A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ties and family solidarity. No longer is the family the closely-knit social and economic unit that it used to be on the farm. In the city, where every member of the family has his or her particular work or vocation (and the problem is intensified where the wife and mother also works outside the home) the feeling of "togetherness" is lost, and with it the blessings of mutual correction and encouragement. A corollary of this disintegration of family life is the increased frequency of divorce in urban Mennonite Brethren churches — the rate being considerably higher than in rural congregations. It would seem that although Mennonite Brethren move in the direction of increased urbanization, the survival and continued influence of a substantial segment of rural churches would be beneficial to the course and development of the brotherhood in the future. III. From Poverty to Affluence Another factor which has changed the life-style of Mennonite Brethren, especially after World War II, is a growing affluence and prosperity. Only a few general observations on this aspect can be made at this time. The early history of the brotherhood in America was marked by a continuous struggle for economic survival. Grain fanning on the edge of the agricultural frontier — whether in Kansas, North Dakota, or Saskatchewan — was a hazardous undertaking, conditioned by the unpredictable fluctuations of weather conditions and world markets. The limited financial resources of the M.B. churches during the pioneer 336 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH 44. The Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church, Winnipeg. FACING CULTURAL CHANGE 337 era were reflected in the annual contributions to missions. Total contributions to the conference treasury (Bundeskasse) in 1883 amounted to $1,258.21. 23 The situation was not much better ten years later when $971.11 was collected for home missions; in addition, $955.50 had been contributed to foreign missions. 30 By their proverbial industry and traditional frugality Mennonite Brethren, along with the other Mennonites, had achieved a modest prosperity by the late 1920's. The 1929 stock market crash and the Depression that continued throughout the thirties, forced even the thrifty and hard-working Mennonites down to the poverty level. All aspects of conference work had to be curtailed drastically. In Canada, the economic problems of the Mennonite Brethren were accentuated by the fact that the immigrants from Russia, who constituted more than half of the conference membership, had not yet paid off their transportation debt (Reiseschuld) when the Depression set in. Instead of being able to make contributions to missions, many families were forced by circumstances to accept government relief in order to survive. World War II caused an upswing in the economy in both Canada and the United States. The unemployed went back to work and the farmers received higher prices for their pr