A Peculiar Russian Sect

Te Aroha News, Volume 1, Issue 47, 26 April 1884, Page 5

A Peculiar Russian Sect

A Russian print, the " Novojo Vremja, ' puts mothers in the Czar's dominions en their guard against a religious sect, the dangerous doctrines of which are abundantly exemplified by what it narrates about a recent occurrence. In the town of Kostov, on the Don, an oiHcer, it says, not long ago took into his service a respectable middle-aged woman as nurse for his little son, about three years old. The woman appeared to be a good servant ; she was attentive to her duties, and seemed attached to her young charge ; but after remaining in the gentleman's family about two months, she abruptly left the situation and quitted the town. On the day following her abrupt departure the child became ill, losing its spirits, and suil'ering from drowsiness. A week later it died, without the medical attendant being able to give a precise name to the malady that had proved fatal. On the day ot the funeral, howevoi*, a young woman called on the bereaved parents, and, bursting into tears, exclaimed, "The boy is poisoned. The same woman who was in your service was previously my muse, and killed my child." According to the Russian paper, the statement was true, for it has since transpired that a society of child murderers exists in Rostov, the members of which poison children with narcotics. They are instigated to commit crimes of the kind by their leadeisor preachers, who tell them that it is their duty, and that they aie fulfilling a pious mission in sparing the evils of life to as many infants as possible, and securing for these innocents the bliss of Heaven before their souls have become contaminated.