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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 for the poor； which he distributes
among them while he himself remains in poverty； and is supposed
not merely by members of the Russo…Greek Church； but by those of
other religious bodies； to work frequent miracles of healing。 I
was assured by persons of the highest characterand those not
only Russo…Greek churchmen； but Roman Catholics and
Anglicansthat there could be no doubt as to the reality of
these miracles； and various examples were given me。 So great is
Father Ivan's reputation in this respect that he is in constant
demand in all parts of the empire； and was even summoned to
Livadia during the last illness of the late Emperor。 Whenever he
appears in public great crowds surround him； seeking to touch the
hem of his garment。 His picture is to be seen with the portraits
of the saints in vast numbers of Russian homes； from the palaces
of the highest nobles to the cottages of the humblest peasants。
It happened to me on one occasion to have an experience which I
have related elsewhere； but which is repeated here as throwing
light on the ideas of the Russian statesman。
On my arrival in St。 Petersburg my attention was at once aroused
by the portraits of Father Ivan。 They ranged from photographs
absolutely true to life； which revealed a plain； shrewd； kindly
face； to those which were idealized until they bore a near
resemblance to the conventional representations of Jesus of
Nazareth。
One day； in one of the most brilliant reception…rooms of the
Northern capital； the subject of Father Ivan's miracles having
been introduced； a gentleman in very high social position； and
entirely trustworthy； spoke as follows： 〃There is something very
surprising about these miracles。 I am slow to believe in them；
but there is one of them which is overwhelming and absolutely
true。 The late Metropolitan of St。 Petersburg； Archbishop
Isidore； loved quiet； and was very averse to anything which could
possibly cause scandal。 Hearing of the wonders wrought by Father
Ivan； he summoned him to his presence and sternly commanded him
to abstain from all the things which had given rise to these
reported miracles； as sure to create scandal； and with this
injunction dismissed him。 Hardly had the priest left the room
when the archbishop was struck with blindness； and he remained in
this condition until the priest returned and restored his sight
by intercessory prayer。〃 When I asked the gentleman giving this
account if he directly knew these facts； he replied that he was；
of course； not present when the miracle was wrought； but that he
had the facts immediately from persons who knew all the parties
concerned； as well as all the circumstances of the case； and；
indeed； that these circumstances were matter of general
knowledge。
Sometime afterward； being at an afternoon reception in one of the
greater embassies； I brought up the same subject； when an eminent
general spoke as follows： 〃I am not inclined to believe in
miracles；in fact； am rather skeptical； but the proofs of those
wrought by Father Ivan are overwhelming。〃 He then went on to say
that the late metropolitan archbishop was a man who loved quiet
and disliked scandal； that on this account he had summoned Father
Ivan to his palace； and ordered him to put an end to the conduct
which had caused the reports concerning his miraculous powers；
and then； with a wave of his arm； had dismissed him。 The priest
left the room； and from that moment the archbishop's arm was
paralyzed； and it remained so until the penitent prelate summoned
the priest again； by whose prayers the arm was restored to its
former usefulness。 There was present at the t