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

ad to the neighboring village of Steinau. (Br. Siemens lived in Blumenfeld.) Here he had to escape from one house to which he had been invited, “amid clubs, but the Lord stayed their hands.” This took place in February of 1879, and in May, 1880, five con- verted souls from this village were baptized. Further awakenings, conver- sions and baptisms took place. In May, 1881, an itinerant minister who was visiting the brethren was taken to the state police official (Stanovoi), who released him without further ado. “Then our village of Blumenfeld made an effort, if possible, to force us out of the village;” but since that was impossible, the village congregation filed a complaint in court. The investigation, however, resulted in a decision in favor of the brethren, and the village administration was ordered to let the brethren conduct their meetings without disturbance; an attempt to make “Baptists” out of them also foundered. Meanwhile, the following incidents occurred : "We had assembled in our village, with Brother Christian Schmidt from the Kuban also in our midst. Just as he was beginning to speak about the Word: He came unto His own and His own received Him not, our enemies kicked open the door and forced us to disperse, and that very evening, our Brother Schmidt had to flee to another village. This happened in February, 1882. Later in the same month, we had assembled later one evening. Then the village administrators came with a considerable number of neighbors, and brought with them a man who possessed the power of Satan, to attack us. He took a brother from our midst and choked and tormented him as he took him to the mayor. Well, the Lord be praised that we were counted worthy to suffer a little.” The animosity soon subsided, and thanks to the decision of the authorities, the brethren were allowed to practice their faith unmolested by the village administration and their neighbors. Late in 1884, there were 38 brethren and sisters in this settlement. The report is signed: Blumenfeld, October 29, 1884. Gerhard Siemens. 10. Up to January 6, 1885, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Mennonite Brethren Church, 264 the Einlage Church (dating from March 1862) and its affiliated groups had received 704 persons through baptism, namely 202 during the first five years, from 1862 to 1866; 49 from 1867 to 1871; 184 from 1872 to 1884. The highest number was added §217 490 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH during the first year, 1862, with 116; the lowest— 1874: 1. The second highest number was added in 1879, with 73, the second lowest in 1867: 2. Fifty-four were received into membership during the current year, 1886 (1886, the actual anniversary year for the Einlage Church, had 238, and the last half-decade, 1882-1886: 376). Its membership on the anniversary, January 6, 1885— must have been over 500 of the ca. 1800 in the entire conference. B. The Molotschna Mennonite Brethren Church, 1872/73 to 1885 §2