The Present Outlook in Russia by Ludwig Richard Conradi

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 1, 1904

The Present Outlook in Russia

By Ludwig Richard Conradi

L. R. CONRADI

While at present the eyes of the whole world are fixed upon the fierce struggle between Russia and Japan, I felt that our people would all be interested to learn how the truth is advancing in the czar’s mighty empire, and to read of the increased perplexities with which our Russian brethren must contend, on account of the war.

As to the third angel’s message, it certainly never was more prosperous in this interesting field than it is to-day.

Constant accessions to our numbers among the various nationalities in the north and south and east and west of this wonderful country, are reported.

As our brethren will remember, the Russian field has been divided into three parts: the South Russian Conference, among the German colonists; the North Russian Mission, to the Esthonians, Lettonians, and Germans in the Baltic provinces, and to the Poles and Germans in Poland and Wolhynia; and, lastly, the Middle Russian Mission, embracing the Russian-speaking people throughout the whole country.

For the quarter ending March 31, the North Russian Mission reports twenty-one additions, and a membership of three hundred and ninety-two, but since that time quite a number have united with us. The director writes me that for the second quarter of 1904, he thinks there will be a growth of about seventy. The message has gone somewhat more slowly among the Esthonians, but of late both our workers were in difficulty because of holding meetings, one of them getting into trouble simply because he had been reading the Bible in a private house. They were condemned to imprisonment and the payment of heavy fines. One of the brethren appealed to the senate. The following extracts from the senate’s rendering in the case, will show how the Lord has helped. These extracts are taken from Lutheran sources:—

“Prayer-meetings have been customary among our people for a long time. It has now happened that on a certain evening and in one and the same village, such prayer-meetings were held in various houses. In this, not only did the brethren of our faith distinguish themselves, but also the adherents of newer sects, as the Baptists, the (Seventh-day) Adventists, and others; until now the belief prevailed that all these prayer-meetings were directly contrary to the law, and therefore the participants were always attacked by the police, and the local justices of the peace fined those who had charge of such prayer-meetings, according to the charges brought in by the police. Nearly every justice of the peace has acted thus. Many so-called friends of education consider such meetings an unwarranted ‘apparition,’ and they find no other remedy against them than the mentioned police charges. And often whole columns have been written in our newspapers, invoking this police protection. Also our pastors, when they have seen that it is impossible to check the progress of some of the more recent sects with the sharp sword of the Spirit, have been placing their hopes upon the sword of the police. But while we would not consider whether such prayer-meetings are a desired ‘apparition,’ yet we would point out the fact that the villagers will continue to hold and take part in such meetings, as long as nothing better is offered them. But the assistance of the police is in no way desirable, for, on the one hand, it gives the sufferer the glory of a martyr in the eyes of many persons, and on the other hand, it is itself impossible to control religious movements through outward means. It is only when fanaticism has assumed harmful dimensions, and the public peace is endangered by it, that the aid of the police can be required, and police interference be justified. Thus far, such meetings, if not held in public meeting-halls, were considered contrary to the law, but lately several such cases were considered in the senate, and it has rendered its decision. Upon the twentieth of April, this year, it decided that all such prayer-meetings which might be classed among family gatherings, and where the people attending from without have received no public invitation, and where the time and place of the meeting have not been published,—all such gatherings are permitted according to the law.”

“One case is as follows: In the Weissenstein District the police wrote out charges, Oct. 5, 1903, stating that J. Jurickson, who lives there, had, although several times forbidden by the police, held a public prayer-meeting in his dwelling, as minister of his faith (the Seventh-day Adventist). This charge was given to the justice of the peace of District Two, with the request that he be proceeded against, according to paragraph 29, because he had not fulfilled the demands of the police, specified therein; but in the court, the accused pleaded ‘not guilty,’ declaring that indeed he held on October 4 a prayer-meeting, but that only Seventh-day Adventists had taken part in it. He considers such meetings not contrary to the law, because religious liberty to Christians of all confessions had been granted to all the subjects of the Russian empire, and sanctioned by his majesty. Because of this, he had asked neither the Lutheran consistory nor the Russian police for permission. The justice of the peace found that, according to the literal interpretation of said paragraph in the law, private prayer-meetings so far as they go outside the members of the family, could not be held in any other way but with the permission of the consistory, but such permission, the accused (as he himself admitted) did not possess. It could be further seen from the minutes of the police that such meetings had been forbidden by them to said Jurickson, and he had therefore transgressed paragraph 29 of the law. Upon all this evidence the said justice condemned Jurickson to a fine of twenty-five rubles, or seven days’ imprisonment. Jurickson appealed again, to a higher court, declaring that they had in no way proved him guilty of holding a public prayer-meeting, as he had simply met with a number of Adventists, with such of like faith, on certain days at certain services, and had in no way advertised it. Furthermore, the Evangelical Lutheran Consistory was not entitled to give him such permission, as the government was hindering no one in exercising his worship. He also stated that he had petitioned the

over-procurator of the Holy Synod to grant him such permission. For this reason he asked that the decision of the justice of the peace might be changed, and that the revision of this might be detained until the resolution of the synod could be received. But the justice would not reconsider the matter—he simply lowered his fine, claiming that it was not malicious intent, to five rubles or two days’ imprisonment. But as Jurickson appealed again, this time to the senate, the criminal department of the ruling senate, in its session of April 20, 1904, decided that the judgment of the justice of the peace, according to paragraph 1 of the criminal law, was to be entirely set aside, and the accused should be set free.”

We see from this that while the Lutheran synod, seeking to employ the force of the police, tried to stop our prayer-meetings, the senate itself, the highest court of appeal in all Russia, has certainly helped our brethren, and this decision will be of great use to our people when further difficulty threatens them.

Southern Russia

During the first quarter of 1904, the South Russian Conference had twelve additions, raising its membership to seven hundred and seventy-two, and since then quite a number have been baptized. Brother —— writes that from the fourteenth to the seventeenth of April he took in seven members, and May 1 he baptized one in the Black Sea. We learn that our brethren on the Volga have a good interest in the villages, from one hundred to one hundred and fifty being present at a time. They were lately able to baptize eight in this part of the country. Near the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Brother —— took in fifteen members. We have recently sent three Friedensau nurses to work among the German colonists in this field, and they seem to be doing well.

Dr. Pampaian and his brother write me from Tiflis that there are many difficulties to be encountered in their efforts to get their work started. The physician’s examination for a state certificate must be passed in Russian, and his degree must be taken in St. Petersburg. How strict they are is shown by the fact that a physician holding a foreign certificate, did not receive a Russian certificate, though he had successfully treated the czar’s brother, and the reason assigned was that he did not know the Russian. It will probably take some time before they find the best way to make a start.

Middle Russian Field

Our leading brother here writes that in the Middle Russian, or native, field he has been able to take in fifty-three members in one place, thirty-two in another, and fifty-three in still another, and in yet another place twelve. The experience they have had is best shown by the following extracts from his letter:—

“A brother, after he had confessed his faith, was beaten to death. Another man, in consequence of the beatings he has received, has been sick for a long time. In another place, fifteen persons were converted by the labors of one worker, and it was not long before persecution arose. The people set themselves upon them like wild beasts, and they were terribly maltreated. One man had his beard pulled out. Some were so beaten they were hardly recognizable. One man was beaten until about half dead, and then put on a pile of straw, and had not some prevented it, the mob would have set fire to the straw and burned him alive. One father beat his son with a wet rope until he supposed the son to be dead. Some had their houses torn down, and all their property taken away, and as they had no home and no protection, they fled with maltreated bodies, and bleeding faces, not less than two hundred and fifty miles, where some of our people lived, who took them in. I was able to receive twelve members from among these. They rejoice in the Lord, and are glad they may suffer for Christ’s sake.”

“In one church they have had a great deal of trouble with the police. Some of the brethren were beaten; the clothes were torn off their backs. Their meeting was disturbed every Sabbath, although they met in the open fields; for wicked men sought them out, and tried to hinder their worship in every way. Their number continually increased; one year ago there were five brethren in this place, and to-day fifty are attending the meetings, but these gatherings must be held secretly, and in out-of-the-way places.”

“But how the Lord turns all these things for good is seen from the following experience: May 2 fourteen brethren were condemned to six days’ imprisonment, and in order to make their reproach worse, the police compelled them to march about sixty miles on foot, and their route lay through ten villages. As there was a sister with a nursing child in the company, it required five days for them to make the journey. While resting in these various villages, God’s Spirit moved upon the brethren to testify of their faith. Sometimes they had as many as three hundred hearers, who listened with the greatest interest. Undoubtedly many who otherwise might not have heard the message thus received a knowledge of it, and the good seed has been sown throughout that whole neighborhood, and the whole country is stirred in consequence. Joyfully they endured imprisonment, and as even there they were the means of converting others to the message, the officers let them out before their time had been served.”

Our brethren are guarded from Sabbath to Sabbath, so they can not meet together, and yet the truth is progressing, and in this short time the brother has taken in about one hundred and seventy. While we see the time of persecution is coming upon our people, yet the Lord’s ways are so wonderful that even these troublous times only increase the interest to hear.

As to the influence of the war, we have just learned that in one place five brethren were drafted, and upon stating their convictions, the officer told them if they would not serve, they would have to face the martial law. Soon the reserves in that district are to be called out, and a number more will have to go. We do not yet know what will be the fate of those who go to the front, but we do know that under any circumstances, they deserve our prayers. Should not we who yet have peace and prosperity arise and shine that the work may soon be finished? Let us not forget to pray for these dear brethren who are suffering for the truth’s sake. Truly we can say, ‘Here is the patience of the saints.’

Hamburg.