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

total history of the Mennonites. When the study was expanded to include the history of till the Mennonites in Russia only very little could be eliminated from this specialized section without sacrificing much that was worthwhile, especially for the coherence, of the whole. As far as the content is concerned, I wished to copy as much as possible from the mass of original material rather than write much myself. Not that this was easier for the author, but situations and personalities could be depicted more faithfully in this way than if the author had attempted to referee between them, intruding and allowing his personality to come to the fore, whether he desired to do so or not. I have been at pains conscientiously to cite all the sources. Should I have omitted to do so in places, or should the copyrights have been unintentionally anywhere infringed upon, I most urgently beg to be excused and declare myself to be obligated to rectify every justifiable claim. I express my most sincere and heartiest thanks to all who have helped me directly or indirectly— some have done so most willingly. With regard to our Mennonite history, the following was the fundamental principle of historical integrity: to say as much good as was possible and as much of the bad as we had to in order to remain truthful. Whenever I was forced to vex someone I was always grieved first before I could write down the troublesome part. I often battled these things for years. I have already become aware of many mistakes. It is the duty of an open, objective criticism to point others out to me. Since, given the state of my health and the conditions existing in the Mennonite book market, it is impossible to think that I shall live to see a revised edition, I have already begun to prepare a supplemental volume (commercially totally independent of this book) entitled “Supplements and Corrections to the Old Evangelical Mennonite Brotherhood.” In this way I retain, as long as I am still alive and able to work, the discipline and custom of serving my fellowship as much as I can in the area of history, and the purchaser of the book, which has meanwhile become quite expensive, is not hurt through a partial loss of value by a (if possible!) second edition soon to follow upon the heels of the first. For a small price he can purchase the “Supplements and Corrections” and thus have the benefit of a revised edition. Another project underway is the continuation and completion (of the beginning, end, and parts in between) or my original “chronicle” through the simple copying of many newly discovered and acquired unique documents. If at all, this study could naturally only be published in a very limited edition since it would only interest historians and researchers. A third project is the writing of smaller pieces such as biographies and the narration of episodes out of the life of the Russian Mennonites (like that of the "Mennonite Thief”). My att