A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

chewan Mennonite Brethren have not established any private high schools. In this province the Mennonite communities in many instances have jurisdiction over public high schools. These schools, largely staffed by Christian teachers, make private high schools virtually unnecessary. In addition to their primary function, the Bible schools and Bible academies of Canada and the United States have fulfilled several secondary roles. With their strong emphasis on good music and Christian literature, the schools have served as cultural centers in the constituency. Moreover, these institutions have also been important "feeders" for the colleges and indirectly for the seminary of the conference. II. The Demand for Higher Education: The Story of Liberal Arts and Bible Colleges Tabor College In the last decade of the nineteenth century the need of a college education for church leadership training became a serious concern among Mennonite Brethren — especially in Kansas. The opening of Bethel College in North Newton in 1893 by a corporation composed of members of the Mennonite Church probably intensified the desire of the Mennonite Brethren to establish a school of their own. Inadequate resources, however, seemed to make all such plans and aspirations look like an unattainable Utopia. In the meantime, some Mennonite Brethren in Kansas had established contact with the college of the Church of the Brethren (Dunkards) located at McPherson, in close proximity to major Mennonite settlements. According to J. F. Harms "the question came up in the M.B. Church, whether it would not be proper, in cooperation with the K.M.B. Church, to associate ourselves temporarily with the Dunkard College in McPherson and work hand in hand with that school." 31 Elder Heinrich Wiebe (K.M.B.), and H. P. Ratzlaff, J. F. Duerksen TRAINING FOR LIFE AND SERVICE 269 and J. F. Harms (M.B.) entered into discussions with the faculty and administration of McPherson College. The college offered the M.B. and K.M.B. churches free use of a few classrooms and complete control of the German Department. A letter which spelled out the nature of the arrangement was presented to the M.B. Conference meeting in October, 1898, in Manitoba. The conference, however, was not prepared for such a move and tabled the matter. 32 The promoters of higher education in Kansas, however, were not willing to abandon the project, and decided to move ahead without conference support. Again, according to Harms, "after Brother Schellenberg (Elder Abraham Schellenberg) had been won for the cause, it was comparatively easy that the offer of McPherson College was accepted and Brother J. F. Duerksen engaged for the German department." 33 Duerksen's salary was made up by voluntary contributions. Eleven students enrolled in the German Department during the first year. Because the arrangement proved to be mutually satisfactory, the 1899 conference passed the followi