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

ureaucracy. The same thing happened with the permission to hold a conference in autumn! This time the obstruction was caused by an error in the address of a telegram. It is imperative in view of the new laws and regulations to know well the ways one must go (cf. above "Rueckenau” Conferences etc., footnotes). The M.B. Church 1885-1910 537 Of the members of this congregation in 1901 four were active and three were formerly elementary school teachers. In 1902 this group of brothers and sisters had 180 members and 416 adherents. The villages of Petrovka, Vassilievka, Ielenovka, etc., have good school buildings. In Petrovka the congregation has a spacious meeting house. Several members of this M.B. Church live in the near-by Baptist colony, Bessabotovka (Elder Br. H. Schimpke). Present leader of the church (1910) is Minister Gerhard Siemens. Formally the church is still regarded as an affiliate of Einlage, but actually it is independent and has its own seal and church register. 7) Alexanderheim since 1889, Province of Ekaterinoslav, District Pavlograd. Postal Address: Saizevo, Ufa. This division is found on rented property in the village of the same name (near the railway station of Saizevo), founded predominantly by Mennonite Brethren. For a long time the leading minister here was Br. Johann Hildebrandt (passed away in 1909 in Andreasfeld) ; co-workers in church and Sunday school were the brethren Gerhard Friesen of Tiege and Gerhard Pettker of Fuerstenau; Br. H. Friesen, Jr., of Friedensfeld was school teacher here; now teacher at the last named place. Leadership in 1903-05. Minister Johann Epp (formerly Kamenka, Orenburg). 8) Schoenwiese, since 1902. Province of Ekaterinoslav, District Alexandrovsk, Postal Address: Alexandrovsk, Province of Ekaterinoslav. Leadership: Minister Peter Unger. . . . III. The Mennonite Brethren Church of the Kuban From 1885 to 1910 Kuban Area, District of Batalpaschinsk (Postal Address: Velikokniasheskoie, Kuban District) 1. a) Among the significant external events to be noted here are the deaths of the Elders Heinrich Huebert and Christian Schmidt. At age 85 the worthy Huebert “in faith in Christ gave up his spirit like a lamp when the oil is exhausted” (Daniel Fast). The life and character of the deceased has been dealt with extensively above. It should also be mentioned here that he was bom in Muensterberg, in 1810, in what was then the very young Molotschna Colony. He was one of the first students, and an enthusiastic devotee of Tobias Voth. With him he shared a love for music and poetry as well as an interest in the sciences, particularly the contemplation of nature. When Huebert was already in his late seventies, he became rejuvenated and enthusiastic when he conversed with the writer about Voth. It was always with warmth and respectful affection that he mentioned his name. Huebert became a §245 538 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH fanner and