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

The petition remained unanswered. v) “From the above-mentioned it may be clearly seen how the Area A dminis trative Office is positively and truthfully refuted. Already bound by its February circular regarding the church, it could report nothing more to the authorities without contradicting itself, than the voice of the majority of the elders. Their explanation of itself clearly and sharply outlines the harmless and lawful efforts of the new brotherhood, as well as the total impossibility of proving any harmful, evil and state-forbidden tendencies or ceremonies. Finally, the explanation of Elder Harder positively and truthfully refutes it as well. w) “The new church, which had grown to 50 members [heads of families] during this time of persecution, had already come to the conviction that, in the face of similar examples from earlier times and the above-described facts, it could not hope for a just solution to this battle of faith, either from the elders, who disregarded their manifold peace proposals as well as the plea for free exit from the colonial territory, nor from the Area Administrative Office, whose participation in the case consisted only of persecutions and violence, nor finally from the colonial inspector or the Supervisory Commission, which had expressed such enmity toward the new church. Such sad circumstances could only challenge the brethren of the new church to think of ways and means to escape from this highly oppressive situation, which was undermining their welfare, in as peaceable a manner as possible. The oppressive worry about the further well-being of the brotherhood weighed heavily on their hearts. Even then, the brethren still did not complain to the highest authorities, whose only and almighty protection, next to God, they trusted, in order not to damage the traditional good reputation of the Mennonites in any way. Instead they decided to achieve the freedom of conscience now threatened and the peaceful enjoyment of the rights and privileges of all Mennonites by resettling on free crown territories or on land purchased from private parties. With this assignment the Mennonite Johann Claassen of Liebenau was sent to St. Petersburg in the name of the brethren in November 1860, since he alone had that possibility thanks to his possession of an as yet unexpired annual visa. x) “Since that time Claassen has lived in St. Petersburg, for which he initially received the necessary visitor’s permit not from the Area Administrative Office, which flatly denied the issuance of a new visa, but from the St. Petersburg police department. Not until the spring of 1861 did Claassen enter negotiations for a tract of 3500 dessiatines in the Crimean peninsula; whereupon he sent the brethren a map of that tract 352 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH and letters dated May 1, 1861: from the Area Administrative Office he requested deputization, enclosed various letters to some brethren and finall