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

hellenberg could recognize it as the will of God to make a journey to visit the M.B. churches in America. Through the preaching of the Word and through numerous blessed conversations, he was able to be a blessing to many and experience bountiful blessings on this journey. Similarly Br. Jakob Reimer made a journey to America in order to work there in a blessed ministry for the Lord, and after him Br. David Duerksen (18%) who found many opportunities to proclaim the precious Gospel in power. Also, quite a number of journeys to Russian Poland 317 were undertaken (see under M.B. Churches in Poland) and two journeys to West and East Prussia by Jakob Jantz, elder of the Friedensfeld congregations, and David Duerksen, now elder of the M.B. Church of the Crimea, and everywhere the Gospel of the cross was proclaimed abundantly. 5. The flourishing spiritual life of the churches was not spared temptations. In the 1890s a renewed strong desire to acquire more land became evident. These factors were accompanied by a decline of interest for work in God’s kingdom and by a weakening of the efforts of proclaiming the Gospel. “It need not have been this way if everything could have occurred in the correct manner and many had not attempted too much in terms of acquiring more property. Indeed, it sometimes happens as Pastor Christen said in a sermon [to the Ohrloff congregation]: Many sell their village farms and move into the country in order finally to possess more land, too, but, instead of possessing the land, the land takes possession of them. One should learn to say: Hands off! Furthermore, the spirit of the times has taken a powerful hold of many hearts: some aspire upward too much, have become involved in factories and other business and suffer loss through such involvement.” The M.B. Church 1885-1910 525 (Schellenberg). Not a little dishonor has been brought upon the cause of God and the good name of the church through such dealings. 6. Much agitation in the churches arose regarding the question of §241 marriage, that is “whether members of the M.B. Church should be permitted to marry non-members, without being excommunicated — or according to the wording of the regulation— to be regarded as having left the fellowship by entering into such a marriage. Since the inception of the churches, when such marriages were rare occurrences, the rule had arisen that when members were accepted into the fellowship they promised not to enter into such unions. The discussions about this matter caused some strife, since some heatedly pressed to have the regu- lation dropped, whereas others could not understand how such a step could ever be tolerated. So, for a while mutual trust was almost lost in the brotherhood. However, at the annual convention of 1895, the majority decided to drop the regulation and to examine each case individually and act according to insight gained. The majority of the members of the Molotschna c