived here
some months ago and who co-operated
vritn Alexander closely, is declared by
q large section of the orthodox con-.
gregation to be a usurper, since Al
Axander, according to the Church canon,
had no power to appoint him his sue
cessor. Presiding bishops of the Rus
sian Church, it is said, must be elected
by a convention and confirmed by the
Patriarch, or else by another presiding
bishop.
The logical successor to Alexander's
affairs, therefore, it is said, until the
calling of a con"ocation makes the
choosing Of new head to the Church
in America possible. is Bishop Stefan,
who lives in New York and who was
vicar-bishop under Alexander, posi-
ton corresponding to that of bishop
suffragan.
Opponents of Metropolitan Platon
declare that the Russian Orthodox Mis-
sion here has been discredited by the
majority ever since Alexander's regime,
when it was discovered that many
church buildings had been mortgaged
or else had had their titles mislaid
without the knowledge of the congre'
cations or of the priests in charge.
This condition, it is alleged has been
particularly aggravated since Platon
tion is made TO this prelate not only
because of the doubtful validity of his
title, but also because of his manage
ment Of the Church's financial affairs,
Specific Instances Cited
Specific instances are cited. The
Orthodox Church building in Cleveland
vas sold by some one in the Metropol-
ltan Platon's Office without notification
To the congregation, which built the
edj6ce, as in each of the other cases,
sna which therefore feels that 1t holds
ne title to the building. The same
thing occurred in the case of the
Orthodox monastery in South Canaan,
Fa., where the young priests of the
faith receive their training.
The Immigrant Church, in Fourteenth
Street, New York, which was combined
with an industrial establishment to
bankruptcy on account of the unsuc-
cessful activities of the industrial
lranch. Subsequently it was sold by
the Bishop Alexander, who was fined
aor contempt of court for this trans
action. This particular performance is
said Co have been repeated in several
instances in slightly varying form,
punishment for the last of which was
iqhicted on Bishop Alexander in his alb
renee on Monday. Justice Harry r..
Lewis In Brooklyn imposed fine for
contempt of court in violating an in
junction to refrain from interfering
with the affairs of the Church of the
Hcly Virgin in East New York.
Deeds In Bishops Name
Another alleged cause OF complaint
ts said to be the fact that many Of the
deeds to orthodox Church property IN
ths country were made out, during
Bishop Alexander's administration, in
the latter's family name, instead of to
him as presiding Bishop.
1t has been discovered, It Is said,
that the titles of all the churches
which were alienated from the custody
Cf their congregations were made over
TO an American citizen named Hunay,
who, it is asserted, is an intimate
friend of Bishop Alexander. A further
cause of uneasness is that it is be-
lieved that Hunay transferred or sold
many of the titles thus obtained to the
Russian Church Relief Committee, an
organization which has no official con-
nection with the Church, but which has
been, doing relief work among Russian
refugees in this country, backed, it is
said, by the late Russian Ambassador,
Boris Bakhmeteff.
Convention Called for December
Aroused by these, the bulk of the
membership headed by Vicar-Bishop
Stefan, three weeks ago issued call