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

y, the more comprehensive nature of our book from the point of view of the leading of a wise and gracious divine providence. With God’s help, we shall be guided by justice and impartiality according to the law of brotherly and universal love, and that which will truly profit the one universal church of Christ in all its parts. 2. The author wishes at the outset to present his judgment with regard to the origin of the M.B. Church reached on the basis of the material, personal recollections and diligent inquiry from the “older generation.” a) The organization of a separate “M.B. Church,” in the midst of the “South Russian Mennonite Brotherhood,” based on the Scriptures and the most essential ideas of Menno, given the secularized state of the largest part of the Russian Mennonites and the inability and partial reluctance of the church councils generally to oppose the corruption, was necessary and proved to be salutary for all of the Russian Mennonites. Generally speaking, however, the founders of the M.B. Church were neither intellectually nor spiritually well-enough prepared for the task: several of the co-founders were decidedly incompetent and were exposed by the subsequent events graciously directed by God; many were finally expelled from the group by the wholesome element; others left of their own accord; still others repented of their mistakes and sins, in the same way in which the whole M.B. Church now and then has openly confessed and condemned its errors (cf. Confession of Faith, 1900/1902, “Explanation”),— remaining in the church with modest positions brought on by the errors they had committed. But even some of the better elements, through the fault of individuals who sinned, lost faith in the goodness of the cause and could not again, whether through their own fault or that of the church, be reconciled to it. But to the upright and those who humbled themselves a merciful God granted much grace that through them, as through "broken rods,” a situation has arisen where we today have the honor and the duty to co-operate in the work that benefits the entire Mennonite confessional fellowship in Russia and America, and to participate in building God’s kingdom generally. But all of those amongst us who sense our inadequacy (it is to be hoped that the great majority of the M.B. Church belongs to this group), say with heartfelt sincerity: Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name be glory! Introduction 203 b) May the worthy reader kindly keep this basic perspective of the author in mind as he reads the following, where, God grant, light and shadow may be dispensed with justice. 3. The generally very sad conditions in the Molotschna (Taurida) §72 and Chortitza (Ekaterinoslav) colonies of the Mennonite Brotherhood in Russia can be readily perceived from the preceding account concerning the most recent history of the Mennonites in Prussia and the events in Russia, and will not be elabo