TOLSTOI EXCOMMUNICATED.

New Zealand Herald, 12 March 1901, Page 5

TOLSTOI EXCOMMUNICATED.

By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright.

London, March 11. The Holy Synod of the Russian Church has excommunicated Count Leo Tolstoi, owing to his anti-Chris-tian teachings.

Home- time ago.a sensation was caused in St. Petersburg by a rumour that M, PobiedonostsofF, Procurator-General of the Holy Synod, was about to deal with the celebrated Husfiian writer, Count Tolstoi. The- report Stated that M, Poliiodoiiostseff proposed to the Most Holy Synod that it should examine the* recent philosophical writings of Count Tolstoi, and say whether or not they were Mm work of a " renegade," and, moreover, of a " pernicious renegade," who was very popular because bin doctrines undermined tins foundations of orthodoxy, sowing, both among intelligent poisons and among those who are the reverse, the seeds of rank heresy. The Kcelesiostieal Board, composed of three metropolitans, four ' archbishops, and five bishops, duly read the later books by Count Tolstoi, discovered within their pages the heresy prohibited by law, and resolved "to publicly excommunicate f,yeff .N'ikolaievtteh Tolstoi from the Church, in order that his disciples, armed by the authority of a superior Judge, may renounce his doctrines," j.J'he Synod further decided, so the rumour , went, to prohibit the publication of all the ! Count's works, and, to cause them to be entirely withdrawn from circulation. The Count would, it was further staled, be tet summoned to Hi. Petersburg, for the purpose of explaining the gist, 1 scope, and aim of his religious writing*. Ijj case his expiations proved unsatisfactory, the <on4emaaHon in question would be. pronounced with befitting, but heretofore unwonted, «remony, and ; might also entail other than spiritual consequence*. Referring to this rumour, a writer pointed out at the time that " it is in the highest degree improbable■ ih*i Bis Majesty the Tsar would Raaetioa any"■thing more than the mere wndenumtkHi of . the Count's tracts and the withdrawal of i several booklets, now permitted, from .circu- , lation. The Orthodox Church is ajraciig: the ■ most tolerant of Christian «ifina.t«a6fes -known to history, .and it, is ;«ilik»?ly, nay, I impossible, that any ktter-d»j heretie'slionlci, j directly or indirectly, - cause it to <&&&$« j its/character. Still,' there are number* hi , people of intelligence who «*» 'finaljr.- convinced that the. vvnvmblv '• Count,: wilj be "'■ finally exwrnmuoiefeted by bell, book, «i d candlelight, .secluded ■in a monastery,. and j perhaps even deprived of .certain of his civil j rights,.'.' ;'.'..': '':".. J