A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

innesota) Bible Academy, established in the same year, also stated its objectives as teach- ing German and giving Bible instruction.4 The Gethsemane High School in Fairview, Oklahoma, established in 1905t sought to teach the Word of God, the German language and Mennonite customs,5 168 MENNONITE BRETHREN EDUCATION Clearly, language and cultural preservation was high on the educational agenda of early Mennonite Brethren in North America. Paul Toews in an article, "Henry W. Lohrenz and Ta- bor College," quoted from the Tabor College Herald that to for- get the German language represented weakness of character: What nationality can boast of nobler ancestry? The Trustees were a strong and healthy race. They were pure and honest of heart and had the noblest aspirations. After they accepted the Christian religion, there were no other people more true to the faith.6 There are indications that the North American Mennonite Brethren linked the perpetuation of German culture with the re- tention of religious faith. As Toews wrote, "the point of the inter- section between the two was not that German was the language of faith but that it was the language of a superior culture/'7 In Canada the concerns were much the same. When thir- teen Mennonite Brethren Bible schools emeiged in Canada between 1924 and 1955, Bible instruction and German lan- guage got top billing. In terms of importance, cultural sur- vival followed close on the heels of spiritual development. A consultation about the need and purpose of Bible schools took place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on August 8- 10, 1941, with teachers from all Mennonite Brethren schools in Canada participating. This body agreed that "the necessity for Bible schools is: (1) to guard the souls of our youth from the danger of being lost; (2) to equip our youth to stand against the danger of our age; (3) to preserve our youth for the church to prevent the latter from gradual death." A subse- quent paragraph added: "to meet the inner needs of the young people through Bible instruction" and "to prepare the youth for a defense against worldliness" (such as birth control).8 The Coaldale Bible School in 1944 stated its aim as: (1) to nurture the spiritual life of the family, church and society; (2) 169 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH to train workers to confront the dangers faced by the children of today; (3) to work towards unity among believers.* In 1954 the Mennonite Collegiate Institute (a high school) in Gretna, Manitoba, defined its task to "prepare youth for a Christian world view and strengthen their under