Count Leo Tolstoy, the Russian author, philosopher, and religionist, writes an interesting and instructive article in The Independent upon the subject of his recent excommunication from the Russian church. The article is in the nature of a reply to the Synod's decision and is also explanatory of Tolstoy's religious views. Inasmuch as the questions involved are general, and the case of Tolstoy, in some sense, international in its scope, it is of sufficient interest to all, including Christian Scientists, to warrant a brief study of the situation. It is more than probable that by this action in Tolstoy's case, a wave of religious thinking has been set in motion, the far-reaching effects of which in Russia and elsewhere, can now scarcely be conjectured.
The Count complains that the decision of the Synod is illegal in that it does not correspond with the church rules according to which such an excommunication may be pronounced. "If," says the Count, "it is but a declaration that he who does not believe in the church and its dogmas, does not belong to the church, such a declaration can have no other purpose than to seem to be an excommunication when it is not so in fact."
He further avers that the decision, as made, was an incitement to bad feeling and bad action, since it called forth among unenlightened and unreasoning people anger and hatred toward him, which went so far as threats of murder.
