ut neither the severe climate
nor the neighbourhood of wild and warlike hillmen shook their faith, and
in the course of half a century, in one of the most unhealthy and
unfertile localities in the Caucasus, they transformed this wilderness
into flourishing colonies, and continued to live a Christian and
laborious life, making friends with, instead of fighting, the hillmen.
But the wealth to which they attained in the Caucasus weakened for a
time their moral fervour, and little by little they began to depart
somewhat from the requirements of their belief. As soon, however, as
events happened among them which disturbed their outward tranquillity,
the religious spirit which had guided their fathers immediately revived
within them. In 1887, in the reign of the tsar Alexander III., universal
military service was introduced in the Caucasus; and even those for
whom, as in the case of the Doukhobors, it had formerly been replaced
with banishment, were called upon to serve. This measure took the
Doukhobors unawares, and at first they outwardly submitted to it. About
the same time, by the decision of certain government officials, the
right to the possession of the public property of the Doukhobors (valued
at about L50,000) passed from the community to one of their members, who
had formed out of the more demoralized Doukhobors a group of his own
personal adherents, which was henceforth called the "Small Party." Soon
afterwards several of the most respected representatives of the
community were banished to the government of Archangel. This series of
calamities was accepted by the Doukhobors as a punishment from God, and
a spiritual awakening of a most energetic character ensued. The majority
(about 12,000 in number) resolved to revive in practice the traditions
left them by their fathers, which they had departed from during the
period of opulence. They again renounced tobacco, wine, meat and every
kind of excess, many of them dividing up all their property in order to
supply the needs of those who were in want, and they collected a new
public fund. They also renounced all participation in acts of violence,
and therefore refused military service. In confirmation of their
sincerity, in the summer of 1895 the Doukhobors of the "Great Party," as
they were called in distinction from the "Small Party," burnt all the
arms which they, like other inhabitants of the Caucasus, had taken up
for their protection from wild animals, and those who w