Yes; he does.
Now, are the acquaintances largely formed, when new people come into Dallas, through these church groups?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes; most of the time I would say so.

Mr. Jenner.

Now, at least during the time I don't know what your propensities are at the moment, but you were somewhat irreligious when you were in Dallas, were you not?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Well, I actually contributed to this church, to the formation of that first church, that Raigorodsky was interested in, the old guard church.

Mr. Jenner.

Yes.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. And I actually organized even a choir. But then I got less interested in it. I didn't like the priest, you know.

Mr. Jenner.

You didn't like Father Dimitri?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. No; the previous one.

Mr. Jenner.

What was his name?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Well, I forgot his name. He is in South Africa now. It was some time ago. It was 10 years ago maybe. He was sent to South Africa. Let them convert the Negroes there, in South Africa.

Mr. Jenner.

It has been said or reported by--from a few sources, during the course of your lifetime that you were an atheist; is that correct?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. No; I am more or less an agnostic. I would not call myself an atheist; an agnostic. I do not believe in organized religion. Sometimes if I see a group like that, like the Russian group there, I wanted to help them a little bit to be together. And it is amusing to meet those people. So I contributed a little money and a little bit of my time for the services---for instance, as I said, to sing in the church. But I do not go for going every Sunday to church, if that is the answer.

Mr. Jenner.

Well----
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. And especially I do not believe in trying to convert people constantly they push to convert people. But I go occasionally---on some holidays I go to church, to be with them, and to see the group, because I like many of those people.

Mr. Jenner.

That attitude on your part, of agnosticism, whatever you have explained it to be, I take it does not arise out of any interest or belief in communism?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. No.

Mr. Jenner.

Communists are----
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Communism is a religion, you know.

Mr. Jenner.

Well, that is what they say, in any event. They seek to stamp out religion as we understand it in Russia, do they not?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Well, I understand that the Greek Orthodox Church is prosperous in Soviet Russia, quite prosperous. Maybe that is the schism that they have in the church, the schism between the two--maybe one of those churches is closer to the Communist Greek Orthodox denomination.

Mr. Jenner.

But this is speculation on your part?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes; this is speculation on my part. I don't know for sure.

Mr. Jenner.

Now, you are an ebullient person, you like to mix with others?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes; not always, you know, because I can stand for a year to be in the Jungle.

Mr. Jenner.

Yes; I appreciate that. But when you are in, let us say, Dallas or other towns, and in your own community, you are an ebullient person, you are gregarious, you like to be with people?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes; exactly.

« Previous | Next »

Found a Typo?

Click here

Last Update: Wed, 3 Aug 2016 21:56:34 CET