SOVIET PERSECUTION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 37, 13 February 1930, Page 10

SOVIET PERSECUTION

ANGLICAN PROTEST PRAYERS FOR SUFFERING United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received 13th February, 2 p.m.) LONDON, 12th February. In the Church Convocation at Canterbury the Primate, Dr. Lang, moved that tho body record an indignant protest against religious persecution in Russia. He declared that he had deliberately waited for this occasion formally and officially to protest and to give a solemn expression on behalf of tho Church of England of sympathy with the sufferers. None could question tho truth. The long, shocking tale of imprisonment and exile was almost unparalleled in the history of religious persecution. A unique feature was that every sort of belief in God, was assailed, accompanied by popular blasphemies, obscenities, and ridicule, which was encouraged and even ordered by the Government. "For us as Christians sympathy must express itself most simply and naturally in prayer. I hope that the Bishops are willing to request that prayer be offered up in all churches on 16th March. At that time multitudes of fellow Christians at the bidding of the Pope will join our prayers. Let the Soviet representative note- that public opinion will insist that diplomatic relations depend not only on material advantages, but more on tho common acceptance of principles of justice and humanity. I am making careful inquiry into the facts. Unless there is evidence of real improvement, I may be obliged to refer to the matter in Parliament." The Bishop of London seconded the resolution. He pointed out that tho protest was entirely non-political. The motion was not further discussed, and was carried unanimously. The Archbishop.,of York, addressing tho York Convocation, declared that nothing could be more disastrous than to give tho Soviet tho smallest ground for appealing to patriotism to support its persecuting policy. Therefore Christians ought to be- very careful not to add to the sufferings of tho persecuted in relieving their own generous emotions.