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Page Five

RUSSIAN CHURCHES AID WAR

By DYSON CARTER, Author of “Russia’s Secret Weapon”

Much public interest was aroused by the newspaper reports from Moscow, on Jan. 5, that Metropolitan Sergei, acting pat- riarch of the Russian Orthodox Catholic Church, had opened a fund to construct a néw tank division for the Red Army. The patriarch contributed 100,000 rubles himself. The new division is to be named after Donskoy, a saint of the church. And Stalin sent his greetings and thanks “to the clergy and to believers.”

This report astounded most people, who for years have been told that the Soviet government destroyed the church or kept it in miserable poverty, while campaigning for atheism. This was absolutely untrue, a slander unworthy of Christians. The Soviet government merely separated the church from the state, and required all churches to be self-supporting. There has been propaganda for atheism in the Soviet Union, but not on anything like the scale we have been led to believe. Both atheist

should give money to the (Red Army, or that Stalin should send greetings and thanks to the church. The surprise is all among people in other countries, includ- ing Canada, who until recently were told and believed the. most preposterous falsehoods about the Soviet Union.

I would like to recommend to the churches of Canada that they consider following the good ex- ample set by the churches in the Soviet Union, and give money to our Government to build a new

newspapers ceased publication many years ago. People ask me why I did not in-)

clude a chapter on-religion in my book, “Russia's Secret Weapon,” which has been read by more than 100,000 Canadians, The reason was simple; although I had the facts, I did not think people would believe them. The truth is that religion is not persecuted in Russia. On the contrary, the Red Army and the Soviet Government and _ their leader Stalin are looked upon by religious people as the defenders of religious faith against the Hit- lJerite barbarians who seek to destroy every trace of spiritual life in Russia, as they have in other lands.

Metropolitan Nikolai, of Kiev and Galich, has been appointed by the Soviet Government to the “Ex- traordinary State Committee” in- vestigating Nazi crimes. This ven- erable churchman says:: ‘The fas- cists show especial hatred for the Russian clergy. But we shall see that not a single outrage committed’ by the Germans against the Rus- sian people, their treasures and shrines, is overlooked.” In a lengthy report sent to me, Metro- politan Nikolai listed Nazi outrages against priests and nuns too hor. rible to print. He gave many ex- amples of how German officers and men entered churches and “in the presence of believers they blas- phemed, spit on the holy ikons and unmentionably defiled the Cross.”

It is the facts regarding such outrages that Metropolitan Nikolai is collecting for the Soviet Govern- ment, and the Government prom- ises full retribution when the Nazi beasts are tried for their crimes. Such official action in defense of religious freedom and sacred prop- erty has not yet been taken by any state other than the Soviet Union!

I could give a long list of evi- dence proving that the Soviet Union not only recognizes religious freedom, but fights to defend the rights of believers. The Nazis know this full well. Metropolitan Alexei of Leningrad says: “Hitler’s hordes take delight in destroying beautiful Russian churches.” Those churches were not destroyed or even seized

; by the Communists. On the con-

trary, many were preserved at the ‘expense of the state. Among the

- magnificient structures that have

deliberately, ruthlessly de- hed by the Hitlerites, are the uureh of the Ascension in Moz- the Pokrovsk Cathedral, the ch of Catherine, the Martyr at Kaiinin, and the priceless Cath- of the Transfiguration at nigov, built and consecrated before England was con-

tank column or bomber squadron, ‘A com-|for the Canadian forces. Indeed, we can learn more from the Soviet Union than lessons in social pro- gress and military tactics. We can learn what tremendous spiritual possessions are being defended in this war against Hitler, Mussolini and their foul lackeys. The nation that was slandered as “atheist” now stands out as a bulwark in defense of righteousness.

quered by the Normans. plete list would fill pages.

Praying for the Red Army, Met. Alexei said: “Those who take ‘up arms serve the truth, and those who suffer greatly and die for their country will, like the martyrs, enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

It comes as no surprise to the people of Russia that the church

Canadian Aid To Russia Drive Very Successful

‘The Canadian Aid to Russia Fund is exceeding its original quota in all areas in British Columbia, In Vancouver at rallies held in the Vogue and Orpheum Theatres, organized labor made some very sub- stantial contributions,

The most outstanding of these was the presentation of a cheque from the Fishermen of $5661.86—th elargest single donation made throughout the province of British Columbia during the present campaign. In a brief speech on the presentation of the cheque, W. J. Burgess explained that the donation represented collections made on a voluntary hasis by the organized fishermen.

Another outstanding contribution was that of the workers at Boeing's, who presented a cheque for well in excess of $3000.

IWA contributinos in Vancouver amounted to $500, but it is expected that further donations by individuals through the union will bring the total to far in excess of that amount.

A rally in the Beacon Theatre, under the auspices of the Canadian Ukrainian Association, proceeds of which were donated to the Canadian Aid to Russia Fund, netted approximately $1800.

Reports from Vancouver Island show that there, also, the contribu- tions are exceeding their original quota. In Port Alberni, where the quota was $2000, contributions have now reached the sum of $5000 with the final figures not yet published. In the Courtenay area, a quota of $1000 has been more than doubled. In both cases, labor representations played important roles.on the committee, Labor realizes, more than any other group in our society, that this war must be won. They know that one definite way in helping the war effort is by, sending aid to the gal- lant peoples of the Soviet Union who have so heroically defended the freedom of all people. This is, perhaps, one reason why labor’s contri- butions in this campaign have been.so outstanding.

Secretary James Gilchrist of Ladysmith IWA Sub-local reported that, in a house-to-house canvass, $265.00 was collected for the Can- adian Aid to Russi aFund. Bro- HOTEL thers co-operating In the house-to- house canvass were as follows: 44 West Cordova St. i Arne O'Mara, John Mitchell, Dave |

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Secretary Ernie Dalskog of IWA- CIO Local 1-71 reported that the following camps have sent in don- ations to the Canadian Aid to Rus-

One of the members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary to Local 1-118 in Victoria was quietly married on Christmas Eve. The bride was formerly Miss Merle Waggett, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Waggett of 2875 Gorge View Drive.

Mrs. T. R. Lidgate and Mrs. J. Whitehead were hostesses at a shower held Sunday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Lidgate, 408 Hillside Avenue, in honor of the bride.

The gifts were concealed in a beautifully decorated basket of pink crepe paper; a corsage bouquet of pink carnations was presented to the guest of honor, and her mother, Mrs. J. Wag- gett, received a corsage of red rosebuds. Among the guests were members of the Auxiliary to Local 1-118, IWA, who presented the bride with a Kenwood blanket. Tea was served from a table covered with a lace cloth centered with white chrysanthemums, and flanked by pink tapers. Miniature pink and blue shoes and tiny dolls, also in pink and blue, were used as novelties on the table. E

The card parties sponsored by the Auxiliary will be resumed on Thursday, Jan. 28, and every two weeks thereafter. The parties will be held continuously at the home of Mr. T. R. Lid- gate, president of Local 1-118.

At the last meeting of the Victoria Auxiliary, Mrs. J. Mc- Kendry was elected to handle the press work of the Auxiliary in Victoria.

The first meeting of the New Westminster’ Auxiliary was hedl on Jan. 8 in the Canadian Legion Hall. Temporary officers elected include: President, Mrs. Frank Hartshorne; secretary, Vera Smith and M. Greenall; treasurer, Mrs. Ulland; social convener, Mrs. Percy Smith. Regular officers will be elected as soon as the charter arrives and is installed. The meeting was addressed by Bert Marcuse, director of the Pacific Coast Labor Bureau; Jack Greenall, International Organizer, and Percy Smith, business agent for IWA-CIO Local 1-357.

The newly formed Auxiliary plans to hold a social and whist drive in the small Legion Hall in New Westminster on the evening of Feb. 12. Nigel Morgan, International executive board membei, will be guest speaker. Refreshments will be served and a raffle conducted. Regular Auxiliary meetings will be held each Tuesday night in the New Westminster union hall.

Labor-Employer Action Urged To Cut Accidents

AUXILIARY CORNER |

..CHICAGO. — Management must learn to work with organized labor if American industry is ever to cut down its high accident and ill- ness rate, Wendell Lund, director of the WPB'S Labor Production

cal Association’s Council on Indus- trial Health this week.

Lund estimated that “American industrial

in 1941

000 workers for one year” and that time lost through illness “is undoubtedly” many times greater. Expansion of industry and an in- flow of millions of inexperienced workers into the nation's war fac- tories have helped increase the casualty rate, Lund asserted.

"I am convinced that a major reason why we have failed so far to lick the accident-and-sickness enemy is that our approach has been one-sided,” he told the doc- tors’ group.

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Declaring that “the responsibil- ity for industrial health and safe~ ty has rested largely on the should- er of the employer for many years, by his. own choice,” the WPB labor official asserted that “workers have a right and duty to demand participation in industrial hygiene programs.”

“Organized labor,” he continued, “frequently feels about the com- pany safety program the way it has felt for decades about the com- pany union — that both are de- signed primarily for the benefit of the management.”

Lund cited instances where unions and management have worked together to bring down the illness rate and guarantee. medical attention for employees.

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