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

bles than his freedom is not a member fit for our mission. . . . Johann Claassen.” d) Claassen to his wife. “Aug. 2, 1861 .... I noticed that it affected him [Privy Councillor Hahn] very much that his advice was being ignored by the Area Administrative Office .... I said also that we regard the teaching concerning baptism seriously, and that we immerse, as Menno teaches [?!], that close to eighty persons had been baptized and that many revivals had taken place .... His Excellency was not opposed to this and said: ‘I will help you. . . .’ August 13. Our opponents do not know the present situation in Russia or else they would not be so foolish .... I have been told that the Emperor has issued a secret decree to the courts that in matters of faith, no persecution and no punishment are to take place. They are to be lenient .... Sept. 27 ... . The Mennonites, said His Excellency [von Hahn], are generally looked upon as a sect, and whether they differed in their conception of baptism and co mmuni on, one from the other, was no reason to restrict trade and to deny passports. His Excellency said that if he were still in the committee, the matter would speedily be put in order [recollecting the case of Elder Jakob War ken tin and Heinrich Wiens] .... You know, my little woman, what often occurs to me? When I get home things will go with me as they did with the Gnadenfelder [Brotherhood] school and that makes me humble, which is precisely what a stubborn fellow like me needs. But I am afraid, for the brethren will not find me to their liking and I will not find them to mine. The main issue for me shall be to save my soul. . . . Johann Classen.” 10. Claassen’s Private Life in St. Petersburg. a) Claassen to his wife. “St. Petersburg, April 20, 1861. We have in mind to celebrate communion tonight. Twice we have taken it, the two of us [he and Forchhammer]. . . . Johann Claassen.” b) Mrs. Claassen to her husband. “Liebenau, May 31, 1861. Hallelujah! Christ lives and I live with Him. Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory? Hallelujah! Amen. My dear Claassen! ... I was much delighted by your letter of May 18 in which you write that you have received the sad news about Johannes [their small son of about three years had drowned in the creek behind their garden], and that you accept the Lord’s way with so much submission .... But that you intend to stay still longer does not please me at all. But the Lord will have to give me patience .... Out here they are particularly severe about baptism .... Katharina Claassen.” c) Jakob Becker to Claassen and Forchhammer. “Rudnerweide, October 8, 1861 .... Dear brethren, you could have given us no greater §165 370 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH joy than to inform us that our Gospel has also exerted influence there. We were delighted when you, Claassen, wrote that the chairs in the mission meeting [of the ‘Christian friends’] began to move [in happy exci