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

ied concerning their grievance of the 24th of September, 1879. Counsellor: Ascheberg. Clerk: Melnikov. Certified true copy: Mishchenko. No. 337. - 4./10. 1880. “To the Chortitza Volost: The District Police Office in forwarding to the Volost A dminis tration a copy of the enclosed order for information, directs you to announce the content to the persons named in it, have them sign for it, and forward their signatures to our Office. April 1, 1880. Police officer: N. For the Secretary: Mishchenko. No. 2700. 276 “That the copy of instructions of the Ekaterinoslav Provincial Government of the 22nd of March, 1880, No. 1074 is correct with its copy as certified by the Chortitza Volost Office by signature and the affixing of the seal. September 17, 1885. No. 3434. For the Volost mayor, candidate Dueck. The Volost Secretary: Johann Epp. (Seal).” b) “Copy from a copy. Certificate. The church leaders of the Einlage Mennonite Brethren congregaton, Ekaterinoslav Province certify by signature and affixing of the church seal that the printed ‘Confession of Faith according to the teaching of the Mennonite Brethren Church' mentioned in the explanation of Foreign Confessions, Department of Religious Affairs, March 6, 1880, No. 936 was drawn up by the representatives of the Mennonite brotherhood of Molotchna, Berdiansk District, Taurida Province: Kuban, District of Batalpashin, Province of Kuban; Friedensfeld, District and Province of Ekaterinoslav as well as their affiliated congregations together with the representatives of the Einlage Mennonite Brethren congregation, and that these four churches with their affiliated branches represent from its very beginning one alliance and are identical in everything among themselves, although each one being independent in all matters of the church under the leadership of the respective elders, ministers and deacons, in accord with the church statutes and customs of the Mennonites. Village Andreasfeld, November 21, 1892. Church Elder: A. Lepp. Preacher: Johann Friesen. Deacon: Gerhard Sawatzky. Peter Froese. (Seal)” The German translation of the new explanation of December 28, 1896, given above (pt. 7) refers back to the first of these documents. Both documents verified (March 6, 1880, and No. 21, 1892) by the notary in Gross-Tokmak, Province of Taurida, are in our possession, June 12, 1910, sub No. 1618 and 1619. 8. Death of Brother Abraham Unger. Our dear "reporter,” Br. H. Epp, tells the story in a simple and beautiful way (we use his account freely): As we understand it, much transpired both with respect to church members as well as with respect to church leaders. For all things §215 482 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH must work for good to those who are called according to purpose. And there is a time for everything, even for life and death. So it happened that Br. Abraham Unger became seriously ill with a chest infection on February 19, 1880; his end appeared to