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

city, but only to the extent that the elder from Danzig had to serve them with baptism and communion. Other than that they had no association with him. . . . They consisted of approximately one-hundred communicants. ... On February 128 IN RUSSIA 1789-1860 1, 1801, they held an election and I, though uneducated, was called quite unexpectedly to the ministry. ... I could not decline, for I wanted to serve God as faithfully as I could. Many times it became a heavy burden for me and I became discouraged. And yet the words of Paul: It is the foolish things of this world that God has chosen, were fulfilled. [A portion is left out.] b) “It soon became evident that the temple would not be cleansed nor would the breach be filled; for the Danzig elder, being very liberal, got into a quarrel with the others, though not even all these were in agreement. And since no improvement could be expected in Prussia, that is in Danzig, some thirty adults from our congregation left this desolate Babel on August 23, 1804, and on November 27 arrived in the old Chortitza Colony. There we met our brethren in a somewhat poor condition, which was pleasing to me. Shortly thereupon repeated requests came to Elder Johann Wiebe to come to Molotschna. Four of us went: Jakob Ens, 52 Jakob Dyk, 53 Johann Wiebe 53 and I. When we arrived, we found a great deal of dissension [which had arisen out of petty civil disagreements] . Three times the feuding parties were called together, discussing the issues from mid-day to midnight but nothing was resolved. In the meantime the election of ministers and elders was held. [Another gap; Reimer and Enns settled in the Molotschna. Jakob Enns became the elder. Severe quarrels arose regarding civil punishments and Enns’ inadequate church discipline, as well as because of Enns’ violent and sudden temper which embittered relations between himself and Reimer.] God directs everything, as the example of Israel attests. As long as Israel appeared governable, God provided judges who saved her from her enemies. But when there was little hope of this, God at times sent them wicked kings, as can be seen in the case of King Ahab. . . . c) “And because those of us, who would not submit ourselves completely to this terrible elder, constituted only a small group, some men from Muensterberg [a village on the Molotschna] came to us and invited us to conduct services every fourteen days in Muensterberg as well as here [in private homes; about 1812; Reimer lived in Petershagen near Halbstadt, Molotschna]; and that without Enns’ consent. But we were kept from doing this because others threatened to drive us out of Muensterberg with blows. When this availed them nothing, they denounced us to the local authorities [the local Mennonite administra- tion]. . . . Thereupon we explained the entire matter, as well as God’s Word, to them. At that the Colony A dmini strator (Oberschulz) fell silent. [The repeated attempts