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

63. The “regulatory and corrective behavior” regarding the conduct of services by the “brethren,” here truthfully attested, was, as we know, overturned once more in a sad manner for half a year during the winter of 1864-65, as documented in “C” below. 17. A Further Set of Assembly Minutes! a) "To the Honorable Molotschna Mennonite Area Administrative Office at Halbstadt. Report from the office of the village mayor of Liebenau. The Liebenau mayor’s office begs to report that the local resident Johann Claassen attended the worship services in the school here in Liebenau on January 1 and January 13; 177 immediately after the service he got up and urged the church members to remain behind, since it was necessary to talk some more about salvation; he did so knowing, as he had been told earlier, that he was to discontinue such scenes, since the church could not sanction them. After being reported for disturbing the peace in the church service, as stated above, he was taken to account by the mayor's office and told to discontinue 178 the said episodes, whereupon he stated that he would not let any one forbid him to do so, adding the comment that he would continue. So we have no alternative but to ask the honorable Area Administrative Office to consider our request to prohibit Claassen from carrying out said disruptions, in order that we no longer be disturbed in our worship services by Claassen or other persons belonging to his sect. No. 8, Liebenau, January 21, 1863. Mayor Schroeder. Council-member Schmidt. Council-member Neufeld.” b) “Memorandum. January 30, 1863. Present: Area Director David Friesen, Area Council member Johann Wiens, Area Council member Klaas Wiebe. After hearing the report of the Liebenau mayoral office No. 8, of January 21, concerning the disturbance of the worship service in the school there by the Mennonite Johann Claassen, the latter was asked to appear on today’s date, and after being orally interrogated, was asked to respond to the following questions in his own handwriting: 1) Whether he, Claassen, had really, as reported by the village office, stood up in the Liebenau school on January 1 and January 13, after completion of the worship service, and had asked the church members to remain behind, Documentary Supplements 399 since it was necessary to speak more about salvation, even though he knew, and had been told, to discontinue such incidents? 2) Whether, after being reported for this and asked to appear at the mayoral office, he had said (that he) would not discontinue 179 that kind of act? 3) How far he feels called to give lectures when only the spiritual teachers of the Mennonites do this in the pursuit of their official duties according to their doctrines and in accordance with his own quotation of #3, of the Instructions for the Establishment and Administration of the Colonies (now Articles 1104 and 1105, Part 1, Volume XI, 1896 edition of the Code of Laws), and it