The Missionary by J. W. SCOLES.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 20, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 19.

The Missionary.

By J. W. SCOLES.

THE LAND OF THE CZARS.

PERHAPS there is no other country among the civilized nations of the earth to-day concerning which there is so little general knowledge as the empire of Russia. This is all the more strange when we consider the prominent position it occupies in political affairs. For several years past we have read that the "Eastern Question" was troubling Europe, and that all the prominent powers of the Old World were concerned for the welfare and perpetuation of their respective Governments. In connection with this, we would read that Russia was a disturbing element, but beyond this our interest ceased; and it is doubtless safe to say that with the great majority of Americans, the investigation of Russian matters has been largely left to diplomats and statesmen, until the appearance of the recent articles in the Century magazine stimulated the minds of some others to turn in this direction. Even now, however, it is probable that we do not understand a tithe of what we might readily know concerning the diversified interests, resources, people, customs, laws, and religion of this great country. Yes, Russia is a great country, and the important part it is evidently destined to act in the great and closing drama of the history of nations should naturally turn the attention of all thoughtful minds toward it. But the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will doubtless find an additional reason for desiring information on this subject in the fact that the contributions for the present quarter from the Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath-schools of the entire world are to be used in opening up our work in Russia and establishing missions in that field.

So it becomes a matter of personal interest to us to know where and to what kind of people we are sending our means and men.

European Russia includes all the empire lying west of the Ural Mountains, while Asiatic Russia takes in Siberia, Caucasus, and Turkistan. Taken as a whole, it is the largest political division of the world, and contains one-sixth of the land surface of the entire globe, or more than eight million square miles. In point of population it also stands higher than any other of the so-called civilized nations, as its inhabitants in 1880 numbered 100,372,562, or about twice as many as our own country. More than one-half of this population belongs to the established Greek Church, of which we will speak in the future.

The subdivisions of the empire are called governments, and number over ninety, some of them populated with people speaking entirely different languages than others, and holding to entirely different customs. This peculiar combination of people so diverse from each other, and who naturally should be separated, and yet are united under one general Government, makes it a difficult task for the Czar to keep peace inside his own dominions.

As we shall consider Siberia in a separate article hereafter, it may be well for us to turn our attention for a time to Russia proper, or rather Russia in Europe. Here the principal population of the empire is located, and it is here that the most civilization is seen. In this district alone there are six cities with a population of over 100,000 each, and three others which contain over half a million each. Of these, St. Petersburg, the capital of the empire, is the largest, having a population of 875,000, or nearly one million people. None of these cities as yet have so much as been entered by the Third Angel's Message, and but little has been done in the surrounding provinces. Surely, is it not time for us to begin to realize the responsibility God has laid upon us in this direction, and to enter these fields of labor to gather sheaves for the Master's garner?

In regard to the physical features of European Russia, but little perhaps is necessary to be said. The country consists largely of a vast plain, most of which is low land, especially the northern portion, which is nothing but a swamp in summer and a vast frozen waste in winter, which in these northern latitudes lasts from eight to nine months of the year. It is said that there is not a mountain in all of this part of Russia, the highest land between the Baltic and the Black Sea being in the vicinity of Kremeneits, which is only 1,328 feet above the ocean level.

Russia is traversed by the largest rivers in Europe, and the northern portion contains numerous and extensive lakes, that of Ladoga being the most important, and ranking in point of size as the largest lake on the continent. In the southeastern part, north of the Caucasus, the country is but little short of a desert. The entire scope between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains, containing seven times as much territory as the State of Pennsylvania, is nothing but a barren waste, called a steppe, affording tolerable pasturage

perhaps in a few places, but for the most part a desolate plain. This steppe is exposed to great extremes of temperature, the cold being intense during the winter, while hot winds and oppressive heat prevail in the summer months.

Central Russia and the upper basin of the Volga, embracing hundreds of thousands of square miles, are very fertile. While several other portions of the empire produce articles suitable for food and clothing, the countries just referred to are known as the granary of Russia, and produce more grain than is used for home consumption. Rye and barley are the principal grain crops grown, but agriculture is of a very crude character. The forests yield valuable produce, and building timber, tar, pitch, and potash are largely exported. Cattle and sheep are raised in different parts of the empire in varying numbers, tallow and hides being exported in considerable quantities. In some localities sheep-skins form the dress of many of the peasantry.

Coal beds of immense extent are found near the Ural Range of mountains, and salt and other minerals exist in abundance in these and some other localities, the two governments of Orenboorg and Perm having numerous mines of gold, platinum, and copper, some of which are very rich. Petroleum is also found in large quantities, and of late years is being exported to all the principal markets of the world. Russian petroleum has even found its way to our country, and has been sold in competition with our own coal-oil at New York recently.

The commercial interests of Russia are greatly enhanced by the numerous rivers and canals with which the country abounds, and manufacturing has been greatly stimulated on this account. Woolens, silks, cotton goods, leather, metal wares, paper, glass, jewelry, etc., are all manufactured with great skill. In short, it seems strange that a country of such vast resource, and such large population, should remain so comparatively unknown. And were the laws governing the people different, the people themselves would be different and a closer acquaintance would exist between them and other nations of the world. But of the people themselves, with their peculiar customs, and of the Government under which they live, with its religious and other arbitrary exactions, we must defer writing until another time.

J. W. SCOLES.