RUSSIA TO-DAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 1, 12 October 1943, Page 3

RUSSIA TO-DAY

SOCIALIST, NOT COMMUNIST. PEOPLE’S RELIGIOUS STRAIN. ENGLISH ARCHBISHOP’S VIEWS. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 11. There was no doubt the Russian church was increasing in nfimbers though the figures of increase were not known, the Archbishop of York (the Most Rev. Dr. C. F. Garbett) stated in London to-day on his return from a 100-day visit to Russia. Many churches were still used for secular purposes, but the number used for religious purposes was increasing. Dr. Garbett told of a congregation of 10,000 in the Moscow Cathedral, when he attended a three-hour celebration of Liturgy, and one of more than that number at an Intercession sei’vice two days later. Both were week-day services. He. went to a country church on Sunday, and found it crowded with peasants. In all congregations there were many young children.

The Archbishop deprecated, however, the use of the term “religious revival.” All through the most difficult times, he said, there were large numbers who never gave up their faith. Suffering had brought out a latent, but deep religious strain in the Russian character, but it would be absurd to pretend that this was universal. There were large numbers who conscientiously rejected all belief in God and the State was definitely non-religious. Regarding the relation of Church and. State the Archbishop said that since the revolution the Church had been disestablished and disendowed and had supported itself entirely by voluntary offerings. Church worship was fully allowed, but religion was not taught in the schools. “Anti-religious propaganda has come to an end, though I was told the Godless societies still exist,” said Dr. Garbett. “The place religion has played in the history of the nation is respected and is shown on the screen and on the stage. Ridiculing religion is increasingly 'regarded as bad form and is discouraged. The anti-God museums have been closed. There is no freedom of religious propaganda, but in Russia all publications are controlled by the State.” The Archbishop mentioned as sig-

nificant that the Patriarchate had just issued the first number of a religious magazine. It had a circulation of 10,000 and must have had the Stage’s approval. Dr. Garbett said he considered there were two reasons why M. Stalin approved the election of the Patriarch and the summoning of the Council of Bishops. M. Stalin was a wise statesman who realised that religion was inherent in the majority of the Russian people. Secondly, the Church was no longer a supporter of the old regime. It accepted loyally the present constitution. It had thrown itself heart and soul into the national cause. It prayed and worked for victory. It had done this spontaneously the day war was declared. Speaking of the Russian situation generally, the Archbishop said that 90 per cent, of the adult population was engaged in the war effort. The hours of work had been lengthened and holidays shortened. Strikes were not known. The food rations had been cut to a minimum, but children were well cared for. Russia was a Socialist rather than a Communist State. While the means of production belonged to the State the individual could keep or dispose of his earnings, including houses built on collective farms.

“However much we may condemn some of the methods used during and after the revolution, we should now watch with sympathy the working out of a great social and economic experiment even though we feel that much is inapplicable in our country,” the Archbishop concluded.