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

suffer the consequences. This I want to see, whether we will be obliged to listen to you, and who will be right in the end: you and Claassen, or we. For now we will deal with the matter earnestly. Lies such as those respecting Matthies cannot stand! Sir, as I have said before, I am not acquainted with this story, but I do not believe that they would report lies. As far as we are concerned, it is the truth! Adieu! No, Reimer, even you are not quite truthful. Then, too, we must consider whether it is to your benefit that we supply you with passports. And this we cannot determine. Why not, Sir? After all, you have given passports to very poor people of our village and they are doing well on ‘share-cropping.’ Return to the church, for in the end you will not gain your suit. Sir, I too believe that, for if you have done any reading at all, you will know that the children of God have almost always been declared to be in the wrong, except where God has been especially gracious to them. But in yonder world we will be in the right. There I wish you till the best! Adieu! Adieu! Thus you see, dear brother, according to outward appearances we cannot expect anything good but only tribulation and bonds .... General talk has it that you have sued the Area Administrator, and you shall not escape with impunity .... Jakob Reimer.” 12. The case of the School Teacher of Liebenau, Brother Gerhard Wieler, gives us additional glimpses of the religious and cultural life of the Mennonites of Molotschna during those days. [Cf. ##119, 120, 126, 145-147.] Letters from Wieler to Claassen, St. Petersburg. a) “Berdiansk, October 1, 1861. Dear brother in Christ, grace be with you and the peace of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for us, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life. To Him be honor, praise, glory, adoration for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Nothing can separate us from the love which is in Jesus Christ, which is created in Him, our Savior, that we might have peace apart from our own works, without our will [?], the peace which has been prepared from eternity, before the foundation of the world was laid. Therefore, dear brother, at all times and everywhere, rejoice. Praise the Lamb, seated at the right hand of God. He comes, He comes; soon He will call us! Hallelujah, adoration, praise, and honor, gloria! Blessed is He who comes. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Dear brother, be strong in faith. We may now draw near and take the water of life, freely. The world is in tumult, Satan rages and roars so that our flesh trembles, but be of good cheer, my soul ‘be of good cheer, little §167 374 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH flock,’ Jesus, our first-born Brother says: ‘I have overcome the world.’ Dear brother, there is no other way but this bloody path open before us on which our dear Savior preceded us, but praise and thanks be to God! We are bound for heaven