TROTSKY AND THE IKONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 62, 6 December 1919, Page 13

TROTSKY AND THE IKONS

A correspondent of the London "Times" states:—

"At a recent meeting of the Baltic works, Trotsky, in a speech, appealed to the audience to Tiso in defence of Bod Petroirr.id. He spoke amid considerable disturbance, and when the noise had somewhat subsided, one of the worlynon said to Trotsky, 'How can yon talk of libertv while you prevent us from worshipping God? Ton have led the persecution against our Orthodox Churoh. Yon have thrown our ikons nut of our schools. Ton prevent our children from studying tho Bible. I'tive «s our i-ons back. What harm did Ihev do you?'

"Trotsky listened patently, a.nd then explained why the ikons had Ijcm removed from the schools. He said: 'Fnni">r!v, w'lrn Orthodox ikons hum; in the schools th'v were offensive to children of other roliirions, who asked why there wer n no Catholic ikons, for r-implc. We have now made nil eone.l.' TroWtv w- imm"idately interrupted by cries: 'Thai is false! Ton do it li»enn=e you Jews have taken the flovoi-niient into your own hands, ard vou always persecute our faith!' "The disturbance was so irrpot that Trotskv. was unable to speak further, and wa.s forced to leave the works, accompanied by hoots and hisses."