A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

t you call on your associates to follow you?" Claassen then turned around and said: "Well brethren, whoever is like-minded, come along." 28 About ten brethren arose and left the church. In all, Gnadenfeld lost approximately twenty-five baptized members. But because of this rift, many visitors and "adherents" from other churches also ceased to attend the services there. Gnadenfeld had ceased to be center of the new life movement. The stage was now set for the final dramatic step in the development of a separate church organization. After consultation with several brethren, Claassen called on Abraham Cornelsen, schoolteacher in Elizabethtal, and the two agreed, "that Cornelsen would write the letter of secession and Claassen would call a Brotherhood meeting for Epiphany, on January 6, 1860, in Elizabethtal " M 2. The "Founders' Meeting" A meeting of the "charter members" of the Mennonite Brethren Church took place in the home of Isaak Koop on January 6, 1860. The 34 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH letter of secession prepared by Cornelsen was carefully examined and the brethren agreed to accept this document as a basis for their action. Deeply conscious of the serious implications of this step, "the entire afternoon until evening was spent in ardent prayer." 30 Then the document was presented for voluntary signatures. Eighteen heads of families signed it on that day. On January 18, nine other brethren added their signatures. The documents, submitted to the Council of Elders, reads as follows: To the total body of church elders of the Molotschna Mennonite Church! a) We, the undersigned, have by the grace of God, recognized the decadent condition of the Mennonite Brotherhood and can, for God's and conscience' sake no longer continue therein; for we fear the inevitable judgment of God, since the openly godless living and their wickedness cries to God in heaven. We also fear the loss of the rights and privileges granted us by our benevolent government because the transgressions and disobedience against it increase continually. It is tragic to behold (O Jesus, have mercy, and open the eyes of the spiritually blind!), when in the market places (Jahrmaerkten), before the very eyes of their neighbors, our Mennonite brethren live satanic lives; and even the teachers (preachers) go about and see it, yea even in the restaurants, sit quietly by, see and hear how people serve the devil. Of such persons the Scripture says (Ps. 109; 17-18): He clothed himself with cursing, like as with his garment; as he loved cursing, so let it come unto him. The teachers do not stand in the gap as of old. Hosea 13:5. Ezekiel 22:30. b) Therefore, we herewith completely dissociate ourselves from these decadent churches, though we pray for our brethren, that they shall be saved. We want to be innocent of the souls of the erring. But Thou, O Jesus, equip faithful living witnesses , who will direct Thy children and t