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

and defended it, as is clearly evident from your letter of August 29, of last year, but now advise us to change our Bible Society into a correspondence society, that is, are now against the Bible Society, your two positions cancel each other out. We have now informed you in greater detail about the situation which should aid you in arriving at a better conclusion. It is our hope and the hope of many brethren that you, upon closer examination, will make recommendations to the four ministers and their adherents here in accordance with your earlier views, indeed it is our brotherly request that you do so. It is known to you, as we mentioned in our last letter, that the Chortitza ‘Ohms’ (elders) have been here but accomplished nothing; we would invite them back if anything could be accomplished by it. Nevertheless, we hope that your and the dear elders’ further loving counsel will always result in a few souls being won. e) “Finally, in regard to the school in Ohrloff, whereof the four ministers and numerous brethren, who wish to have their children instructed by Mennonite teachers and to exclude those of other confessions from the colony, have written you, we are forced to respond that no one is forced to send his children to this school, for everyone may decide for himself who is to instruct his child. Those who have concerns 140 IN RUSSIA 1789-1860 in this regard should therefore calm themselves. Nevertheless, we are surprised that you harbor so many fears; for we will not dismiss our present teacher [Tobias Voth], who is of the Mennonite faith, and appoint a Lutheran, even though most [the word “most” is crossed out and "many” written over it] of the teachers in our colony are Lutheran [i.e. in the village schools]. And the fact that people of other faiths may not settle among us, can have nothing to do with the school, as any unprejudiced and objective person will recognize on his own. What is more, the ministers have never examined the school and cannot say with any certainty whether or not it imparts instruction contrary to our Mennonite principles. However, thanks be to God that the prejudices are constantly decreasing. Many opponents, who have gone to investigate the school, have invariably returned with a changed opinion, confessing that their earlier judgment had been quite wrong. Of this there is ample evidence. We have ourselves been to the school a number of times and know of a certainty that its main concern is to win the children for Jesus. Nor can the positive results achieved with the children be denied. Should one observe the children in the absence of the teacher, one will find them to be quiet, calm and introspective. When the children are dismissed from school, most of them are serious and act in such a manner as to give evidence of improvement. Everyone who has a taste for Christianity notes this with considerable joy. The teacher also conducts an evening session with the child