RUSSIA'S RELIGION 97 



I was much impressed with the genuine respect which 

 she showed for the Russian clergy, especially as her 

 own ideas of personal religion revealed a depth of 

 spiritual life commanding the highest admiration. In 

 a long chat with the Countess Tolstoy about many 

 features of their national life, I gained the impression 

 that she also felt that there was at least a strong and 

 growing element in the Russian clergy which sought to 

 command respect by broad and thorough scholarship 

 and practical love and sympathy for their fellow-men. 

 In conversation with a young tutor of the Moscow 

 theological seminary, I certainly gained the impres- 

 sion of one well posted on his subject, which was the 

 philosophy of religion. 



Doubtless many may feel that the Holy Synod is 

 severely repressive within the Orthodox Church as well 

 as without, on all "tendencies of modern thought"; 

 but just now certainly they cannot be conceded 

 to have a monopoly in that line of business. The 

 Russian Church shows the deficiencies of a State 

 Establishment whose theory is to include all men 

 within the pale of the Church, and then make Chris- 

 tians of them afterwards. This naturally leads to 

 unworthy clerical as well as lay members. But there 

 has been progress. I believe a majority of the leaders 

 of that division of the Christian Church are conse- 

 crated men trying to do their best with the mighty 

 responsibilities of their position, and I agree with Mr. 

 Gribayedoff in saying of the Russian Greek Church: 

 "It has a great mission to perform, and, on the whole, 

 is doing its work nobly.' 



7 



