The New York herald., 1922-12-03

two Moscow priests, Kalinovsky and
Borisov.
1t must be remembered that the
Soviet Government has fanatical
hatred OF religion and is very suspi-
cious OF the Christian priesthood. Ac-
-cording to the Government, ali the
trouble was caused by the Patriarch
and an influential though numerically
insignificant group of bishops. These.
the Bolshevists contended, forced the
lower clergy to infame the masses.
Representing as il does II party
which was a very small minority, and
feeling acuteiy that the, great mass OF
the people regard It with deep dis
trust, the Soviet power Is always
haunted by fear OF conspiracy and al
ways hunting for counter-revolution-
ary plots. Through its G. p. II. it
lashes out blindly, killing right and
left, just as Abdul Hanid lasfed out
more than once through his kurds az
the unfortunate Arnenians.
In the eyes Of such q government
the church's opposition became a
widely spread political plot 70 over
throw the Government. It must be
admitted that the action OF the Rus
sian emigrants abroad supplies ample
food for these suspicious.
The actions and speeches os those
bishops and priests who were favor
able TO the Government in its confis-
cation policy inspired the Soviet with
the hope that internal dissensions
would bring down the whole church
and the official press loudly rejoiced
at the schism Meanwhile the Govern
inent determined TO terrorize the
church leaders and TO break up the
whole ecclesiastical organization.
in the prosecutions for the disturb
ances over the conflscations persons
Of secondary Importance were tried
first, next those regarded as ringlead-
ers and then fiftyfour persons, inciud
ing seven archdeacons and several
priests and deacous. Next came the
trial of Bishops Nikander and Ilarion
and the most eminent representatives
of the Moscow priesthood. Last of all
came the trial of the Patriarch.
The trial OF the fifty-four began on
April 26 and finished on May &. The
accused were divided into several
groups. the first composed OF deacons
charged with having taken part i'll
popular tumults. They were liberated
on the ground that they had acted
under the orders of the priests. The
priests, who composed the second
group, were tcharged with having
called upon tile Faithful to resist the
authority OF the Government.
\ quotation from the Act Of Accu-
sation may not be out of place here.
as it shows the mentality OF the ac
cusers:
The decreas OF the central execu !
tive committee regarding confiscation
OF church treasures brought forth ~
violent protest from that part OF the
priesthood which having been de
prived during the preceding four years
of its previous greatness. had already
entered several times into strife with
Soviet Russia, and had aided the lregi-
raents OF landowners and capitalists
in their struggle with tho worknen
and peasants OF the Red army. /.
~dlling advantage of the famine on
the Yolga and relying on old people
fanatics. weakminded persons and
hooligans and conccaling their selfish
objects under the flag OF religion, they
ale again trying to enter into conflict
with Soviet Russia. by proclaiming
the church valuables inviolable despite
the categorical decision of the Soviet
power to take these valuaDles for the
purpose of buying bread with them for
the hungry. they thereby melted the
masses of the people to engage In civil
war. Tho accused could not be ig-
norant OF the fact that tie, appeal of
Tikhon, who openly summoned the
people 20 oppose the civil power, IL iin-
doubtedly counter-revolutionary act.
for which reason the accusation
against them cannot be regarded az
merely opposition. BY refusing as
sistancc TO the starving. Tikhon IL
guilty OF another nter-revolution-
airy act against the power OF the work
men and peasants and favoiTng tho
return Of Russia TO its former state
in Order that he may maintain his
own former rights and privileges as
well as the abundant wealth which the
Soviet power is at present giving 70
the starving with the object OF saving
their lives
The weakness OF this charge IL evil
Dent, and the prosecution could not
find single fact TO support II.