THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

rvening period, because of the transfer of many members to other confessions (partially the result of a restriction of their former privileges) as well as the earlier emigration of many families, 16 the number of the families became so small as not to reach forty. Consequently, with the full approval, indeed on the recommendation of the Prussian government, a number of other evangelical families were received into membership upon their confession of faith and baptism. These were all families who, having participated in the church services for some time, had long wished to join them. Among these were the gifted families of Lange, 17 Lenzmann, Klatt and others. In 1835, 1836 and 1840 the Gnadenfeld Colony— thus designated because the settlement had been an exceptional gift from the Tsar through God’s grace— was founded with its forty farms. With its beautiful groves of trees 18 and ideal location, it is one of the most attractive among the many beautiful Mennonite villages, located like an oasis in the former desolate “Nogai plains.” 10. Under the very able leadership of elders and teachers such as Ernst Voot (or Voodt), 19 Peter Jantz, and others, the congregational life of the Brenkenhofswalde-Franztal Church— today the Gnadenfeld congregation— was a vigorous one. Aside from the two regular Sunday services and one week-night service, they conducted private services here and there in the homes under the supervision of the elder and the ministers. These were not preaching services, but open discussions in which everyone was free to speak; the persons directly in charge were chosen from the ranks of the brotherhood by the congregation and its council, and designated as discussion leaders. (Compare above V, Appendix 4.) Even the school, at first totally dependent upon the state, flourished during the first years. Two churches were built: in Brenkenhofswalde in 1778, and Franztal in 1787. The government Unrest and Reform 99 provided the land and the lumber; money was acquired from the Dutch Mennonites (to which, on the advice of the government, Elder Voot and Peter Jantz, a minister, travelled), and from those in Hamburg-Altona. The well-known Pastor (elder, "domine”) Johannes Deknatel 20 of Amsterdam and Pastor Johann de Jager 21 of Hamburg-Altona became actively involved in the venture. Gradually, however, church and school deteriorated: no replacements could be found for the old and departed able leaders of the early decades. The spiritual life grew cold and the school deteriorated. Tobias Voth, a child of the congregation, and now a prophet of no consequence in his own home, left. But God provided for replacement. In 1790 a Lutheran youth by the name of Wilhelm Lange, in order to avoid being forcibly drafted, sought sanctuary in the Mennonite Church, find after a short tune was accepted into membership upon his confession of faith and baptism. Lange was as pious as he was intelligent and eloquen