RUSSIA & RELIGION

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1930, Page 3

RUSSIA & RELIGION

Press Association.—By Electric }' Telegraph.—Copyright.]

. LONDON, Feb. 12. At the Convocation ul' Canterbury, the Primate moved that the body records its indignant protest against the religions persecution in Russia. He declared lie deliberately waited this occasion formally and officially to protest and give a solemn expression on behalf of the C Lurch of Pngland’of sympathy with the sufferers. No'jhdj could, question the truth that the tong shoeicing tale of imprisonment and exile is almost nnpa.rallelied I in the history of religious persecution. A feature was that every' sort- ;j ‘ctf belief in Clod was assailed, accompanied by popular blasphemies obsevities and ridicule, which was encotinraged even and ordered by the Government;. The Primate further said:—“For us, as Christians, our sympathy expresses itself most simply and naturally in....prayer. 1 hope the Blimps are willing to the request that prayers be offered in all churches on March 16th. At that time multitudes of our fellow Christians, at the bidding of the Pope, will join our prayers. Let the Soviet representative noto that public opinion will insist that diplomatic- relations depend not only on material advantages but more on the common accentancci of the principles of justice and human ity. lam making careful inquiry into the facts, and unless there is evidence of real improvement T may be obliged to refer to the matter in ’Parliament.” The Bishop of London seconded the resolution. He pointed out that tin 1 protest was entirely non-political. ''The motion was not further discussed, and wrs carried unanimously. The Archbishop of York, addressing tBo York Convocation, declared that, nothing would be more disastrous than to give (he Soviet the smallest 6 ground for a." pealing to patriotism to suppport the persm-'b ing policy, wherefore Christians org ! b to be very careful not to add to tbc suffering ef (he - persecuted people oi lelieving our own generous emotion,.;.