"The language of the Russian church is the ancient Sclavonic," replied the surgeon, "as Latin is of the Roman Catholic; and probably not many of the people understand it. But they are very devout." "I have seen that about the streets. Did any one ever hear such bass voices as some of these singers have? Why, they sounded like the rumbling of an earthquake." "That is one of the great peculiarities of the churches in Russia; and these deep, heavy bass voices are considered very desirable. You will find that the wealthier the church, and the more popular the service, the deeper and heavier are the tones of the bass singers. Doubtless those in St. Isaac's are among the most celebrated; but in the Kazan Cathedral, and the Church of St. Alexander Nevski, you will hear those of about the same volume and power. Of course it requires much cultivation to develop such a voice; but these singers are so much in demand that they are amply compensated for their labor." "I suppose this religion is very much like the Roman Catholic," added Lincoln. "Yes, it is quite similar; but there are important differences. The Russian church rejects purgatory, predestination, indulgences, and dispensations. In baptism, the body must be completely submerged, and anointed with consecrated oil. The people have not the same respect for the clergy which you will find in Catholic countries, for though they venerate the office, they often despise the priests, who are a peculiar class; and the office is, in a measure, hereditary among them, though not closed to others. The nobility do not take the priestly office. A clergyman's sons generally follow him in the choice of a profession, and his daughters are oftener than otherwise married to priests. Sometimes the candidate for a position as priest gets his office by marrying the daughter of a deceased incumbent. The consistory, which has the giving of these places, knows the affairs of the whole diocese. If a priest dies, leaving a marriageable daughter, the council often provides for her and the church at the same time, by giving the vacant place to one who will take the maiden. The priests are not very well educated, though in this respect they are improving. An ecclesiastic cannot marry a widow, and when his wife dies he cannot perform the service, but may be a monk, and be eligible to the highest offices in the church. The scriptural injunction that a bishop must be the husband of one wife, does not mean, to the Russian, _at least_ one, as with the Mormon, but only one, not even one at a time, as other Christians interpret it. Any one who marries a second time cannot partake of the communion for one year; and a third time, for four years." "The priests take good care of their wives, I suppose, since their office depends upon them." "Yes, such is the fact," added the doctor, as they went on board of the steamer.