LORD RADSTOCK AND COL. PASHKOFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6362, 8 April 1882, Page 7

LORD RADSTOCK AN D COL. PASHKOFF.

For. weeks, in the highest society—in the circles of the nobility in St. Petersburg ami Moscow, and even in the distant provinces — the most frequently recurring name was that of Lord Kadstoek. Some were enthusiastically in his favour; Home derided tiic wonderful saint ; but not infrequently did lie appear in person, and constrain them to listen attentively. What lie said was altogether now. If repelled, his words often left an impression which the superficial, mocking remark could not easily efface. Objections, mostly from some repertory of unbelief, were brought forward, but soon disposed of : they were but feebly presented, anil .still more feebly supported. They did not rest upon earnest conviction, anil thus soon fell to the ground. Fur it i.s only conviction, after all, which induces conviction, ilence, the opponent was not infrequently transformed into a friend, anil a friend whose whole life was permeated by the truth lie once opposed. Some who c.une t.j scoir remained to pray. To this class belongs the man whose name we are about to mention, and who soon became the central point of thy movement, iiasil Alexandrovitch Pashkoff is one of the richest men in Russia. In youth he serve.! in the Guards, .mil had an early introduction to the highest circles of the aristocracy. He was not, indeed, positively hostile to Christianity; but, like too many of the sam.class of society, he was lukewarm, indifferent. Iu the glare of the crowded ballroom, and amidst the noise of the house of mirth, ti:en: is no place for that Cod who hides in the darkness, but reveals Himself to the soul in secret, iu the still small voi-e. The Russian Bible Society had indeed held its animal meetings in one of the princely halls of his noble mansion ; but while this evinced the kindly, generous nature of the owner, it did net necessarily imply a warm participation in, and sympathy with, the objects of the Society: it merely ireant that he was noi opposed to these objects. Into the house of this gentleman Lord Radstoek also made his way, but failtd to sen its master. All encounter was, however, not. to he avoided on another occasion. Th<Word found an entrance to his heart, ami, notwithstanding the opposition of the world, retained its hold there. Overcome by the might of the truth. Colonel Paslikoll' discovered, like all true disciples, that in losing in this contest, the soul, instead of feeling the shame of defeat, arises with the joy of the conqueror, v.'ith peace of conscience, and with the blessed hope of the Christian. Fully decided, he took up the yoke of his Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. The nobility of the man's character waa seen in the thoroughness with which, from tile beginning, he was ready to confess Christ. He had experienced that it was indeed the wisdom of Cod and the power of Cod to all who believe. Naturally enough, at first he followed very much the same course as the instrument of his conversion; but it was creditable to both that they were so willing to say with tin: Baptist, in reference to the Master "He must increase—l must decrease."

As soon as the change was complete, anil Colonel Pashkoff had gained possession of the one true comfort of life in becoming Christ's aud Christ becoming his, he was tilled witli one desire—to live and labour for Him who had first loved him and given Himself for him. With his family, who were at one'with him in his purpose, he resolved that he aud his should serve the Lord.

As a lay preacher, Colonel Pasl-koff has shown a far-reaching activity. In droskv stalls, and in factories where the people were allowed to come together, year by year he has carried forward his work, neither discouraged by the great distances, nor the close anil foul atmosphere in which he has oftm had to apeak,—telling his fellow-sinners, iu plain la«guage, of the Saviour he himself has found. He has caivfully and sympathetically souirfit the form of speech most intelligible to his hearers, and in this simple way he discourses to them of the eternal verities, —(.lie truths of tiie Gospel. He strives to awake tirst the consciousness of sin, and then leads them to the Saviour who bestowa pardon ar.d peace, The hearers observed that the preachei had himself been awakened to perceive those eternal verities, and that the prophecy of the Saviour was fulfilled in hi.u, —" He that believeth from him shall flow rivers of living water" (John vii. 3b).

OuSundayevenings, the people assembled iu PashkoiFs own house; and the splendid apartments which were formerly open only to the HUc of Russian society for balls and routs, no\r stood open and were tilled to overflowing by crowds—mostly belonging to the very lowest orders of society—who desired to hear the good news of salvation, and who were moved to tears and supplications for relief from the burden of sin. On some evenings the crowd numbered as many as 1300 or 1400. And with wiiat thankfulness did the audience listen to the earnest speaker, who made no reference to the Church, but presented the sincere milk of the Word to those that were indeed but babes iu Christ'. Several times have I encountered drosky drivers through the week, from whom I 'learned that they had been visitors at the meetings ; and they have told me part of the discourse, or quoted passages from God's Word which showed what close attention had been paid, and how the truth had goue home ! Far in the interior of Finland, half-way betweu St. Petersburg and Torneo, I met a Finnish peasant who said to me, "PashkolF has done us much good.' , I was somewhat at a loss to understand how Colonel Pashkotfs exertions had also reached the Finlauders, but I was informed that amongst his hearers were many Finnish labourers, who working in St. Petersburg, had learned the Puiss, had attended the meetings, and returning to their villages, had carried also the savoury doctrine they had heard in the services. Coloniel Pashkoff docs not, however, stand alone iu this work. At his side stands Couut B , who is mighty in the Scriptures ; another nobleman" to'whom we have already adverted, in connection with the Stundists, as "Count Bibleman' , ; the Princess F . who holds in hor own house a weekly meeting for female servants—cooks and washerwomen—and concerning whom one of her hearers said, " She speaks as if shu heard the Lord, and one would think, while she was speaking, that the Lord Himself is present!" Jt has been a great trial to the Princess to overstep the usual limitations of society in this matter, and to take up a work so unusual for her sex, according to Russian customs. She waited long, us has she told me herself, to see if a preacher would not be thrust out into this part of the tield, who might break the bread of life to the hungry. But as none appoared, she was led to tate up the work herself. The Pashkoff meetings have been prohibited : and Pashkc.ff himself was requested to travel abroad for a time. Ho returned in the autumn, unmolested : but the halls of his princely dwelling are no longer crowded by willing'hearers of tho Gospel. Still, the circle of" those like-minded with himself remains unbroken ; they are neither terrified nor dispersed : and suffering will only deepen and impress the truth more lirmly on their minds. They still retain their joy of heart, and the same wonderful readiness for labours oi love and self-s.tcri/iee in their work for God. The offerings made by some few of these disciples are to bo reckoned, year after year, by tens of thousands of roubles. 3;i remo'te governments, hospitals are being built, which will compare with the best foreign institutions of the kind ; houses for labourers, schools, and other institutions for children, are rising silentlv and noiselessly ; and thousands of Bibles" an; being distributed at the cost of th«si! devoted' disciples. Lately, at the beginning oi winter, and without, the least bitterness at the prohibition of Gospelpreaching, one of them erected three soupkitchens, in which, for a couple »f copecks, ISOO persons can be sufficiently fed. While the prevailing poverty aud dearth are thus being met, Christian gifts are being distributed iu a thousand other ways, with the sole desire that the Lord Jesus should be honoured in the person of the poor and the afflicted. We refrain from saying anything regarding the probable issues of the movement with which the name of I'ashkofVis connected. This is, in any case, a difficult and delicate matter, but it is especially bo in Kussia. The present arrest, however, that has been laid on tho work is not to be regarded with dismay ; there remains abundant encouragement for the prayer of faith and the patience of hope.—Catholic Presbyterian.