Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

n the hearts of men. But you, our brethren and sisters, may the great God reward you. May the above quoted words of our Lord and Savior greet you together with the blessed invitation “Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” J. M. Dyck, Chairman of Committee, Chortitza. (Then follow hundreds of signatures) These letters of thanks could be continued almost indefinitely, since individuals and groups have actually been vying one with another in trying to express their gratefulness. The letters that we give are only a few representative ones, selected for the somewhat varied way of expression and partly because of the large numbers of signatures attached to several of them. We appreciate all the rest and shall save as many as we can for historical RESPONSES FROM RUSSIA 403 references, but space will not permit us to include more of them here. We will rather take the opportunity to present two more examples of showing appreciation in a manner different from letters and words. THE ORENBURG THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL The motive for this festival was a threefold one: (1) A feeling of gratefulness to our Father in Heaven who ever remembers His own and sends relief in due season; (2) Gratefulness for the Covenant which holds us as brethren together, even though far separated by distance; (3) Gratefulness for the nameless help, that our American brethren had sent us just for the time when suffering was most severe. A large congregation gathered at our house of prayer. The motive that made response spontaneous was the motto, ‘‘Saved from a miserable death.’ The services were opened at 8 o’clock, on Pentecost morning. After the two choirs had sung a number of songs of thanks- giving, one of the ministers spoke briefly on Psalm 33, stressing the following two thoughts: ‘He fashioned their hearts alike,” and ‘To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.” One of the brethren said: Oh, how true are these words of the Lord! How these words drew out the sentiment of thanksgiving from all the children of God that were present! When asked for a com- mon prayer of thanks it stirred our emotions most wonder- fully. Oh, ye dear ones far beyond the waters, you cannot imagine how our hearts were full and how our mouths over- flowed with thanksgiving. Sometimes 25 were praying and praising at the same time. Because of the emotional ten- sion 1 was unable to count the number that “offered unto God thanksgiving.” It was a wonderful blending of voices expressing holy words of praise. Many hot tears, like beau- tiful crystals, rolled over the cheeks of those who acknowl- edged that their lives had been wonderfully saved.” At another similar occasion when several of the 404 FEEDING THE HUNGRY American representatives were present, the desk used as pulpit was literally covered with bouquets of wild flowers, even the space under