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

by a lack of familiarity of the individual concerned with the situation. The event transpired as follows: In the spring of 1867 the Molotschna M.B. Church celebrated its first missions festival. Foreign missions had receded into the background during the periods of recession, organization and stuggle— indeed, they had almost fallen into disfavor. For some time, however, people had again become interested in foreign missions. This first foreign missions festival took place in Neu-Halbstadt in the roomy establishment of Br. J. J. Fast, who at that time operated a large lumber business in the village in addition to his ministry. Br. Abraham Unger and Br. Jakob Reimer (formerly from Gnadenfeld, died in Wiesenfeld) came to this occasion from the Einlage Church. Br. Unger gave the missions address and received high recognition from the brethren and outside visitors. Here a young man, J. F. from Tiege, requested baptism. 470 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH At the request of the Molotschna Church the baptism was performed by the above mentioned Jakob Reimer in the Molotschna River at Alt-Halbstadt. This was a novel event in this area. A large crowd of curious people from Prischib (Lutherans) witnessed the event. They reported this “disruptive” event to the inspector of the colonies who lived in Prischib. He had only recently been appointed and knew nothing concerning the whole issue pertaining to the M.B. Church, something that had long been clear to the higher authorities. Furthermore, the enraged father F. 260 complained to him. An exchange of letters now took place: we here present the last and most important of these documents, as well as the documents occasioned by this matter in the M.B. Church. 1) “To the Molotschna Area Administrative Office at Halbstadt. Statement of the undersigned church elders of the Molotschna Mennonite District. “With reference to the request of the Area Administrative Office on May 4, sub No. 4020 to respond to three questions pertaining to the baptism of the Mennonite youth, J. F., by the minister of the seceders, Jakob Reimer, we are hereby honored to make the following ex- planations: 1) no one will deny that the report of the baptism was drawn to the attention of several of the Mennonite spiritual leaders; but only few remember that the name of the one who baptized and the one who was baptized were widely circulated; 2) that baptizing in a stream is not unscriptural can be seen from Acts 8:38, although the passage does not state whether baptism was performed by immersion or sprinkling. Because the baptism of J.F. was performed by an unordained elder, however, we cannot recognize it as scriptural, on the basis of the teaching of the apostle in Titus US 261 [cf. above, H15, b]; 3) that this baptism under such circumstances has not been entered in the church records by any of the ordained spiritual leaders, is obvious from the above. Alexanderwohl, May 31, 1868. Wedel