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

death— the soul and spirit may attain unto their rest.” (Cf. “Confession of Faith” 1900/1902, p. 4, line 5ff.] d) The matter passed without any unpleasant consequences for anyone: for many more serious thunderclouds had threatened the M.B. Church before. The church continued to grow quietly in the Molotschna, very much in character with the quiet and above all else energetic and tough man who had been its first leader and shepherd, next to Christ the great shepherd. It is only that we have been reminded of the way things were by the just cited good document, through which the deceased is still speaking to us, completely in accordance with his spiritual t hinking and feeling. 474 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH §206 2. The M.B. Church in the Kuban This congregation has received ample attention under XXV, B, in the “Documentary Supplements.” Consequently we have less to say about it during this period: the congregation learned to live under difficult condi- tions and work hard, to struggle with and to conquer over natural and spiritual difficulties, the natural difficulties being caused by the unf amili ar local conditions of nature and economics, and the spiritual difficulties by the spiritually ailing brethren who had come along from the Molotschna and Chortitza. We shall cite here the continuation of the “Brief Report,” 265 of the old Elder Daniel Fast (see above #180. . . . c) "In 1867 the brethren Johann Claassen, Benjamin Becker and Abraham Dyck 266 were ordered to appear at the Area Administrative Office in Halbstadt [more exactly to the inspector of the colonies in Prischib] to give an account with regard to some religious matters, of whose responsibilities, however, they were set free [after a brief interview between Claassen and the inspector. Cf. #120, the conclusion]. They returned on July 19th of the same year, d) In 1869 the Lord called Claassen's wife home after a prolonged illness. 267 In the same year, Br. Claassen was elected Area Administra- tor. In 1871 Claassen, in his capacity as Area Administrator and deputy, had to travel to the city of Vladikavkas for the reception of His Majesty, our Emperor Alexander II, whereupon in 1872 he was awarded a silver medal, which was followed by a second, a golden medal in 1874— both on the ribbon of the order— for distinguished administrative services in the colonies. [As a reward from the government he also received an engraved golden watch.] e) As far as the spiritual leadership is concerned, besides Minister Christian Schmidt, Br. Daniel Fast was also elected to the ministry on June 14, 1870, while Elder Huebert was still tied for certain reasons to his old home land. When it became possible, he visited us in 1868 and 1872 in the Kuban (that is twice), and in 1873 he settled in the Kuban and there assumed the leadership of the congregation. . . . f) The congregation as such continued to build upon the only firm foundation, Christ (I C