South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-30
RUSSIAN ORTHODOX
CHURCH APPEARS TO
BE LOSING POWER
Ancient Church Does Not
Seem to Have Any Effect
on BOlsheviki.

MOSCOW. June 5.-CBy Mail -
The great Russian Orthodox church.
which for centuries was probably
the most important social factor and
one Of the most important political
j. IN Russian lie. seems 20 have
gone 70 pieces itself. rather than TO
have had any effect upon the Boil
shevik government. ln It's FIRST direct
conflict with the Soviet regime.
Whatever may have been the IN
derlying purpose OF the Communist
government Ia directing the redulsi-
ton OF church treasures for relief
or the fa-nine sufferers. the requisi-
ton itself has succeeded IN splitting
the church Scores Of priests are
under arrest and evolutionary trib-
unals throughout the country are
trying them for couuter-revOlution
or theft and secretion Of church val
uables without any particular re-
sentiment on the part OF the parish
toner's. Patriarch TikOn. the head
OF the church. abdicated when faced
with trial by the civil courts on the
charge OF opposing the reQuisltion.
One OF the men he suggested as his
UU-raNaE NIlf- -lA- IT 'N ItNiAa eeAtA
Benjamin, of Petrograd. is also 20 be
put on trial. and iu the meantime
the control OF church affairs has
been turned over 20 a group known
popularity ara the cred clergy"
This group pledged 90 simplify the
church services and 90 work in har-
mony with the Bolshevik govern
ment. already has taken over a num-
Der OF churches. IL ls headed by
Bishop Antonin. of Moscow, who
early I'm tho conflict that developed
over tho rcquisition OF treasures
volunteered 90 assist the Soviet gov
eminent. Now Antoniu Us planning
TO secure close cooperation between
church and state by appointment I'm
the Russian cabinet OF a cOmmissar
for church affairs.
The actual value II church treas
ures OF Russia proba5-y was several
hundred million dollars. but the re-
quisitlOners obtained but a sn ~
proportion OF THE amount. They
secured tons Of silver. much gold,
and thousands Of precious stones.
but for every diamond studded
mitre the requisiuOners found one
or two similar articles listed as
stolen or missing. For the theft of
these and for open agitation against
requisitlon there is scarcely a prov
ince I'm Russia where churchmen
have not been arrested. In addition
10 the eight priests, one woman and
two laymen sentenced 20 death at
Moscow. and the four sentenced at
Shuva. other death sentences are be-
ing imposed. Except az Shuya. how
ever. none has been carried out, and
Il is generally believed IN Moscow
that most of those convicted viii be
pardoned or receive reduced sent
ences. Cen BrussiIoff. one OF the
heroes OF the Russian war against
Germany and Austria, has interceded
for his daughter-in-law, Mrs Bar
bara Ivanova Brussilom. the woman
sentenced 70 death at the Moscow
trial
Old residents of Moscow have told
the correspondent that the arrests
OF the clergy were not resented be-
cause Russians ordinarily had very
little respect for the priests They
were devout I'm their church worship
but regarded the clergy. particularly
I'm the villages. as men who charged
them for all the services the church
rendered. making them pay for
births. marriages and deaths.