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

ristmas eve (1860), Reimer and I sent letters. . . . The Baptist Minister Alf requests that we write him what we t hink of military service and . . . footwashing. The Mennonites write that they are not entirely in agreement with the Baptists, and Alf writes the same. They agree only on baptism and the Lord’s Supper and partake thereof together.” 2) Alf to the Brethren: “Adanov, June 21, 1861 .... I regard it as profitable to send you a copy of our confession of faith. Thereby you can test our faith according to the Scriptures. I would like to see us all have one understanding of the teaching of Christ. On many points we cannot quite come to an agreement with the Mennonite Brethren. I myself hold a number of things against them, which do not seem quite right to me. First of all, what I dislike most, is that they have adopted a particular form of baptism. We lay the candidate on his back so that he is buried in and by water; that is how all churches of Baptists in Germany, England and America baptize. 90 The Mennonite Brethren, in their own way, let the baptismal candidate kneel in the water and let him sit there for a while, then lay him forward on his face in the water .... It also seems wrong to me that brethren baptize each other alone, when there are Baptists who could have baptized them .... [A small number of Mennonites had already been baptized by Alf, but most of them had been baptized by Ewert. Twenty-two the first time. Later this good Brother Ewert and a number of Mennonites who had already been immersed, were baptized once more, backward, “baptist” style! Long since, however, there is an M.B. Church of born Mennonites Baptism by Immersion 289 existing in Hussian-Poland, independent and alongside the Baptists.] . . . The Mennonite Brethren are also attacking our group sharply: some say that if we do not accept everything as they do, we are contrary Christians and will be lost. No one shall enter the military, rather, he should give up his life but not take up arms .... The third item is footwashing [with which he takes sharp issue] .... Your brother, C.F. Alf.” 3) Peter Ewert to the Brethren: “Kicin, September 5, 1861 .... We are now ridiculed and hated by everyone, also by some Baptist brethren who judge us to be people in error . . . because we do not recognize the sword of revenge and again, because we confess footwashing after the Lord’s Supper .... Our baptism is also incorrect .... Your co-pilgrim Peter Ewert.” d) Accordingly, the Molotschna M.B. Church achieved its underst anding and practice of baptism, as it is now used, independently, without personal contact with the Baptists, or exchange of letters, but influenced by their writings. 4. The development of the question of baptism in the Einlage M.B. Church can be seen from the following: a) Brother Benjamin Becker, “itinerant minister,” writes: “Alexan- drovsk [near Einlage], November 24, 1861 .... Today I came from Einla