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

to their further treatment or punishment. We only allow ourselves this one request, that, 238 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH as much as the law allows, moderatre measures be employed to bring these erring ones to a knowledge of their guilt before ultimate steps are taken. Halbstadt, March 11, 1860. The church elders: Ratzlaff, War ken tin, Wedel, Lenzmann, Toews.” 8. The last ecclesio-political act of the aged Bishop Bernhard Fast known 36 to us is a document very favorable to the Brethren and reads as follows: "To the Area Administrative Office in Halbstadt! I cannot sign the explanatory statement which five of the church elders have drawn up, with regard to the brethren who have dissociated themselves from our decadent church [thus, literally, did the senior member of the Molotschna Council of Elders write in an official document; cf. Mennonitische Blaetter, No. 1, 1863], for the following reason: because the cause of these brethren [!] has remained quite unknown to me till now, I find it necessary to acquire a greater understanding of and more conviction concerning it; and only then, in accordance with my duty and my findings, will I, as soon as possible, make my statement. In any case, however, because this is a matter of some importance and the Lord Inspector of the colonies has required such a declaration from all congregations and church elders, I consider it essential that such a statement be requested from the honorable Elder Friesen [of the Kleine Gemeinde], Tiege, March 15, 1860. Bernhard Fast, elder.” 9. Elder Friesen of the Kleine Gemeinde, who otherwise very seldom participated in the joint actions of the church or elders’ council, writes to the Area Administrative Office— the only document that we possess from this congregation in the matter concerning the M.B. Church. Even though written fearfully and with reticence, it nevertheless is explicit in rejecting all political measures while advocating only Mennonite- ecclesiastical ones: "... We do not know how to declare and advise anything except what the Apostle Paul teaches in II Thess. 3:14; . . . therefore we beg that you not take it amiss if we desire, as much as possible, to refrain from becoming involved in this matter. Neukirch, March 24, 1860. Johann Friesen, elder.” 10. Ohrloff’s further Defence of the Brethren and its New State- ment. a) Johann Harder, meanwhile ordained to the position of elder by the aged and sickly honorable Bernhard Fast, writes: “To the Molotschna Mennonite Area Administrative Office in Halbstadt : The Struggle 239 “Because we were unable to present a declaration at the conference held on the 11th of this month with regard to the religious fellowship which has arisen in the colonies, due to our ignorance in this matter, we invited some of the members of this fellowship in order to receive from them a more particular written explanation of their intentions, which we could use as a