RELIGIOUS MADNESS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13321, 5 March 1914, Page 3

RELIGIOUS MADNESS.

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph— Copyright.) BUD A PESTH, March 4. Father Alexius jvas sentenced to four and a half years, and 31 others from one to fciree 'years. /' The remainder were acquitted. Four are now suffering from religious madness. j

In December, last 'the. trial was commenced of 94 prisoners— mostly Hungarian Ruthemians. Two hundred and seventy-four witnesses, are to be examined. The principal prisoner was a Russian monk nomed Father Alexius JMont Athos, whose real name is Alexander Kabayuk. The prisoners were charged with seditious statements against the Emperor Franz Josef and the dynasty. Hundreds of thousands of books and pamphlets were circulated Inciting rebellion with a view to joining Russia, and, according to the prosecution, the promoters of the propaganda are closely connected with the President of the Russian National Association, Count Vladimir Bobrinsky, a member of the Duma, and also with priests m various Russian monasteries. The Russian Bishops Exodius and Antonious were zealous supporters of the insurrection, and their agents promised the Rutherian peasants a better and cheaper religion than the GraecoCatholic if they Joined the Orthodox Church. Baptisms and marriages and funerals were to be free. Consequently many Joined the Russian Church.