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

same "June Reforms” of 1865 in principle (in spite of the fact that it was still repeatedly shaken by the aftershocks of the early years, since many of the most extreme elements of the two mother congregations had settled 342 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH §156 in the new colony). At the same time, 1866 is of particular importance for the Kuban congregation because of the final solemn confirmation of their Mennonite ecclesiastical and civil rights by the Caucasian authorities on the order of His Imperial Highness, the Grand Duke and Governor, of May 30 of the same year under No. 2746 on Johann Claassen’s name as the representative of the settlers. A. Documents Relating Principally to the Events in the Molotschna 1. Johann Claassen’s first journey to St. Petersburg on behalf of the M.B. Church (supplement to #94). Taken from his letter of April 19, 1864, to the Kuban congregation written from Tiflis: . . On March 27, 1860, Br. Huebert and I drove to Halbstadt in order to confer with Elder Harder regarding our concerns. But we soon saw that there was little hope of help for us. On our return journey, just as the sun was about to set, I pondered our situation: if the authorities would not protect us ... we already knew what we could expect from the Mennonite congregations. I was absorbed in my thoughts. Br. Huebert said to me: ‘You are so quiet!’ I answered: ‘If we want to do something, then this is the time.’ 134 (Wednesday the Area Administrative Office would write and summon me, I thought to myself, and then it would be too late.) When I reached home, I told Cornelius Reimer (his brother-in-law and business partner]: ‘I am setting out on a journey to the north, but do not ask me where to.’ I continued: ‘Is money for travelling available?’ Cornelius answered: ‘Yes’— and the matter was settled. I said the same thing to my wife, and she, too, did not enquire any further, although she was not yet out of childbed .... This, dear brethren and sisters, interests me and most likely also my wife, because the time of our separation began at this point. “On March 28 we quietly prepared for the trip; the house servants may well have noticed something, but did not know what it was all about. On Tuesday, the 29th of March, 2 o’clock at night the horse was saddled; everybody slept. When I had completed this, I went to my wife and prayed with her . . . and then I left. Cornelius Reimer accompanied me to the river [the Tokmatschka, behind his garden]; then we took leave of each other. I mounted my horse, which we had led out through the garden. My brother-in-law wished me good luck, and so I left for Kharkov.” In a letter to his wife, Claassen wrote: “St Petersburg, April 26, 1860. Beloved Katharina! First, I wish you the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ ... 8 days I resided in Kharkov, because the rivers between Kharkov and Moscow were just in the process of breaking up. . . . From Kharkov ... by post to M