A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ges. 18. Matthew 4:4. 19. Luke 12:15. 20. Cf. Epp, Mennonite Exodus, p. 221. 21. See H. P. Toews, A, H. Unruh, D.D., Lebensgeschichte (Winnipeg: Christian Press, 1961), pp. 24-30. 22. H. P. Toews, op. cit., p. 27. 23. A. A. Toews, Mennonitische Maertyrer, I. 291. 24. Quoted by Unruh, op. cit., p. 335, from Unser Blatt, January, 1926. 25. In his memoirs (unpublished) my father describes his personal experience during this period. He was one of the teachers who lost his position. 26. Information given by J. B. Toews, son of the late J. A. Toews, Sr., in personal interview. 27. The author belongs to the large number in the latter category. In many ways the movement could be described as "lay evangelism." 28. N. L. Saloff-Astakhoff, Christianity in Russia (New York: Loizeaux Brothers, 1941). p. 72. 29. G. Lohrenz, in A Legacy of Faith, p. 183. 30. A. A. Toews, Mennonitische Maertyrer, I, 68. 31. Quoted in ibid., p. 69. 32. Ibid., p. 70. 33. Ibid., p. 71. 34. Ibid., p. 133. This optimism was shared by many other Mennonites at the time, since the "liberals" in the provisional government favored such a policy. 35. Ibid. 36. Ibid., p. 131. This village had the reputation of being strongly in favor of the Selbstschutz. Because the Mennonites of this village had violated their historic principle of nonresistance, Dyck and his co-workers had to pay with their lives. 37. Article reprinted from Unser Blatt (October, 1925), in A. H. Unruh, op. cit., pp. 361-365. 38. Ibid., p. 361. 39. It should be noted here that, at first, some Mennonite Brethren churches were very reluctant to cooperate in this venture. Cf. Epp, Mennonite Exodus, p. 72, also pp. 126-130. 40. Ibid., pp. 101-106. Epp gives an excellent account of the negotiations that led to the repeal of the Order-in-Council. 41. The government in Kharkov, the capital of the Ukraine, objected to the name "Mennonite" because it was a religious designation. Hence the name VBHH was chosen in order to obtain a charter. Details are given by J. B. Toews in Lost Fatherland, pp. 74-76. 42. Ibid., p. 55. The author of Lost Fatherland is a nephew of the late B. B. Janz. 448 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH 43. Ibid., pp. 102-103. 44. Ibid., p. 82. 45. Quoted by Epp, Mennonite Exodus, p. 48. 46. "Kulak" (literally "fist") was the name given to well-to-do farmers by the Communists. As a class they opposed Soviet policies, especially the collectivization of the land. 47. The entire address is reprinted in Unruh, op. cit., pp. 335-349. 48. A vivid account of the experiences of this "suffering servant" is given in A. A. Toews, Mennonitische Maertyer, I, 47-56. His letters and poems bear an eloquent testimony to the depth of his faith and commitment to Christ. 49. Quoted by Smith, op. cit., p. 508. 50. Aron D. Rempel, et al.. At the Gates of Moscow (Yarrow, B.C.: Columbia Press, 1964). 51. Epp, in An Introduction to Mennon