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

the Mennonite congregations. For all of these matters have no basis whatever either in our confessional statements or the Holy Scriptures. Since the religious freedom promised us was confirmed in the first paragraph of the ‘letter of privileges’ so graciously granted the Mennonites of Southern Russia, according to which we may without hindrance practice our traditional principles of faith, we consider ourselves bound by office, duty and conscience— as much as we pity those who have gone astray— to adhere to our declaration as given above until they, having honestly recognized and regretted their errors, wifi once again seek reinstatement in our Mennonite brotherhood and traditional apostolic church organization. The conference at Gnadenfeld, December 15, 1864. The Church Elders.” The signatures are missing. The copy in our possession is written in Minister Franz Isaak’s hand and carried the following inscription: “Received from the Minister Franz Isaak as authentic in the spring of 1896. David Schellenberg [elder of the M.B. Church of Rueckenau in the Difficulties and Victory 257 Molotschna]. Compare #4e, footnote, and #75a and footnote; cf. also “The Office of Elder in the M.B. Church,” # 96 and #62(2): “List of Elders of the Mennonite Church Congregations”; also the footnote to the preceding “e” in #708. One should note that, as before, in their position taken in principle, their tone and style had become absolutely dignified, impartial and truly theological. What was the reason for this? 14. Meanwhile, Claassen had returned from St. Petersburg on June §109 30, 1862, furnished with a passport from the St. Petersburg police upon the intercession of Senator Hahn and the Ministry of Crown Lands which, as the highest authority for all the settlers, provided him with passports for one-and-a-half years. (The original is still extant.) At one point, when Claassen in fear showed the gentlemen of the ministry a letter from the Area Administrative Office (the original is also extant; cf. #759e), in which they threatened to have him brought home like a vagabond without a passport and under police escort, they broke out into a gay and resounding laughter, quite conclusively proved to him that the pass from their ministry was much more authoritative than the one from the Molotschna Mennonite Area Administrative Office, and emphatically assured him that he would return to his home a “free man.” Claassen, however, who had really believed “that it could come to this,” returned to his quarters and on his knees gave hearty thanks to his beloved Savior. Moreover, on his return journey Claassen had in his possession a sealed package from Count Muraviov, the Minister of War, which he was to deliver personally to Count Evdokimov, the General of the Army in the Caucasus. All of this impressed the people of the Molotschna. Nevertheless, Claassen and the brethren were only given passes upon the direct order from St