“GRIPPED BY RELIGION"

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 5

“GRIPPED BY RELIGION "

WAR AGAINST IT FAILS “WILL NEVER BE VICTORIOUS.” RUSSIANS DEFY PERSECUTION. "This article is based on information received from a former G.P.U. Commissar- of Soviet Russia, who had tried to escape from the ‘Godless Paradise’ in the hope of obtaining peace,” says Oswald A. Blumit, in World Dominion. “His remarks are psychologically interesting and I bellieve that they are a sign that there is a strong religious feeling in Russia in general, as Well as that a number of the Soviet officials are much perturbed by the course of events, despite all the efforts of an intense system of anti-religious propaganda. "The ex-Commissar states, T was a war prisoner before the outbreak of the revolution, and when the Bolsheviks came into power I became an ardent admirer and supporter of communist ideals. “ ‘We started a war against our deadliest enemy—religion. The atmosphere was full of religious germs. We closed a number of churches, but the people knelt outside in the streets. In . bitterly cold weather, with snow and ice on-the ground, they knelt with hands uplifted in prayer. “‘lmprisonment and the use of our swords did not avail. There were some who followed us, and with their help we took down the crosses from the church steeples and pulled down thousands of churches, yet millions ed faithful to their religious beliefs and we were powerless against them. “ ‘Thousands gladly suffered the sorrows and torture of exile and many of them died. I have seen crowds on their way to imprisonment or exile actually singing hymns, their faces shining with a glorious light. Their churches had been closed down by the vote of a great majority, but somehow they grew stronger and sought to have the churches reopened. I do -not think that we will ever be victorious in our anti-religious activity in Soviet Russia. Religion will prevail. !“‘I know of two cases where the kolhozi (collective farms) have been secured by church people, and that even some monks are to be found working there. As to the priests and pastors, though they have lost all civic rights yet they have all things necessary. The religious people deny themselves even of the little they possess and give liberally to the priests and pastors, thus assisting them to continue in their spiritual ministrations. Some of the churches were reopened again and again as a result of the intervention and secret work of the people loyal to their faith. ‘“As to the komsomolci (Communist Youth Movement), it is supposed to be definitely anti-religious. As the youth join this movement full of the zeal of pioneers they wage war against any movement with the' slightest semblance of religious or church activity. Yet, when they grow up and have served in the Red Army, we find that they turn against atheism. They join the believers. Thus all the effort expended on their materialistic training is lost. “ ‘The soul of Russia remains deeply religious. Even those who had been trained from early childhood to accept atheism, and had been strictly kept away from any religious influence are now becoming deeply religious. Russia is incurably gripped by religion. “ ‘The strain of fighting against religion began seriously to affect my health. This is not my fate alone, others too, thousands of leaders in Russia are feeling the same. We have lost our case. There are some leaders who are not prepared to admit defeat, but this is the truth. It overwhelms me to think of all our wasted efforts in., propaganda and of all the lives lost in our war against religion!’ “The strife between . the powers of darkness and the powers of light is still going on in Russia. But it is safe to assume that the enemy is losing ground in many ways, and though evil still appears to hold the fort it would not be at all surprising to hear of a great re-/ vival in Soviet Russia. “This should encourage the readers of World Dominion’ to continue their intercessions on behalf of all Christians in Russia. May . the day come when the Gospel of Christ shall have free course amongst the teeming millions and various races in the U.S.S.R.”