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

d us. “This conviction I shall retain As long as earth shall hold me; This I shall think, do, and pursue As long as I can move. Amen.” [According to a note in Abraham Unger’s Diary, Brother J. Isaak was also taken to account here.] 318 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH § 142 5. Arrest of the Leading Brethren and the Attempts to Take Colonial Status from the Secessionists. Br. Heinrich Epp relates: a) . . After being dealt with thus [at the hearing], they returned to their homes for two days, with a premonition that there was more to come. More came. The local authorities took the brethren Neufeld and Unger by night and brought them to the Chortitza Mennonite Area A dminis trative Office jail where they were confined in a room with covered windows so that they would be unable to read [!]. From here they were taken on May 10, 1862, to the assistant chief of police. He had them taken into the Russian village of Tschemyschevo and placed under guard. The inhabitants were curious, however, and observed that they conducted worship services. They asked them why they were being kept in custody. The brethren were happy to let them know that it was on account of Christ and their faith that they were prisoners. The brethren were grateful that they were being kept under tolerant Russian authorities. Since their guards soon realized that they would make no attempt to flee, they were given permission to go out at night to a village 10 versts distant where they could buy themselves some food. In this manner they were detained for seven weeks, though not in a prison. Instead, they were allowed to move about freely and talk about God’s Word, which they did. Although the village was 50 versts away [from Einlage], the journey was frequently made; those who came to the faith at home went there to be baptized, and so the small flock grew. After seven weeks had passed, on June 26, the brethren returned home, b) While the brethren Gerhard Wieler and Johann Claassen stayed on in St. Petersburg, our church was ordered back to the Area Administrative Office where we were once again asked to explain what we intended to do. To this we responded: ‘We will wait to find out what the brethren in St. Petersburg are able to accomplish, and whatever decision the government makes con- cerning us we will accept. This gave them something to reflect upon and once again they allowed us to return home. Since the brethren remained steadfast in the teachings of Christ, still another decree was drafted— which was intended to deprive them of their status as colonists.’ The Area Administrative Office announced in all the villages that their church status was to be withdrawn.” [Nevertheless, this too bore no fruit. Compare #108,d.] § 143 6. Most humble petition to His Majesty, the Tsar, by Gerhard Wieler. [German translation available in the archives of the Einlage M.B. Church]: “Your Royal Majesty! “Most Serene Monarch! a) “With deep