Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1908 — ATTACKS IKON WORSHIP. [ARTICLE]

ATTACKS IKON WORSHIP.

Russian Deputy Suspended by the Duma for Speech. St. Petersburg, June 9.—The duma Monday night voted the suspension for 15 sittings of M. Tchekheidze, a Social Democratic deputy from the Caucasus, for a speech which he made what the duma regarded as a mockery of religion. During the course of a debate on the question of the imperial treasury allowing grants to support a new school, M. Tchekheidze introduced the subject of ikon painting. He declared that orthodox Russians believe in the miracle working properties of the ikon; hence artistic improvement in design would be useless. From the rational point of view, he continued, an- ikon is entirely symbolic of a pagan form of religion. The incident created a great tumult in the house and the Socialists left the hall in a body as a protest against the suspension of the deputy.