A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

before the "gathering storm" constitute the next chapter. Chapter 7 Era of Prosperity and Progress (1885-1914) The three decades prior to World War I could well be described as the "golden age" of the Mennonites in general, and of the Mennonite Brethren Church in particular. The Mennonites, including the Mennonite Brethren, had unparalleled opportunities for establishing and maintaining communities on the basis of their understanding of biblical truth and their heritage. "The course of this unhampered development," Smith observes, "also suggests the direction Menno- nitism may sometimes take when it is free to apply its principles, economic and religious, to every day living."' This is also the period in which the earlier isolation of the Mennonite Brethren from the rest of the Mennonites, as well as their withdrawal from public affairs, comes to an end. Increasingly Mennonite Brethren become involved, often in positions of leadership, in the socioeconomic and cultural life of the larger Mennonite community. In the spiritual realm this period is marked by continued increase in membership and by founding of churches in new areas. A growing missionary vision finds expression in the commissioning of workers for ministries in the "regions beyond." In the internal life of the church the tensions between the conservative and progressive elements lead to serious confrontations on such issues as "open communion." The theological self-consciousness and maturity of the Mennonite Brethren Church finds expression in the formulation of a new Confession of Faith (1902). These developments are presented here only in broad outline. 1. New Frontiers in Colonization Throughout the second half of the nineteenth century Imperial Russia pursued a vigorous expansionist policy. It secured its borders to 86 ERA OF PROSPERITY AND PROGRESS (1885-1914) 87 the South, especially in the Caucasus, and pressed on relentlessly in Asia — first into Central Asia (Turkestan) in the sixties and seventies, and then into Far Eastern Asia (Eastern Siberia) in the eighties and nineties. 2 Mennonite settlements, in many instances, were established along the frontier in these newly acquired territories. Some colonies were established near the original ones, as in the Crimea and in the Caucasus, but others were as far away as Siberia and Turkestan. TABLE I Major Mennonite Settlements over 10 Villages in Russia in 1918 3 Date of Number of No. Settlement Founding Location Villages 1. Molotschna 1804 Ukraine 58 2. Chortitza 1789 Ukraine 18 3. Memrik 1884 Ukraine 10 4. Zagradovka 1871 Ukraine 17 5. Jasykovo 1868 Ukraine 10 6. Terek 1901 Caucasus 17 7. Old Samara 1861 Middle Volga 10 8. New Samara 1891 Middle Volga 14 9. Trakt 1851 Middle Volga 10 10. Orenburg 1893 Middle Volga 21