STRANGE DEATH OF A RUSSIAN PRELATE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1036, 28 November 1882, Page 3

STRANGE DEATH OF A RUSSIAN PRELATE.

General Skobeloff's strange death is not the only ons which ha" lately fxcited the intense curiosity of tho inhabitants of Russia, and Moscow in particular. That of Mgr Makarios, the head of the Russian religion after the Emperor, and consequently the Becond chief of the realm, is still a deep mystery. Many are the rumors to which it has given rise, among which the following supposition is the one which rinds the most credit among the people. It Trill be remembered that the Archimandrite, Mgr. Makarios, whose death occurred about a month past, wr fto a letter to Alexander 111, earnestly begging him to change his present mode of life for one more in keeping with his dignified position as Emperor, and especially to show himself more frequently in public. His Majesty answered the prelate, telling him that his latter begging him fo mix constantly with his subjects, at a time when to do so, owing to the cruel and pei-aistent plots of the Nihilists, was equivalent to exposing himself t> certain death, sepmed more the production of a Nihilift pen than of a loyal subject and a prelate. Mgr. Makarios made no answer to the Czar, and the aff-ur would most certainly have been forgotten by this time had not a curious incident occurred which brought the win la affair into publicity again. Among the numerous arrest* which were made amone the Nihilists at the epoch of Ignatieff's leaving office, there happened to be a woman in whose effect* were found a valuable comb of gold and precious stones which was recognised as the one given to ?«I"nr. Makarios by Alexander 11. The woman on being questioned, acknowledged to having had criminal relations with the prelate, and confessed to having taken the comb from him. Upon the Emperor's being informed of all this, he sent a'teh'gvara to the Archimandrite askinghim to explain the se.'r.»t relations existing between him and this Nihilist woman. This placed tho prelate in a very awkward position, for. even supposing him to hj ignorant of the woman's revolutionary character, he whs found guilty of openly sinning against his vow of chastity, How ever thin may be, the next morning he wrs found d< ad. All evil rumors were hushed up "s much as possible. How much truth there is in this story it is impossible to say. Contrary to all previous custom, Mgr. Mrkarios has already a succefsor.