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

about it aloud. And if someone has a revelation, that person is to stand up and share his revelation with the rest, one after the other, so that all can be edified. If someone desires to praise the Lord in between, let him do so, even if five or six do so one after the other, for our meeting is increasing in size, filling the room and house (entrance way). Thus far we have always read around the circle, but some read so quietly that those in the back could not hear anything, and when there was any discussion they could not all hear either and so it did not take long until there was such a confused babel that no one could understand anything. That is why we made the following arrangements ... so that the weak, too, who find themselves in our meetings, might be edified .... After we have been refreshed from the Word of God, we let forth our praise to God. Many times there is such an outpouring, hearts are so stirred, that one can not wait for the next, someone else steps into the pool of Bethesda first, and five or six are often praising together. Time often runs out on us when we begin to praise God, but praise God, there is a day coming which will be long enough. We also often t hink about you .... Do write to let us know whether you object to one of us going to them to preach according to their lesson guide [in the ‘church’ services in the schools: cf. further 17] ... . (2) A child dedication service was conducted in your house [conducted— cf. #48— according to the Gnadenfeld manner, which was a rule in the young M.B. Church. It is frequently mentioned that Huebert or Becker ‘embraced and dedicated’ little children in the meetings]; the children of the Penners of Landskrone were dedicated, and those of Voth from Kakbas Jakob Becker.” b) Minister Jacob Martens, Tiegenhagen, of the Orloff-Halbstadt congregation, wrote to the publisher of Mennonitische Blaetter on §171 394 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH December 20, 1862: . . As a consequence of a number of letters received concerning Johann Claassen, who on this account is in St. Petersburg, the Area Administrative Office felt obligated to make a visit to Odessa. Several ministers of the church travelled in their company, carrying with them the statement of June 10, 1861 [above #103]. Prompted by this document, several mini sters and members of the Orloff-Halbstadt congregation on several occasions made visits to the meetings of the secessionists, from which they sometimes put things down in writing. . . [Mennonitische Bloetter, Feb., 1863]. c) Mrs. Claassen, to her husband in St. Petersburg: “Liebenau, July 24, 1861 .... The ministers of the Orloff congregation notified us that if we were to come together this Sunday [July 23] in Liebenau and hold our worship service as usual, several of their ministers wanted to attend. . . . Harder [Minister Bernhard H.] made notes of the things said by Benjamin [Becker, ordained as circuit minister] and