White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1938-06-17
lXe NJ" s5 ;s}
by Captain
G. Elliott Nightingale
Copyright, WNU
FIRST BRUSH WITH THE
DUKHOBORS

- shouting biblical texts and warn
ings, hundreds of men, women, and
children were seen strolling across
the vast Saskatchewan prairies one
chilly October morning. The few
settlers that witnessed this scene
rubbed their eyes and wondered if
the judgment day had arrived. Yet,
there they were, hundreds of them,
absolutely naked and, apparently,
strolling aimlessly over the prairie
just for the exercise and fresh air.
Could it be possible that the mani
acs of the farflung northland were
gathering for a convention? At any
rate, settlers saddled up and rode
over to the strange strollers, and
asked the reason for the stark-naked
parade on such a frosty morning.
I'VE are looking for Jesus" came
the almost unanimous reply.
well, He's here, all right" re-
piled settler, ''but you don't have
to run around like this in order to
find Him. Better get your clothes
on before you freeze to DEATH" This
latter advice, however, fell on
deaf ears. The amazed settlers did
not know it at the time, but they had
encountered newly-arrived reli.
gious sect known as Dukhobors. The
sect had it's origin in southern Rus.
STA few years before and after
years Of persecution had been grant
ed permission to come to Canada
provided they behaved themselves
and did not become public charges.
To say that these early Dukhobors
were fanatics, is putting it mildly.
They took biblical commands lit
orally, and fixing their minds on
certain texts, completely ignored
other texts that contradicted. They
believed in full and complete liberty
in thought and deed, and they even
placed their horses and cattle in
the same spiritual category as them
selves. When it appeared that their
horses needed days rest, the ami
mails were left in the barn, and
the stoutest women were hitched
up to wagon, buggy, or plough so
that the work of the sect should
continue unbroken. Now and then
all work would cease, and they
would go off on a stark-naked,
psalm-singing hike in order to catch
up on their spirituality. The time
soon arrived when the Canadian
authorities had to take a hand. The
Men of the Mounted were given the
strange puzzle to solve. And, they
solved it, too, but only after years
Of planning and studying these
strange prairie pests"
Back-trailing this crazy mob, that
October morning, the Men Of the
Mounted picked up every bit of
clothing and footgear the Dukhobors
had cast off during their stroll.
Horses piled high with clothing, the
amused, yet somewhat annoyed
W4Gll Va IllG NOLultSO az 1dSG CauEllL
up with the naked strollers and de-
manded that they get dressed at
once. At this there was swift move
naent among the Dukhobors and
they broke up and formed two
groups, women and children in one,
men in the other. Both groups then
went into sort Of scrinmage for
nation. They punched and crowd
ed together as tightly as possible,
and sang psalms, shouted texts,
and now and then snarled defiance
at the two policemen who were try.
ing to make them get dressed.
The Mounted Police pleaded,
begged and promised, and after
time the tightly packed mobs began
to open up and here and there
Dulkhobor grabbed for a shirt,
dress, or a pair Of trousers. When
all were clothed the Mounted hustled
about for food and drink for their