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wickedly abused. It is sufficient to see that even in the cloisters
there are found the most deplorable cases of treason against
Christ and his Gospel on the part of the monks. It is
unnecessary to speak of the type of the Russian pope, so repugnant
to every true Russian, and so very far removed from the
example of Jesus Christ’s true disciples. Nor need I refer to
the general absence of those good and illustrious examples of
Christian piety and wisdom in high and notable circles, which
ought to mark the true progress of civilisation. All this is
more or less known, and also the fact that our theological
seminaries are far from being nurseries in which to train true
shepherds and servants under the sceptre of the loving Christ.
But why increase the evil, which only encourages the masses
and village authorities to commit such outrageous violence
against the most peaceful part of the population? Such a
system is hardly politically wise, because the oppressed and
tormented, becoming martyrs in their own esteem and the eyes
of those like-minded with them, gain in strength in their
difficult position, which is more likely to increase than to
diminish.
“There can be no doubt whatever that the Tsar knows
nothing of the atrocities described in the enclosed letter. If
they were known to His Majesty, then the methods of the
opposition to the Stundist propaganda would be conceived in
quite a different manner, at least on the part of the local
authorities in those places where the persecutions are going
on.”
The following character sketches, taken from life, will both
illustrate the Stundist character and throw light on many
traits of Russian life. They were written by an Orthodox
Russian.
IVAN TCHAIKA.
Ivan Tchaika was always a very pious peasant. None of
the villagers said prayers or crossed themselves so zealously as
he did; none bought such expensive pictures of saints; none
made so many pilgrimages to Kiev. In his own words, a
spiritual fire burned within him. But in vain he said his
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