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

rom all other congregations, and, like our present congregation, initially severely persecuted. Nevertheless, both are recognized and continue to exist to this very day. . . [There follows the historical presentation of the founding of the M.B. Church with documentation derived from those documents known to us, and others. Cf. the complete document below #159.] 11. In his already-cited study Unsere Kolonien, Privy Councillor A. Klaus says the following concerning the outcome of this most humble petition: . . The government . . . did not long delay [naturally after extended investigations] in issuing a decree to the effect that these church divisions should in no wise be accompanied by a restriction of civil rights or persecution by the police authorities. . . [Compare "Documentary Supplement,” #160d.] §106 252 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH §107 12. Meanwhile, the ecclesiastical and civil battle progressed. We will record only that in the documents which is most characteristic. Of interest is the following letter of the later Minister Bernhard Harder to the editor of the Mennonitische Blaetter, dated July 28, 1862. "If you were in the vicinity, I would hasten to you for advice, for tomorrow I am to preach on the Gospel text: ‘Beware of false prophets . . .’ but am still not able to discover any point of contact. I wonder why they included a Gospel passage in the selected Bible readings that presents the majority of preachers in such a poor light, in which most of them have to preach their own death sentence. Yes, you see, that is how it is in our midst. Fruits!— O God be merciful! We have exhibited fruits of which we must be ashamed. Was it perhaps different at the time when one preached consecutively through the gospels? Or did they deliberately want to give the preacher an opportunity— in fact, force him— to preach to himself occasionally? Too often, one leaves himself out of the picture. There are those who fearfully adapt to the tastes and demands of the local congregation, which certainly does not like the preacher to use the second person address, but wants to hear ‘we’ and ‘us.’ A guest preacher I myself heard, said, ‘The love for "us” brought me here (to preach the Word of God to us).’ These often leave themselves out of the picture when it comes to ferreting out the false prophets and the ravenous wolves and showing them in the proper light. O may we all honestly begin to pray: ‘Jesus, give us seeing eyes! etc.’ May we stop hiding from ourselves, through real or imagined respect of office or through the sheep’s clothing of hypocritical humility and respectability, the false prophet and wolf in us. But life is so comfortable among these false prophets. ‘Peace, peace, there is no danger.’ But— the fruits? O, there is no peace, and thus also no fruit of righteousness, no fruit of the Holy Spirit. Take note! The congregations of our people have become a morass, and vapors are rising