A Meeting With Russian Priests by J. T. BOETTCHER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 12, 1908

A Meeting With Russian Priests

By J. T. BOETTCHER

J. T. BOETTCHER

DURING the latter part of July and the first of August, the Russian orthodox church held a missionary congress in Kief. This city is called the Jerusalem of Russia, and has a great many churches and convents. About one hundred fifty thousand pilgrims come here every year to worship. The Lawra is a famous large convent, with underground caverns containing about one hundred open coffins of the so-called “saints.” The pilgrims and people kiss these, and lay their beads upon them, hoping thereby to receive power to overcome sin and evil, or wishing to be cured of some disease.

It was because of the great sanctity of the city that it was chosen as the place where the missionary congress should be held. About one thousand priests and missionaries were reported as in attendance. The metropolit (there are three of these officers in Russia—one in St. Petersburg, one in Moscow, and one in Kief) also participated in the meeting. Various questions of religious interest were considered, and among the resolutions was one against Seventh-day Adventists, declaring us to be an especially dangerous sect, and advising that a premium be offered to the person writing the best book against us.

It seems they are studying our books and papers very carefully; for they are well posted as to what we are doing, not only in Russia, but elsewhere. Upon hearing about the position the congress was taking toward our special truths, I went to Kief, in order to get an interview with them, and to present before them the true principles of Seventh-day Adventists. As the sessions were not open to the general public, it was quite hard for me to gain an entrance. I introduced myself to the secretary, telling him what I wished to do, but he told me abruptly that they were well informed and thoroughly acquainted with our Russian books and papers. I answered that we had very little literature in the Russian language, and therefore from these alone it was impossible to get the right idea of our cause, and so I would like personally to address the congress. Just then the metropolit came, and I was told to call again the next day at nine o’clock, and I would be informed as to whether my request would be granted.

When I went the next day, and the secretary was called out to speak with me, he said they had no time, as the congress was to close in a few days, and there were still many things to consider; still, if I would wait, he would present the matter to the chairman. He went in, and after a few minutes returned and invited me to go into the meeting with him. There were all the dignitaries of the Russian church assembled, with an archbishop acting as chairman. I was introduced to the assembly, and was asked what I wanted. I replied that it was my desire to present before this congress the fundamental truths taught by Seventh-day Adventists, and that as I did not wish in any way to interrupt or disturb their program, I desired that a time might be appointed for this purpose. I was told that the congress would proceed to hear what I had to say immediately.

With my heart uplifted to God in prayer, I was permitted for an hour and a half to testify to the truth of God’s Word. At the close some came forward and thanked me for what they had heard. The secretary also came, and said that he would arrange another appointment for me to speak to the congress the next day from three to six in the afternoon, my subject to be “The Immortality of the Soul.” Accordingly, at the appointed time I was there, and found the wide corridors of the ecclesiastical seminary filled with people waiting to go into the meeting. At first all were admitted; but later, as the crowd became too great, only the priests or missionaries who had admission tickets could get in.

I must say that I felt much as the Reformers must have felt in their day, when they were called upon to present the truths of the Reformation; and never in my life did I experience the presence and help of the Lord more than on this occasion. He put the words into my mouth so rapidly that it was not at all difficult to speak. The chairman permitted the meeting to last only one hour. However, at the close the missionaries invited me to take tea with them, so that they could hear more concerning the

matter. This invitation I gladly accepted, and thanked God for his wonderful leading. The city newspaper also printed quite a full and favorable account of the meeting.

We feel sure that the influence of these meetings will be felt all over Russia; and right now we ought to send out more workers in this great field. So far we have not a single native Russian preacher. I believe this is the only union conference without a school or an institution of any kind. We are doing the best we can with the few workers we have, and God is blessing richly. It is true that there are many difficulties here to overcome. One of our Bible workers is at present under indictment, being charged with having spoken against the orthodox church. We have sent quite a large sum of money to bail him out till the trial comes off. If found guilty, the sentence will be Siberia or six years in the chain-gang. Several of our soldiers have already been sentenced to longer terms of imprisonment. In many places our meetings are being forbidden; but the fact that souls accept the truth gives us new courage. We hope that we may soon have a school where our young people can be trained for the work. May God grant that the message may go more rapidly than ever before.

Riga.