RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN RUSSIA.
RUSSIA is apparently determined to suppress as much as possible all religions within her mighty domain that will not bow to the orthodox church. Czar Nicholas, the grandfather of the present ruler, and seemingly his model in political and ecclesiastical government, declared as the program of his rule: “One country, one language, one religion.” Russia is full of non-conformists; its sects number almost legion. But the leading ones are the Lutherans of the Baltic provinces, the Stundists of Central Russia, and the Armenians in the East. It is upon these that the heavy hand of tyranny is laid. The Stundists have long been the object of persecution, and but recently the leader of the Protestants of Armenia was banished to Siberia, his chief offense having manifestly been the translation of the Bible, the propagation of a biblical Christianity. In the Baltic provinces the agents of the orthodox church have made sad havoc among the Lutheran peasantry. Oppressed by terrible taxation, and protected in scarcely any rights, they have been won over to the orthodox church by the promise of freedom from taxation, freedom of military duty, land grants, and money. And when won they neither receive what has been promised nor can they return to their old church. To leave the orthodox church and join another, is in Russia a grave criminal offense. Even to urge a man to leave the orthodox church, is punished by imprisonment of two years. Pastor Brondt, a leading Lutheran minister, received back into his church several members who were sorely conscience-stricken for having deserted the faith of their fathers. He was banished to Siberia for this action. The University of Dospal, one of the best in Europe, is made the special object of attack, and a decree has been promulgated that within a certain period all the lectures there must be delivered in Russian. This is to be done notwithstanding the fact that the great majority of students and professors do not speak this language.—Christian at Work.