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of http://www.magister.msk.ru/library/roerich/roer059.htm

Nikolay Roerich.   

THE HOUSE OF MERCY 
 
Mercy - in fact this one of the most touching words prekrasnozvuchnogo
Russian. It belongs to those inspiring concepts which in vanity of day
so are frequently said in full negligence. Mercy, compassion,
gratitude, it sensible - stvovanie, itself. All these words so
frequently repeat with uterej their any sense. Instead of nobly
sonorous I "thank" in turmoil leaves "bldarju", instead of benevolent
"hello" leaves it is offensive senseless "zdraste", and not in that
put, that such valuable concepts are said muffledly by language, but
thus they in a hostel lose fine and calling value. 
 
Meanwhile all these complex considered-compound definitions and wishes
are given not as a ridiculous abstractness, but as the high reality
brought in daily use. It is joyful there where these precepts in
effectiveness again remind us the first purpose. 
 
Each time when you visit " the House of Mercy ", it always admires me
svoeju with effectiveness. Only think, during such hard time as now
when only cruel abolition and curtailment everywhere is heard, in our
terrible days good construction of " the House of Mercy " does not
become transfixed. When people think only of that, as though already
former has existed, then " the House of Mercy " is going to open doors
for the new help. Really it is possible to admire indefatigable good
energy of the spiritual owner of " the House of Mercy " archbishop
Nestora. If and in days of such unprecedented ruin and damage it is
possible to overcome all the same obstacles and to build, in it the
unusual example sozidatelstva which so is combined with true
spirituality is shown. And young runaways grow about " the House of
Mercy ", as true patrol of a sacred stronghold. 
 
And not only pechetsja the spiritual owner about children and aged and
about all truzhdajushchihsja. His deep thought lives among great
peace-making problems, everywhere uniting, healing and bringing
pleasure. And even more pathetically and lord Nestor cares of all
spiritual bread. 
 
Unless it is not wonderful, that at " the House of Mercy " the
museum-storehouse about which the builder kind writes in the recent
letter is created also: " Saint Sergy Radonezhsky which so is held
sacred by you to which sacred prays ljubovno it is devoted our modest
museum-storehouse, yes will be always the assistant... " The Saint
tutor of Russian national spirit, the indefatigable worker and the
founder. Saint Sergy so it is vividly recollected at everyone to the
blessing the directed construction. 
 
When even many educational and educational establishments do not take
into head creation in the walls of a material reminder about sacred
and cultural then " the House of Mercy ", and in this sense
velikomiloserdija, sets a good example. To me, maybe, will tell, that
difficulty of a modern life prevents such educational undertaking. But
it not so. 
 
We know enough, that poverty does not interfere with cleanliness and
that construction not is only a product of surplus and luxury. I
personally had to make sure in the different countries, how
construction and good collecting frequently arose among the most
deprived, but the most alive spirit. Could name many examples to how
most people, apparently, constrained by circumstances made the most
useful assemblies for the national blessing. 
 
I remember the poor high-school student who for the labour copecks has
made valuable assembly of art cards. I remember the student who,
having cut down opportunities of trite amusements, has created already
in student's years fine assembly of pictures. I remember colonel very
much constrained by circumstances who was set by an original and fine
idea to collect initial sketches of artists for their future
pictures. I remember, how it indefatigably addressed to artists who
gave it the first sketches, and thus within less than ten years the
fine and unique assembly of the first and bright displays of
creativity was made. And in fact all know, that the first art idea
quite often happens more ognenna, rather than rationally-considered a
picture. I take these three examples from a life Russian, and how many
the same fine displays I could name both in America, and in Europe,
and in India. 
 
Business not becomes completely clear, that in that the structure
would go from surplus, from luxury, on the contrary, true collecting
is born in spirit and intimate fire overcomes all difficulties in the
name of the blessing. Such collecting is one of bases of alive ethics
of which so a little now think. We should struggle against any
addicts, whether but such misfortune arises it from impossibility of a
touch to sacred, fine? In fact it is even not accepted to speak about
ethics. This alive beginning is put in the category of those truisms
which in a conditional society it is even not accepted to mention. But
the life atop of all ignorant destructions all the same reminds of the
great responsibility of the person, and in particular we should be
grateful to those who, despite of all obvious difficulties, continues
to create and create. 
 
In Harbin there is no art museum. The youth has no place to go
spiritually to have a rest in fine, but also here there is a favour of
heart. Only think, not who other, how " the House of Mercy " comes to
the aid and in this spiritual urgent question. Certainly, if it will
be difficult to collect to " the House of Mercy " only originals, let
there will be also good reproduction, but a place of spirit ohranit a
choice and structure of these aspirations of human creativity. I can
not tell, how it is joyful, that within the limits of mercy such bread
spiritual which will involve has joined also and will set set of
hearts, and among them hearts young. 
 
We shall be pleased to each association. We shall be pleased to each
purchase of fine divisions and decomposition. And other sacred
undertaking should please everyone ustremlennoe to the blessing
heart. Before our eyes in Harbin Sacred Vladimir's Institute is
created. Certainly, any beginning is difficult, but because of these
works there is an idea of association. Who will not be pleased, that
today and business educational, educational can receive a sign on
aspiration to association! 
 
That circumstance, that in the chapter of Institute of Sacred Vladimir
costs ruling archbishop Melety, and the board is headed by bishop
Dimitriem, should be a pledge, that all goodwill, all tolerance and
the containment peculiar Hristovu to education will be brought in
business. 
 
If the Institute can begin only with three faculties nothing can
prevent to think to us about expansion of this program and entering
into it of those historical, humanitarian and art tasks which already
usually are included into the program of university. To me will tell,
that it is difficult now, but, I repeat, difficulty not once was then
poroditelem special energy which overcame. In fact first of all ideas
cause consequences. Therefore fearlessly to base on thinking of
association all sacred, all fine, all cognitive which will find ways
of realization if only there was a consent. 
 
Unless not deep pleasure, that by day of the Tutor of Russian national
spirit we have an opportunity to remember such great building bases,
as education and collecting. 
 
Having arrived in Harbin, I spoke and was pleased both about latent
and about obvious opportunities of this place, and now on solar Sunday
when ringing of church bells of temples Hristovyh when we are going to
go on consecration of Institute of St.. Vladimir rings, and then on
moleben in " the House of Mercy ", unless it is not joyful to
recollect among light and the mutual statement in bases of a
unification. So, on everyone it "is impossible" we shall tell sincere
and intimate it "is possible". 
 
A good Russian word - mercy. 
 
Harbin. On October, 7, 1934.