RUSSIAN PERSECUTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20651, 25 August 1930, Page 12

RUSSIAN PERSECUTION.

OPPRESSION OF RELIGION. PROTEST MEETING IN LONDON. [IKOM Ulfl OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON*. July 17. An international mooting in connection with the Christian Protest Movement was 1) cK1 at tho Albert Ilall on Monday night to protest against the oppression of religion in Russia. Lord Brentwood, who presided, said the form of persecution was changing in Russia, Tho first five years were years of intense cruelty, executions, murders, every form of inhumanity. This was followed by a, period of persecution of religion and of propaganda of anti-religion. Then came, last year, a recrudesee.no of personal persecution in the lace of and in consequence of which that association was founded. There was no doubt that its appeal to God to help their fellowreligionists in Russia had been heard, as there had been an abatement of the personal persecution of Christians and other religious people. But there was today an intensive persecution of religion itself.

in tho last three months an antireligious museum had been opened, containing every kind of document and statement which would induce people to halo all form.? of religion. Arrangements had been made to organise anti-religion throughout the whole, of the Tied Army. The great trade union conferences in May decided that they would carry on antireligious work sido by sido with their economic work. In one of the great cathedrals in Russia had been started a factory canteen and a workmen's club On May 5, however, a Russian paper published a remarkable statement as follows:—"Side by side with the process of increasing atheistic tendencies in villages another process is also present, tho increasing activities of churchmen and Church organisations." Attempts have been made in Russia to destroy tho churches by murdering bishops and priests, but, as "always, lilt* "blood of the martyrs had been the seed of the Church," said Lord Brentwood. The same anti-religion propaganda had begun hero. They were there to guard the religion, not merelv of Russia, but of the whole world. Prebendary A. W. (.lough, chairman of the general council, said the leaders of the Soviet Government were afraid of the Christian Protest Movement. The movement would not stop until religious liberty was given to Russia.