A BAPTIST PROJECT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1186, 22 July 1911, Page 5

A BAPTIST PROJECT.

Q UNIVERSITY IN RUSSIA. Bs TelecraDli-Presß Association-OoDrrlehl . London, July 20. The Baptist World Alliance has commissioned Hγ. F. B. Meyer and Dr. Conwell to appeal for the Tsars "permission to establish a university in Russia for training Baptist ministers for all Europenn countries,

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN RUSSIA. The R«v. P. Laubert, of Mitau, who recently passed through London on his way to attend, the. Baptist World Congress nt Philadelphia, staled (as reported in tho "Christian , World"): "Fifty years ago wo began. Ourjubileo of modern evangelicalism in the Baltio provinces is nest year. Mr. Latimer, in his 'Under Three Tsars,' has told part of tho story—but not all. Tlicro is untold much of deep interest, Our pioneers were heroes indeed." You have more liberty now? "Yes; since 1905. We now publish onr newspapers and books. We arc free to telltho peoplo our faith." What is the prevailing religion in your part of Russia? "Tho Lettonian nation is mostly Lutheran. I suppose no State, church is cordial towards dissent. Wo have not found them friendly to us. Formerly tho Lutheran Consistory revised all our publications before wo could issue them, and struck out everything contrary to their views. They had power to do so. English works that I translated, Spurgeon's and others, were much censored. But now wo are free from this yoke. Formerly onr pastors might only preach to the one church of which they were minister. If a pastor visited even a small villago church he was, heavily fined or his license to preach was cancelled,' and ho must leave Russia altogether."

Was such a punishment ever inflicted on any of your ministers?

"Most certainly. There are many Lettonian Christians in Brazil with pastors who wore compelled to leave. Russia; also in Philadelphia and Boston, and in other placps. Our own people will give us greeting in America."