A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

0 he purchased a farm four miles west of Waldheim and served both the Bruderfeld and Waldheim congregations as elder for many years. He also traveled extensively and preached frequently to Russian congregations. He served as moderator of the Northern District (Canadian) Conference on thirteen occasions, and also represented the brotherhood on the Board of Foreign Missions. Another man, who became a pillar in his own congregation and a progressive leader in the Rosthern Kreis was Jacob Lepp of Dalmeny. Coming to North Saskatchewan from Minnesota, as a young man, he was elected as minister in 1902, and installed as church leader in 1907. He served the church in this capacity until his retirement in 1941." MEN NONITK BRETHRKN COME TO CANADA 159 27. H. S. Voth 28. Jacob Lepp The pattern of church services in the pioneer era differed from that adopted later in most M. B. churches. In the "horse and buggy" days, one trip to church on Sunday was generally considered sufficient. Families met for worship in the morning and stayed together at the church for a fellowship meal, after which Sunday school classes were conducted. Evening services were held only on special occasions, usually in connection with the visit of an itinerant minister or evangelist. During this entire period, 1900-1925, services were conducted exclusively in German. District conferences provided wonderful opportunities for a wider spiritual and social fellowship, and were always considered highlights in the life of the brotherhood. Since church buildings were generally far too small to accommodate delegates and guests (who often attended with their families) large tents were usually erected for such occasions. The festive spirit of these conferences helped to lift church members to "higher ground" and provided pleasant breaks in the routine and drudgery of pioneer life. South Saskatchewan {Herbert Kreis) Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren settlements were estab- lished on both sides of the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and south of the South Saskatchewan River in the first two decades of the twentieth century — somewhat later than in North Saskatchewan. Unlike the North Saskatchewan area, the prairies west of the city of Moose Jaw were bald and treeless, and this may have been a reason for late settlement. Whereas most M. B. pioneers in the Rosthern Kreis had 160 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH come from Minnesota and Nebraska, a considerable number of the settlers here came from Manitoba and North Dakota, with a sprinkling of immigrants from other states and from Russia. The following congregations were organized in the Herbert Kreis during the pioneer period: Main Centre in 1904 under the leadership of elder Benjamin Janz; Herbert in 1905, with J. J. Martens as first leader; Gnadenau (near Flowing Well, now extinct) in 1907 with John F. Harms as first leader; Elim (near Kelstern) in 1907