Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

ented, and very courteously received by him, but there were no concrete results. Later it was learned that Clayton Kratz, on hearing that the Red army had suddenly captured the Crimea, decided to remain quietly in the village of New Halbstadt, in the Ukraine, believing that as a relief worker he would not be harmed. He was very hospitably taken into the family of a well known Mennonite, where no effort was spared to make him comfortable and to cheer his loneli- ness. The Government of the village had, of course, UNSEALING THE CLOSED DOOR 169 changed hands, and he was called before the authorities to give an account of himself. He was almost imme- diately released and continued to live at the home of his friends. At Goshen College he had always taken an active part in the religious activities of the school community, and now, awaiting with uncertainty the developments of each day, he spent much time reading the Bible he had carried with him. His calm resignation deeply impressed the family with whom he stayed. He spoke of his mother, his family, and his dearest friends. But he was not lack- ing for friendship or tender solicitude and love from those about him. They sought to do for him all that they would have hoped for their only son and brother, had he been in a far country staring death in the face. Then came a sudden summons to appear before the authorities. He went, accompanied by the man in whose home he had stayed. Both were treated gruffly. They were struck brutally. Clayton was put under arrest and taken away by the military tribunal. What became of him then, is not known. It is believed that the arrest was due primarily to the hatred of Bagon, the highest volost official, a Lett, who had in earlier years been employed in a local printing office, and now appeared to use this time of general dis- order to satisfy a lust for cruelty. In that period of disorganization and anarchy it was impossible for the higher Government officials to hold properly in check the many underlings who were a disgrace to the party they pretended to represent. Clayton Kratz will probably never come home; and his resting place probably never be known. No marble shaft marks the spot where his body returned to earth. But his name is graven on the hearts of thousands and thousands whom he came to help. Their children and children’s children will repeat the story of the Mennonite 170 FEEDING THE HUNGRY youth who came from far away America to save their lives and gave his own. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jno. 15:13. CONTACT WITH MENNONITES In the spring of 1921, when two of us had gone from Constantinople to Novorossisk and Rostow to open relief centers in the South of Russia, and were not given the necessary assurance from Moscow that our work could continue on the lines laid down by us, Frumkin, a high official at Rostow, put us in touc