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

ain hidden away, I had to see him in the ‘comer room’ and to first accept his repimand [on behalf of the church— we had already been privately reconciled to each other]. He accused me of avarice and of f ailin g to exercise love toward brothers and sisters who differed from my opinions and of many other things which had been communicated to him in writing .... Documentary Supplements 445 Nevertheless, I must admit to the honor of my Lord, that things went much better than I had hoped .... Many prayers were uttered and much was mutually admitted and forgiven— indeed, in most cases it was done sincerely. [Only Bernhard Penner, Hermann Peters, and those influenced by him remained aloof.] In general it was very delightful to behold how brethren extended hands to each other and became reconciled, and how they confirmed it with a kiss. The same thing took place among the sisters. I believe the angels in heaven rejoiced as did the Lord Jesus himself Who is the fullness of love .... For the night to Tokmak .... This was a blessed and joyous night for us and the [Christian] Schmidts, which was spent in discussion, thanksgiving, praise, and prayer almost until morning . . . .” 14. Reconciliation in the Einlage Church, a) “On July 22,” Reimer §194 continues elsewhere, “we gathered in Einlage where another reconciliation between the ‘enthusiastic’ and the ‘sober-minded’ brethren took place. On the 29th of the month the brothers and sisters met again, a meeting to which all of the believers had been invited in order to bring about a new, inner and complete accord” [which always threatened to be disrupted there for some time, as is revealed in the history dealing particularly with the Einlage M.B. Church]. b) Johann Wieler, in “My Thoughts," August/September 1882, relates: "... After Br. Claassen had engaged in a blessed ministry in the Molotschna Church in 1865, he came to Einlage in order to bring about an accord there as well. Because Gerhard Wieler was still in prison, it was easier to deal with those who had strayed. Soon after Claassen ’s departure, the fruit of his labors became evident. Gerhard Wieler, after he had been released from prison, made a few further attempts in the Molotschna to work together with the ‘enthusiasts’ [Hermann Peters and his associates], but soon serious friction developed between them, and (in 1866/67) he joined the . . . Chortitza Mennonite Church. c) “In this way,” Johann Wieler concludes, “the Church was enabled to become more mindful of those things which would promote improvement within the group as well as benefit the [Mennonite] brotherhood spiritually . . . .” 15. Doctrinal Statement of the M.B. Church to the Government §195 Representative. His Excellency, Procurator of the General Consistory, the honorable Privy Councillor Brun. 224 At the time when two of our brethren, Christian Schmidt and Philipp Isaak, visited Your Excellency in Ekaterinoslav to request