WIVES SHARED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26473, 29 May 1947, Page 7

WIVES SHARED

STRANGE RELIGIOUS SECT ALL PRIVATE OWNERSHIP RENOUNCED VANCOUVER, May 27. Wife-sharing is being practised by three groups of Doukhobors, who have invaded Vancouver Island, says the Vancouver News-Herald. It is reported that they had quarrelled with the Russian “ Sons of Freedom ” sect near Nelson, British Columbia, on the wifesharing issue. About 200 Doukhobors, comprising men, women and children, headed by Michael Verigin, a lineal descendant of Peter “The Lordly,” who headed the sect in Canada until 1924, are conducting the experiment. . Their spokesman, Joseph Podovinkoff, said: “We believe that private property is the cause of all trouble in the world. Not only do we renounce private ownership of land and money, we also believe that private ownership of persons and families, including wives husbands and children, belongs to th« old order. One person cannot hold another as his own. This community operates on that basis, and we are not afraid to state openly and publicly that that is our programme.”

The Doukhobors are a Russian sect which originated about the middle of the eighteenth century. They believe in a mystical interpretation of the Scriptures, and regard even the facts of the New Testament as allegories. In some cases they practise community of goods, and are opposed, as a matter of principle, to military service. They endured r-uel persecution in Russia, and in 1898 were given permission to emigrate. The first party sailed for Cyprus, which was originally chosen for their settlement. Later it was found possible to send'two parties of over 4000 to Canada, where they arrived in 1899. In all, about 7500 arrived in Canada, the Government allotting them land in the Provinces of Assiniboia and Saskatchewan.