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

ileges previously agreed to, but have also, in order to encourage their thrift and concern for agriculture still more, graciously granted them additional rights in the following articles. “First: we reaffirm to them and their descendants the religious freedoms 43 promised earlier, by virtue of which they are entitled to follow their faith and church practices unhindered. We also graciously grant, that if occasion should require them to testify in a court of law, their spoken ‘yes’ or ‘no’ shall be considered legal in lieu of an oath. “Second: [Concerns the allotment of 64 dessiatines of land to each family]. . . . “Third: [Concerns the freedom to establish businesses]. . . . “Fourth: [Gives them the specific right to brew beer, vinegar and brandy]. . . . “Fifth: [No stranger may build a tavern or otherwise sell brandy on 120 IN RUSSIA 1789-1860 the property of the Mennonites without their permission]. . . . “Sixth: We affirm our most gracious guarantee that none of the Mennonites already settled or who may choose to settle in our domain in the future, nor their children and their descendants, shall at any time be forced to serve in the military 44 or civil service, unless they specifically volunteer for them. “Seventh: [Exemption from the extended quartering of military troops, transportation or service to the crown such as the obligation to maintain roads and bridges in good repair]. . . . “Eighth: [Concerns the rights of property and ownership, grants them their own inheritance practices and care of orphans]. . . . “Ninth: [Grants them ten to fifteen years’ exemption from imperial taxation]. . . . "Tenth: [An order to all authorities in no way to reduce these privileges but to protect them in all instances]. . . . “Given in the city of Gatschino, the 6th of September in the year 1800 A.D., the fourth of our reign and the second as Grand Master. Paul, Count of Rostoptschin.” (An unabridged version of the Charter of Privileges appears in D. Epp’s Die Chortitza Mennoniten .) IV. Evaluation of the Mennonite Colonies by the Privy Councillor, i.e. Senator Contenius, and Privy Councillor A. Klaus (Supplement to #32-34 ) 1. a) To our consolation, a much more favorable evaluation of our earliest immigrant forefathers, than that from those personally and immediately involved, came from outsiders, in particular from Privy Councillor A. Klaus’ pamphlet entitled Unsere Kolonien (Our Colonies), written at the request of the government toward the end of the ’60s. b) On page 180 of the German translation by Jakob Toews we read the following regarding the Chortitza settlers: “In spite of the enormous advantages granted the Mennonites, and their reputation as model farmers, the colonization they had undertaken never went well. Various reasons were responsible for this, all [!?] of them, however, beyond the control of the settlers themselves. According to the testimony of the Privy Council