414 



GREEK CHURCH. 



year by the Rev. Mr. Young, the Secretary of 

 the Russo-Greek Committee, appointed by the 

 last General Convention of the Protestant Epis- 

 copal Church of this country, who during the first 

 months of the year had visited Russia and con- 

 versed with some of the prominent men of the 

 Church. "We take the following extracts from 

 Mr. Young's account, which gives more de- 

 tailed information on this subject than can be 

 derived from any other source : 



After making the acquaintance of the Russian 

 chaplains, resident in London and Paris both of 

 whom were deeply interested in the movement, and 

 anxious to further it to the utmost in their power 

 Mr. Young arrived in St. Petersburg, and waited 

 first upon the Vice-Procureur-General, Prince Ourou- 

 soff, through whom and in whose presence he ob- 

 tained an interview with the Procureur-G6n6ral. 

 These gentlemen are the Emperor's representatives 

 in the Holy Synod, without whom nothing can be 

 done being equivalent to what is called with us the 

 "lay element." The Procureur-General said that, 

 being laymen, it was not for them to express an 

 opinion upon the theological aspects of the question. 

 He therefore referred Mr. Young to the aged and 

 truly venerable Philaret Metropolitan of Moscow, as 

 being preeminently the man whose utterances on 

 such a point might be regarded as the voice of the 

 whole Russian Church, and whose opinion touching 

 this matter, when communicated to the Holy Synod 

 after an interview with Mr. Young, would, in all 

 probability, very greatly influence the action of the 

 Synod. 



At Moscow Mr. Young enjoyed two interviews 

 with the Metropolitan Philaret, of some three hours 

 each, the vicars of the metropolitan (Bishop Sabas 

 and Bishop Leonide), together with the rector of the 

 Spiritual Academy of Moscow, and two interpreters, 

 being present on both occasions. (Bishop Leonide, 

 by the way, was in his youth a classmate at the naval 

 school of the Admiral Lessoffsky, who left us the 

 the other day ; and he entered most heartilv and 

 thoroughly into the movement.) The metropolitan's 

 reception was most courteous and cordial, and 

 throughout the interviews nothing was said on either 

 side that in the least degree ruffled or disturbed the 

 friendly tone. The substance of the conversation 

 was chiefly the asking and answering of questions as 

 to the state of facts touching the doctrine and ec- 

 clesiastical position of the Anglican Communion on 

 the one side, and of the Russian Church upon the 

 other. It was arranged that the chief portions of our 

 prayer-book should be translated into the Russian 

 language and published, so as to give a more definite 

 idea ot the doctrine and worship of our Church. 

 The metropolitan, at the close of the final interview, 

 expressed his gratification at the letters which Mr. 

 Young had brought from the American bishops, 

 asking Mr. Young in return to "bear the kiss of 

 peace from him to the whole venerable hierarchy of 

 the American Church, assuring them of his warmest 

 sympathy and love, and of his earnest prayer and 

 hope that we may soon be one in mind, as we are 

 already one in heart in Christ Jesus." At parting, 

 he gave Mr. Young his episcopal benediction, to- 

 gether with the most cordial adieus. During his stay 

 in Moscow Mr. Young found that the movement was 

 already well known among the leading circles of the 

 laity, and the warmest desires were expressed for a 

 successful issue. So much interest was shown, in- 

 deed, that Mr. Young found it simply impossible tc 

 accept all the invitations that were so kindly pressed 

 upon him from every side. 



On his return from Moscow to St. Petersburg, he 

 had an interview with the Metropolitan of St. Peters- 

 bur?, who is also President of the Holy Synod, the 

 Archbishop of Moghileff, a member of the Synod 



being also present. His reception here was no less 

 warm and cordial than by the venerable Philaret. 

 He expressed great gratification for himself and on 

 behalf of the Russian Church, at the movement thus 

 begun, and assured Mr. Young that any steps which 

 our Church might see fit to take, would be met 

 by the Russian Church in the spirit 'and love of 

 Christ. He thought it very judicious that a Com- 

 mittee of Inquiry should have been appointed in the 

 first instance, as it would afford the opportunity for 

 a better knowledge of one another before more for- 

 mal negotiations should be begun. He read the 

 letters from the American bishops with ease and evi- 

 dent interest, noting the expressions they contained 

 and testifying his gratification at the tone which 

 pervaded them. He said that the sentiments and 

 wishes of the American bishops in these letters, 

 could not but meet with warm sympathy on the 

 part of the Russian Church, which ever prays for 

 the reunion of Christendom, and is ever ready to 

 negotiate with those who desire to stand on the 

 ground of apostolic truth and order, and are willing 

 to admit the apostolic dignity of the Russian Church. 

 He stated that he would lay these letters of the 

 American bishops before the Holy Synod on the 

 following day, and invited Mr. Young to visit the 

 Synod at the same time ; remarking, also, that re- 

 plies to these letters would be sent to the American 

 bishops. At the close of the interview the metro- 

 politan expressed the sincere hope that the move- 

 ment begun by the American Church might prove to 

 be the work of our blessed Lord himself, and that 

 through His grace it might result in the great con- 

 summation so much desired by both Churches. In 

 parting he also gave to his visitor the episcopal bene- 

 diction. 



The next day, in accordance with the invitation 

 given, Mr. Young visited the Holy Synod, and was 

 introduced by Prince Ourousoff to the several mem- 

 bers of it, by all of whom he was most courteously 

 and cordially received. At the request of the Pro- 

 cureur-General he left the letters of the American 

 bishops to be deposited in the archives of the Holy 

 Svnod ; and at the request of the President of the 

 Holy Synod he wrote a note to accompany the letter, 

 giving an epitome of the origin and aim of the move- 

 ment. 



The Russians are also beginning to acquaint 

 themselves better with the literature of the 

 Anglican churches. An association of ladies 

 has been formed for the dissemination of theo- 

 logical and general reading matter. The As- 

 sociation has been in operation about a year, 

 and has its depository at Moscow. The books 

 kept at the depository and destined for circu- 

 lation are : 



1. Church books (all the books indispen- 

 sable for the service of the church), Bibles, 

 testaments, prayer-books, etc. 



2. The writings of the fathers of the Church, 

 popular sermons, explanations of the Bible, 

 and in general books relating to the history, 

 doctrine, and the rites of the Church. 



3. Books concerning the history and geog- 

 raphy of Russia, travels, descriptions of the 

 country, biographies, popular songs, and stand- 

 ard works of the most eminent writers. 



4. Juvenile literature, books for instruction, 

 and entertaining books for children, carefully 

 selected. 



5. Books on various subjects, but partic 

 ularly adapted for popular reading, tales, 

 stories, descriptions of foreign countries, en- 

 gravings, etc. 



