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

uch disgraceful slander before God and men and are distressed that the number of the righteous is so small. We wish that the whole world would be as we are, and that we could lead and convert all of mankind to the same faith; then all wars and unrighteousness would come to an end. We implore and entreat you most earnestly and submissively that you would take these our words well to heart. For we testify and speak what we know and have learned to be the truth in the sight of God. We speak from a pure heart which is filled with the love of God, and out of sincere Christian love, which we emulate before God and men. Live in peace.' e) "The oppressor allowed himself to be moved once more. The order was rescinded and the Anabaptists were able to enjoy peace and freedom for a little while longer. But in the year 1547 their expulsion was carried out with indescribable severity and ferocity. 34 For centuries they wandered from place to place: to Hungary, hither and yon, in Walachia. Finally in 1770 the remnant moved to Russia, in the province of Tschemigov, where they settled on the lands of Count Rumianzev; it was there that Elder Cornelius Warkentin met them in 1794; then, in the 1840’s, they settled in the Molotschna near Melitopol and founded Huttertal, Johannesruh, etc. After 1874 they emigrated to America. [Compare above “Deknatel” and below Appendix X.) f) “In the year 1525 35 many Anabaptists fled to the Netherlands in the hope that they would be permitted there to worship God undisturbed. This might have happened if they had refrained from preaching the Gospel and had kept their opinions and teachings to themselves. But that was impossible. In the spirit of apostolic Christianity they ‘travelled in all directions and preached the Word.' Many listened to them, were converted, baptized and joined the persecuted congregations in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Haarlem and else- where. At that time the hand of persecution rested heavily upon them. Emperor Charles V [to whose empire the Netherlands belonged] ordered that the ‘heretics’ be treated with inexorable severity, the Anabaptists being especially singled out in order to make a gruesome example of them.” g) “The first martyr, whose name has come down to us, to sacrifice his life in Holland was ‘Wynken Claas’ daughter by Monikendam, a widow,' who was strangled at the pyre in the Hague and then burned on Persecutions 23 November 20, 1527. She came to the place of execution ‘filled with joy as though she were on her way to a banquet.’ Her last words were: ‘I will not let go of God.’” h) “In the same year Jan Welan and two others were executed in Haarlem. ‘They were bound in chains on the pyre and slowly roasted, the fire having been started round about them first, until one could see the marrow flow out of the bones in their legs. Thus they were gradually burned and roasted, until death released them.” i) “Sicke Freerks Snyder 36 was beheaded at Leeu