A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

n these agricultural communities to keep the traditional marriage between the Bible and the plow (Bibel und Pflug) intact. There appears to have been little organized religious life among the early Brethren in Kansas. Whereas other groups had come into this state as organized congregations (e.g. the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, and the K.M.B. Church), the Mennonite Brethren prior to 1879 seem to have suffered from a lack of strong leadership. Wherever members of the M.B. Church settled, however, they met in homes for prayer and fellowship. As soon as schoolhouses were erected, these served as meetingplaces for the small groups of believers. The early period (1874-79) is characterized by religious ferment and inner tensions. The Mennonite Brethren coming from the Molotschna and Chortitza colonies could not come to terms with the Volga group. The latter still insisted on the "sister kiss" and held other views not acceptable to the former. The Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church which had established itself at Gnadenau near Hillsboro, under the leadership of elder Jacob A. Wiebe, had much in common with the MKNNONITK BKKTHRKN COME TO THE UNITED STATKS Brethren from the Molotschna. but the difference in the mode of baptism was an obstacle to a complete merger of the two groups." Moreover, a Mennonite Church under the leadership of Bernhard Buhler was also established in the Hillsboro area. This church emphasized newness of life and made the mode of baptism optional. Although Buhler himself had not been baptized by immersion, he administered this mode of baptism upon request. The centrifugal forces operating in this ferment finally prevailed, and no "alliance" was achieved among the various groups even though several attempts were made. The history of the founding, growth, and development of all M.B. congregations in North America transcends the purpose of this book." The following representative local congregations reflect economic, social, cultural and religious trends or problems of earlier and later periods in Mennonite Brethren history. An analysis of the pattern of church establishment in Kansas as well as in other states reveals that all churches were initially located in rural areas. Some of these were later relocated in nearby towns; others became extinct; and still others have managed to survive but have had difficulty in maintaining their membership level as well as essential services. Kansas provides illustrations for all these categories. 1'lie l-Jhcnfi'ld Mennonite Brethren Church The Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church claims the distinction of being the first organized M.B. congregation on the North American continent. It began in 1874 when a number of M.B. families settled in this community a few miles southeast of Hillsboro in Marion County. In 1876 an additional seventy-five families arrived. The church grew rapidly and in 1888 had a membership of two hundred and fifty-three.