UNDER RESTRICTIVE LAWS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 3, 1910

UNDER RESTRICTIVE LAWS

Where Police Watch Church-Membership

SOME of the regulations in Russia, while perfectly in harmony with the idea that it is the business of the state to foster and enforce religious observances, seem rather strange to us in lands where the Bible principle of religious liberty is recognized. In reply to the question, What about the progress of religious liberty in Russia? Elder J. T. Boettcher, president of our Russian Union Conference, replies:—

“The cause of religious liberty is not progressing as fast as we had hoped. The Duma, the national representative body, is divided on this question. Some are working earnestly for a greater measure of liberty, others as earnestly opposing. It was but recently that the police brought us a written document telling us what steps a person must take in order to be released from the Greek Catholic (or orthodox) Church:—

“1. A petition must be sent to the governor, declaring his intent to leave the church.

“2. The governor informs the priests, whose duty it is to labor for one month to persuade the petitioner from taking the step.

“3. If the person remains firm, he may then unite with another church, and the leader of said church must inform the governor, who, in turn, notifies the orthodox clergy.

“4. Persons under twenty-one years of age can not be released from membership in the orthodox church. If parents having children are converted, the children must remain in the former church until they are of age.

“If these requirements are violated, the minister in charge is held responsible.”