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

exercise the office further or not. Tired and of a heavy heart, I went to Johann Documentary Supplements 429 Friesens, for the meeting was held at Martens, and lay down to rest. It was two o’clock at night, 207 and I fell asleep at once. At four o’clock I was awake again. I asked the dear Savior to reveal His will to me. Soon it was clear to me: if I should relinquish my office, I would cast my lot with him who buried his talent, or I would share the fate of Jonah. I told the congregation that if they would support me with their prayers, I would attempt once again to serve the Lord and them in the power of God. We bent our knees before the Lord, and I confessed my error, but I was able to praise the grace which, with an unseen hand, had sustained me. The joy was great. Here that joy which the devil, no doubt, had hoped for, was ended. But we know, according to God’s Word, that He will not abandon His plan. Brethren, we shall triumph: through suffering and bowing we move on to victory, and thus gain the throne, as also He did. I have experienced it: to be able to humble oneself is much more blessed than one would have thought. Why? This costs one’s own life, but in return we get the eternal life of Christ. Praise with me, praise with the whole congregation— now, through all these storms, united in love [?!]— that Grace, which endures for ever .... In the bonds of the Lord, your servant, Heinrich Huebert.” (3) The same to Johann Claassen: “January 13, 1865 .... Brother, in the name of the church I must request you to return, so that, in fellowship with the brethren of the Old Colony, the matter can be discussed again. For under the present circumstances we cannot expect the blessing of the Lord to be with us. It is our desire that all of us humble ourselves before the Lord, confess our error before Him, then with prayer and supplication before the Lord, begin again, and see if God will guide us in peace [to the Kuban] .... He who loves you deeply, Heinrich Huebert.’’ c) Benjamin Becker, January 9, to the church at the Kuban: “. . . We demand that Claassen return home, for the church has long wished this. . . . B. Becker.” 7. Claassen’s Humble Response. He writes to his wife: “. . . The Kuban, February 20, 1865 .... On February 4 we received your letters and those from Benjamin. We had a day of fasting in our congregation, when we appeared before the Lord with prayer and supplication, that He might help us according to His great mercy. The brethren should not think that we are forming a separate church here, for we are one body with you. Nor have we despised the letters; rather, we have humbled ourselves as a whole congregation. ... I do not really know yet how I will manage the trip, but as soon as the roads will permit, I will be leaving here .... March 12 .... I have no money. We are going to try to sell a wagon so that I will have some travel money. We already had a buyer for one wagon, but he