Note 5 — Chapter V · FROM TIUMEN TO TOBOLSK.
Reading edition
The mention of all three invites a short study in “comparative religions,” which may be briefly made as follows:—The complete Roman rosary consists of 150 beads on a string, divided into 15 decades, between each of which is a large or distinctive bead. Where the two ends join there are 5 other beads attached, and at the loose end a crucifix. It is used thus:—On the crucifix is repeated the Creed; on the first bead the Lord’s Prayer; on each of the next three the “Hail, Mary!” and on the fifth bead the Lord’s Prayer. This is by way of introduction. Then on each of the first 10 beads are said these words: “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,—Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” When this has been said ten times, the “Pater Noster” is said on the dividing bead, and this is continued till 150 prayers have been offered to the Virgin, and 15 to “our Father,” and then the odd beads are used in inverse order for a conclusion, as before for an introduction.
The Russian rosary looks smaller, but has also certain beads larger, or at least distinguishable from the others. It is not worn or used by ordinary members of the Russian Church, but only by monks and nuns. I was told by a nun at Moscow that they say on each bead, “May Jesus Christ have mercy on sinners!” but a monk at Kasan said (what is not irreconcilable with the former) that on each ordinary bead they say, “Lord God of heaven and Jesus Christ, have mercy upon us”; and on the large and distinctive bead they say a prayer either to Jesus Christ or the Virgin, the latter beginning something to this effect: “Thou mighty Mary, hear our prayers, and take away from thine unworthy servants all sin,” etc. Lastly, we were told that the Mohammedan continues to say on his rosary, “There is but one God, and Mohammed is His prophet”; and that if they do not know the ninety-nine names of God they merely count the beads.