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

ing public worship services. The latter office summoned Claassen and questioned him concerning the case, demanding answers in writing from him. These questions, along with Claassen’s answers, were taken and presented to the higher authorities by a committee official, Mr. Keller, 167 who for some time has been present in the Prischib [Lutheran] Colony. Claassen, after he had completed his answers, was allowed to go home in peace, and neither he nor the others have suffered in the least so far. y) Having herewith described, as far as I thought necessary, the situation referred to in No. 2 of the Mennonitische Blaetter, to give our dear distant readers of this paper a true and reasonably complete picture, I want, with equal seriousness, to avoid giving the impression that in all other matters conditions are good in our Mennonite churches in South Russia, and that there is really nothing left to wish for. Oh, how much Documentary Supplements 383 dead nominal Christianity, how much selfishness and sinful striving for treasures and riches of this world and how little serious striving and struggling after imperishable heavenly treasures, which are gifts in Christ Jesus for a living faith! How much disunity and quarreling frequently over insignificant, trivial matters! How serious the ignorance of the most important matters concerning our real destiny! In a word, how much worldliness and how little other-worldliness must we lament among us! We have no right to boast of having an advantage in the eyes of the Lord over our sister-churches. Rather, we have every reason to bow in shame before the Lord, to humble ourselves, to ask Him to give repentance unto life to our dead members, and to those who have life, more unity in the spirit, more sincere brotherly love toward one another, more firmness in the saving knowledge of divine truth, more true humility of heart, and a glad willingness to work together to build God’s kingdom. That all the dear readers who through blessed personal experience know the indescribable joy of being a child of God through faith in the precious work of Jesus, will lift up their hearts and hands to the Lord with us and call upon Him to give these gifts of grace to us and our fellow believers, is so natural that we expect it without a doubt. Therefore, let us heed the Lord’s command, in spite of numerous crushing and discouraging experiences, to continue to throw out the net confidently in His name in the believing hope that our work will not be in vain in the Lord. Praise and honor be to the Lord, Who, in spite of all the lamentable shortcomings and infirmities on our part, does have those who are His own in our church, whom He calls by name and who know His voice, who follow Him and are not misled by those who do not have His voice in their heart and mouth! Praise be to God, Who, according to His sincere mercy, continues to call our local fellow-believers to Himself in love and in