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

the others also .... A few also shouted for joy .... They also left us the statement [of the five elders of June 10] ... . Harder expressed the hope that we might once more become one .... Katharina Claassen.” d) Jacob Becker to Claassen: “. . . July 31. Yesterday we again had a few visitors from the Orloff congregation at our meeting in Waldheim. . . . Isaak [Minister Franz I.] had a pencil and noted in detail how we conduct our meetings and mutual edification .... They will not always stand up to pray, though they do occasionally. It appears they have little to criticize us for. There was no shouting for joy yesterday, which seemed to please them more. I told them too that this was not a rule with us, that we only did it when the Spirit prompted us ... . We will need to change our mutual edification somewhat from what it has been; thus far it has taken place only amongst ourselves for the strengthening of our faith. But we now have also those who have been revived, some who are searching and worldly persons, and for each there must be medicine, so that they too might be drawn into the fellowship. . . . Your brother in Christ, Jakob Becker.” e) First Minutes. “The undersigned attended a meeting on July 23, 1861, in Liebenau, in the home of Johann Claassen, presently in St. Petersburg, of those Mennonites who declared themselves separated from our churches. They began with singing. The song, ‘Son of God, Lord of Glory’ was first recited and then sung together by all, using the melody ‘How Lovely Shines the Momingstar.’ Thereafter their elected minister, Becker, stood to his feet and prayed a lengthy prayer, praised God for the salvation in Christ, praying for us too, that we might come to true enlightenment. This was followed by more singing from this point on, except for the closing song, using happy melodies, accompanied also by someone clapping his hands, while a number of others waved their Documentary Supplements 395 hands, made happy faces and uttered sounds which they called praise. After the song, Becker read I Cor. 2 and said some things about true simplicity and that a believer can recognize the faith of another through the Spirit of God; he also cast his eye upon our churches and preachers, saying that it was not enough to preach the Word of God down to the people from the pulpits; the Word must also be taken into the homes. The address was given in the Low German dialect [which did not begin to yield to the more appropriate High German sermon until 1866-67], and was interrupted or expanded a number of times by the observations of others. Song and prayer followed alternately, spoken once by this person and then by another, always having to do with the great joy in the faith and expressing the determination to be strong in the Lord even at a time of persecution. The suggestion was expressed that they felt called to carry the Christian message into the world. Benjamin Becker, brother o