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

church] .... On the next day Benjamin Becker ... at once very humbly (??) asked forgiveness of Gerhard Wieler, received his blessing, and went to the Molotschna, to appear there with the same honor as G. Wieler .... Johann Wieler, Abraham Unger, Jakob Koslowsky.” [All signatures are in the hand of J. Wieler.] c) Abraham Unger to Daniel Fast. “Einlage, February 12, 1865. . . . In the few hours when we were able to be together, I noticed that you are Documentary Supplements 435 one of those who, with all earnestness, or, in the words of Paul, with fear and trembling, are working out their salvation. ... I am ashamed that, even if I did not remain silent, I have not long ago withdrawn from such a fellowship. ... I therefore advise you to oppose boldly those false doctrines, as the Word of God bears witness to your conscience, f A fruit of this exhortation no doubt was the writing in 8.] And if they do not hear you, then save your soul. ... It is the same spirit as the one in Kronsweide twelve years ago! ... It is the same spirit as the one in the Molotschna Colony three years ago [during the Antinomianism in the ‘unbalanced year,’ winter 1861-62] . . . and Benjamin Becker does not regard it as sin, when brothers and sisters [‘in the Lord’] dance a waltz [in a ‘worship service!’] till the sweat goes through their clothes! Brother, this foolishness is breaking my heart. . . .” 10. Johann Wieler evaluates conditions at that time in the M.B. §190 Church in both regions, as recorded in his “My Thoughts,” 208 June, 1882. “In a word, there was greater concern for the pleasure of the Christians than for the solution of problems about the Kingdom of God. As a result of this one-sided approach, our church got onto the wrong track and was threatened with destruction. By pursuing spiritual joys, our church developed characteristics which distanced it increasingly from Christian gentleness, careful behavior, brotherly love, humility, com- passion, demonstrating a divine likeness. Instead of this there was spiritual pride, careless behavior, pride. ... A caricature of sad erring still comes to mind when I think of our church in that period. Only God’s grace was still mercifully with His people. He still found something good among His sheep who had partly gone astray. In those days there were always some brethren who repeatedly recovered their balance and tried to use their influence for good among the other members. . . .’’ [August, 1882] "In the church in the Old Colony, in the Province of Ekaterinoslav, it was the honored, now deceased Abraham Unger who provided energetic opposition to this unrestrained movement. ... 209 Brother Unger always had an idea which remained with him during all the storms: it was that the church of God was to be quiet, honorable and loving [see his letter of June 15, 1861, #Ii5], thus being a witness to the world, and be involved in missions to the family, schools, nominal Chr