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

he must stay at home. My father responded : We must obey God rather than men. To which my uncle replied: Why do you not ask him who his apostles are? Since my father would not promise to remain at home, Mayor N.N. became very angry and ran outside to pick up some rods. When the village members saw that, they all hastily dispersed and no beating took place, though my father was immediately taken off to jail. A day later the mayor’s assistants were again asked to bring him forward. He was again questioned, but continued to stand firm. At that a bunch of straw was laid down outside before the door and the strong Mr. N. literally tore the clothes from his body, ripping them to shreds . . . and then began to beat him with six sturdy rods, ten lashes in all, as heavily as he could manage in his rage. My blessed father felt only five of the lashes; from the rest the Lord delivered him. When this was done, he was again taken off to confinement. §139 314 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH §140 His fur coat was taken from him(!) and he had to go into a summer room, which had not been heated all winter long. We were poor and not well-dressed. Father said he froze terribly in that cold room. The owner, Mr. N. tossed him a block of wood : There, something to sit upon! But my father could not sit; he was too badly beaten! He sat down for a short while and drew himself together so that his teeth might not chatter so, but soon he was moving again, since he could not sit for any length of time. The Lord helped him out of all his distress : it was bright with light in the room though there was no light, and he experienced an overwhelming sense of joy. Thus he spent two days and two nights. This man [in whose custody he was being kept] had sold his farm to Johann Penner. He wanted to move away and be rid of the prisoner. People were asked whether anyone might be willing to have the man. A certain Johann Neufeld volunteered to take him. He was sternly questioned whether he would treat the prisoner as they were demanding. He assured them he would, but his intention was in fact to show compassion to him, and that is what happened. Neufeld demonstrated great kindness to him. After he had been with him for three days ... he was transported to Chortitza .... There he was forced to sit another three days and nights in the Cholodnaia [cold jail cell]. On March 9 he was released and returned home at night, his lash wounds still not healed and his clothes still too small, so terribly had he been beaten. [It is apparent that the 'Mennonite brotherhood of Chortitza’ practiced quick and decisive ‘pastoral care’! We were unable to secure any documents from the church council. Were there none? It appears that they preferred to do less writing and more ‘dealing’ here than in the Molotschna Colony.] That was Friday, and on Sunday, March 11, Einlage had its first baptism, at which 18 were baptized, among them my father. [Being dealt w