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

in the Molotschna congregations, “desiring to undo the work of Liebig.” §210 3. In addition to this Br. Abraham Unger resigned as elder in 1876 because of external pressures (of a financial nature, largely occasioned by The M.B. Church 1873-1885 All his book business in which he was engaged for Christian purposes, by his ceaseless labor for the church without remuneration, and by the boundless hospitality which he engaged in and which was taken advantage of by many). The eldership was transferred to Br. Aron Lepp by the church. 4. ‘‘Because Br. Leppke had already done preparatory work, Br. §211 Aron Lepp believed that the opportune moment had come to terminate the fellowship with the Baptists [see above #201(2)]. A church meeting was held in order to implement Leppke’s position, but the Lord did not allow it. Now Leppke wrote disparaging letters regarding the church leaders. He wanted to be the influential voice and partially succeeded. The ‘divisive spirit’ again prevailed in the Einlage congregation. Attention was again drawn to the “questionable aspects of the Baptists,’’ so that Br. Liebig was not even allowed to participate in the Lord's Supper on one occasion [while attending a conference as a visitor. In spite of this, he was invited to preach the communion sermon, but he resolutely declined]. The majority sided with . . . the brethren Leppke and Lepp ; Brother Unger and a few other brethren came to stand alone. A general conference was held in the Molotschna in 1876 at which time this issue was also raised— supporting and opposing views were expressed. During the discussion, however, there was a ‘silent chorus of prayer’ among the brethren. Although no voice became audible, the brethren cried to the Lord that He might decide [Johann Friesen from Einlage, Johann Siemens from Andreasfeld, Johann Fast from Halbstadt- Rueckenau and others were involved]. Then Br. Johann Siemens, the influential minister from the Einlage congregation who otherwise had also frequently opposed Abraham Unger on many issues, arose and asked whether the conference would agree to postpone the issue for one year in order to determine what the Lord would say to them in the meantime.” This was accepted by the session. And thus it remained; the issue was not raised again and therefore the policy remained in keeping with the decision that had been made on the recommendation of Br. Aron Lepp around 1870 in the Einlage congregation. Similarly, the concluding statements of the 1873 Confession of Faith, printed in 1876, stated that the M.B. Church and the Baptist Church were two separate fellowships, but enjoyed spiritual fellowship 269 and fellowship at the Lord’s Supper. (Cf. # 201 and #227 .) 5. According to Heinrich Epp, the Einlage M.B. Church discussed §212 issues pertaining to marriage at its meeting on December 27, 1879. The problem was “how to deal with those children who wanted to be married but who di