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

is the Son of God, they are baptized, i.e., immersed in water, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. This is to symbolize a burial. Even as the dear Savior took His many parables from nature and the natural life, in order to portray the Kingdom of Heaven, even so, baptism shall show the unbelievers what the person [baptismal candidate] believes: that is, that he has died to sin and the old life (Rom. 6:11). As in the natural life, the deceased is buried in the earth, so this portrayal of death shall be performed by a ceremony in the water (Rom. 6:3-4). Herein water becomes one of the three witnesses on earth (I John 5:8). “3. The performance at the baptismal ceremony is the duty of the elder or deacon. However, as was the case in the house of Cornelius, Molotschna and Kuban 1865-73 473 where Peter ‘commanded them to be baptized’ (Acts 10:48), it may also be performed by another, whom the church has designated. “4. Likewise, at the communion service, the distributing of the bread and wine is the duty of the elder or deacon. Acts 2:46 states: ‘And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house;’ according to the teaching of the Apostle Paul in I Cor. 11:23-24, it is not absolutely necessary that ministers be present. Exceptions may be: in times of persecution, or in case of illness, where the patient has a great desire for communion, we could not consider it an offense if the person requested it from a believing brother, for it is sanctified through the Word of God and prayer. With respect to the partaking of the body and blood of Christ, it differs little from the righteousness of Christ, which we appropriate by faith, which is the focal point of the entire Gospel. Our Lord and Savior speaks in this regard (through Paul): As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. And as by eating, sin entered the world, so John 6:54 says: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life. c) “In that we publish this for everyone’s knowledge, we would add our heartfelt desire, that every reader who is thus inclined should reread the quoted references from the Holy Scriptures in order to convince himself of the truth. Above all, we would urge each and every one to con- sider how he might have peace and speedily save his soul. May none consider the matter as lightly as did Lot’s sons-in-law, who laughed at his invitation to leave Sodom because the Lord was going to destroy the city, and thus perished in fire and brimstone (Gen. 19). According to all the signs which God’s Word lists as preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ, the hour may be near, yes, very near, when the judgment prophesied in Rev. 17, 18 and 19 shall break with great fury upon this earth. Happy are those, who have then found their refuge in the wounds of Jesus— and even though their body may become the prey of