Abp Seraphim delivered an address to the Congress of Orthodox Churches at a celebration of the Quincentennial of Russian Church Autocephaly, July 13, 1948. In it, he made some illuminating points which help us to understand at this great distance of time the deeply disturbing effects of Protestants, often via Masonic organizations, to dislodge Orthodox from their roots and mold them into westernized pro-Protestant 'modern men'. Reading his words allow us to see the reaction of a sharp mind at that time. Abp Seraphim easily saw through the YMCA wool which was successfully pulled over the eyes of so many displaced and needy refugees.
"Protestants proceed on the assumption that because they have an ecumenical friendship with Orthodox, the latter are ready to embrace Protestant doctrines, and, as never before, they indulge, with no restraint whatsoever, in their Protestant propagandizing, which has as its goal the union of Orthodoxy with Protestantism and the consequent liquidation of the Orthodox Church.
Protestants use the enormous resources at their disposal to disseminate propaganda by means of the press, publishing books and newspapers. In their literature, they not only drag through the mud our veneration of Icons, our Divine Services, and all of Orthodoxy, but they also speak contrary to the Scriptures. They reject the Biblical narrative of God's creation of the world in six days and do not accept as authentic certain miracles recorded in Scripture.
The upshot of all of this propaganda is that a multitude of Protestant sects have sprouted in Orthodox countries, such as Adventists, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Evangelicals, as well as others.
Before ecumenism, no such Protestant propagandizing existed in Orthodox countries, as no ties of familiarity existed between Orthodox and Protestants. These friendships, which are being firmly established at ecumenical conferences, impose on the Orthodox representatives a moral obligation not to impede Protestant propagandizing in Orthodox countries.
And herein lies the great evil of ecumenism...Freemasons are the ones who encourage the development of friendly relationships at ecumenical conferences, since they are the ones who organize selfsame conferences, just as they organize the conferences of the YMCA."
In 1928, a conference was held in Sofia between representatives of Orthodox churches and representatives of the International Committee of the YMCA, including representatives of national federations of the YMCA in Orthodox countries, under the leadership of the General Secretary of the International Committee of the YMCA, Dr John [Raleigh] Mott -- a well-known Freemason."
Picture selected by barbara of the above mentioned JR Mott, 2nd from the left. I am writing the YMCA head's name the Soviet way, since this American Methodist took for himself the suspicious title "General Secretary". Where was that most familiarly used at the time ? By the heads of the Soviet Communist Party. Note how Mott faces the Greek [?] prelate with a bizarre intensity as if to hypnotize the Orthodox clergyman : symbolic of the YMCA's aim of holding Orthodox Churches in Protestant-Masonic captivity. While appearing attentive to the powerful American, the Orthodox clergyman looks like he is holding on to maintain his balance from the onslaught of psychological warfare.
A little more material on this Mott-YMCA-Masonic attack on Orthodoxy among the vulnerable emigres and war-weakened Orthodox Europeans in the early to mid- 20th century will follow.
