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

e new school building. The M.B. Church, The M.B. Church 1885-1910 543 too, was encouraged to renovate the deteriorated meeting house. They enlarged it at the expense of the teacherage which had been a part of the structure and was now provided for elsewhere. Alexanderfeld followed suit shortly by erecting a two-room village school building. In 1890 the school in Wohldemfuerst was expanded to three rooms, with the teachers David Claassen and Johann Friesen demonstrating great energy, creativity and boldness. 340 b) Significant changes took place in the leadership of the Kuban Church during this period. Brother Huebert’s death could not exert further influence since he had already been a complete invalid for a long time. The absence of Br. Schmidt was felt all the more since his eyes failed him and made it necessary, quite contrary to his own inclination and custom to withdraw from active involvement, even before his death. Letters of those now bearing the responsibility mournfully mention how much they missed “the dear old brethren.” Because of frailty and poor health due to old age, Br. Daniel Fast finally laid down all administrative responsibility in 1901, and Br. Cornelius Abram Wiens, the above-mentioned teacher, was elected as acting elder. We include here some biographical data about the beloved and honored old man, Daniel Fast, who is now waiting only for the final call to come home. We have spoken of him especially in sections 51, 184, and 188, as well as in the chapters that deal with the Kuban Church. He was born in Halbstadt, Molotschna, Taurida, in 1826, where he attended the village school and secondary school for three and seven years, respectively. In the latter he was for some time a schoolmate of Peter J. Neufeld, Johann Claassen, and Bernhard Harder. In 1843 he became village school teacher in Tiegenhagen. He served in this capacity for nineteen years and then moved to Blumenort where he served as teacher, until the summer of 1864, when he joined the M.B. Church, a move which at that time automatically cost him his teaching position. In Wohldemfuerst he later served as teacher for a period of three years. In 1870 he was appointed minister of the M.B. Church in the Kuban Colony (earlier he had ministered for several years as deacon and "baptizer”). In 1877 he was ordained as elder by Huebert. Now he lives in quiet retirement. May life’s evening be bright and warm for him! He has borne and loved much, and is much loved. In 1895 the frequently-mentioned teachers, Johann J. Fast and Cornelius Abram Wiens, were ordained to the preaching ministry. The latter was, in January, 1905, ordained as elder by Elder David Schellenberg of Rueckenau. (In regard to direct calling and ordaining, i.e., the final recognition and confirmation, it must be said that the Kuban Church obeyed the apostolic word of I Tim. 5:22 beyond proper limits and to the detriment of its working force. Young men of