A CIRCULAR issued by the "Friends of Armenia" gives publicity to an incident in Russian life which shows one of the peculiar methods of the Russian State Church in carrying on its work. Last year about twenty-five Armenian peasants in the Russian village of Karakilissa made up their minds to join the State Church, and sent a petition to the Russian Synod, asking to be baptized. A few days later they repented of this act of hypocrisy, and wrote to the Synod that they had decided to remain in their own communion. This, they thought, would end the matter; but they did not know the Russian State Church. They were notified by the governor to be ready for baptism on a certain day. They told the governor that they had notified the Synod of the change in their decision; but he replied: "We have orders from St. Petersburg to baptize you. Those who go back on their word will be exiled to Siberia."
On the following Sunday the governor was on hand with a regiment of Cossacks, the Russian archpriest, a Bible, and crozier. Many Russian officers and ladies were also present to witness the ceremony. The peasants refused to be baptized, in spite of the governor's strong persuasion. They were then turned over to the Cossacks, who whipped them to the place of baptism, and then mounted guard over them. The Russian priest read from the Bible and sprinkled them with holy water.
The "converted" Armenians were then members of the Russian Orthodox Church and amenable to all its rules and regulations. The wives of these unfortunate men immediately left the village, taking their children with them, and declaring that they could not live with husbands who allowed themselves to be converted by force.
Russia is now making it very uncomfortable for the Armenians under her jurisdiction, as also for the Finns. Rights guaranteed to the latter by solemn treaty have been ruthlessly trampled upon, and promises made the Armenians have been broken, and their most cherished church and school privileges taken from them. Russia's purpose in this seems to be to make her State Church the paramount religious power and influence in all of Asia and Europe that she can bring under her control. Her territorial extensions are in the nature of a religious crusade with that end in view. Viewed in this light, with the church officials in the highest places in the government, it is easy to understand Russia's territorial aggressiveness and her tenacity in holding any portion of neighboring country upon which her soldiers have set foot. It is the national-Christianity idea in full bloom, with a subservient government behind it to put its wishes into effect. The demand for religious legislation in this country is a manifestation of the same unchristian spirit, only that it has not yet the terrible power behind it to make its wishes effective as is the case with the Russian State Church.