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

ut you? It appeared as though it was not taken seriously. ... Yet be that as it may, many of those present were convinced of the correctness of baptism on faith, and in the following year, 1876, 80 persons, including many who had attended this conference, were baptized.” b) In his travelogue of August 16-November 16, 1876 (cf. # 198 ), Br. Abraham Unger writes about this conference as follows: “We were invited to participate in a conjoint conference with the brethren from the Mennonite Church at Rueckenau on September 6. Several of us went. The fairly large church was filled to capacity with brethren. Many things were discussed and decisions reached. The chief concern was to meet and discuss things in love, and not to quarrel regarding different positions, because much hurt had already been inflicted thereby in God’s kingdom. Various subjects were calmly discussed. Br. Abraham Schellenberg chaired the conference, and at the conclusion it was decided to hold a s imilar conference on the coming November 29. I cannot see any danger for our church in such an assembly, because on the path of love, truth must prevail, and God’s Word is truth. ‘Look out upon the springtime fields Walk through the colored land of flowers: Where in the garden or the woods Is one leaf like another? The rose bickers not with the aster, Nor the oak with the beechwood : For each one knows: we bloom and wilt By the mellow light of one sun! ’ The M.B. Church 1873-1885 493 A few pages later the dear deceased one quotes the following poem to chide religious intolerance in a mild way: ‘Behold the folly of your Mends Exalted Head, with sympathy, And build a church unto yourself According to your masterplan! There with raptured souls you keep The great communion feast. O do not let our foe be missing At that great banquet hall in heaven!’ ” 288 6. On October 2, 1876, the following brethren were elected to preach the Word of God: Franz Nickel, Wilhelm Loewen, Klaas Enns, Peter Siemens and David Schellenberg. Peter Siemens (see above XXV, footnote 16) never formally accepted his election to the ministry, although he did preach from time to time. David Schellenberg, twenty-four years old at the time of his election, had ministered with enthusiasm and under the blessing of God in the Sunday school for several years. He commented: “It [the election to the ministry] came very unexpectedly. I did not consider myself to possess the gift for it, but I could not decline.” 7. The first unsuccessful attempt to build a church. “It was God’s purpose to bless His little flock. But experience teaches us that times of blessing are preceded by times of testing. The purchase of a small farm in Ladekopp became a test of brotherly love.” It was the strong desire of a number of brethren in Ladekopp that Christian Schmidt, the itinerant minister, should live there and that the church should have a meeting-place there. But as a pla