SOVIET AND RELIGION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 10

SOVIET AND RELIGION

DISCUSSION IN ENGLAND HEATED CONTROVERSY STATEMENT AND DENIAL LONDON, March 21. Soviet. Russia and ith anti-religious campaign was a subject which caused a heated controversy at the annual,assembly of the National Council of Evangelical Free Churches at Sheffield. The president-elect, the Rev. J. 11. Rushbrooke, spoke of the “ menacing shadow of Communism in Europe.” They must wake up, he said, to the religious repression going on in Russia. “Remember Russia,” should be inscribed on every Christian heart. “The anti-religious forces,” he said, “arc unresting, unsleeping. They maintain their inhuman pressure continually. The Communist party which controls tho Soviet Union never loses sight of its goal—the final eradication of religion. “The religious communities are Hampered, fettered, crippled. Their wit ness is silenced, their case unheard. ’They arc deprived of new recruits. All tho authority and influence of the. State under Communist party control arc applied to the capture of the oncoming generation for atheism. Do you realise this, that no person connected with any religious body— Christian or Jewish, Mohammedan or Buddhist, or even Confucian —could be a member of tho Communist Party? That party, which has the monopoly of political power, both central and local, in Russia, is, 1o the very last man and woman, an anti God party.” Baptists and Quakers When Dr. Rushbrooke was making the point that preachers had been harassed in Russia, Dr. Salter, ALP. for Bermondsey, who was on the platform, called out, “It is not true.” A lively scene followed when Dr. Salter, rising at the close of Dr. Rushbrooke ’s speech, said, “I cannot remain silent after that address. J am sure nothing could be more unhelpful to tho Christians of Russia than such an attack as has’ been delivered from this platform.” (Cries of “No, no.”) “I hold no brief for the Soviet Government. It is an autocracy and a tyranny in common with many other autocracies and tyrannies in Europe to-day, but 1 say emphatically that Russian Baptists and Russian Quakers have told me that, to-day in Russia,

they possess infinitely more religious liberty than they did in tho days of Tsardom. (Cries of “Nonsense” and “Give names.”) “I spent six weeks there last year . and took great interest in ascertaining the present position in Russia in regard to the drink problem and the religious problem. 1 made it my business to talk to a great many people representing the Orthodox Greek Church and representatives of the Baptist, Quaker, and Nonconformist communities, and whatever Dr. Rushbrooke may or may not say, I tell you there arc hundreds, if* not thousands, of such communities up and down Russia.” Rights of Communists Dr. Salter said that while the Soviets and Communists were definitely and specifically anti-God and meant to eradicate religion if they could—(cries of “Yes, yes”) they had just as much right to that policy as Christians had ( to eradicate atheism. “What I have to tell you is that the opposition to religion is creating a condition of mind in the people which docs not exist in this country—and I wish it did. The greatest enemy of Christian propaganda in this country is indifference. Anti-religious propaganda in Russiu >• creating an tintensive Christian religion. I should not be surprised if Russia leads the world in a great spiritual revival before many years are over.” Dr. Rushbrooke, in reply, said he would like to ask where were the Quakers in Russia of whom Dr. Salter talked. British Quakers had had a mission in Moscow, but they had been obliged to give it up. Dr. Salter had confirmed his own case, proving the anti-religious teaching in Russia, said Dr. Rushbrooke, who added, “I am i grateful for the testimony of an unI willing witness.”