RUSSIAN BAPTIST CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 972, 12 November 1910, Page 9

RUSSIAN BAPTIST CONGRESS.

MR. FETLER'S NEW TABERNACLE. The recent Baptist Congress in.. St. Petersburg created extraordinary interest in the city. At one. time thoro was considerable apprehension that groat restrictions would be placed on liberty of . speech -at the congress. Stringent regulations wore drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior, as to the oonduct of the proceedings, and tlio subjects that might be discussed, but these seem to have been rather for show than for use. Then it must be added that the leaders of the congress acted with'great tact, and made it' clear, beyond dispute that Russian Baptists are loyal _ citizens and not political propagandists. Police wore present taking notes at all the meetings, and. on three occasions they objected to tlie British delegate, Rev. C. T. Byford, addressing the congress, but otherwise there was apparently little interference.

The closing meeting of .'the congress was a remarkable one. Long before the time for its commencement the hall wa-s crowded to suffocation, and an overflow meeting was hastily arranged, which was also packed to the doors. A most affecting farewell was taken of Rev. C. T. Byford and of Mr. J. A. Packer, the Australian journalist, who had come to Europe in order to attend the congress. Invitations poured in upon them to visit Baptists in all parts of the Empire, and especially !to be present at. the next congress at Moscow in 1911. .

Another interesting function during the congress was the laying of the. foundation stone of Mr. Fetier's" new Tabernacle in St. Petersburg. Messages of sympathy wero received from persons in high positions in Russian society, including, the wife of General Tchertkoff, a' friend of Lord Radstock, and the Gountess Tohemickoff.

One-third of the delegates have at one time or another suffered imprisonment or exile for conscience >sake, somei of them many times. One of them, Mr. Pramenclioff, now fifty-ax l years of age, has twice been sent to Siberia fifty-two times, arid knows the insido of twenty-one Russian prisons. But nothing has been able to daunt or silence him. In prison, or in the convict camp, ho has still preached the j Gospel.