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

ity, was on the one hand used to gather the scattered children of God, and on the other was destined to be an instrument in the hand of God since the time for a general reformation had arrived. Despite the persecutions and dangers, he worked with great zeal in these countries until the Roman Catholic hierarchy, which opposed him with the ferocity of wolves, joined forces with the secular government 21 and issued a bloody edict against him in 1543 which outlawed him and declared him to be fair game for any man, placed a price on his head, and forbade anyone on pain of death to shelter him ; indeed, it declared that criminals and even murderers who would turn him in to the hangman, should receive the emperor’s pardon. c) Although all of this did not discourage him, for he continued in this work for some time under the constant threat of death, he was nevertheless forced, finally, to leave the region. [The Netherlands, whose northern region today constitutes the Kingdom of Holland or the "Netherlands,” while the southern region constitutes the Kingdom of Belgium]. He escaped first to Wismar in Mecklenburg, then to Fresenburg in the vicinity of Oldesloe in Schleswig-Holstein, where God provided a safe abode. Fresenburg was the estate of a noble, subject only to the emperor, and the current Lord, Count Alefeld, who had served in the army of the Netherlands, had seen many innocent people, our very ancestors, persecuted by fire and the sword, and put to death. Through God’s leading he was moved with compassion, and in his kindness generously provided them with a secure home and freedom of worship. This attracted many Anabaptists from the Netherlands and other places. Here, too, Menno and many others lived together in a large community. [Particularly in the village of Wuestenfelde. According to Reiswitz and Wadzeck, the Hamburg Mennonite minister Geerd Roosen, who died in 1711, reported that the members of this congregation gradually moved to Altona and Hamburg. Today (1904) their ministers are Pastor B. C. Roosen, 22 and H. van der Smissen]. d) Most importantly, the Count granted Menno the free use of a printing press through which Menno’s teachings were made known to the whole world. Through these writings unbiased Christian govern- ments were able to see the perversity of the accusations made against him so that the intense persecutions gradually came to an end. Thus the Menno Simons 13 The Menno Monument. 14 ORIGINS power of the truth, as Menno taught it, opened the eyes of many, and by the Lord’s grace resulted in great reforms in many localities. Without weapons or self defence, without the help of kings or princes, but only and alone through the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, Menno broke through all the barriers until finally, after having overcome all obstacles, he entered his rest in peace and quietness at Fresenburg on January 13, 1559,* at the age of 66. [Two simple monu