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

reupon certain church elders declared: ‘We do not know.’ Thus we find it necessary to use this occasion to openly publish the rules and external regulations of our church. How it is possible that these same elders [i.e. their predecessors] who, in 1860, believed they had sufficient evidence against us to warrant governmental prosecution, can answer the above quoted simple questions of the governmental enquiry with “We do not know”— we leave open for the consideration and verification of all concerned. During the severe treatment by the [Mennonite] authorities, our written explanations and defences were based on the Confession of Faith published by the Rudnerweide Church, and passed by the Odessa §205 472 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH censorship. Therefore, it has become public knowledge that we propagate no new teaching, but our teaching is based on one already in existence for 1800 years, that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His apostles and prophets. It is upon this that we wish to establish and organize our church; even fearing to add or take away from the book of prophecy, lest we should bring upon ourselves, in the first place, the plagues that are written therein, and in the second place, lose our part in the book of life and the holy city (Rev. 22:18-19). Since the rules and external regulations are included in the above-mentioned Confession of Faith, and all those desirous of knowledge can be convinced, we propose to publish herewith, only those points in which we differ from the rules and outward regulations presently in effect in the existing churches. b) “1. In our assemblies and inspirational meetings, we have tried to follow the rule and order given in I Cor. 14, i.e., that one or two, or a maximum of three persons present their lectures, and that in succession. We recognize herein the loving purpose of the apostle: that the church be edified, the gifts stirred up, and the saints prepared for the work of the ministry, in order that the body of Christ may be built up, ‘till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive’ (Eph. 4:12-14). “2. Regarding the receiving of new members, when persons come to us and desire church membership through baptism, we examine their testimony and Christian experience, how and when they came to a knowledge of sin so that they, according to I Peter 3:21, are able to make covenant of a good conscience with God. After they have given this public testimony before the church, other witnesses are called to confirm that, according to their human judgment, a genuine change of heart has taken place. Upon the confession that they believe that Jesus Christ