Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20
By RALPH w. BARNES.

AZ Ow.-What was a short
M time ago the lofty gilded dome
V of q cathedral, visible many
i miles from this city, is today
only a skeleton Of Orders, a
skeleton symbolic, IL would appear, OF
the decay of religion within the SOVIET
Union. The destruction of this dome is
the first stage in the complete demoli-
ton of the Cathedral of the Redeemer,
Moscows largest church and the city's
most CONSPICUOUS landmark. The edi-
fee is to be replaced, sign11cantly
enough, by a Palace of Soviets, planned
as the most elaborate among the many
new buildings to be erected mere.
However symbolic the destruction OF
this ailded dome may be. there is no
Questioning the fact that the church in
Russia Is being cut of at its roots. Prop
aoanda carried on here is leaving deep
innress on Russian youth. If the Rus
eiaT, voiInpster is not bitterly hostile TO
religion. he at the least has no time Tor
II All religious groups are suffering
from a dearth of young recruits.
Aid of Deity Denied.
SIGNS of the war against religion are
to be seen at every turn. In the center
for teachers training at Moscow pno-
toQraph, tackled to the wall in conSplc-
! uous position, shows two youngsCeLs
stond;I1o in a field and holding large
banner. The inscription on the banner
reads:
"The vegetables grew without Goa
help.
"God did not"
Recently a significant inc1oent oc-
Cured in a Moscow home in which
ikons. symbols Of the orthodox faltn
still occupy a place Of importance. A
| 6-year-old son of the family pointed 70
one of the ikons. and said:
"Mother, it's about time you stopped
all this now"
Recently this correspondent visited
a Kindergarten on a collective farm lar
distant from Moscow. The teacher was
| apparently proud of the progress she
| had made in instilling a dislike for
| things religious in the minds of her 80
| Young wards. For the benefit OF the
| visitors she questioned them on their
attitude toward religion.
do we go to church," she asked.
mo. mol" the youngsters responded
readily.
do we pray to God?"
mo, mol" they repeated.
Proud 70 Leave Imprint.
Undoubtedly this catechism was a
mechanical affair. The children were
too young, perhaps, to know what they
were saying, but with constant repetI-
| ton those queries and the responses
would be bound to leave an indenple
| imprint on the childs mind.
! A children's periodical was being USE
as reading material in the first tWC
| grades Of a school on collective 1aLn
| of the communal type, also lar olstaL,
| from Moscow. The current NUMBER ~
| this periodical contained the folloWins
brief note concerning the celebration o.
! Christmas -
drunkenness, brawls, truancy anc
destruction-all Of these come apOu' VI
DO these interfere with the con-
structive program Of our lanoP
Eyes, they do" o,,y.
dren, tolerate these?"
mo, we cannot" 70
us helm the local Atheists Union. lie
us telI our parents Of the damage re-
sIIltin0 from the celebration OF CHRIST
mas Let us organize committees. Le
ne see which school can draw the larges
number Of parents into the Union o
the Militant Goddess.
Religion Virtually Extinct.
In this agricultural commune. witt
a. am nosiis. religious life is virtual.
a~stinct A few elderly women still at
tend tha nearest church, which Is sew
srai miles away, but none OF the younl
people goes. I've days Of search On TN