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

L CONFERENCE OF MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCHES FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 1980 u Translated from Alt-Evangelische Mennonitsche Bruederschaft in Russland (1789-1910) im Rahmen der mennonitischen Gesamtgeschichte (Halbstadt, Raduga, 1911) Translation Copyright© 1978 by Board of Christian Literature, General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches 4824 E. Butler, Fresno, California 93727 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Library of Congress It 78-52664 Printed in Canada for the Board of Christian Literature by Christian Press, Winnipeg Distributed by Christian Press Mennonite Brethren Publishing House 159 Henderson Highway 135 North Main Winnipeg, Manitoba R2L 1L4 Hillsboro, Kansas 67063 PREFACE The publication of an English translation of P. M. Friesen’s authoritative historical work represents the fruition of years of effort. For well over a decade various interested groups and persons have discussed the desirability of translating the large volume; only recently, however, were specific plans formulated. A significant step forward was taken when the Historical Commis- sion of the General Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Church recom- mended translation and publication. The Board of Christian Literature, to whom this recommendation was presented, concurred and now asked the Historical Commission to implement the suggestion. Thereupon the Commission requested its Executive Director, J. B. Toews, to explore possibilities for translating the book and also for financing such a venture. It was largely because of his untiring efforts and dynamic leadership that the dream became reality. Gradually, an overall strategy was developed. Several groups of translators began the arduous task of preparing preliminary drafts of translations. When these had been completed, an editorial and translation committee, composed of J. B. Toews, Abraham Friesen, Peter J. Klassen and Harry Loewen, reviewed and revised the entire manuscript. John B. Toews (Calgary) also read the manuscript for accuracy, while Victor G. Doerksen devoted a great deal of time to a painstaking analysis of the entire document and made numerous changes in the interests of style and accuracy. The final product is thus the labor of many. The Commission felt that the translation of this massive history of Mennonites in Russia— itself the product of a specific assignment of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Russia in 1885— should involve a broad spectum of the brotherhood. In his "Author’s Preface” P. M. Friesen has given an enlightening report on some of the numerous problems encountered during the iv twenty-five years when his manuscript was in preparation. He declared himself unsatisfied with the