Evening star., 1923-05-13
BY r. A. MACKENZIE.

News. Copyright, 1928.
MOSCOW, May l2-Until now I
have hesitated to attempt a critical
analysis of the Russian church coun-
Gil. Its origin was doubtful. its cleo
tions so surrounded with intrigue and
unashamed manipulation and its back
ground so darkened by the imprison-
ment of priests, especially here and
in Petrograd, that one found it diff
cult to regard it impartially. Yet
day by day as 1 have mingled with
the delegates and listened to the
debates the conviction has been
forced on me that the council rep
resents an enormous step forward
and an epoch making reform that
will in the end transform and regen-
crate the whole life OF the Russian
church.
The church has by clever strategy
saved itself The reforms so far
carried mean the undermining of the
Greek church. The adoption Of the
western calendar Is symbolical of the
opening of the eastern church TO
western ideas. The abolition of the
patriarchate and the termination of
the council of archbishops. power be-
ing transferred to a central church
council, means the coming of church
democracy. The abolition OF town
monasteries and the conversion of
country monaSterieS to working In
stitutions are justified by the vast
abuses which crept up around Rus
sian monarchism.
Church More Liberal.
The prohibition of remarriage OF
priests which prevailed until now
notoriously led to much immortality
While limiting the bishopric to monks
hardened and dehumaniZed the high
church organization. Priests can now
remarry and ordinary priests rise to
the highest office.
The attempt to sweep away all
relics caused much heart burning
here. and the reformers were obliged
roughly divided into three groups.
The old school supporting the Patri-
arch Tikhon is now powerless ex-
cept for obstruction. Directly oppo-
site stands krasnitzky of the living
church group representing extreme
religious communism, which would
make the church subservient to the
communist state and organize
strictly religious political ma chime.
Midway between these is the Veden-
sky group, which, while acce pting
communism, maintains that the
church must retain its independence.
and is essentially interested in per-
sonal religion.
Krasnitsky the leading red priest
openly manipulated the elections to
the council. He is apparently Su-
preme the newspapers claiming that
he had three quarters of the vote or
the entire council. ''Nedensky is Il
mere idealist and Krasnitsky is a
practical politician" men said. Then
almost in an hour. Vedensky. by his
sheer commanding personality. swept
the opposition away.
Archbishop Antonin, head of the
church regeneration group who led
the congress. soon came out openly
for him. Still more important was
the adhesion of great group of
Siberian priests under the leadership
of the metropolitan Archbishop Peter
Peter is a young. vigorous. placR
elementary school, who, by his domi-
mating will, rose in six months from
priest to metropolitan. The Siberians
originally voted for krasnltsky and
then swept openly over: The great
red priest who at the beginning Of
the conference was an autocrat, found
his followers reduced to a handful.
Picture of Vedensky.
Vedensky is not alone a supreme
orator but great ecclesiastical
statesman. His personal appearance
go heavily bearded he is clean
shaven and short-haired His face is
ascetic with a high arched nose. He
conveys above all the impression that
ne is a man With ItllS
convictions and genuine spiritual
force. Russian church folks gener-
ally regard him with deep suspicion
Last summer one fanatical woman
severely wounded him. believing him
responsible for sending Archbishop
Benjamin to his death Months ago
he half laughingly and half wish
fully confessed to me that multitudes
of people regarded him as an anti
Christ who believes in neither God
ha onrraa6Q In winning
the confidence Of churchfolk gen.
orally, as he does the council, all re-
ligious Russia will worship him be-
fore the year Is out.
After the council carried the re-
form allowing married priests to be
bishops, the next step was to elect
Vedensky to the archbishopric of
Moscow. His naming ceremony was
a strange mixture of pomp and sim
plicity. AS though to herald abroad
the arrival of a new religious era
when the church regards no place as
especially sacred but by it's work
sanctifies all. the ceremony of nam
ing was held in the theater of the
bishops and archbishops crowded the
auditorium. The stage had been
cleared and a temporary altar ar
ranged in the background.
Pomp of Ceremony.
Three simple seats served as
thrones for the tnree metropoutanS
Antonin of Moscow, Peter of Siberia
and Tikhon of Kiey. Their acolytes
brought splendid robes which they
put on in full view. These robes
were OF cloth of gold with neckbands.
Then the metropolitans assumed their
snow white mitres fronted with
golden crosses and sat with sumptu-
ously clad arch priests on either side.
making a picture which for sheer
gorgeous coloring Irving at his prime
in stagecraft never approached.
Vedensky was led out in a simple
black robe and returned crowned
with a magnificent golden mitre and
wearing an ornate scarlet and gold
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