 |
Report of
the General Meeting of the Doukhobor Community
held in Otradnoe Village, October 13, 1912
Manitoba
Free Press
During the first decades of the
twentieth century, the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood was governed
by general meetings that were held each year to receive the annual report
and financial statement prepared by the representative committee and to vote on
various matters of policy and practice brought before them. These gatherings
were typically attended by two delegates from each village, the administrators
in charge of community affairs and the leader Peter “Lordly” Verigin. The
following is a rare extant report of the general meeting of the Doukhobor
Community held at Otradnoe village, Saskatchewan, on October 13, 1912, published
as "A Letter to Christ's Community from Peter Verigin" in the Manitoba Free
Press, December 5, 1912. It provides remarkable insight into the
administrative matters of the day, including the fall harvest, the marketing of
grain through Community elevators, the British Columbia resettlement, the
exchange of goods between Saskatchewan and British Columbia, and the transfer of
Community property into the leader's name.
Glory to the Lord
Dear Brothers and Sisters: - I am advising you, that on the thirteenth day of
October, in Village Otradnoe, a Meeting was held; one man and one woman from
each village attending.
FIRST- The Meeting was opened by repeating "The Lord’s Prayer." The main purpose
of this Meeting was to bring thanks to the Lord, for all successful life of the
Doukhobors' Community and especially for the abundant crop this year. The
seeding of grain was late and in view of plenty of rain, during the summer,
there was a possibility of the grain becoming frosted. In the summer the Meeting
consisted of Doukhobors, all those who could come to Village Otradnoe, bringing
a general prayer to the Father of the Universe, in regard to the conservation of
the crop, from the frost. Now the Lord manifestly created miracles by the
prayers of Christ's Community and up until the fifteenth day of September there
was no frost, and all the crop was saved. Whereas, usually in Saskatchewan, the
first frost arrives somewhere about the twenty-third, twenty-fifth or
twenty-eighth of August. We bring hearty thanks to our Heavenly Father for His
donation to us and manifold kindnesses. Glory and Glory to Lord and God.
SECOND - The Meeting decided that all grain must be sold through our Community
Office. Also that all outside earned money should, as soon as possible, be
delivered to the office, this to be devoted to the payments on land in British
Columbia and other expenses in emigration to British Columbia.
THIRD - The Meeting decided that all the oxen from the villages be sold and
horses used instead, these horses to be taken from the Community Ranch. It was
further decided that, in the Fall all the young horses should be taken from the
Ranch to the villages to be broken, and although they are only young, by the
Spring they would be ready to use with the plow on stubble, and also with
harrow.
FOURTH - The horses belonging to the British Columbia people, and which were
left in Saskatchewan, were distributed through the different villages for
working purposes in these villages, and must be figured in the share of this
year's crop. For the horses' service, the British Columbia people should receive
in this regard, one-third of a share of the crop.
FIFTH - The Meeting decided to inform all our people of the Thunderhill Branch
Villages, that are called the North Colony, that no seeding of the crop on their
land should be done by them this coming Spring, for next Summer they will all be
removed to British Columbia. However, the land of the South Colony should be
once more seeded and the crop taken off. In the Spring all the horses of the
North Colony branch should be brought to the South Colony branch to help in the
work.
SIXTH - A Report was submitted, that our British Columbia people had this year
received an abundant crop of all things: vegetables, hay, grain and fruits. This
had aroused the envy of strangers, and complaints would arise that the
Doukhobors were not bringing any advantages to the surrounding settlers, and
information has been given, that the Doukhobors are not fulfilling the Canadian
Laws.
In order to make an enquiry the British Columbia Government sent their
Commissioner, who found that it was very clear that the Doukhobors did not
desire to have their children taught in schools, for the schools, as a. rule,
teach children to be warlike; second they learn swindling, that is usufruct, by
the labour of strangers in life; and third bringing up children to disrespect
their parents. The Doukhobor Society in British Columbia sent a letter to the
Minister of the Interior at Ottawa; copies of this letter will be sent through
the villages, in the near future.
By Christ's teachings the children must be enlightened by the Word of God.
Christ said “I have placed God's Law in your hearts, Go and preach the gospel by
word, to all people.”
SEVENTH - The Meeting decided that the surplus wheat of this year's crop in
Saskatchewan must not be sold but retained for British Columbia requirements;
this wheat would be purchased from the villages.
EIGHTH - A carload of apples was shipped from the Doukhobor Society in British
Columbia, as a gift to all Brothers and Sisters in Saskatchewan. All Brothers
and Sisters must come to Verigin, while the weather is warm, and received the
correct share of these apples. When you come for the apples you must bring a
statement of the persons living in your village. For each nursing child one-half
share would be given.
NINTH - The Meeting decided that all Community property, land and etc., the
right of which according to the Canadian laws, must be entered in writing,
should be transferred to the name of Peter V. Verigin, as representative of
Christ's Community and Trustee for Doukhobor Society in Canada.
We must give thanks, Brothers and Sisters, and bow to the ground, to the Lord
and God, for all His grace and kindness to us.
Your brother in Christ,
PETER
Notes
The Community was formally a democracy in which the
general meeting was the supreme governance authority. However, in practice,
while Peter “Lordly” Verigin’s formal powers were small, his real influence was
immense. This was due, not only to his position as hereditary leader, but to his
powerful personality, superior education and intellectual prowess. Resolutions
at the annual general meetings never went contrary to his advice, and during the
twelve months that elapsed between meetings, he and his advisors acted as an
executive with sweeping powers to make almost any decision on behalf of the
Community.
Note that unlike several published
reports of general meetings of the Doukhobor Community, the 1912 report does not
include a financial statement.
For more information on the general meetings
and accounts of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood, see the
1904 Report and the
1906 Report of the
General Meeting of the Doukhobor Community.
|
|
