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difficulty in the way to friendly relations between these two
branches of the church universal had its origin in the 〃filioque〃
clause of the Nicene Creed。 As is well known； the Eastern Church
adheres to that creed in its original form；the form in which
the Holy Ghost is represented as 〃proceeding from the
Father；〃whereas the Western Church adopts the additional words；
〃and from the Son。〃 That the Russo…Greek Church is very tenacious
of its position in this respect； and considers the position of
the Western ChurchCatholic and Protestantas savoring of
blasphemy； is well known； and there was a curious evidence of
this during my second stay in Russia。 Twice during that time I
heard the 〃Missa Solennis〃 of Beethoven。 It was first given by a
splendid choir in the great hall of the University of
Helsingfors。 That being in Finland； which is mainly Lutheran； the
Creed was sung in its Western form。 Naturally； on going to hear
it given by a great choir at St。 Petersburg； I was curious to
know how this famous clause would be dealt with。 In various parts
of the audience were priests of the Russo…Greek faith； yet there
were very many Lutherans and Calvinists； and I watched with some
interest the approach of the passage containing the disputed
words； but when we reached this it was wholly omitted。 Any
allusion to the 〃procession〃 was evidently forbidden。 Great；
therefore； was my surprise when； on my asking Pobedonostzeff；＇5＇
as the representative of the Emperor in the Synod of the
empire；the highest assemblage in the church； and he the most
influential man in it； really controlling archbishops and bishops
throughout the empire；whether the 〃filioque〃 clause is an
insurmountable obstacle to union； he replied； 〃Not at all； that
is simply a question of dialectics。 But with whom are we to
unite？ Shall it be with the High…churchmen； the Broad…churchmen；
or the Low…churchmen？ These are three different bodies of men
with distinctly different ideas of church order； indeed； with
distinctly different creeds。 Which of these is the Orthodox
Church to regard as the representative of the Anglican
communion？〃 I endeavored to show him that the union； if it took
place at all； must be based on ideas and beliefs that underlie
all these distinctions； but he still returned to his original
proposition； which was that union is impossible until a more
distinct basis than any now attainable can be arrived at。
＇5＇ I find； in a letter from Pobedonostzeff； that he spells his
name as here printed。
I suggested to him a visit to Great Britain and his making the
acquaintance of leading Englishmen； but to this he answered that
at his time of life he had no leisure for such a recreation； that
his duties absolutely forbade it。
In regard to relations with the Russo…Greek Church on our own
continent； he seemed to speak with great pleasure of the
treatment that sundry Russian bishops had received among us。 He
read me letters from a member of the Russo…Greek hierarchy； full
of the kindliest expressions toward Americans； and especially
acknowledging their friendly reception of him and of his
ministrations。 Both the archbishop in his letter； and
Pobedonostzeff in his talk； were very much amused over the fact
that the Americans； after extending various other courtesies to
the archbishop； offered him cigars。
He discussed the possibility of introducing the 〃Holy Orthodox
Church〃 into the United States； but always disclaimed all zeal in
religious propagandism； saying that the church authorities had
quite enough work to do in extending and fortifying the church
throughout the Russian Empire。 He said that the pagan tribes of
the imperial dominions in Asia seemed more inclined to
Mohammedanism than to Christianity； and gave as the probable
reason the fact that the former faith is much the simpler of the
two。 He was evidently unable to grasp the idea of the Congress of
Religions at the Chicago Exposition； and seemed inclined to take
a mildly humorous view of it as one of the droll inventions of
the time。
He appeared to hold our nation as a problem apart； and was；
perhaps； too civil in his conversations with me to include it in
the same condemnation with the nations of Western Europe which
had； in his opinion； gone hopelessly wrong。 He also seemed drawn
to us by his admiration for Emerson； Hawthorne； and Lowell。 When
Professor Norton's edition of Lowell's 〃Letters〃 came out； I at
once took it to him。 It evidently gave him great
pleasureperhaps because it revealed to him a very different
civilization； life； and personality from anything to which he had
been accustomed。 Still； America seemed to be to him a sort of
dreamland。 He constantly returned to Russian affairs as to the
great realities of the world。 Discussing； as we often did； the
condition and future of the wild tribes and nations within the
Asiatic limits of the empire； he betrayed no desire either for
crusades or for intrigues to convert them； he simply spoke of the
legitimate influence of the church in civilizing them。
I recall a brilliant but denunciatory article； published in one
of the English reviews some time since by a well…known nihilist；
which contained； in the midst of various charges against the
Russian statesman； a description of his smile； which was
characterized as forbidding； and even ghastly。 I watched for this
smile with much interest； but it never came。 A smile upon his
face I have often seen； but it was a kindly smile； with no trace
of anything ghastly or cruel in it。
He seemed to take pleasure in the society of his old professorial
friends； and one of them he once brought to my table。 This was a
professor of history； deeply conversant with the affairs of the
empire； and we discussed the character and career of Catherine
II。 The two men together brought out a mass of curious
information； throwing a strange light into transactions which
only the most recent historians are beginning to understand；
among these the assassination of Czar Peter III； Catherine's
husband。 On one occasion when Pobedonostzeff was visiting me I
tested his knowledge in regard to a matter of special interest；
and obtained a new side…light upon his theory of the universe。
There is at present on the island of Cronstadt； at the mouth of
the Neva； a Russo…Greek priest； Father Ivan； who enjoys
throughout the empire a vast reputation as a saintly worker of
miracles。 This priest has a very spiritual and kindly face； is
known to receive vast sums