Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-11-08
All Freedoms
Taboo inRus,sid,
Bishop Warns
America First Speaker
Tells Of Sovief's e.
Ban on Religions
"There Is no freedom In Rus
sIa, religious or otherwise"

There IL no freedom In hus-
sia, religious or otherwise"
This was the oft-repeated state.
ment of Bishop Raymond T. Wade
Methodist bishop of the Detroit
area, in an address before an
America First Committee rally at
Cass Tech Auditorium.
Bishop Wade. for r. years head
OF the Motfodist Church in IL
northern European nations, includ-
ing Russia, recently was made
bishop of Detroit. He drew from
hts intimate contact with Russian
people of all classes for his
Opinions.
DETROIT TIMES PRAISED
Introducing the speaker. Robert
IVietig, executive secretary OF the
michigan America First Commit
tee, praised The Detroit Times In
particular and the Hearst papers
in general for their courageous
expose of the anti-Christ move
ment in the Soviet" referring par
ticularly to the recent series of
Reproductions of anti religious
Iposters in the papers.
"Tn Russia there Il q decided
eagerness for education" Bishop
Wade said, 'but there also n
q tyranny unmatched I'm any
other country. The people are
better of materially than I'm
other times but Russian Official
dom lacks an open mind"
OF Russian religion, Bishop
Wade said the government does
mot actually prohibit worship IN
the churches by law or decree,
adding:
MORE SUBTLE METHOD
| "They have . far more subtle
and just rs effective method.
One of our pastors told mo HIS
salary per year was $50 rubles.
His tax, for being = minister 81
the gospel, was 500 rubles per
year.
Every pastor must furnish
list of the names Of his official
congregation. He must have 1t /,
least so such members. These
are presented to the government
and within a very short time tjhis
member loses his Job, that
member n sent away---sOme-
thing happens to every one.
by law it Is forbidden 20
teach religion to any child
: under ID years of age. There %
= not a schoolteacher In Russia
r who Ia not IN avowed atheist.
You can't teach unless you are
= one.
! at IL true" the speaker went
: on, ''that the consultation Of the
: Soviets allows religious rites,- but
: no one can afford to keep up .
church. i saw proof of that"
TALKED WITH PRIEST
81 talked with the priest Of
one Of the Orthodox churches I'm
Leningrad. The building was
dark and had an air of neglect.
He told me he still was allowed
to hold services, but that tina
taxes on the priesthood were %
high as to be prohibitive.
He said his personal tax for
that year was $4,000 rubIes. 10
said he had sold much Of the
equipment and all his personal
property and had been able 70
pay the tax. "
But he told me his tar for
: the next year would be $4,000
: rubies, and his church property
was only worth $1,000 at the
most.
I'm our own churches,s Bishop
; Wade said, I'VE were unable 70
: distribute literature. Tho gov.
eminent didn't say we couldn't.
but the worshippers wero amid
to accept 1t, even through tho
mail.
But, In spite Of it all, II you
: go to the right spot In q Rus
! sian home, and the householder
doesn't know you are coming,
you can find q sacred corner
where his family worshlps and
!. n religious token Of somo kind.
to which they cling as Q hope
for themselves"
The address ended with the
statement:
There Is no religious freedom
In Russia, Mr.. Roosevelt, and I
can prove IL, but It In my faith
that there will sometime be q
revival Of that freedom of faith
which win once more make q
great nation of Russia and allow
her to mako her constructive
contributions TO the world"
Pairolman Found Not Gully
Patrolman Zigmound S. Popkie.
A, OF S075 Orion avenue, TODAY