Baptists in the U.S.S.R. Some Facts and Hopes, J. H. RUSHBROOKE, 1943

). It reads: “ The following memorandum, approved for publication by the Committee on Resolutions and by the Executive Committee, was pre¬ sented through Dr. Rushbrooke for record : “ ‘ Some of the Russian brethren, while agreeing with all which the resolution contained, have asked that a sentence be added, declaring army service under all conditions unlawful for Christian men. “ ‘ The Committee on Resolutions was unable to accede to their request, since such a declaration would not represent the general con¬ viction among Baptists. They have an intense horror for war, but have not collectively adopted the doctrine of non-resistance. There have always been among them, and there are still, persons who on con¬ scientious grounds object to any form of military service ; and Baptists respect the loyalty to principle which these display. “ ‘ The members of the Congress are gratified to know that the Russian Soviet Government accepts alternative service from those who on conscientious and religious grounds are unable to serve in the army.’ ” ® See Official Report, p. 76. 11 citizens. The freedom of worship with any religious rites is guaranteed, in so far as they do not violate social safety and do not involve infringements on the rights of citizens of the Soviet Republic. In view of this, we have the full right to hold meetings and teach in them the Word of God, and our evangelistic work has already spread beyond the confines of the Russian people and is gradually spreading among the heathens and Mohammedans living in our country. Further, we have the possibility of publishing our periodicals . . . and the Books of Holy Scripture, and also received in 1927 the official authority to open in Moscow a Preachers’ School, dedi¬ cated in celebration of the sixty years’ existence of the Baptist brotherhood in Russia.” These comparatively placid conditions were not destined to last. Already, while the delegates were on the other side of the Atlantic, signs of change began to appear. Baptists in the U.S.S.R. had grown, ‘ and were still growing, in numbers and in¬ fluence ; tributes to their zeal and energy are found (e.g.) in the book of the Communist Tikhomirov, published in the year 1928. Un¬ questionably the Communist Party was disturbed by the success of the religious appeal ; hence the violence of its reaction. A fundamental clash of ideology was leading to strain at many points, especially in connection with the Government’s agricultural policy. Collectivisation was being pressed, and “ collectives ” organised. Evangelical belie