Ten Days That Shook His Grace

Somewhat to his surprise the Archbishop of York at his first U.S. news conference had found newsmen less interested in religion in Britain than religion in Russia, which Dr. Garbett visited for ten days last year. Twice last week he spoke his mind on this controversial topic:

At the Church Club's dinner last week at Manhattan's Waldorf-Astoria he said: "There is an undoubted revival of religion [in Russia], Complete freedom of worship within their churches is granted to all religions. Anti-God propaganda has been suspended, godless museums are closed, and respect for religion is encouraged. The Orthodox Church has greater freedom than it ever had under the Tsars. The churches are crowded, though many are still closed or secularized. The change in the Soviet attitude toward religion is due to the recognition that religion cannot be eradicated, that a large proportion of the people of Russia are religious. ..."

In New Haven, where the Archbishop received an honorary degree from Berkeley Divinity School, he said: "The reason for Stalin's grant of freedom of worship seems to be his genuine love for the Russian people. ... I cannot read his mind and cannot therefore give his actual motive, [but] it was welcomed by the people longing to worship. There is the explanation that the grant was made for political reasons. However, the claim that it was inspired by Stalin's love for the people was substantiated by an ambassador to Russia who knows and understands the country. The ambassador, who is non-English speaking, said that Stalin wanted to give something to the Russian people because he had to take away so much that they valued. . . . Significantly, plans are being made for the future of the Church, especially for the training of future clergy now in the army.*

"For the most part the tremendous congregations in Russian churches today consist of young wives and mothers. This is important when we remember that approximately half of the population of Russia is under 21 years of age. These young people are flocking to the churches and worshiping with great reverence and devotion. They will be an enormous influence in the future. Let us pray that this will be a Christian influence."

* Last week Archbishop Grigori of Saratov and Stalingrad announced that a long-standing rumor is about to come true: Moscow's Orthodox Theological Institute will open "shortly." It will be Russia's first theological seminary since 1917. Students must be over 18, will get a fiveyear, tuition-free course. Required course: the Constitution of the U.S.S.R.

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