CHRISTIANS IN RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20961, 26 February 1930, Page 9

CHRISTIANS IN RUSSIA

ALLEGED PERSECUTION. NO INDICATION IN MOSCOW. USUAL SERVICES BEING HELD. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, February 24. (Received Feb. 26, at 11.30 p.m.J\ There are so many conflicting reports concerning the extent of the anti-re-ligious campaign in Russia that it is most difficult to get a true summary of the real position. The first despatch from the British United, Press special representative who was . sent to investigate the position readied London tonight, Ilia account embodying his observations in Moscow on Sunday. He says: “It was a day of contradictions, contrasts, ajad perplexities. In practically all Moscow’s 1500 churches—thus far only .100 have been diverted to other uses or demolished—the usual services were held, although the congregations were depleted. I was surprised to hear at least one church hell ringing.' I attended the stately Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, the favourite of the Czar and the Czarina, close to the Kremlin, where there were 600' worshippers, as devout as any I have’seen in London, Rome, or New York. • The small attendance was no doubt due partly to the athiest campaign and partly to the fact that Sundays have become working days in factories and shops, which Are running normally. “ Thereafter I went by taxi to the anti-religious State Museum,, which is devoted to charts, pictures, and models depicting the theory of evolution and the alleged relationship of Christianity with paganism, materialistic, monarchiatic, anti-revolutionary tendencies and practices ,of the Orthodox Church. In contrast with the cathedral congregation the visitors were, mostly youths and children who appeared . keenly interested.” '

The correspondent detailed a journey he made throughout the' city,, during which he saw commissary stores crowded with ration card holders. Thence he went to a crowded kinema, where he saw an \ all-Russian film which was photographically and technically superior to the American type of , film. A current news* film .graphically portrayed the demolition of St. Simon Monastery, which was once the abode of Ivan the Terrible. ’■

The correspondent -ended the day in the crowded national' opera; where he saw a superb performance by a Russian ballet.’ “ Throughout the day there was not the slightest indication that the people of: Moscow are disturbed or in any way influenced for or agaijist the world-wid* agitation W the religious issue/’ STATEMENT BY MR MACDONALD. GOVERNMENT NOT INDIFFERENT. LONDON, February 24. (Received Feb. 25, at 11.30 p.m.) Mr Ramsay .MacDonald, replying to a correspondent, admits that the Government is much concerned with what is going on .in Russia, but it had not got the facts. The news from Riga should not he ..believed until it had been corroborated. Many statements which had done duty from time to time had been proved false. Russia’s religious history was full of records of persecution, and members of the Cabinet who had inherited a hatred of persecution, were unlikely to be indifferent thereto. But the agitation, which was inspired by polities as' much as by, religious toleration,- must not deflect the Government ' from, pursuing' the. ordinary'rulea J of in- - ternatiorial relationships with prudence. ’ The tone' of the present agitation was hardening, rather than softening) the Russian Government’s heart, giving it an opportunity erroneously to persufi.de its own people that this is part of a conspiracy by other’ Governments to begin war against the Soviet. His Government Was not indifferent hut it intended *to avoid' any action which would add to the inflictions of Christians in Russia.

THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR. - .... : i - . . MAKING FULLEST INQUIRIES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 24. (Received Feb. 25, at 5.5 p.m.) The Foreign Secretary (Mr Arthur Henderson) .was asked in the House of Commons whether the Soviet Government was giving the British Ambassador, in, Moscow any facilities for investigating the question of religious persecutions in Russia. ,v _ Mr Henderson replied, that the Soviet Government had already furnished the Ambassador with the Information; for which he had asked respecting legislation - in tile Soviet Union on religious questions. ■ The Ambassador had-.not Jisked for facilities other tli&n the supply of . this information, and could not: properly do so. \ ... When asked if’ he could give any indication concerning when he expected the report, Mr Henderson replied that he was hoping that the Ambassador was making the fullest inquiries, and it was possible that his' report might he delayed in consequence. When asked whether the British representative in Moscow, would report not only on the treatment of Christians in Russia, but also on .that of, the Mussulman, population, Mr Henderson said: ,-T lns^ruc tions to the Ambassador 1 at Moscow called for a. general review oi the religious situation in the Soviet Umon; I mentioned no particular communities by name.” IKONS BURNED AT MOSCOW. CHURCH BELLS DISMANTLED. , ,MOSCOW, February 24. „The anti-religious war is intensifying. Workmen are voluntarily dismantling all church bells at Smolensk, and hundreds of ikons have been burned at Aimat. The newspaper. The Godless, publishes a long list of priests who have allegedly forsaken religion and have joined the atheist campaign.