RELIGION IN RUSSIA

Evening Star, Issue 19407, 16 November 1926, Page 2

RELIGION IN RUSSIA

" CAIAPHAS A COMMISSAR. ” BISHOP’S IMPRESSIONS. LONDON, November 4, The policy of the Soviet Government with regard to religion was commented upon by Bishop Bury in an address on ‘ What I Have Just Seen in Russia.’ • “ It has been made a criminal offence to teach Christianity to young people in Russia,” said the bishop, “and all the churches have been closed; but, though the authorities may exercise physical domination over the people, they cannot stifle their inner faith. Religion can never be killed by persecution. If the Russian people can bear it, and stick it out—as lam sure they will--, the flame of religion will one day burn more brightly than ever before in their country, and she will truly deserve her old title of ‘ Holy Russia.’ ” Speaking of his personal experiences when travelling in Russia, the bishop said that he was very careful during his last visit to avoid the society of other bishops and to refrain from taking part in any religious ceremony. He took this course because ho had reason to believe that certain church dignitaries suffered for the .attentions which they showed him when he participated in a religious service in the course of a tour in 1923. One unfortunate bishop he knew had been incarcerated in a horrible fortress at a White Sea port ever since.

The will of the Government, added the bishop, was carried out very largely through the medium of the Jewish officials. The Jews in power in Russia today were of the same order as those who stoned the prophets., Caiaphas, he thought, would have made a very good Commissar for the Soviet Government.