A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

er balance. 6. The need for meaningful church worship Mennonite Brethren have learned that lukewarmness and coldness in the life of a congregation may open the door to a hyperemotional movement. If worship services do not provide for meaningful 68 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH participation of members, they will look for greener pastures elsewhere. Loud complaints and protests, as well as church resolutions, will not prevent members from attending other meetings which they consider to be more attractive. The whole schism in the Mennonite Brotherhood could have been avoided by a radical renewal in the large churches. Such lessons from history ought to be carefully heeded when movements similar to the Froehliche Richtung appear within church circles in the present day. Chapter 6 Consolidation and Expansion (1865-1885) The two decades following the period of storm and stress (1860-65) were marked, on the one hand, by increased stabilization and maturity in the inner life and organizational structure of the Mennonite Brethren Church, and on the other by rapid growth and expansion into new geographical areas. This is the period in which the "landless problem" was finally solved by the division of crown lands and the purchase of large tracts of land for daughter colonies. It is also the period in which the Russian government abrogated some of the cherished privileges originally granted to the Mennonites. The anomalous situation, in which Mennonites enjoyed rights and privileges far beyond those of their Russian neighbors, could not last forever. The Imperial Decree of 1870 contained provisions which implied radical changes: the Supervisory Commission in Odessa was to be abolished; Russian was to be the official language in the local Colony Administrative Office (Gebietsamt), as well as a subject of study in all the schools; and worst of all for the Mennonites, military exemption was to be terminated. Emigration of a larger group to America and of a smaller group to Central Asia were the direct consequences of the new government policy. These and many other factors affected the growth and development of the Mennonite Brethren Church during this period. Some of the more significant aspects of these developments will be treated briefly. General Developments After the June Reform The three areas in which the Mennonite Brethren Church became firmly established during the first decade of this period are Molotschna, Chortitza, and Kuban. 1. Developments in the Molotschna Numerical growth during this period was steady but not spectacular. Somewhat hard to explain is the fact that the rate of growth 69 70 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH from 1860 to 1866 — the period of oppression and harassment — was more rapid than in the period of relative peace that followed. Whereas the increase through baptism during the first six years averaged fifty per year, the aver