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

also opposed to the expressions of unrestrained joy .... The other day we were at Jakob Jantz in Fuerstenau for the noon meal [he is now an elder in Friedensfeld; at that time he had been a member of the M.B. Church for a quarter of a year], then for night we went to Liebenau, where, with Br. Huebert, we discussed freely how we felt about our experiences with the brethren, and how the outer demonstration of joy might be directed. We jointly presented our concerns to our Lord Jesus, and asked Him to pour out His good Holy Spirit and open the eyes of the brethren. Then in the forenoon I further discussed these matters with Br. Huebert; we were of one opinion. When I returned home on Monday evening, Benjamin, like a commanding officer, also Koop, Bernhard Penner (now badly confused, 194 even if in a different way], 195 Deleske, and the dear Franz Klassen, who was there as witness, two single sisters, and the old Sister Penner [Bernhard’s mother] met at our place. After an unenthusiastic greeting, the inflated ‘apostle’ [II Cor. 11:6, also 12:11] announced that they had come to excommunicate me. To my dear wife he had said ‘to judge,’ at which she was more than a little alarmed. That this was being planned, and that they were holding such ideas, had already been told me by some trusted brothers and sisters. For two hours we presented evidence as to who was right, the four of them against me (the sisters only expressed agreement). The matter of principal concern was only the dancing and the playing of the dances. I then asked them not to exco mmuni cate me, and said I would remain 418 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH quiet and prayerfully examine the issue further before the Lord, and would leave the leading of church meetings to them [Reimer was Huebert’s first assistant]. That seemed to satisfy them somewhat, but after a short pause, Benjamin arose, took the floor, and said, ‘No, that is not possible, his silence also preaches!’ ‘Yes,’ said Koop, ‘he must prove it by his actions and join us in our activities!!’ I was presented as one who had a false teaching and was asked to leave the room [it was the entry hall in Reimer’s house and dwelling!]. Again I asked them not to excommunicate me, for they did not constitute the church. Benjamin responded that they were quite capable of this; and so I went into the small room and read the letters which had been received from the brothers and sisters in the Crimea [August Strauss, Andreas Voth and others moved to the Crimea and settled on rented land there, rather than going to the Kuban, since they were not in sympathy with the methods used by the church]. One of the brothers cited Isaiah 43, the first two verses, at the beginning of his letter. Now they [Benjamin and the others] instructed my wife and daughter Maria on how they should relate to me. When they had pronounced the ban on me, and before they left, they called me inside and announced it to me, with