Evening star., 1932-07-05
CANADA PUZZLED
BY DOUKHOBORS|
Esprit Fighters" Originally
From Russia, Are Real
Problem to Dominion.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


MAJ One has to go back almost 200
years to Russia to trace to its genesis
that curious sect known as the Douk-
hobors, whose singular demonstrations
in British Columbia are as myStifying
to the average newspaper reader in the
United States as their odd name itself.
In 1850 in the country of the Cars
there came to notice group of peas
ants whose descendants were in pres
ent times to constitute such problem
for the Canadian government, filling
British Columbia jails with men,
women and children who march naked,
to the scandal Of those not Of their
belief, and holding in general to
strange tenets.
More than 900 persons have been
arrested in British Columbia as
result of nudist demonstrations.
Doukhobor means spirit fighter"
This name was applied in those early
days in Russia by the clergy, who said
the Doukhobors fought against the
spirit of God. But the Doukhobors
having accepted this name, interpreted
it in a different way, as fighting for
or with the spirit Of God.
The start of this strange sect may
have antedated 1850, but 1t was not
until then that the peasants who formed
1t began to attract the unfavorable at
tention of the orthodox clergy by their
non-confornist beliefs. An energetic
fight was begun against the Douk-
hobors.
Prosecuted 40 Years.
In 1900 Car Alexander ordered all
DoukhoborS transported to Tauris,
where they endured cruel persecution
for 40 years. Because Of religious be-
liefs they defied the order of Car
Nicholas to enter military service
and were banished to Transcaucasia.
Neither the climate, unhealthful con-
ditions, unfertile ground nor savage
hillmen shook their resolution, and in
so years they had transformed an in
hospitable wilderness into fourishing
colonies.
Apparently the wealth wrung from
the soil turned many of the Doukhobors
to worldlinesS, and they strayed from
the religious beliefs of their fathers.
But calamities were to bring them back
to the discipline dictated by their re-
1igion.
In 1887 universal military service was
introduced in the Caucasus. At first
the Doukhobors submitted. The Cars
officials then decreed that the right of
the Doukhobors to own property should
pass to the leader of one of the smaller
groups, practically tool of the Gar.
The Dukhobors interpreted this edict
as punishment from GID. Practically
the entire Doukhobor population, num-
bering about $4,000, renounced tobacco,
meat, alcohol, excesses of all kinds and
participation in any act of violence or
military service. They burned their
arms and refused further service in the
army.
Harsh persecution followed. About
1895 1000 Doukhobors in the province
of Tifiis were banished to the Georgian
provinces, and more than orle-quarter
of these died in two years from star
Vation, ill-treatment and disease.
The plight Of the Doukhobors reached
the ears of the Society of Friends in
England and the United States.
Through the Friends funds were raised
to assist the people, and finally the
Gear consented that they leave Russia.
Reached Canada in 1899.
Under the direction Of the Friends and
of Count Leo Tolstoi, the first party of
Doukhobors, 1,126, left for Cyprus in 1898.
Doukhobor leaders then learned of the
exemption clause in Canada's military
service act and asked to settle in
Canada. In 1899 the second party, A.
coo, arrived in Canada, and it was
Joined few months later by the Cyprus
group. Later third party, of 1000,
arrived in Canada from the Caucasus.
The Canadian government gave its CO.
operation, and free land was allotted
around Yorkton, Thunder Hill and
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Idustrious and frugal the Doukhobors
became entirely self-supporting in Is
months. Many of them moved West
and took up land in Alberta and British
Columbia.
At present the Doukhobors, or, as
they prefer to be known, the Christian
Community Of Universal Brotherhood.
are capitalized at $500, 600, with extra
provincial registration In British Co.
1umbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Exclusive of cash, securities and other
property held by Doukhobors in their
own names, the assets Of the COM
munlty have been estimated at
$lO,0O0,000.
This vast property is controlled by
Peter Veregin and 13 directors Veregin,
spiritual leader of the Doukhobors, was
sentenced recently to three years i'm
prlsonment on the charge of perjury.
The directors are elected every two
years. Veregin holds Office for life and
Is supreme over the entire council.
From time to time single families
have broken away from the community
and taken up land Of their own. For
the most part these members, known as
independents, have prospered through
industry and economy, and have become
comparatively wealthy. Maly own fer
tile farms and orchards and up-to-date
machinery and drive expensive cars.
The Sons of Freedom.
The principal offshoot of the COM
munity, the one in the public eye, is
the left wing, or Sons Of Freedom, as
its members are commonly known. At
the start of the demonstrations by
naked marchers government officials
said the Sons of Freedom were solely
responsible. 1t was said they numbered
only $50. These statements were de-
MED. Many of those arrested were
known to police as community OF inde-
pendent Doukhobors; several were
people of moderate wealth.
Coupled with the nudtst demonstra-
tions was an order by Veregin eXpelling
all known Sons Of Freedom from the
principal Doukhobor settlement at Bril-
liant for "non-payment Of dues and
general insubordination. The Sons OF
Freedom settled at Glade and Thrums
also were ordered TO vacate and take up
land at Krestova, community owned,
few miles distance. The Sons of Free
dom refused saying the Krestova land
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