Christians Persecuted

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 852, 21 December 1929, Page 11

Christians Persecuted

SOVIET WAR ON RELIGION

“WORST SINCE TIME OF ROME”

Protest by Meeting in London

United P.A.—By Telegraph —Copyrigh

Received 9.30 a.m. ' LONDON, Friday. THE Earl of Glasgow presided at a protest meeting in the Albert Hall, against the persecution of Christians in Russia.

The Rev. Dr. Archibald Fleming opened with prayer, this being followed by a minute’s silence, in remembrance of Russian sufferers for their faith, and the singing of the Old Hundredth.

Lord Glasgow declared that the meeting was the inception of a world-wide crusade against the savage attempt to stamp out Christianity.

Lord Brentford, formerly Sir William Joynson-Hicks, asserted that the persecution of Christians in Russia was the most bitter since the time of the Roman Empire. Twenty-six archbishops and bishops, and 6,775 priests had been martyred between 1918 and 1920, and thousands of laymen and women had suffered death. The Soviet was trying to crush religion and blot out the name of God with devilish ingenuity and cruelty, but the Commissar of the Interior had declared that war on the Bible could not succeed where Voltaire and all the atheists of Europe had failed. Maitre Theodore Aubert, from Geneva, described the Red terrorism, resulting in 500 executions between October 1 and November 15. The Solovetsky concentration camp on the White Sea was guarded by 2,000 members of the Cheka, and was fuller than ever of wretched captives, arrested for their faith, including 300 clergy. In the midst of the Rev. Prebendary A. W. Gough’s appeal for British intervention, interrupters interjected from the gallery. “Lie down!” shouted the audience, Mr. Gough quietly rejoining, “Let the heathen rage.” An interjector who stood up made

ANGLO-RUSSIAN RELATIONS PRINCE RECEIVES SOVIET AMBASSADOR CREDENTIALS PRESENTED Reed. 9.38 a.m. LONDON, Fridas'. The Prince of Wales, on behalf of the King, gave an audience to M. Sokolnikoff, the Soviet Ambassador to Great Britain, who presented his credentials. M. Sokolnikoff and his staff were taken to Sit. James’s Palace in two State carriages, with scarletcloaked coachmen and outriders, and were met by the King’s Marshalmen and representatives of the Foreign Office. The presentations were made in the Throne Room. Immediately after, M. Sokolnikoff called on Mr. Arthur Henderson, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and exchanged Notes, with covering guarantees against Red propaganda in the Dominions.

a declaration in Yiddish, while the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Hertz, was speaking. He was ejected by the stewards.