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

Ukowallians (see above #166 and below, point i), the “strictest followers of Menno” (Ramseyer, according to Blaupot ten Cate), practiced immersion primarily about 1650, along with pouring. In the year 1790 in Leeuwarden, Friesland, contrary to the wishes of many members, the basin for the imm ersion form of baptism was removed from the church of the Frisian Mennonites by the elder with the aid of the government. i 1 ) Blaupot ten Cate, one of the best informed and impartial Mennonite historians, writes in Geschiedenis der Doopsgezinden in Friesland, p. 162, concerning the group of Old Flemish: “1) They had the same confession of faith as Menno and Dirk Philips concerning the incarnation of Christ (see #5h). 2) They re-baptized everyone who joined their church, even those who had already been baptized on confession of 294 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH their faith. As a rule this was done by immersion. 3.) They were very firm about using the ‘ban,’ especially in cases of mixed marriages. 4) They were distinguishable by great simplicity of dress and external things; herein they were similar to the Old Frisians. 5) Ordination of elders and ministers was performed by laying on of hands; the whole congregation had to recognize this ordination, and the candidate was obligated to accept this service unless he was notoriously incapable of doing so. 6) They practiced footwashing before communion. [According to some other sources, many churches practiced it only on fellow believers from a distance visiting in their homes.] Several of these principles were dropped during the course of the century .... Immersion was no longer practiced in Norden in 1710.” This same historian reports that they considered their own Mennonite Church as the only church of Christ, and that the church was correct in not recognizing anyone outside their pale as a brother in Christ. Only elders and ministers were allowed to speak at meetings [1689]. The elders alone [not the ordinary ministers] were permitted to administer baptism and communion. j) In the Surhuisterveen Mennonite Church in Friesland (still in existence), according to Ramseyer, the historian Blaupot ten Cate was shown an open spot in the forest where Swiss Mennonites who had fled to Holland performed baptism by immersion about 1720. k) Between 1600 and 1800 there existed in Holland and Northwest Germany, according to Meusel’s Kirchliches Handlexicon I, 129, the Rhynsburger 94 "Brethren” or “Collegiants” (congregationalists) who continued in Menno’s teachings; they were also called “Tunkers,” i.e. “Dompelaars” (compare above #9c and 13n). They practiced baptism only by immersion; however, depending on the understanding of those concerned, they also accepted members into their fellowship without baptism on faith. Frequently their baptisms (according to Blaupot ten Cate in Ramseyer, p. 410) were carried out by Mennonite ministers (from whom they very likely had re