Jottings from Russia by H. P. Holser

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 2, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 47.

Jottings from Russia

By H. P. Holser

JOTTINGS FROM RUSSIA. NO. 2.

UNLIKE the Roman Catholic Church the Greek or Eastern Church has not passed through the experiences of a reformation; in many respects, it is in the same condition as the Roman Church in the days of Luther,—on the eve of a reformation. This is especially so in Russia. With permission of the church authorities, the British Bible Society has circulated large numbers of the Bible in Russia; the people seem hungry for the Word, and enlightened by it they are fast breaking loose from the darkness and superstition in which they are bound. With no visible leader to head the movement, a great work is going on in the Russian Church. With no leader or outward organization, it can not readily be taken in hand by the priests; it is quite uncontrollable and is constantly spreading.

GERUSI, AN EXILE SETTLEMENT IN THE TRANSCAUCASUS.

We have watched this movement with much interest, wondering if it were not the prelude to the work of the Third Angel's Message among this people; and now it is with special joy that we see the truth taking root among them. It first began among those in banishment in the Caucasus, near the Caspian Sea; from these it has spread to the vicinity of Kiev, to the Crimea, and to the borders of Persia.

From the first, Russian Sabbath-keepers have been diligently hunted down by the authorities, and quite a number are now in banishment; but the truth continues to spread, the work of banishment usually serving to plant it in new places. Besides the power of the State, the church uses other means of bringing dissenters back to the State church. Missionaries are specially trained for this purpose. These attend the meetings of Stundists and Sabbatarians, and try by kindness and argument to bring them back to the fold. But they have a difficult task in hand, and often hear some very plain things about the mother church.

These missionaries printed two pamphlets in Russian against the sect of Sabbath-keepers, and, among other places, circulated these pamphlets at the great fair of Nijni Novgorod, far in the interior, northeast of Moscow. In these pamphlets they carefully note the Russian publications of this sect, and give the address of the Hamburg publishing house, thus advertising the truth to those who desire it. One man, reading these pamphlets, sent at once for our tracts and was thereby converted to the truth.

The Russian Stundists and Sabbath-keepers are permitted to hold their meetings, but they are not allowed to perform the marriage ceremony or baptize. Any one convicted of baptizing a Russian is a subject of banishment. Usually, baptism takes place in the night and sometimes the candidate does not know the administrator, hence it is impossible for him to tell who baptized him.

A recent case serves as illustration of the diligence with which our elders are ferreted out. A Russian woman saw him baptize, but did not know his name nor where he lived; but she observed that the administrator had a wart on the end of his index finger. She informed the police, who searched till they found the man with a wart on his index finger. Without further evidence he was imprisoned, and after eight months was banished. Meanwhile the woman who betrayed him accepted the truth and attends the meetings, and weeps bitterly that she was the cause of the elder's banishment. This also shows how the truth is working among this people.

The work among the Germans who are extensively scattered in Russia, is no less encouraging. The past year has witnessed decided advancement and extension. The truth has now entered St. Petersburg, where a goodly number are rejoicing in its light. These claim that five years ago they were ready to keep the Sabbath, but did not know of a people observing it or how to begin. They were specially exercised on the subjects of the Sabbath and baptism.

In the vicinity of Orenburg, north of the Ural Mountains, a German pastor began preaching that he believed there was more light for the church; for this he was expelled, and forty families left the church with him. When one of our workers met with him and told him about the truth, his wife said with tears she believed that these were the truths they had been searching for. A short time before our laborers came to this district, the authorities passed a vote to open the schoolhouses to any one who preaches Christ. In this district, there are thirty-two villages.

There are also favorable openings in Russian Poland; calls came from the Ural Mountains and Siberia; at Vladivostok on the Pacific, five have embraced the truth and call for a laborer. Near the Persian border, over thirty-five Russian families have begun the observance of the Sabbath, and call for some one to come and teach them the truth more fully. Near Tiflis, in ancient Georgia, there are thirty families keeping the Sabbath. Thus from north to south and west to east, fires are being kindled all through this vast empire, and present indications are that a great work will here be done in the great Reformation which is now preparing a people for the Lord's coming.

H. P. H.

In the Caucasus, Russia, October 22.