A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

was even larger than the church in the Molotschna. 7 The main center was in the village of Einlage, with affiliated groups at Andreasfeld and Tehornoglas. The troubles of the Einlage Mennonite Brethren Church (as it came to be known) were not ended by Wieler's removal and Neufeld's withdrawal from the settlement. The Baptist-Mennonite polarization, caused by Abraham Unger's pro-Baptist leanings, continued to create problems within the fellowship and in the relationship of the church to the civil authorities, who made repeated attempts to classify the Brethren as "Baptists" and to deprive them of their privileges as Mennonites. Reference has been made to August Liebig's profitable, though short-lived, ministry in 1866. It so happened that in 1868 a German Baptist deacon, Karl Benzien, moved into the area for business reasons. Benzien, an educated and gifted Christian, soon ingratiated himself by his sympathetic attitude and wise counsel. Like Liebig before him, Benzien chaired their church business meetings and assisted the Brethren in establishing a more functional church polity. At a brotherhood meeting in May, 1868, Abraham Unger was elected as elder and Aron Lepp as minister. Since Lepp was not in agreement with Unger on the question of Mennonite-Baptist relations, the tensions were not resolved." In the fall of 1869 J. G. Oncken, the founder and leader of the German Baptist Church, came to the Southern Ukraine to visit some scattered Baptist congregations. Upon invitation, he also ministered to the Mennonite Brethren in Chortitza." On October 18, 1869, Oncken ordained Abraham Unger as elder, Aron Lepp as minister, and Cornelius Unger and Benjamin Nickel as deacons. Oncken's itinerary, which also included a ministry in the Molotschna, was cut short because of the approaching Russian winter, and hence his visit to the latter colony did not materialize. In view of the consequences of Oncken's ministry for the brotherhood, some brethren then and later have considered this change in his travel plans as "providential." 10 The official involvement of a Baptist minister in a Mennonite Brethren ordination service raised a number of questions and provided a great deal of fuel for the fires of controversy. Since Oncken was a Bap- tist, some brethren felt that those ordained by him were also Baptists now. Another matter which came up for discussion was the question of nonresistance. Since Baptists were not opposed to military service, CONSOLIDATION AND EXPANSION (1865-1885) 73 12. Aron Lepp 13. August Liebig would fellowship with them jeopardize the Mennonite exemptions from such service? Was it right to observe communion with them? A practical ethical issue came up in connection with Oncken's visit. The latter was addicted to the use of tobacco, and his example influenced some mem- bers of the church to imitate him. After considerable discussion, the Brethren resolved that members of the Menn