“FATHER JOHN” AND THE RUSSIAN SCHEMES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2480, 10 May 1909, Page 8

“FATHER JOHN” AND THE RUSSIAN SCHEMES.

Two years ago the writer saw Father John of Cronstadt for the first and only time. The League of True Russian Men otherwise the central organisation of the Black Hundreds—had invited him to the Michaelsky Riding School in St. Petersbum- on a Sunday afternoon to bless its banners. The Metropolitan, Antonias, had refused to allow his orthodox priests to grace the occasion, even rebuking the League’s policy of fomenting pogroms; but Father John was a much more prized patron than any of the absent dignitaiies. He arrived late. While an orator was fervently exhorting his 5000 or more hearers to stamp out the revolutionary infidels a loud and untranslatable sound of wonder and adulation came from the doorway. The whole gathering of dvorniks {house porters), pensioners, men servants, and religious devotees pressed forward to see the miracle worker. His appearance recalled some picture of an early father of the Church. His shortish, slightly-built figure, enveloped in a voluminous dark blue cloak, stooped much, his venerable, delicate face, rounded by uncut white locks and beard, expressed gentleness ami suffering to an almost distressing degree. He raised his frail hands upward a little, uttered some blessings that were not heard a couple of yards from him 'and touched each banner amid devotional hush. Since those days weakness grew rn him. He told visitors last year that his only food was porridge, and that the one happiness left to him in life was to take his part in the daily service in the Andreas Church next to his humble lodging at Cronstadt. His well-wishers among the educated public, who once numbered hundreds of thousands, have dwindled steadily for ton years or more, indeed ever since his public dispute with the Imperial Court chaplain. Janysheff, as to which of them last confessed Czar Alexander 111. on his deathbed in Livadia. Father John’s eagerness to establish his claim seemed out of keeping with the sincere humility of his earlier ministrations. It was then that intelligent people began to perceive that his reputation for devoutness and self-denial was being exploited by a gang of onhangers who saw boundless possibilities of getting money from the afflicted faithful who made pilgrimages to see him at Cronstadt.

From the ranks of these hangers-on there sprang the community of selfstyled Johannites, who have recently been the object of criminal nemecution for kidnapping children, among other things. A few weeks before his death Father John asked for the closed carriage which lie used when visiting the sick. It could not he found; a pair of Johannites had taken it for a pleasure ride. The old man had to take an open hired fly, and in it he caught the cold that led to his death.

As he lay dyin ■ his weak-minded wife was removed to another house and tiis satellites proceeded to distribute his goods and trinkets among themselves. During the inventory which was attempted to be taken after his end one of his assistants disappeared. She had had an unsatisfactory interview with the police, and quantities of valuables presented by his admirers were unaccounted for.

A strange company of dependents is dispersed at Cronstadt by his death. His blessing was so prized by pilgrims that they gave lavishly to tho host of mendicants, ikon sellers and lay brethren who encamped uninvited around the house in which he lived for fifty-three years. Some of them have taken tho removal of his body to the Johannite monastery near St. Petersburg and the consequent end of Cronstadt as a beggars’ paradise with such had grace that they have transformed themselves into footpads in the villages around Sestroretzk and Oranienbaum.

Others, the* more astute, have sought means of providing for their future. Continuing to avail themselves of the belief in Father John's miraculous powers, they announce that he entrusted them before Ins death with the tending of the “candle of the world.”

The candle of the world will he lit by the side of the tomb of Father John and will be tended by thirty-three vestal virgins. The life of its llame will last as long as that of the human race. The self-styled Johannites, by the word of their leaders, Sister Barbara and Brother Conon, in announcing a universal subscription for the installation of the candle, explain how it will ho symbolic of tho destinies of mankind.

As it burns down the moment will approach of the end of the world. “But,” they add, “after it is lit a miracle will happen. Wax will always grow around the base of the candle. So much wax will form as will last through the lifetime of all true believers. Candles from this wax should burn in the house of each of the faithful. “When the candle blows out the end of tho world shall come. Then the AntiChrist will invade the world in the final darkness, but he will be overthrown in the supreme struggle. “The Lord will call all nations to tho day of judgment.. All who come with candles from the wax of the candle of tho world will be placed on His right hand and those with none will he cast down into fiery Gehenna.” Flickering of the flame will signify famine, war or earthquake. It will always reflect the fate of humanity. Over a thousand roubles was collected for the candle of the world in small coins from the poor people who passed Father John's body within a. few hours after it was. laid in tho monastery. Mine. Sokolova, wife of a merchant, announced the donation of 5000 roubles. Sobs and cries of devotees lasted throughout the six hours of the final huria l service. Many were carried out unconscious from the mystic, incense-laden atmosphere. During tho Scripture reading, voices 'nterrupted fervently crying: “Me will arise ou tho third day.” Numbers of Johannites moved about among the crowd declaring that if they gave money to the- cause in. these first forty days their undertakings would ho specially blessed. Meanwhile Father John’s house at Cronstadt remains in confusion. It had been ransacked by onhangers of the priest before his death. Still quantities of money have been found in the pockets of old clothes and in letters hidden away in forgotten drawers. Autograph letters which it is known were addressed to Father John by Alexander 11., by Alexander 111., and by the present Czar have not yet been found.

Among some African tribes, when a man professes his love for a woman and asks her in marriage she invariable refuses him at first, lest it should appear that she had been thinking of him and was eager to beetm.; his wife. By so doing she maintains the modesty of her sox, as well as tests tho love and l abases the pride of her lover. This policy is also intended to ho of use to the woman in her married life —as, should there he quarreling and the husband! threaten to send her away, she can remind him of how ho made repeated professions of his love and urgently pressed his suit before she consented to become his wife.

To Wash Flannel Blouses.—Dissolve a heaped tablespoonful of soap jelly in half a gallon warm _ water. Add one teaspoonful of liquid ammonia. Soak the blouse in this for five minutes. Wash through this water, paying special attention to the soiled pahs. Then wash through another lather prepared in the same way. Rinse in water of the same temperature, with ammonia added in the same proportion. Squeeze as dry as possible. Hang in an airy, but not sunny, place to dry. When nearly dry iron wrong side out with a rather cool iron, pressing well.