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

the words, ‘You are excommunicated , may this bring you to humility! Goodbye.’ That was a very difficult evening, more for the members of my household than for myself, for I felt no pangs of conscience over this. On December 12, Benjamin, Koop and Bernhard came in and asked my wife and Maria to come to Penners, where they again told them what a dangerous person I was. They were urged to save their souls and keep their distance from me, especially in prayer. O Lord Jesus, how difficult for me to accept! But You will be at my side and again give me brothers and sisters. On Sunday, December 13, Bernhard demanded the church record book or register of me; I gladly gave it. On December 17 my wife and Unruh’s Caroline were also put out, because they had said they did not believe that I was a dangerous person, they could not see this. Benjamin and Wieler [Gerhard] told them they should believe their words, for Reimer was opposed to the teaching of the joy of salvation! On December 24 two brethren, Unruh and Penner, came and asked my wife and Maria, how they were getting along. When my wife told them, she was reprimanded for wanting to teach, rather than receive instruction. December 25. The blessed Christmas day might well have been made dreary for me, but far from it! For the dear Lord did good things to me in body and soul. Especially sweet in the morning hour were the voices of the three [youngest] children as they sang to us the comforting songs concerning Christ’s becoming man. Thus far the inflated apostles had not torn the heart of the daughter [Maria] from her parents, for her childlike love conquered doubts as to whether she should sing along [since by this she would be entering into fellowship with the excommunicated parents]. Documentary Supplements 419 Soon, out of gratitude to her parents, and with tears in her eyes, she joined in the singing of her brothers and sisters. After this, out of love to her as my daughter and sister in the Lord, I embraced and kissed her, and she me. When finally after morning prayer, one by one they came before us with their child-like wishes, and asked the blessing of the baby Jesus, she [daughter Maria] could stand it no longer, and came of her own volition— for she had gone to the little room while we were in prayer, for fear that she would be placed under the ban— warmly and tearfully hugged and kissed us, and we were again united, I believe, forever. O, what can be done by distorted opinions!! On December 26, three brethren from Kakbas came here and asked why we had been put out of the church. They were surprised at the arbitrariness of the others. Peter Dycks came for lunch and told us how G. Wieler was spreading havoc in the Old Colony. He had excommunicated Abram Unger, Heinrich Epp and Johann Koslowsky, and twenty others had left with them. We also drove to Klaas Schmidts once [now ‘Friend of Jerusalem’] but the word given us from the Word of God did not