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

scipline. If they will pursue this goal, then 2), the consequences need not be detrimental to the whole, and the single deviation in the fact that they observed holy communion should be forgiven them. Everyone who has learned to appreciate the mercy of God and the benevolent toleration that we enjoy in this land will be prepared to do this wholeheartedly. 3) The means to be used to dissuade these people from their intention to establish a church of their own, is, that we all begin in real earnest to act according to the Word of God, that the level of our church discipline be raised, and the church be positively changed, for which God in His grace grant us the power to will and to dol And if anyone should show himself worthy of punishment, the church of Christ serves him as standard and rule of conduct, as the Gospel of Christ teaches: to separate him from the congregation and have nothing to do with him until he becomes red with shame. This method always stands the test if it is used in such a way that the Lord can acknowledge and add His blessing to it. Should the conduct of a member of the congregation challenge the arm of the law, however, we will remain silent; for it does not bear the sword in vain, but is established to judge the wicked and praise the good. Blumenstein, March 29, 1860. Johann Harder, elder.” 11. Johann Claassen’s first Journey to St. Petersburg in Behalf of the M.B. Church. Since the threat of the local authorities constantly became more alarming, Johann Claassen, with the agreement of only his wife, his brother-in-law, Cornelius Reimer, and Br. Heinrich Huebert, suddenly left for St. Petersburg in the night of March 27, riding as far as Kharkov. By May 23, according to letters written in his own hand and a special accounting regarding the expenses of the journey, he had again returned. This was his first journey to St. Petersburg on behalf of the M.B. Church. He had already been there in 1854 and 1857 on behalf of the "Brotherhood School” in Gnadenfeld (#52). On April 19, 1866, Claassen in historical retrospect, writes to the Kuban congregation from Tiflis 242 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH regarding the trip: . . I had accomplished little enough in St. Petersburg; I saw only that our cause was everywhere a difficult one and that I wanted to commend it to the Lord. When I had returned from St. Petersburg, I advised the brothers and sisters to choose ministers; only they should not elect us: Cornelssen, Koop and myself, because we had signed the document [of February 10]. . . XVI. THE FIRST ELECTION OF MINISTERS BY THE M B. CHURCH 1. With the election of ministers the final organization (though not the final “putting in order!”) of the M.B. Church had taken place. This happened on May 30, 1860. The original election list in the hand of Heinrich Huebert and Johann Claassen is extant in the archives of the M.B. Church in Russia. (Cf. further #157: “Election List,” et