ANTI-GOD CAMPAIGN

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1930, Page 5

ANTI-GOD CAMPAIGN

FEELING IN EUROPE.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright;.

(Received this day at 10 a.m.> LONDON, Feb. 16

During the week an agitat'ioi throughout Europe against the per seoutio.i of Cnristians in Russia created something like a crisis in the relations between Russia, and the rest of the world. 1

An important aspect of the agitation in Britain is the obvious concern of the Labour Party, lest it prove a valuable political asset against Labour, as an election winin'.on the Zinovieff letter. The anti-Russian campaign in Europe is intensified by the kidnapping of Koutepoff and ■Communist agitations obviously furnished by Soviet funds. Thus the Greek police unearthed a .big Communist plot, the arrestees including a Russian named Kolozov. Evidence shows the arrestees were plotting mutinies in the Greek Army and Navy. Meanwhile Moscow messages show thp Soviet can in. no way be deflected from the anti-God campaign, A train of nineteen cars is running ■throughout Russia with Godless films and Godless agitators. Hundreds of churches and monastries have been demolished under the influence of the slogan “Culture instead of superstition.’’

Many striking photographs of churches in a state of demolition are published in London newspapers. The latest announcement is that acting on the advice of the Union of the Godless, the Government has forbidden the celebration of Easter on Soviet territory, entrusting the army to prohibit the celebration. Mass meetings of factory workers are being held as a protest against foreign attempts to dictate Russia’s religious policy arid “Preparations for war the Soviet.”

RUSSIAN REPLY. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) MOSCOW, February 15. Replying to Mr Henderson’s statement in the Commons, official newspapers accuse English Archbishops of preparing the way to moral intervention in Russia. Their protests must be taken in conjunction with the Pope’s. “These ecclesiastics are simply conducting a political campaign.” The alleged persecutions are absolutely invented . Every effort to interefe with Russia on religious or any other pretext will be resolutely crushed. The newly enlightened Russian masses will be able to deal with these inciters of a new war.

In n signed report of an interview, metropolitan members of the Synod describe the papers’ pronouncement as unnecessary and unwarranted,. "We ourselves nre able to defend the orthodox church. The Pope has proved himself in the camp of British landlords and Franco-Italinn magnates. We are shortly issuing a special call to believers pointing out fresh attempts by the Pope to implant Catholicism among Orthodox Christians is absolutely intolerable. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s speech shows the same lack of truth regarding the alleged persecutions and smacks of promoting a flock. The new intervention in Russia is a sudden inexplicable outburst of friendly sentiment and leads to the thought, it is not a question of defending the church but pursuit of some earthly object.

Jewish circles in London learn the Soviet has closed up Leningrad Chore 1 Synagogue for conversion into a secular institute.

Moscow communists passed a resolution asking the Soviet to deal similarly with the local Synagogue.

-SOVIET REPORT

CHURCH REPRESSION DENIED

(Received this day at 11 a.m.) MOSCOW, Feb. 16

Tass Agency reports a representative off the Soviet press questioned the Metropolitan Sergius, head of the Methodist Church, and members of the Synod, who denied that religion at present, or ever, was persecuted. They declared churches were not closed bv the authorities but at the request of the population, and in some eases on -the initiative of church-goers themselves. Asked if the Christians were oppressed on account of their religious beliefs, they replied that the repression was clue to anti-Government- acts, not religion. The church was formerly most closely identified with the Monarchist system, wherefor many defied the Soviet, despite the counsel of the be-st minds of the church. Ministers were not forbidden to perform services or deliver sermons. Persons of suitaide age were allowed to receive religious instructions. The receipt of material aid from adherents of other faiths abroad would be humiliating and would raise moral and political problems, and would restrict churches’ religious activity. They added: “Hie position of the church is liecoming economically worse. "We are hopeful that under the new economic reconstruction, faith will survive.”