d brave
soldiers, would re-establish justice and happiness on earth to the
sound of trumpets.

"The hour draws near!" This cry of supremest hope was ever upon the
lips of the members of the Napoleonite church.

But to become almost God was a promotion of which the "little corporal"
had surely never dreamed!

CHAPTER XVIII

THE DIVINE MEN

The origin of this sect seems to be lost in the mists of the past.
Some connect it with the teachings of Vishnu, some with mysterious
practices of antiquity; but the "divine men" were certainly children of
the Slavonic soil.

Those who seek for resemblances may find certain analogies between
these adepts of "virginal virginity," or of "the great garden of the
Tsar"--for both these names were applied to them--and the _adamites_ or
_aryanists_; for eager minds seeking supreme salvation are apt to meet
upon the great road that leads to deliverance.

The rather sarcastic name of _chlysty_ (or flagellants, by which they
were also known) indicates one of the methods used by them in their
desire to please the Lord.

A life-and-death struggle, lasting for some centuries, took place
between Russian orthodoxy and this sect whose socialistic ideas
threatened to overthrow the aristocratic dogmas of the official church.

The real founder of the sect was a man named Philipoff, who lived about
the middle of the seventeenth century. According to him, Jesus Christ
was only one of many Christs who have come to the succour of humanity
during the course of ages. The divine spirit incarnates in men of high
morality, so that Christs appear and disappear, living with and among
us from time to time.

The chlysty, therefore, might always have one or more Christs among
them; but all were not of equal standing. Some were great and some
small!

Philipoff was convinced that he was the great Christ, having the right
to choose the twelve Apostles and the Holy Mother. By degrees he came
to think himself God the Father, and adopted a "divine son" in the
person of a peasant named Sousloff, who succeeded him as leader of the
sect after his death.

Another "Christ," named Loupkin, who bestowed the title of "Holy
Virgin" upon his wife, Akoumina, gave a great impetus to the growth of
the sect. His followers proclaimed him their spiritual Tsar, and
received him everywhere with imposing ceremonies. He allowed his feet
and hands to be kissed and obeisances to be made to the "Virgin." As a
resul