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

ing: a. that they approach, explain and apply the Holy Scriptures The Struggle 237 in a one-sided way, and declare that their interpretation and application of certain passages of Scripture is the only correct one— which is why they are not open to any kind of correction or instruction; b. that they do not respect any existing church order or organization, which they take to be mere human statutes and say, in this regard, that one must obey God rather than man. According to their point of view they did precisely this when they celebrated holy communion privately in their homes. And finally— c. that they regard only themselves to be true Christians and, in their outrageous presumption and delusion, declare the entire Mennonite brotherhood to be so decadent as to have totally become the slave of the devil. 2) “Already from this major direction in which these people are moving, and the way in which they have renounced our fellowship, it is becoming apparent that one cannot contemplate or expect a peaceful coexistence with them. Rather, should they establish themselves in our midst as a new and independent religious fellowship, it would only create a scandal and disorder, all the more so since, on the basis of our experiences with them, there is no reason to believe that they will call a halt at their present position. It is much more to be expected, since they sue thrown entirely upon their own resources, that they will make even further strides toward fanaticism than they already have. Since we are naturally forced to view these people and their descendants, because of their secession from the Mennonite brotherhood, as those who have seceded from us, the future could only hold the most lamentable disorders in store for those f amili es of our church whose children might intermarry with theirs. It is also to be feared, because of their earnest efforts on behalf of their own opinions, that many other innocent and well-meaning people will be drawn into their fanaticism since they carry on their activity behind a cloak of truly Christian sentiments. 3) “It goes without saying that we cannot give our consent to the establishment and existence of a new and independent religious fellowship in the midst of our Mennonite brotherhood. We have attempted to influence the erring members with earnestness and love and with every means available to us from an ecclesiastical point of view, in order to dissuade them from the errors of their way. Not only did they not heed this but, in order to withdraw completely from the purview of our church discipline, on January 6 of this year they dissociated themselves from our Mennonite brotherhood in writing. As a con- sequence, we have denounced them, under the date of January 18 of this year, to the Area Administrative Office as no longer belonging to our Mennonite brotherhood and consider ourselves entitled to make recommendations to the secular authorities with regard