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

sought solitude, and committed the contending brethren to the Lord that He might unite their hearts. He had not labored long when it became evident “that the Lord was with him and would grant him success, because He had given him wisdom.” He did not pay respect to persons and in fact reprimanded most severely the faction which was closest to him. “He created much good will among us. Since that time church business meetings, and the Sunday School, have been conducted regularly according to his mode. He also introduced the prayer hour on Sunday morning.” b) The year drew to a close all too soon, and Br. Liebig had to return again to his work in Dobrudscha. The ministers in the church were on the way towards unity, and the church perceived that much good had come her way through Br. Liebig. The “itinerant preacher com- mittee” was also created. Likewise, the relationship among the individual congregations (Molotschna, Einlage, Kuban and their affiliates) was clearly regulated, as were also their annual business meetings (annual sessions, General Conference) as a General Conference. Similarly, he brought method to the collection and administration of contributed monies, to the remuneration of itinerant preachers, and later to the convening of annual Bible courses which lasted one month, at that time Molotschna and Kuban 1865-73 467 designated, rather presumptiously, as “missionary schools." The crea- tion of these schools, intended primarily for ministers and ministerial candidates, was essentially his very valuable contribution, a work which produced permanent blessings. Later, when in 1875 he took up permanent residence in Russia and assumed the pastoral leadership of the congregation at Odessa (in both city and rural areas), he conducted these Bible courses year after year, and presided at the annual business sessions as well. According to Br. Unger’s annual report for 1872 (original) , the first annual business meeting of the M.B. General Conference convened on May 12, 1872, in Andreasfeld. Elder Liebig left the distinctly Mennonite confession of the M.B. §203 Church untouched. May our ever-fond recollection of the Mennonite Breth- ren Church and the rich kindness of God, in this life and in eternity, be then- reward in the case of both the worthy, now venerable, Bishop Liebig and his former teacher— who also extended pastoral assistance to us— the late J. G. Oncken, and also the late Karl Benzien. We are glad to be able to report that in North America as well, where Minister Liebig now lives, he enjoys a brotherly and “ministerial” relationship with those “very Mennonite” M.B. churches, as a director of “Bible schools" (courses) among them. The Einlage Mennonite Brethren Church concluded the year 1872 with a membership of 180, apart from 61 members who actually belong to the Alliance Baptist Church of Tschomoglas. XXVII. THE M.B. CHURCH IN THE MOLOTSCHNA AND THE KUBAN FROM 1865/66 TO 1