A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

types" as the Spiritualists, the Mystics, the Anti-Trinitarians and others. Moreover, most of these groups have become extinct in the course of time. The present study will thus be restricted to two groups of "mainline" Anabaptists who are the spiritual progenitors of most Mennonites in Europe and North America.' Even among the latter there was no homogeneous, organization- ally-united Anabaptist-Mennonite Church in the sixteenth century, and it would be historically correct to say that in some respects the various branches of the Mennonite family in the twentieth century show a greater spirit of mutual recognition and practical cooperation than their forefathers. Although the religious and ethnic heritage of the Mennonite Brethren must largely be traced back to Dutch Anabaptism, a brief reference to the "Swiss Brethren," the pioneers of the free-church movement, is in place. Swiss Anabaptism 8 When Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) came to the Grossmuenster in Zurich in 1519, he was already deeply committed to the task of reform. His exposure to humanism as a student, and his personal studies of the New Testament while a priest at Glarus and Einsiedeln, had prepared him for his mission. At Grossmuenster he startled his listeners by preaching expository messages based on Scripture. Through his study of Scripture, he became increasingly critical of the traditional practices of Roman Catholicism. By 1522 the Reformation in Zurich had quickened its pace. Although Zwingli resigned as priest of the Roman Catholic Church, he was immediately reinstated by the city council of Zurich. Among his most ardent supporters and devoted followers at this time were two brilliant, university-trained young radicals, Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz. Several reform-minded priests, such as Wilhelm Reublin, the fiery preacher of Wytikon, also joined the group. They appreciated Zwingli's preaching against tithes and rents, church fasts, and the mercenary system, which had attracted many Swiss youth to the papal armies. However, when Zwingli proceeded to abolish the mass, he met stiff resistance from the city council. Under these circumstances he took the course of expediency and compromise, and delayed action. A "disputation" on this issue was arranged in October, 1523. On this occasion a basic schism began to develop between Zwingli and the Radicals. The record of the debate states: 6 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH Conrad Grebel rose and thought that the priests should be given instructions, since they were all present, as to what should be done about the Mass: (the disputation] would be in vain, if something were not done about the Mass. . . . Zwingli: My Lords [the Council] will decide how to proceed henceforth with the Mass. Simon Stumpf: Master Ulrich. You have no authority to place the decision in the hands of My Lords, for the decision is already made: the Spirit of God decides. 0 This kind of unre